If you’ve thought about getting a weave in the past, but you were hesitant because of the painful horror stories that can be found online, then a new option is worth a closer look. The braidless sew-in eliminates issues of bulkiness that are felt throughout the hair, removing bumps and lumps that come with other techniques, while giving you more flexibility with your styling preferences.
Since your hair is not braided down with this technique, your scalp will have more room to breathe with the weave. That makes it easier to ensure that your washing habits promote skin health and luxurious hair throughout the life of the product. You can put your hair up into a ponytail, use an updo, or take advantage of other looks you love without worrying about the damage you might cause.
You should have at least five inches of hair available to create this look. Then your new weave will last for up to eight weeks, depending on how fast your natural hair tends to grow. Expect the entire process to take about 4 hours to complete.
If you’re thinking about this technique to accommodate your personal style, then here are the braidless sew-in pros and cons to review.
List of the Pros of a Braidless Sew-in
1. The extensions can be retightened with the braidless sew-in.
This weave is easier to maintain for many people because you can tighten the extensions after you wash your hair. Although they aren’t sewn down very tight, they do stay in place for the vast majority of people who receive this technique. That means your hair will continue to grow in healthy ways while you achieve the precise look that you want with a minimal investment of time and money.
This benefit also makes it possible to make minor adjustments at home without an additional cost to maintain your look.
2. It works on all hair textures.
There are no texture exceptions to worry about if you’re thinking about a braidless sew-in. It works on all types of hair, including relaxed, coarse, fine, and natural. You will need to purchase the correct hair extensions that match the needs of your hair because of the blending work that occurs, but that is the only real worry to consider. As long as your hair meets the length requirements, you will be able to take advantage of this technique.
3. You can maintain your look using your current hair care options.
Taking care of your braidless sew-in is relatively simple. After you shampoo your hair, just blow it out like you usually would on any given day. If you like to wear your hair straight, then you would straighten it using a silk press, and then work on styling it the way that you normally would. This process gives you an end result that offers a lot of fullness which may not be possible if you were not taking advantage of the benefits provided by this technique.
4. It blends perfectly with your hair.
The braidless sew-in works very well with all hair types to create a seamless look that no one can tell is a weave. It blends into your hair perfectly, creating the flawless final results that you crave. This outcome gives you more flexibility with your styles, offers additional breathing room for your scalp, while also adding length and fullness that doesn’t feel heavy. Although your head will feel different since the extensions are placed by strand, it isn’t any different than if you were sporting a full head of hair.
5. There is no longer a need for heat or glue to complete the work.
One of the biggest concerns that people have when getting a wefted weave for their perfect look is the damage that might occur to their natural hair. When you opt for the braidless sew-in technique, then it doesn’t require glue or heat to secure the attachment. This outcome reduces the risk of harm to your current follicles. The extensions can even be uncrimped and reused after you experience 6-8 weeks of growth, which can reduce the overall cost of maintaining your new look.
6. You don’t need to worry about the corn rows placing pressure on your head while sleeping.
Because you are taking advantage of the braidless sew-in technique, you’re no longer forced to deal with a change to your sleeping habits to achieve the perfect look. Your hair is still protected from the weave itself without the need to install corn rows to support the new product. That means you can sleep flat on your hair without the lumps or bumps that can disrupt your rest. You still get to try different styles, though if you use a net, there may be issues with washing or moisturization to consider.
List of the Cons of a Braidless Sew-in
1. There is a cost to consider with this technique.
As with most services of this type, the cost of a braidless sew-in depends on several different factors. You can expect to receive a full weave at the cost of $300 or less at most locations with other techniques, but the expense of this one can be up to $2,000. Keep in mind that the price usually won’t include hair-cutting services, color, or other needs you may have to create the perfect look. If you require micro-links to support this service, then expect to pay about $25 per row, with at least three rows usually necessary.
2. You need to change your hair washing technique.
Because this technique doesn’t tie down the weave tightly like other options you may have, it becomes necessary to shift your hair washing techniques to prevent unintended damage to the hair. You shouldn’t provide conditioner all the way down to your roots if you opt for a braidless sew-in because that can cause your links to start sliding out. You would also need to shampoo at least once per week to encourage the ongoing health of your extensions.
3. The procedure can be uncomfortable for some women.
When you have the braidless sew-in technique applied to your scalp, most people will not experience any pain from the procedure. There can be high levels of discomfort because of how close the bonds of the weave must be to the scalp for this to be an effective change in your look. This issue often disappears once you return home from your stylist, but there are some who have said that the discomfort continues for them several days after having there we’ve connected.
4. If you have thinning hair, then this option may not be right for you.
When your hair starts to thin out, the bonds required for the braidless sew-in technique struggle to stay in place. That makes it a challenge to keep them in for the same amount of time that other textures achieve. The thinness of the follicles may not support the weight of the weave either, which can result in the product falling out or damaging your natural hair in the process. If your hair has always been on the thin side, then check with your stylist about whether or not this option is possible to achieve the look you want.
5. There must be a minimum amount of hair for the technique to work properly.
Unless you have five inches of hair, the braidless sew-in technique will not work. You must have this foundation in place first before anyone can work on your look. If a stylist says otherwise, then they’re lying to you – so avoid that salon at all costs. Even if you meet the length minimum, you may find that the bonds require some tightness that can add tension to your scalp over time. That’s why this option is usually recommended for those who have long hair already.
There are some women who have had this technique applied with only 1 inch of hair and had a successful experience. This outcome tends to be the exception more than the rule when your length is questionable.
6. It must be performed by a stylist familiar with the technique for the best possible results.
Although you might consider yourself a DIY wefted weave expert, the braidless sew-in is a technique which is virtually impossible to complete on your own. Talk with your stylist to see if they are familiar with this option, as not everyone is as of yet. Always ask for references before agreeing to anything because if the application is not performed correctly, it can induce bald spots.
The braidless sew-in pros and cons to consider here look at this technique as an alternative option to the traditional methods of attaching a weft. Expect to spend about four hours having this technique applied to complete your luck. If you don’t mind the cost of the procedure and the price of the extensions that you wear, then you will find that the benefits of this new option often outweigh any of the disadvantages you might encounter.