We received several calls and emails from our Hair-N-Paris family and friends wanting to know the difference between a sew-in and a quick weave. Although a sew-in and a quick weave are very different, they do have one thing in common. Both styles use bundled hair extensions that contain the track or weft. This is when multiple strands of donor's hair are sewn together creating a strip horizontally across the top of the strands, bonding the hair to what is called a track or weft. Now that you know what they have in common, let's break down the differences between a sew-in and a quick weave.

A sew-in is when your natural hair is braided into cornrows and the hair track is sewn to the braids. Some stylists use circular, straight back, or zig-zag braiding patterns, which depend on the sew-in hairstyle. Braiding your hair helps protect your natural hair while wearing your sew-in. Once your hair has been braided MOST stylists add a hair net over the braids, which provide an extra layer of protection for your natural hair as well as provide extra spacing for a fuller sew-in. A sew-in takes about 2 hours or less to install and can last two to four months depending on maintenance and your hair care routine. The cost of a sew-in is around 150 dollars and up, not including your hair extensions. This style is meant to last a few months so you would want to make sure to purchase high-quality bundles, like the ones offered at Hair-N-Paris. A sew-in is safe for swimming and other water activities. Read more about how to care for your sew-in while swimming at the Hair-N-Paris blog titled, "Will Chlorine Damage My Hair". You can also wash your hair while wearing a sew-in, I suggest washing at least once a week. A sew-in is a great protective hairstyle; you will have lots of new growth once your install is removed. You can also reuse your bundles for a second install if you purchased high-quality human hair extensions, like the bundles that are sold at Hair-N-Paris. 

A quick weave is when your natural hair is gelled or braided back and the hair extension track is bonded down over your natural hair. Another method is when your natural hair is parted and the track is glued to your scalp using hair bonding glue. The method that is safest for your natural hair is to have your hair braided back and apply a stocking cap over your hair before gluing down the tracks. Bonding glue can be very hard to remove and can be damaging to your natural hair if not applied correctly. A quick weave takes about an hour to install and can last up to two to four weeks. The cost of a quick weave is around 50 dollars and up, not including the hair extensions. Unlike a sew-in, you probably should not wash or swim in a quick weave. An excessive about of water could cause the bonding glue to slip, and you might lose a track or two. Once the hair extensions are removed from a quick weave install, it is not likely that the tracks would be reused for a second install. This is due to the bonding glue, which could become somewhat lumpy and sticky. However, you can use coconut oil to help you remove the bonding glue from your hair. Since you will probably not be able to reuse the hair bundles and the style does not last as long as a sew-in, it would be best to purchase hair bundles that are less expensive or reuse some of your recycled high-quality bundles. 

If you are still reading you, then you have a clear understanding of the differences between a sew-in and a quick weave. Now you are ready to decide the method of your next install, quick weave or sew-in. Also, feel free to visit Hair-N-Paris online to purchase your bundles and closures. Thank you for reading; reach out with any questions. You may also comment directly on this blog post or email us at sales@hairnparis.com

Natural Hair Care: Enjoy The Freedom During of Natural Hair

Caring for my natural hair after taking down my sew-in

 Are you feeling unsafe even after the mandatory stay at home order has been lifted? Has COVID-19 caused you to change your entire life and hair routine? Did you take down your sew-in recently and can't book an install because your stylist is quarantining or just not accepting appointments due to COVID? Are you now trying to figure out how to care for your beautiful natural hair while taking a break from your Premium Hair-N-Paris bundles? If you are still reading and you answered yes to all of the questions, than you’ve come to the right blog. You don’t have to be afraid to rock your natural hair because this blog is going to help you keep beautiful hair without chemicals. We all love our Hair-N-Paris bundles, but it is uncertain times like this that allow us to realize how liberating it feels to go natural. 

Let be honest, it’s 2020 and we’ve all wised up. We’re are now 100% aware that those chemicals we would use to straighten our natural curls are unhealthy and outdated. Now that we are forced to realize a new reality as black and brown people we are empowered and feeling free to express ourselves. We have found the beauty in embracing our roots and picking out the afro with laid edges or rocking a twistout style. In this blog I will help you manage beautiful soft natural hair without adding chemical, in four easy to do steps.

Step One: (After you completely taking down your install and braids). Remember to remove any loose strings or knots. As a friendly reminder do not comb out the tangles while the hair is dry. Calmly detangle your dry hair with your fingers to avoid breakage. 

Step Two: Apply conditioner, this can be leave in or rinse out. Yes, that's right! You're applying conditioner prior to detangling or washing your hair. Applying conditioner prior to detangling your hair will save time and makes the process easier preventing the lose of excess hair. If you have a detangling hair brush handy that would help by enhancing the process. Start by brushing from the ends of your hair to the root to detangle after applying your favorite conditioner. Remember we are still not using a comb, make sure to use a detangling brush or just a regular hair brush.

Step Three: Allow the conditioner to sit for about ten to 15 minutes after detangling is completed. After the allotted time gently detangle your hair with your fingers or a large tooth comb and lightly rinse. Now you can proceed to wash and condition your hair as normal.

Step Four: After rinsing and washing your hair with your favorite shampoo and conditionor, towel dry and follow the L.O.C moisturizing method. The L.O.C stands for (Leave-in-conditioner, Oil, and moisturizing Cream). This is where you apply leave in conditioner, oil your scalp with coconut oil, and add light weight moisturizing cream to your hair. After each moisturizing application you should comb through evenly from the ends of your hair to the root.

Now that your hair has been been moisturized you are ready to style. I would suggest a protective hair style such as a twistout to maintain the moisture. After a day or two take down the twist and you are lift with a beautiful moisturized wavy look. Now you can really enjoy your natural look. Thank you so much for taking the time to read and learn with me. If you have any questions please comment or email me at Sales@hairnparis.com. When you are ready to go back to rocking your bundles visit us at www.hairNparis.com to checkout and purchase our Premium hair deals. 

The days are starting to really heat up and the extra sweat is beginning to drip from your forehead. Are you wondering what extensions are best when installing a sew-in during the summer months? For those of you who are new to sew-ins, a sew-in is when your natural hair is braided, and your extensions or hair bundles are installed over the braids. The wefts or track of the hair bundles is aligned and sewn against the braids. If you’re wearing a sew-in during the summer when you sweat the moisture starts at the root of your hair, where your braids are located. Meaning during the summer months you will need to wash and shampoo the sew-in more often, (twice per week).

On this blog post, I will be informing you on what hair extensions I believe are best for the upcoming hottest months. Normally during the summer, I rock a texture of hair that can handle extra moisture when it’s hot. By choosing the right texture of hair during the summer, you can enjoy all the outdoor activities without your weave looking a dreaded mess.

Please be advised that I will only be providing information that relates to Hair-N-Paris Premium hair bundles which is the hair I currently wear, and I know that the quality of hair is great. The information provided in this blog has been tested during my personal experiences.

I am a person that rocks my weave year around, other than the resting period between sew-ins. I have spent plenty of summers with different hair textures during the summer. Honestly, straight hair is the worst hair for the summer simply because I live in Houston, Texas where the weather is extremely hot and humid. There is nothing worse than to flat iron your hair perfectly and the moment you walk outside you begin to sweat. The weather I'm used to in Houston knows to attack your hair first. My experience with straight hair during the summer has not been great. Humidity is the worst on straight hair during the summer. My advice if you are going to wear extensions during the summer choose a curl or wavy texture of hair. My favorite is Premium Body Wave because I can go from the pool to lunch and my hair would still look good. Premium Body Wave hair will give you the ability to be versatile. It’s easy to straighten, curl and even easier to obtain your wavy look by just adding a little moisture. Although I prefer Premium Body Wave hair, the best hair texture for the summer is Premium Deep Wave. Sweating or humid hot weather would not interfere with the styling of Hair-N-Paris’ Premium Deep Wave bundles or closures. Premium Deep Wave hair is by far the best extensions for summer outdoor and water activities. I did notice that my Deep Wave hair was much more manageable after water activities if I put my weave in a single braid before swimming, this is optional. As a reminder, if you are reading this blog and did not purchase your bundles from Hair-N-Paris make sure that you are buying unprocessed hair to ensure you hair weave does not become a tangled mess after sweating or swimming. Just FYI all of the Hair-N-Paris Premium bundles are unprocessed, tangle, and shed free.  

So, if you're still reading you are well informed about summer weaves and ready to make a big splash and look great while doing so. Have fun and enjoy your summer. If you have any questions, please comment below and thanks for reading.

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