Seeking how-to: Sewing weft on cornrows

I have a couple of people asking me if I did "the braid-things where you sew hair on to it".

So I ask you, have you any good tutorials in your closet of www-wonders .

Thank you in advance.

/Synne

With sew-in extensions the way the braid patterns and how the hair is attached to the braids make a huge difference in how the finished look turns out.. The wrong braid pattern and sewing  technique can make the extensions look very "weavy". The tutorial on His & Hers is a very rudimentary explanation of the most basic of sew-in extension techniques used.. What they show here is great when you only want to add a track or two, but not so good for a natural looking full head of extensions. There are a TON of discussion threads on the Black Hair Forum that cover this topic very well.. (http://forum.blackhairmedia.com/)

Also here's some other resources that show a variety of braid patterns:
http://www.braidsbysabrina.com/personal_stitch.htm
http://community.webshots.com/album/100809390ciHrbP
http://public.fotki.com/weaveitup3/sew_in_a_weave/
http://p069.ezboard.com/fblackbeautyblackhair86911frm7
http://forum.blackhairmedia.com/uploads/essence/2004-09-17_1 00640_braidpattern.JPG

Hope this helps..

Edited by Divavocals

SaraAnn wrote: does this method do any damage to your own hair?

Any extension method installed improperly or improperly maintained could potentially cause damage to your own natural hair.

I've personally worn these type of extensions off and on for the last (yikes!) 20 years.. I have only used professional stylists who are well versed in healthy hair care and proper installation techniques. Plus I am a fanatic about hair care and maintenance. So my hair is in EXCELLENT condition.. (as are all the women who have been long term clients of my current stylist--and he has a DIVERSE clientelle)

In this time, the only breakage I ever suffered was not from the extensions, but because I insisted on putting highlights in my relaxed hair (against the advice of my stylist..) As hair breakage goes, I was lucky, the highlights were very small and only the highlights broke.. (Jonathan was NOT happy with me though.. )

Edited by Divavocals

I had sewn in wefts once and the braids were so tight that they pulled out my hair from the root.  I had quarter sized bald spots at each temple.  It was awful. 

Thank you so much DivaVocals, I´ll look in to your links.

Well I have had cornsrows with wefts before to, and I like strand-by-strand muuch more, but I would like to look in to it to the costumers that really wants it.
I can a least try on my dollyhead before I turn them down.

Well see .

Interesting. I've had quite a few enquiries about it myself and having done my research I've learnt that the general opinion is very much divided between those that are 'strongly opposed to it' and those that 'wouldn't try anything else'. It seems that this method is a definite love or hate job!

Like you Synne, I've considered learning this as an additional method to satisfy those that require it.

I'll take a look at some of those links shall I...

 

sammyJB wrote: Okay, this may sound stupid but how do you end the plait so that it doesn't flap around? And I'm assuming the plait has to be sort of attached to the head? How do you do this? Maybe I'm not a natural at this..

How the ends are secured depends on the braid pattern used.. Every stylist I've ever used has always had a different way for doing braid patterns, and for securing the ends.. (too many ways to name here) What I've learned is that there is no one way..  Since it depends entirely on what you intend the final look to be.. (again it goes back to braid patterns) I haven't seen much on this particluar topic here.. But on the BHF, there a MILES of threads on this very topic.. I would suggest talking to some of the experts over on the BHF about this..

me and Diva typing at same time 

If you know the blanket stitch (used in embroidery)- that's usually how wefts are sewn in.