A lot of us opt to get extensions either to give our hair a break as a protective style, to switch up our look, or because we're simply not happy with the hair God gave us. No shade.
Whatever your reason may be, I must warn you that you have to be mindful of the stress that sew in extensions can cause on your hair and scalp.
I hear many women say, they want the braids to be flat and the tracks to be sewn in tightly so that they can get the maximum life out of that style. They want to be able to swang and bang with the best of them for at LEAST 2 months, and I get it. Just don't be surprised if you find that you are missing a couple strands of your real hair by the end of it all.
Those who know me personally may be wondering why I'm writing such a blog. I usually rock my own hair in all of its frotastic glory, but there have been times when I felt like painting with all the colors of the wind. "Let me get 3 bundles of your finest Pocahontas Virgin Indian Body Wave please..."
I've probably had about 5 sew ins total, and none gave me any issue except for the last one. The last one...changed my life forever.
It was around the time fall transitioned into winter when I decided I wanted another sew in (I always put my hair in a protective style around that time to shield it from the dry, cold air). Now, I usually left a little hair out in the front, but this time I wanted a full sew in. I was going for the whole 9; it had to be flawless and I knew just the person to do it.
I went to her on a Friday. I had my bundles in hand and my iPhone charger close by so that I could grace Insta with my new do upon completion. My hair was already shampooed and blow dried so that all she had to do was braid me down and sew me up. Easy peezy.
Now, I always anticipate a little discomfort when I'm getting sew-in extensions...but the pain I felt this day was UNUSUALLY UNBEARABLE. My head was pounding as if there was a ratchet convention being held on my scalp. I mean think of thousands of people twerking, bucking, and Nae Nae'ing all across your head. Yes...I shed real tears.
I asked her more than once whether or not the pain was normal and she assured me that it was. I took her word because she was highly referred and I've never seen her do bad work. Also, I had never done a full sew in so I assumed the intensity was heightened because I wasn't used to it. I was wrong.
Let me say this, my hair was FLAWLESS by the end of it.
I kept thinking to myself, "The stylist told me the pain would subside over night, you can make it through the night...just press through." I had to have a sweet hour of prayer with the Lord, I fasted AND had communion just to go to sleep!
Needless to say, when I woke up, the pain had not gone away. In fact, my lymph node had swollen up in my neck and I was having chills. There was also a stinging pain coming from the top of my head where the closure piece was. It felt as if my strands of hair were being pulled out one by one. I know it sounds unbelievable, but I wouldn't dare make this up. I was miserable.
I went on like this through the weekend... Friday through Sunday. Three days of the sexiest agony that anyone could ever witness. Despite my scalp torture, I was still EXTRA cute with my hair.
That all ended promptly at Midnight (Sunday night or Monday morning...however you want to call it). I was lying in bed restless because I couldn't sleep due to the pain, so I decided that I was going to take it out of my head. That's right, about 500 dollars gone down the drain. I was fine with my decision because I knew that if I didn't, I would have a more ridiculous struggle with my real hair...and ain't enough time on the clock for that.
It felt like Easter Sunday when I finished taking that hair out. My scalp and I suffered on Friday but on the third day WE ROSE and GLORY TO GOD I was free! However, I did find sores and pus at the top of my head. That's where the stinging pain came from. I was sad because I knew that I had suffered some damage, but I didn't know to what extent.
I ended up calling the stylist and informed her of what happened. She was very professional and apologetic and assured me that she had never had that happen to a client. I believed her. No one ever had anything bad to say about her or her work and I was pleased with the style myself. I just should have opted not to go through with the sew in because, for whatever reason, it was just way too much for me. She worked with me though and we settled on an agreement that left both of us satisfied so that was a blessing.
I hate having regrets, but I really wish I would have stopped while I was ahead. Here I am now:
Ladies, listen to me you SHOULD NOT force yourself to tolerate discomfort when it comes to your hair. If it's too tight, take it out of there. I hate to say it, but that's why a lot of y'alls edges are on vacation. I saw some of y'alls edges on cruises, first class on planes, All Star weekend....honey everywhere but on your heads!
Being too tight isn't always the issue, if you get sew in extensions too often that can cause the same type of effect on your hair. Your roots are only meant to support so much. If you are consistently having them pulled on, please believe that over time you will notice thinning of your hair.
I love you India, but I just MIGHT be my hair a little bit. I want it to look good and most importantly I want to have some of my own! I know this is the case for many women out there. So ladies, don't sacrifice your natural for the perks of the superficial. It's really not worth it.
~A.C.