I’m Dasia, a licensed cosmetologist who has been in the beauty industry for some time now. The hair additive industry has been booming for years – and sew-in extensions is a style that has been popular for sometime now.
Since the hair industry is so densely populated, it can be difficult trying to decide which company and type of extension is most ideal. This article will cover 5 of the best sew-in extensions, covering overall quality and reputation.
Best Sew-in Hair Extensions
Sew-in extensions are relatively easy to accomplish and can be installed professionally or, with thorough research, on your own. This protective style is ideal for anyone trying to grow out their natural hair.
- Best sew-in extensions overall – Nadula offers an affordable option that allows you to complete a full sew-in look. The hair will cover all of your needs and is well constructed.
- Best sew-in extensions for value – HK Virgin is a small business that is a little rough around the edges but offers high quality hair. The hair is affordable and outweighs the downsides of the company.
- Best sew-in extensions for high quality – Mayvenn offers top quality bundles. While I wasn’t impressed with their closures, their bundles live up to the high standard the company has to offer.
- Best sew-in extensions based on reputation – Alimoda is a very reputable company that has been around for over 20 years. They continue to provide quality products to all of their customers throughout the years.
- Best sew-in extensions for an easy use – Dsoar is known for their bundles and offers a variety of different sets to accomplish a full look. Whether you want just bundles to complete the sew-in or a closure, they have you covered.
1. Nadula Virgin Brazilian Body Wave
Nadula was established in 2001. Over the years they have been able to establish a social media presence, warehouses, and recruit brand ambassadors. Although based in China, they service customers from all over the world.
The brand prides themselves in creating products that make women feel confident and bold. Through the years, they have been able to continually grow the company through proper research and development.
These bundles from Nadula are ideal for most. Although they aren’t the highest grade, they are affordable and allow you the option to complete a full sew-in. This package comes with 3 bundles that would easily complete a look with leave out.
Do keep in mind the texture may be difficult to blend with your natural hair. Aside from this downside, the hair is double wefted making the unit stable. The density of the hair is also consistent throughout.
What I Like
- Construction – The bundles are double wefted producing a sturdy design.
- Price – The bundles are affordable.
- Density – The hair is consistent throughout.
What I Don’t Like
- Texture – Body wave textures can be difficult to blend if you are using leave out.
- Hair grade – Bundles are 7A grade and hair grades go up to 10A.
- Customizations – The length of the hair is the only customizable area.
2. HK Virgin Tuesday Special
This company is based in Florida, USA. They sell a variety of beauty related items along with their hair. This is a small business and although lacking in some ways, they offer high quality hair at an affordable price.
The site is not the easiest to navigate or shop at. Their product pictures don’t correlate making the entire site look quite messy. They also don’t have many options to get in contact with anyone for customer service. If you’re willing to wait for the hair, this is a solid option.
HK Virgin offers a set of bundles for $100. They come in lengths 14 to 18 inches. The bundles come in a straight texture that isn’t pin straight. This is ideal as it’s easier to blend with leave out.
One downside is the lack of pictures. You essentially don’t know what you are purchasing – it’s a surprise. While this can be fun, if you want to know whether the product is of high quality, it can be difficult.
Since having purchased this item, I can verify the overall quality. While the price is cheap, the hair is constructed well and is a basic unit that will work for almost anyone.
What I Like
- Price –They offer an extremely affordable sew-in option.
- Texture – The texture isn’t too straight and would be easy to blend with leave out.
- Construction – The units are double wefted and overall thick.
What I Don’t Like
- Customizations – You don’t have the option to customize the bundles.
- Pictures – If you don’t purchase the product, you don’t know how the hair looks.
- Density – The texture doesn’t increase the thickness resulting in standard thickness.
3. Mayvenn Virgin Brazilian Curly
Mayvenn is a black-owned brand that was founded in 2013. The founder wanted to make a change in the industry by providing people of color with products provided by someone in their community.
The site looks very professional. They offer 100% virgin hair and even provide extra services like the ability to find a stylist and guides to better style your hair. While the company is known for their bundles they offer much more.
While I was not impressed with the closure on this unit, the bundles were of high quality. The hair had a beautiful texture and was double wefted. While I found the price tag to be a bit ridiculous, the bundles are high quality.
The bundles had a good amount of filler hairs present. While this isn’t ideal, the curl pattern allowed the company to get away with this. The curls covered up the shorter hairs present throughout. Once again for the price, I’d expect a little more.
What I Like
- Texture – The hair comes in a beautiful curly texture that is consistent throughout.
- Construction – The hair is double wefted and feels sturdy.
- Density – The hair feels thick. The texture likely adds to this.
What I Don’t Like
- Price – Quite expensive even with the closure, which isn’t worth the money.
- Customizations – You don’t have the option to customize the hair.
- Filler hair – The bundles have some filler hair which can unflatteringly stick up.
4. Alimoda Brazilian Body Wave
Alimoda is a highly reputable brand that has been around since the 90’s. In 2011, they were able to sell through their website that allowed them to interact with buyers directly. The site is easy to nativage and they understand how to engage customers.
The company is most known for their weaves and offers them in complete sets. You can accomplish a full look by purchasing bundles in sets from 1-4 along with closures or frontals. This company is a one stop shop for your sew-in needs.
The hair feels high quality and you can tell as soon as you touch it. Your hands slip through the hair as you detangle and have little to no shedding. The price is extremely affordable for what you get.
While this texture isn’t ideal if you are planning on having leave out, you can work with the hair. The density is average and this hair is the perfect choice for a basic and quick style.
What I Like
- Price –The hair is affordable and even offers a closure.
- Construction – The hair is double wefted making the bundles sturdy.
- Hair grade – The hair is 8A grade which is on the higher end of quality.
What I Don’t Like
- Texture – A body wave texture can be difficult to blend if you want to leave out hair.
- Density – The density is average, nothing to rave about.
- Customization – You can customize the closure but not the bundles.
5. Dsoar Brazilian Straight
Dsoar is a company based in China that provides high quality extensions. The company has been around since 2009 and has been able to provide high quality products to their customers throughout the years.
While the store can be seen as distracting, they offer everything you could need to shop. They are most known for their weaves but offer a variety of different options. Their products photos allow you to see the raw hair along with it styled to get a better feel of what you’re purchasing.
This specific set came with a closure which may be the perfect option for someone who wants to skip on the leave out. The hair is constructed extremely well, double wefted and thick throughout.
This set even includes the option to choose a hair type. You can choose from Brazilian hair, Malaysian, Indian, and Pervian. This allows you to get a closer match to the ideal hair you desire. While the texture may be difficult to blend if you have a leave out, you have options.
What I Like
- Construction – The bundles are double wefted and durable.
- Density – The bundles were thick from root to tip.
- Customizations – You could choose from 4 different hair types.
What I Don’t Like
- Texture – The hair is quite straight and may be difficult to blend if you skip the closure.
- Price – Since the set comes with a closure it’s more expensive than just bundles.
Factors to look out for when buying sew-in extensions
Construction
Extensions, specifically sew-ins, should be constructed in a high quality way. The reason behind this is since no glue or other bonding agent is used, this won’t further secure the extension. The construction affects the overall longevity of the extension.
Ideally a double wefted bundle is desired as the base is thicker. This makes the sewing process easier as there is more material to secure with the natural hair.
Another key area of the construction is the hair used, some companies use filler hair. Filler hair is generally seen at the base of the extension. They are short hairs placed between the longer length to boost volume but can stick up looking unflattering.
Texture
Consider the texture of a desired extension as it will determine the overall naturalness. If you decide to style the hair with leave out, this is even more important. If you invest in a closure or frontal you may have a little more room for choosing.
The texture you choose may even affect the overall longevity of the extension, depending on how well you take care of it. You generally have to take care of curly hair daily, if you want a low maintenance style, this may not be ideal for everyone.
Straight textures are often easier to maintain. Keeping this in mind, as your hair grows out, you will be able to spot the growth faster. The added volume won’t look as sleek under a straight extension.
Density
The density of an extension may be difficult to identify if you aren’t familiar with hair. Ensure to examine the ends of the hair to determine the overall density. This will help you to see the true thickness and avoid any filler hairs, if used.
Density of extensions should be similar to natural hair, not overly thick. Remember the extensions are sewn into your natural hair and if too thick, it could be damaging to your natural hair.
The ideal extension will feel thick from the top all the way to the bottom. This will give off a final look that appears healthy.
FAQ
Are sew-in extensions good for thin hair?
Sew-in extensions are a reasonable choice for those with thin hair. In order for those with thin hair to gain good results, the natural hair needs to remain damage free. It’s important to have a secure braid and ensure the extensions aren’t too heavy, this could cause too much tension to the natural hair.
How much do sew-in extensions typically cost?
The price can vary greatly depending on the type of hair you get and where you get it done. In most cases, the extensions themselves are not the expensive part. Their hair can be found at a reasonable price, the labor generally makes the overall price costly. You can expect to spend a couple of hundred dollars between the extensions and install.
Are sew-in extensions bad for your hair?
Sew-ins can cause damage to the hair if proper care is not being taken. This is true of any hair additives, not just sew-ins. You want to ensure the hair underneath is not too tight and if the extensions need to be repositioned, this is done promptly to avoid damage.
How long do sew-in extensions last?
Sew-in extensions should be replaced every 6-8 weeks. While it is possible to get away with longer if you’re taking good care of your hair, it’s advised to reposition the extensions. Your hair will have grown in those few weeks and this will lead to the extensions not being as tightly attached to the natural hair.
Closing
Sew-ins are a great option to switch up your style and are relatively easy to accomplish. You can get these extensions installed professionally or do them yourself.
While sew-in extensions can be expensive at times, it’s not always necessary to spend a lot. Finding quality extensions may take you some time but you no doubt won’t be disappointed when you’ve found the ideal match.
