In follow up to our last post which gave you advice on how to prep your hair prior to putting in a hair weave, this post is all about what to do during and after taking your hair weave down. Taking a weave out can be tedious, especially if you are used to a sew in weave. However, taking your weave out can be an easier process if you choose to take your weave out properly. Here's how:
Wash Your Locks and Condition Them Prior to Removal
Just like you would condition your locks prior to getting your hair colored, it's important to wash and condition your hair to prep it for when you'll be taking your weave out too. Cleaner hair is not only easier to work with, but hair that has enough moisture will be less dirty too. Your hair will be somewhat dirty regardless if you have it up in braids that are "hidden," but washing your hair thoroughly will certainly help with this process. One thing you can do to help reach the hair that's tucked away is to dilute your favorite shampoo, put it into an applicator bottle, and then spray and use it throughout your hair (especially the hair and scalp that gets covered up by your extensions). This will reach and clean the areas of your hair and scalp that are hard to get to. ;)
It's Time to Remove Shed Hair and Untangle Your Locks!
After you've successfully removed your hair extensions, it's time to get rid of your shed hair! If you want to prevent matting it's important to get rid of shed hairs that are hiding near your scalp. To prevent matting and other problems from happening, detangle your hair as you go and use a wide tooth comb. You also can use your fingers to remove as much shed hair as possible as well. Just remember to be gentle so that you won't damage your hair.
If you are seeing a ton of hair don't be alarmed. Your hair after all has been hidden for quite some time so losing some hair is completely normal. ;)Removing Hair Weaves Take Time - Be Patient!
When you're taking out your weave this doesn't mean that you should rush, rush, rush. In fact, you need to take as much time doing this as possible because you don't want to accidentally cut your real hair! After cutting out the hair weave (do this properly if you want to keep your current hair weave), unravel your braids thoroughly. Also, unraveling them one by one is a good idea, as opposed to doing this quickly. If you try to unravel your braids too fast you're going to end up with a lot of tangles and a big mess of hair. If you do come across knots and tangles (which are to be expected since your hair has been up for a while), take your time and get the tangles out. It may take time and you may find yourself getting frustrated, but you need to treat your tresses with love. You don't want them damaged, you want them in excellent condition! So think of the results and not the current situation.
So remember when you take your weave out that your natural tresses are just as important. Giving your hair time to readjust may take some time, but putting a new weave back in shouldn't be a problem. Take your time and treat your tresses with lots of love - you want your hair to look as lovely as possible!
Post-Weave Hair Care: The Complete Recovery Routine
Taking a weave down is just the beginning of proper post-weave care. The steps you take in the days after removal make a significant difference to the health and length of your natural hair going forward. Here's the complete recovery routine.
"The week after removing a sew-in is one of the most important hair care periods in the whole cycle. Your hair has been compressed, your scalp has had limited airflow, and your ends have been protected but also potentially dry. Taking the time to assess and restore your natural hair before reinstalling anything pays dividends."
- Priyanka Swamy, Founder of Perfect Locks
Immediately After Removal: Assessment and Treatment
Before you wash or style, take a few minutes to assess your hair in its natural state. Look at:
Your edges: Are they as full as before the install? Some thinning at the hairline is common if braids were tight. Note any areas of concern and give them extra care over the next few weeks.
Your ends: Do your ends feel dry or brittle? Ends that were tucked away under the weave are protected from manipulation but not from dryness. Apply a small amount of oil to the ends before doing anything else.
Your scalp: Any irritation, buildup, or soreness? Your scalp will tell you a lot about how the install affected it. Buildup suggests you'll need a clarifying wash. Soreness suggests the braids may have been too tight.
The Post-Weave Wash and Condition Routine
Detangle before wetting
Use your fingers and a wide-tooth comb to gently detangle your natural hair in dry sections before wetting. This removes the shed hair that accumulated during the wear period (completely normal) and prevents it from creating large tangles during washing.
Clarifying wash to remove buildup
Use a clarifying or deep-cleansing shampoo for your first post-weave wash. This removes scalp buildup, product residue, and any mildew risk from moisture that sat under the wefts. Don't skip this step even if your scalp feels relatively clean - 6-8 weeks of limited washing accumulates more than you'd expect.
Deep conditioning treatment
Apply a rich deep conditioning mask to your entire head after the clarifying wash. Leave on for 20-30 minutes with a plastic cap, using gentle heat if possible. Your natural hair has been under tension and in a compressed state - deep conditioning restores moisture and elasticity. This is not a step to rush.
Protein treatment if needed
If your hair feels particularly limp, stretchy, or lacking in bounce after the deep conditioning, a light protein treatment helps restore structure. Do the protein treatment before the deep conditioning mask, not after. If your hair feels stiff or brittle after the deep conditioning, skip the protein for now - your hair needs more moisture, not protein.
The 1-2 Week Recovery Period
Give your natural hair at least 1-2 weeks of open hair care before reinstalling any protective style. During this period:
Moisturize daily with a lightweight leave-in spray. Avoid heat styling if possible - let your hair recover in its natural state. Wear loose, low-manipulation styles. Focus extra care on the hairline and edges, which take the most tension from braiding. If you want to wear a style during this period, clip-in extensions are an excellent option - they add volume and length with zero tension on your scalp and come out at night.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I do after taking out a sew-in weave?
Finger detangle before washing to remove shed hair. Do a clarifying wash to remove buildup from weeks of limited washing. Follow with a deep conditioning treatment. Assess your hair and scalp for any thinning or irritation. Give your natural hair 1-2 weeks of open, low-manipulation care before reinstalling any extension method.
How long should you wait before getting another sew-in?
At minimum 1-2 weeks, but ideally 2-4 weeks of recovery time between sew-in installs. Your scalp follicles need time to recover from the tension of the cornrows, and your hair benefits from a period of unrestricted growth and natural moisture circulation before the next install. Women who go immediately from one install to the next often notice gradual hair thinning over time, particularly at the edges.
Is it normal to lose a lot of hair after taking out a sew-in?
Yes - what looks like significant shedding after removing a sew-in is usually accumulated natural shedding from 6-8 weeks of low-manipulation wear. You normally shed 50-100 hairs per day, and when hair is braided flat these hairs stay in rather than falling naturally. When the braids are removed, all that shed hair comes out at once, which can look alarming. As long as the shedding stops within a few days of removal and your hair density looks similar to before the install, this is normal.
How do you restore hair health after a sew-in weave?
Clarifying wash to remove buildup, followed by deep conditioning to restore moisture. Light protein treatment if the hair feels limp or over-moisturized. Daily leave-in moisturizing during the recovery period. Scalp oil for the hairline and edges. Low-manipulation styles for 1-2 weeks before reinstalling. This sequence restores most natural hair health within a couple of weeks of consistent care.
Author and Founder of Perfect Locks LLC
Priyanka Swamy, the visionary founder of Perfect Locks LLC, is a passionate advocate for empowering women and promoting cultural diversity. With an unwavering commitment to ethical sourcing and quality craftsmanship, she redefined the hair extension market and created a supportive community that celebrates individuality.
Priyanka's dedication to sustainability and social responsibility continues to inspire positive change within the industry. Her journey with Perfect Locks remains an inspiration, unlocking the true potential and confidence of countless individuals worldwide.
