Read ALL about my review process including how I take swatches, photos, and more here.
On Monday I had the pleasure of visiting the Indiqué Hair Boutique in Soho and also had the honor of getting my hair done by celebrity stylist Gabrielle Corney. I’m going natural and at four months since my last relaxer, I’d rather not deal with two totally different textures right now.
So weave it is!
But I’m so not a weave girl. Mainly because I spend so much on makeup and shoes and couldn’t afford another “habit”, but after seeing Gabrielle’s work, I knew I had to put my pennies together and go for it. After all if people like R&B singer Olivia (she’s weave free and has some of the healthiest color-treated hair on the planet), relationship expert Tionna Smalls, and corporate clients like Coogi and Mercedes Benz Fashion Week call on Gabrielle to perform hair magic, then I knew I was in great hands.
So after having a consultation with Gabrielle, we decided the best thing for me would be to start with a sew-in with very little hair out. Like basically just enough in the front to give me an authentic hair line and a little horse shoe section at the top to avoid the look I call “lampshade weave”. The lampshade weave is not the move, folks.
A major part of having a “natural-looking” weave is in the technique (which Gabrielle masters), but the other major part is in the hair you use. I can’t tell you enough about how having great quality hair is key. You pay more for it, but you definitely get what you pay for. I chose Indiqué because they offer 100% virgin Indian human hair that has never been chemically treated or altered. Their hair is also 100% Remy which means it doesn’t tangle and because it has cuticles that all grow in the same direction, it flows like natural hair does. And since the weft (the “band” that the tracks of hair are sewn on) is reinforced, Indiqué hair can be reused up to one year. Definitely worth the price in my opinion.
Buying Indiqué hair is also an experience. Their retail shop (open to the public) reminds me of a cool trendy lounge with hair choices galore. You want curly, wavy, straight, blonde, dark brown, black, or if you want to go there pink, they got it. I chose the “relaxed straight” hair which matches how my own hair looks with a relaxer.
After some diligent and careful sewing, my hair was ready to be cut. Gabrielle went in and took off some of the length and bulk with a special razor tool. The end result? A long bob.
And I love it! The hair blended in perfectly with the hair that was left out. Plus I can wear it bone straight, add a little (or a lot) of curls/waves–it’s so versatile.
If you’re looking for a new ‘do, Gabrielle is available by appointment. In addition to weaves she also does precision short haircuts, color, and more. Email her at hairstylist2thestars@gmail.com. Get behind the scenes hair info by following her on Twitter and checking out her Plixi photo account.
For more information on Indiqué hair and all the different types of 100% Remy, 100% Indian human hair they offer log on to www.indiquehair.com or visit their retail locations or authorized retailers in a city near you:
NYC
296 Elizabeth Street, Suite BF (Downstairs)
New York, NY 10012
(646) 701-0026
Boston
170 Neponset Ave.
Dorchester, MA 02122
(617) 379-1280
Nashville
1309 Bell Rd Suite 216
Antinoch, TN 37013
(615) 428-0671
Honey!!!! I have a sew-in now with Indique Hair and it has rocked my world! I almost passed out when I first brought the hair but the difference is divine!!!! I will never, ever go back to regular hair even if it's Remi. I have to have Virgin hair from now on!
Yes—Indique is awesome! Which type do you have?
That good, good Relaxed Straight Indique Hair ;)
I love it!
YOU BETTER WERKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK
thanks, boo :)
hey :) im loving your post you look great! i've never had a weave before but i had a few questions. Was it hard or did it take a long time to get an appointment with Gabrielle? also how do you figure out what type of hair/ style is for you?
It wasn\’t hard to get an appointment with Gabrielle–but I lucked out that she wasn\’t traveling with her other clients or busy doing shows at the time. The part that took long was me scraping my spare change together to have enough to pay for it…lol. I had a consultation with her beforehand and told her what my goals are and my lifestyle and she suggested this for me.
You look amazing!!! I made have to save up my pennies for a curly weave while I grow out my TWA.
Thank you! A curly weave sounds hot :)
Looks lovely! =D
Now, be careful keeping the section you have out straight…I went on a weave binge and when it was over, I had a straight hairline and horseshoe section that would not revert AT ALL. They should have never let me press my own hair. LOL.
Haha—I will. I was scared of that happening, too. Thanks :)
Awesome D,
love, love it!!!!
It did come out looking great. One trick you might keep in mind is when buying virgin Indian Remy hair, you can get a curly or wavy style and when you want it straight, just iron it. When you wet it later, it will revert to the original style. Sometimes, the naturally straight hair won't hold a curl for long, though.
Yesssssssss Danielle!!! This look is so you!! I dig it!
YAY on the transition to natural hair! Your sew in looks really good!!!! Is she the same stylist that does Necole Bitchies hair? I think I saw her mention it on Twitter…
LOL @ the caption under the last pic! You look great! :)
Didn't know they had a retailer in NAshville! I'm about to be on that. I'm 1.5 years natural, but looking to get a weave b/c I work-out. Can't wait to get my curly weave!
My recent post CELEB STYLE ROUND-UP- Happy times- looking good!
Looks GREAT!! May I ask how much a still like yours costs? Or is that not proper etiquette? I'd love to book an appt. with her the next time I'm in NYC – if I can afford it!
Hey Ms. Mo!
It all depends on the hair and which weave you get. You can email Gabrielle to get a quote though—just tell her exactly what you want. Her email is hairstylist2thestars @ gmail.com (I put the spaces in so that spam bots don’t infiltrate her email…lol).
Gorgeous! And you're so pretty (with or without weave)!
thanks, Hawa!
Yes, Danielle, you are beautiful. You must look like your Mom…LOL!!
*smh* thanks, mom…lol
omg it looks sooooooooooooooooooooooooo good !
thanks, tayy!
@BLACKswanBeauty sorry, I was napping. Here's my weave post: http://bit.ly/hCjzUt
I am thinking about going natural with a weave. While it grows out, it can be maintained with braids. I am so sicked and tired of getting a perm slapped in my hair and dealing with tissue burns (a reason why there are scabs in the hair.) Thanks for having this article up.
Hey Cherish!
You sound exactly like me when I decided to go natural…lol. I wound up doing a “big chop” anyway in between weaves, but have no qualms about getting another one when I want straight hair…lol. Thanks for reading this article :D
Hey Danielle! Are you still wearing weave? When you had this original weave with the horseshoe out, did that section suffer from having to keep it straightened?
Hey! After this weave I had it cut into a shorter bob after I reinstalled then after that I got a 16″ Pure Wavy from Indique (see here: https://www.thestyleandbeautydoctor.com/2011/06/admitting-weave-defeat/) with very little out. I didn’t do so well with it as you can see from that post…lol. I didn’t have the time most times to flat iron what was out so I mostly wore a straw hat and did a side bun…lol. Next time I get a weave I’m considering doing a full head with a bang with Indique Relaxed Straight in maybe 10 or 12″ which is much easier for me to manage. I was going to get the Coil Curl but have been jonesing for straight hair but don’t want to get a relaxer…lol. For the mean time I’ve been wearing my lil ‘fro.
But for the time I did flat iron the parts left out, I didn’t get heat damage largely because I didn’t do it often.
Hope this helps!
Thanks! I plan to get my first weave to help my transition (last relaxer 7 months ago). I SOOO wish I could afford Indique! Just a bit too rich for my blood, but I think it would blend better than virgin indian hair. I’ve learned a lot from the forums on blackhairmedia.com.. those girls are pros!
You’re welcome! Keep me posted on what you wind up getting! I’ve been watching a lot of Youtube videos lately and tons of girls are doing their own sew-ins. I’m not touching that because knowing me I’ll prick my fingers with the needle and wind up in the emergency room…lol. These hair girls are sooo talented!