I finally tried the latest (yet not new) protective hairstyle craze — crochet braids. At first I didn’t get the point of it.

Me: So it’s a weave?

The world: No! It’s braids.

Me: With hair looped into the braids.

The world: Yes.

Me: So it’s a weave?

The world: 😒

I have nothing against weave. I’ve worn a weave two or three times in my life and it was fun. However, since my return to natural back in 2012, I’ve been anti-fake hair (except for Kanekalon of course. Kanekalon is bae). Returning to natural is like becoming a born again Christian. You just got saved this past Sunday, so now you don’t drink alcohol, you don’t swear, you don’t even wear skirts that cut above your ankles. You become super militant about your new way of life. My soul has been restored but the purity phase is over and I’m a bit open to all different types of hairstyles. I may even do a blow-out….maybe.

Anyway, what really sold me to crochet braids was this video on how to do “vixen” crochet braids. Apart from learning the technique, which is very different from hair weaving, I also discovered that I can use loose hair extensions — Kanekalon.  It is SO NOT A WEAVE! Like I said, I’m now open to all different types of hairstyles but I’m instantly game for anything that looks most closely to my natural hair. #TheFroWontGo

I won’t bore you with how I did it. There are way too many videos out there for that. Instead, I’m going to give you a testimonial. I actually wish I read some testimonials before doing this style, but my crochet braid experience was a bit of an impromptu one. See all the pertinent deets below.

What You’ll Need:

• Extremely moisturized and conditioned hair (It’s best to do any protective style after a deep condition)
• 1-3 packs of synthetic hair depending on your style  (my look required 3 packs of Marley hair) 
• Crochet needle (I recommend using the needle that has a latch. It’s much easier to help keep your looped hair in place.)

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• YouTube videos (There are so many methods but the below helped me a lot)

Time it Took:

1.5 days – It didn’t have to take this long. I went a bit overboard and crocheted the hair way too close together. I would never do that again. It was absolutely unnecessary. The excess hair made the process longer than it needed to be, and it also made my hairstyle a bit too bulky (so I couldn’t do a slick ponytail like I wanted to). 

The process

Dont mind the lotion in my hair. Check out those invisible braids!

If you have someone else do this for you, it should take only a few hours. My sister-in-law helped me with my first section of hair and that only took about 2 hours. If you do it alone, it may just take you a full day.

Styles:

Like I explained earlier, the bulkiness of this style (due to over installation) made it hard to do slick buns and ponytails. However, I did get to do the most epic bantu knots of all time. Check out my favorite looks below.

The mane was super wild, so I kept it twisted for more relaxed days.

Bedtime look

I got tired of the long mane, so I chopped it.

Before the style and blend.

You truly dont need to see what was behind me. lol A MESS!

Had to do it for IG. @KazzleDazz

Maintenance and Feel:

• It was pretty light on the head.
• A little itchy (it is Kanekalon after all)
• Slept with hair in sectioned 2 strand twists and wore silk bonnet.

CONCLUSION

What I loved:

• Invisible braids and freedom to part my hair in various ways! (IT’S NOT A WEAVE!!)
• The style is so gorgeous and fun. It was like having a huge afro. Speaking of which, take a look at this video below. #Doing!

What I didn’t love:

• The takedown. The video I learned from suggested knotting your hair 4-6 times – PLEASE DO NOT DO THAT. One or two knots will suffice. Too much knots can make it difficult to uninstall.

Give this look a try! Let me know your thoughts, advice, or questions in the comment section below!
“I Tried It” is a new series in which I try new styles, food, places, or things and give my most honest review! Drop me a line and let me know what you’d like me to try next!