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This is one of our favourite new styles - and it's great on all levels!
Read: Michelle Obama's natural hair has the internet doing cartwheels
Here's why we love this style:
- Crochet braids cut the amount of time you spend on doing your hair in half. It shouldn't take you more than a few hours to install and you can generally just wake up and go each morning. Just remember to take care of your scalp.
- These braids are gentle on the hair. Usually when you install a weave, it’s twice the pulling with the cornrows and then attaching of the weave onto the cornrows. These reduce the stress on your scalp.
- You can base your scalp easily while you have them on.
- It's great if you're transitioning and want to grow out your hair before doing the big chop.
- If you use synthetic hair which has more volume than human hair, it will be easier to install and will probably match the texture of your hair better.
You will need
- a hair crochet needle
- a tail comb
- braid hair or any fibre of your choice
- a pair of scissors
Prep the hair
STEP ONE: Starting from the back, plait horizontal cornrows from one side of your head to the other. Remember to connect each cornrow with the next so that there aren’t any loose ones that may unravel. Do these until you reach the middle of your head.
STEP TWO: When you’ve reached the middle of your head, start a new set of cornrows from the front of your head towards the middle (where the initial cornrows have ended). Do these until entire head is done. Connect this new set of cornrows by plaiting the ends together in one row, in the direction similar to the first set of cornrows.
STEP THREE: Prepare your hair piece. Cut it according to your preferred length.
STEP FOUR: Take a small section of the fibre from the ones you have cut. You should use the same amount of hair for each crochet for evenness. The less you use, the better the knot will lock. You can take out a few and have them ready to go to make it easier for you to keep the same size.
STEP FIVE: If this is your first time using the crochet needle, practice putting it through the hair and pulling it back before you proceed with the actual hair. Make sure the latch hook is open when you put the needle through the hair, and make sure it’s closed when you pull it back through. Practice this until you are comfortable with proceeding.
READ MORE: 3 Ways to tie the perfect headwrap
Start crocheting
STEP ONE: Make sure the latch hook is open before putting the needle through the hair. Put it through until entire hook and cap are past the cornrow.
STEP TWO: Place your sectioned strand of hair from step four on page one inside the hook so that both sides of the fibre are equal. Make sure that there aren't any hair fibres outside the hook as this may cause tangling and unevenness.
STEP THREE: Pull the needle back while still securing the fibre inside the latch hook with your other hand. The hook cap should snap back as soon as it reaches the hair.
STEP FOUR: Pull the needle hook back through the hair so that the fibre goes through the cornrowed hair. Remove the needle and hold the other end of the extension with your free hand.
STEP FIVE: Open the loop of the fibre that you've just taken through the cornrow. This will create the start of a knot.
STEP SIX: Take the one end of the hair through the loop and pull it to fasten.
STEP SEVEN: Your one crochet braid is complete. It should be secure. Continue to crochet through the rest of your cornrows
Take care of your hair
- Moisturise the hair in cornrows with a leave-in conditioning treatment every or alternate night depending on how dry your hair is.
- Spritz the extension hair with a curl activator
- Wash as often as you feel comfortable with. Apply a conditioner to your scalp and your own hair and rinse. Apply shampoo to your extension hair and rinse.
Via Drum.
Watch this how to video:
