How To Crochet Hair

Do you want more power over your hair and how you style it? Crocheting your hair is a great way to both protect your natural hair and change up your hairstyle every couple of weeks.

In this piece, we explain what exactly crochet hair is, how to do it at home and the benefits that this hair styling technique has.

What Is Crochet Hairs?

Crochet hair, or braids, refers to a hair styling technique rather than an actual hairstyle. Crochet braids are used to protect natural hair while also used to attach synthetic hair to the natural hair.

This style of hair is similar to a weave as it is supported by a base of cornrowed natural hair and hair extensions are then added to these cornrows. 

A crochet sewing hook is used to attach bulk or pre-looped hair extensions to the cornrows, which is why it was given the name Crochet braids.

This looping method that is used to attach the extensions to the natural cornrows allows extensions to be attached in a shorter space of time than if you were to incorporate the hair extensions into natural braids, which is sometimes used by hairstylists.

Crochet braids are also referred to as latch hook braiding. Below we look at how you can crochet your hair at home.

How To Crochet Hair At Home

Here is an easy to follow guide to help you achieve crochet braids at home.

1. Start with all of your natural hair in cornrows, braided from the front of your head to the nape of your neck
2. Take a crochet needle and begin to attach the synthetic hair or hair extensions, bit-by-bit
3. Slide the crochet needle under the cornrow with the latch closed. 
4. Open the latch and hook the synthetic hair onto the needle and close the latch again
5. Slowly pull the crochet needle back under the cornrow until a loop is formed in the synthetic hair. You should now hair a loop on the top of the cornrow and the tail of the synthetic hair under the cornrow
6. Lift the tails over the cornrow and put them through the loop, do not tighten just yet
7. Twist the loop using your fingers and then put the synthetic tails through the loop again, repeat this step one more time and then pull the tails to tighten and secure the synthetic hair to the cornrow
8. Repeat the above steps until all of the synthetic hair has been attached to the cornrows covering your head 

Tips For Crocheting Your Hair

Clean Your Hair

Having clean hair before doing the cornrows or installing crochet braids is important and will help to make the entire process simpler as your hair will be softer.

When you attach the crochet braids to your hair they usually stay attached for a number of weeks, leaving your natural hair unable to breathe and so a moisturizing product should also be used to prevent your hair from becoming dry and brittle.

Be Patient

It will take time to master this method, especially if you are doing it on your own hair. Take the time to master cornrows first to ensure you have a good base to install the crochet braids onto.

Adjust And Edit 

Once you have attached the crochet braids you will need to look at the hair and add extra volume where you will and adjust any areas that have not attached properly.

You can also remove hair if the finished style is too thick in certain areas. 

Application Thin Strip To The Front

At the front of your head, you will need to use thinner strips of synthetic hair as this will cover the knots that are left when installing crochet braids.

Crochet braids can look very natural when done properly so it is important to take the time to see what works and looks best for your hair and face shape.

Use A Bobby Pin

There are a number of ways that you can use a bobby pin in place of a crochet needle.

Using a bobby pin rather than a crochet needle does take slightly longer to master but it is a handy method to know if you find yourself without a crochet needle.

How To Care For Your Crochet Braids

Once you have installed crochet braids you will want to make sure that you look after them. Crochet braids do take some time and so you don’t want your efforts to be wasted.

Caring for your braids is simple. Follow the steps below to keep your braids looking better for longer.

Moisturize The Braids

Spritzing the hair with a leave-in conditioner or aloe vera water is a great way of maintaining your braids and hydrating your natural hair and scalp.

A light spritz is all that is needed daily, if you use too much product it may build up in the cornrows which can cause dandruff and a smell. 

Wear A Bonnet 

Covering the braids at night time helps to keep them looking fresh and smooth for longer. You can sleep wearing a satin bonnet or wrap a scarf around your braids to protect them. 

Wash Your Braids

It is possible to wash your hair while you have crochet braids installed, the focus is mostly on the scalp and not the lengths of the hair.

You should wash it once every two weeks, to do so simply follow the steps below:

1. Take a spray bottle and make a watered down shampoo solution. Spray this solution onto the scalp
2. Lightly massage the scalp using your fingers, making sure to not pull or tug on the hair
3. Gently rinse the hair to remove the shampoo solution from the scalp
4. Finish by adding a spritz of leave-in conditioner and seal with a hair oil

Make sure that your hair fully dries to avoid any mildew forming in the synthetic hair.

Benefits Of Crochet Hair 

Crochet hair has many benefits, the biggest benefit is that they are a protective style for your natural hair while also giving you the versatility of styling your hair how you wish with synthetic hair and extensions.

Below we look at some additional benefits to crocheted hair.

Cheap 

Buying the tools and synthetic hair can be done to suit any budget. Crochet needles are the only tool you need and they are never more than ten dollars.

You can bulk buy synthetic hair and hair extensions making it cheaper in the long run.

Easy To Master

Once you are able to do cornrows on your hair you are in a great position to master crocheting your hair.

Learning how to style your hair using this technique will give you great control and power over your hair and how you want to wear it.

Anyone can learn how to do crochet hair, it just takes a bit of patience at the beginning while you are learning.

Fast

You can install crochet hair braids in as little as two and a half hours. This may seem long but to achieve a box braid look you could be in a salon all day as synthetic hair is incorporated into the natural hair which is a tedious process.

Final Thoughts

Learning how to crochet your hair is a skill that you will never regret learning. Not only will it give you freedom, but it will also help you to save money and time on your hair.

Some hair styling techniques can be damaging to the natural hair but this hair will help protect your natural hair so that it is in good condition if you wish to wear your natural hair.

Learn how to style your crown and enjoy wearing a new style every couple of weeks.