Crochet Braids FAQs - 9 Of Your Questions Answered

Crochet braids are an old style that seems to have come back as a new fad. I started wearing crochet braids about a month after I big chopped back in September of 2014, and it has been my go-to style ever since!

Before becoming natural I had never even heard of this style, so when I decided to get it done, needless to say I was very nervous and had a ton of questions!

On the blog we have had our own share of questions as well, 10 of which we hope to answer in this post. With that said here are a few FAQs for anyone who is thinking about trying crochet braids and just wanted more information.

1. What exactly are crochet braids?

Crochet braids are extensions* that are crocheted into your own hair, by using a latch hook tool. It is similar to a full sew in, in the sense that all of your hair is braided straight back, and the hair is being latched into the cornrows.

2. How long does the process take?

It can vary, but from my experience it did’t take long at all. I come in with my hair fully washed and blown out, and from the braiding process all the way to her putting the finishing touches and laying my baby hairs, the whole process doesn’t take more than 1-2 hours, give or take. It is much quicker that a sew in, in my opinion, and definitely faster than box braids, or senegalese braids, etc.

3. What are some of the benefits of crochet braids?

One of the huge benefits is hair retention. This is a protective style, meaning that your natural hair underneath is being protected. Since I big chopped a year ago, my hair has grown so much, and I truly believe a big part of that was due to protective styling.

Also, crochet braids aren’t like typical braids, i.e box braids- that are being braided into small sections of your hair, and literally snatching your edges in the process.

I’m sure we have all heard of stories or even experienced it for ourselves, about someone getting tight braids and losing edges the process. Since your hair is cornrowed, and then the braiding hair is latch hooked into the braids, there is no tight tension pulling on your edges. For me that was a huge thing.

Also, if you really love the box braids look, then guess what…. you can get crochet box braids! or even Havanna twists. Which leads me to the final benefit, crochet braids are extremely versatile and you can experiment with many different lengths, and hair textures or types.

4. How long do they last?

It varies. But with proper upkeep, they can last 4-6 weeks, or even 8 weeks. However, I wouldn’t suggest keeping a style in past 6- 8 weeks. Remember, the goal of protective styling is hair health and retention!

5. How do I treat my scalp and natural hair with crochet braids?

You can separate the hair and get to your scalp and apply oil, or cleanse and moisturize with a spray bottle of your favorite  conditioner and oil mixture.

I have never tried washing the hair, simply because the hair is synthetic and I didn’t want to go through the hassle of washing and drying synthetic hair, so I don’t wash my hair, just make sure I tend to my scalp.

6. I just big chopped, is my hair long enough for crochet braids?

I would suggest you consult with your stylist, but as long as you have enough length to catch a braid, than yes, it should be long enough.

7. How do I prepare my hair for crochet braids.

Typically, before any protective style, I give my hair a little extra love. Because remember, your hair is going to be “hidden” and put away for a couple of weeks, so you want to make sure you’re giving it a boost of moisture.

With that said, I make sure to not only wash and deep condition my hair, but also give myself a hot oil treatment to seal in the moisture prior to getting it braided. Then, usually the night before, I blow out my hair.

8. How many packs of hair will I need?

It varies on how full you want your style to be. I generally use 5-6 packs. I love big and full hair. Also, it is important to note that as the weeks go on, the style will shrink, and due to matting and tangles you will have to occasionally just cut out the tangles. So, if you use more packs, the fullness will decrease, but it won’t really be a big deal, and still full.

9. How do I remove the crochet braids?

The easiest way to remove the crochet braids is to cut the hair low to the base of the cornrows right above where the knot is tied. I like to apply a conditioner and oil mixture to make it a bit easier to unravel the cornrows and also prevent unnecessary breakage.

Have you tried crochet braids lately?