Kinky-Curly Clipins Are A Better Alternative Than Crochet Braids In My Opinion

Crochet braids have been in style for a while now, but after watching my friends struggle for hours and sometimes days installing them, I just wasn’t with it. Don’t get me wrong, I absolutely love the look and style. I mean, some people have the technique so down pact that the hair looks like their own!

But for me, there were a few factors that made the trend a little less attractive:

1. Marley hair is expensive!

The lowest price I’ve ever bought it for was $5 (even in Ghana) per pack! This adds up when you do any style that calls for volume. Crochet braids and other Marley styles usually take around 4-5 packs. You can save and reuse your hair but only for so long.

2. Installation takes forever

Let’s think about this one. Crochet braids require three steps, all of which take a significant amount of time if done right: Step 1. Cornrow hair, Step 2. Crochet the extensions* in, Step 3. Curl and style the hair. All of that takes hours to finish, and usually requires you to free up your whole weekend.

3. Too much upkeep

By “upkeep” I mean the effort it takes to keep the curls looking right and the hair looking full. Often, people have to re-curl or twist each week, which can be time consuming and tedious.

4. You may neglect your actual hair

The number one rule of protective styling is: Don’t forget about your real hair! With crochet braids it seems a lot more difficult to moisturize your hair daily under the Marley hair. This can be a setback if your goal is to grow or strengthen your hair through protective styling.

So what’s the alternative you may ask?

Kinky*-Curly clipins

During my first year post big chop, I went on a search for the ultimate protective style. I considered weave*, but feared the scratching and head patting that seemed inevitable, and I was tired of braids (At that time, crochet braids were not yet mainstream).

So naturally I began to peruse good old YouTube for suggestions. I found a couple videos on kinky clip-ins, and the rest is history. I ordered the cheapest bundle I could find, and have had them ever since! They are the perfect protective style and lifesaver on a bad hair day for so many reasons:

1. They are reusable

This was the selling point for me. Rather than spend money on good weave* that I’d probably throw away after a few weeks, I could spend that same amount, if not less, on reusable clip-ins that I could keep for years.

2. Easy 5 minute install

Depending on how you decide to wear your hair under the clips, installation can be as quick as 5 minutes. The hardest part is blending your leave out, but there are many videos on YouTube explaining how to do that effectively.

3. Very secure

Initially I was wary of the sturdiness of the clips, but they were very secure and last throughout the whole day with various styles!

4. Realistic natural textures

Clip-ins are becoming more widely used in the natural hair community, so many companies are coming out with textured hair lines. This gives you many options to choose from!

5. You can take care of your own hair

Because you only wear the clips during the day, you can undo your cornrows or braids and moisturize your hair every night. This way, you have decreased manipulation during the day but added moisture at night! But as with any style, there are also some downsides:

They are expensive

Prices range from $150-$180 but as detailed above, they are cost effective in the long run

You can’t wear the style to bed

Or you can, but you might wake up without edges…

Blending is an acquired skill

It will probably take a while to figure out how to blend your hair well. Thankfully, there are countless videos on YouTube that you can consult for tips. As you can see, the benefits greatly outweigh the downsides when it comes to clip-ins. Would you invest in kinky-curly clip-ins?

I purchased my bundle of 10 clips from an online store called La Maison du Papillon for $150. This was the lowest price I could find.

While I love my clip-ins, I would suggest trying a different brand or making your own clips. The ones I purchased had some wear and tear just a few weeks in, and I had to go in and secure some of the clips on the weft with needle and thread. At that point, I may as well have made my own clip-ins!

Kurly Klips is another, slightly more expensive alternative. These clips seem more secure and have more texture variation. If I were to buy another bundle, I’d probably try these out.

Do you see yourself trying kinky*-curly clip ins*? Are you convinced that they are a better protective style than crochet braids? Let me know in the comments below!