Hello, Sistah! Have you ever tried crochet braids? This uber-cool hairstyle, seen mostly in the African community in the 90s, is making a comeback all around the world. If you have medium to long hair, you too can try this.

Crochet braids look cool. If I had the length, I would totally try this style on me. But, alas, I keep my hair short. But nothing should stop you from trying.

What is a crochet braid?

The tightly coiled or springy hair that you see on some women isn’t always natural, although some women are born with that kind of gorgeousness. It is a type of styling that involves (involved, really) intricate braiding, and a few hours of work.

Today, crochet braid styles are so much easier to fashion. YouTube and Instagram have countless videos, and you can always refer to those after you are done reading this article.

Let’s get started, shall we?

How to make crochet braids?

Instead of opting to teach you the more traditional, long-drawn process that was practiced earlier, we’ve chosen to teach you a simpler method.

Start with clean washed hair. This style is going to be with you for a few weeks at least and you will not be able to wash your hair the usual way for some time. I usually keep a bottle of Pantene Pro-V handy at home.

Let’s begin with your crochet gear.

• Braid hair (found online or ask your salon to direct you to a good quality braid)
• 1 latch hook
• 1 pair of scissors (if you choose to cut the braid to the desired length)
• Latch hook tool

Step 1: Choosing the braid pattern

• Before you begin styling, you must know what kind of crochet braids you want. That will decide how you braid your original hair.
• You can begin with cornrows if it’s your first time. That is an easier (and actually the best) way to braid your hair for crochet braids.
• You can do a center parting or a side depending on how you want your crochet braids to lie.
• Make the cornrows as thin as possible, and ensure they are flat on your head and not jumping up curiously.

Step 2: Prepping the braided hair

• Get the braided hair out of its packing.
• You can keep its existing length or cut it to create more volume.

Step 3: Starting to lay it in

• Open the latch hook and gently push it under the first cornrow braid.
• Take the packaged hair and hook it into the latch tool.
• Close the latch to prevent your hair from snagging on it. Ouch!
• Pull the latch hook back, pulling the hooked hair along with it.
• Unhook the hair and make a loop from it.
• Push the free ends of the hair through the loop.
• Give the loop a twist and run the hair through it again.
• Pull it tightly.
• Separate the hair into two sections and tie a knot.
• You do this to make sure the hair stay put, come what may.

Step 4: Repeat

• Continue doing this until all your cornrows have hair attached to them.
• It might take a while to get going in the first few rows, but before you know it, a rhythm sets in and you will be doing it quickly.
• It helps to have a friend over to do the back sections. Or better, just do it for each other.

Easy, isn’t it? And you thought you won’t know how to do crochet braids.

There are many ways you can style your crochet braids. Try the crochet twist braids, or even add accessories like small jewels and beads. The beauty of this style is that you can experiment a lot without damaging your natural hair. You can try out 5 more summer hairstyles with these hairstyling ideas by Reward Me.

So, are you ready to try something new today?

Find more hair care and hairstyling tips at Reward Me, an Urban Woman’s go-to lifestyle blog.