Recently we wrote about the decline of relaxer sales over the last few years since the popularity of the healthy hair movement. As some of the comments suggested, the decline in sales was likely due both women returning to natural hair as a whole along with relaxed hair ladies realizing that stretching their relaxers for 12+ weeks was healthier and led to longer hair than the recommended 6-8 week period.
It was also fascinating to discover that this switch away from relaxers didn’t necessarily mean that the average woman on the street was now rocking her natural texture, no, weaves and wig* sales remained strong even growing in sales in certain locations. To the average person who has been involved in the hair care industry for any length of time, the reason for this is obvious: Protective Styling!
Yes, while many of us are finally embracing our natural textures; be in through transitioning to natural or in fact embracing new growth as part and parcel of having healthy relaxed hair, it’s obvious that we also still want long hair of our own. A lot of us now realize that the fastest way to get to long healthy hair of our own is through protective styling.
Crotchet braids can be worn by natural, transitioning or relaxed ladies, they are pretty easy to install and take down and of course it helps that they look great too.
Of course they are not “braids” in the truest sense of the word but rather one could look at them as an alternative to a sew in weave. The main benefit of crotchet braids is that they are lighter and you can use regular synthetic braiding hair to achieve really gorgeous looks without spending a fortune on extensions*.
This tutorial below by HowToBlackHair is as detailed a tutorial as you will ever get on crotchet braids! It goes all the way from how best to part your hair gently if you are natural, through to which braiding pattern to choose and also a look at two different methods for installing the crotchet braids themselves.
The tutorial is quite long at just under an hour but you can skip to the good bits (as I often do) to learn what you really need to know. Enjoy!
Maintaining crotchet braids is pretty simple. Since you have very good access to your scalp you are able to wash them as often as you like and you can also moisturize and seal effectively with products of your choice.
I came to crotchet braids late myself but I’m a huge fan now and soon I will be doing a comparison of sew in weaves vs crotchet braids. Have you tried them before and what was your experience?
Cherese AllNatural Campbell says
LOVE THEM! Experimenting with crochet braids for the past 5 months!
Inez Smith says
is it possible to do havan twists or anything like that with crochet
Cherese AllNatural Campbell says
yep, this is marley twist, crochet braids. u can do literally anything with them. And its so cheap, and you can asily learn to do them yourself.
Ashley Kelly says
Quick to put in and take out.
Cherese AllNatural Campbell says
Nubian lock twist crochet braids
Grisel Da'Blanco says
cute
Kwame Aboagye says
Our sisters are so electricying wild and attractively sweet.
Chaley Breaux says
They are great there are so many different styles you can do withit different hair types….just make sure you get someone who knows how to do it properly……..
Calvetta Lane says
Cute!!
Jessica Tru Wright says
Have them in now and my hair loves them
Clenesia Holmes says
Love it. What type of hair did you use?
Jessica Tru Wright says
Thank you i used brazilan curl by freetress 1 1/2 packs
LaKeda Drummer-Bivins says
Are these like old school latch hook braids or something else? Technique-wise….
BlackHairInformation.com says
Pretty much the same
Inez Smith says
shes dope
De'Ardrea Dee-dee Mckinzie says
yes, i have them in now LOVE IT 😉
De'Ardrea Dee-dee Mckinzie says
@ inez Yes u can do it with twist
Benita Always'wins says
LOVE crochets getting more for the Christmas holiday, this was last year !
Keaira Steed says
Hi what kind of hair did you use
Bernard Frazier says
Ok, she is gorgeous
Tamara Simonne says
I seen her channel before.
Jessica Henry says
Benita Always’wins what kinda hair did u purchase?
Kandra T. Arends says
I love this lady. She annuniciates and is very detailed with her instructions.
Phelecia Tonnie Ingram says
Loves love love them. My profile pic are the ones that I am rocking right now. So many hair choices and you can do certain hairstyles for under $10.
Candace Hubbard says
when i was like 11….i havent tried the more modern style of crochet braid, and i dnt plan on.
Shaniqua Martin says
Crochet Marley Hair. Loved it. Even straightened it and wore it in a twist out. Quick and easy to take out too ^_^
Ena Blue says
It looks beautiful!!! Did you leave any hair out in the front because it sort of looks like you did? 🙂
Shaniqua Martin says
Yeah I did. Wouldn’t recommend it tho. It was hard to blend. And thank you ^_^
Madmoiselle Genevie says
Love it. What’s the name of the brand and how long did you keep it.
Alexandra Claire Wainwright says
Please take that out!
Kimeve Edmonson says
My fav do! Easy too. Knocked this style out first try.
Angel Akinyi says
Lovely
Jonie Wainwright says
i love this look i cant get it dont i live in jamaica west indies its the first im going to try it whats the name of the braids
Deidra Bush says
I did and it was great. I had a leave out around my edges n people still didnt believe it wasnt my hair even when i told them
TayJa Sims says
I have been wearing this style since the July and I love it!!! Its easy safe and a great protective style!!
Kendeana Berry says
Yes! I loved it!!!! My profile picture is an example of how it looked
Laura H Howard says
i’ve had them before, and i got sooo much compliments on how beautiful it was
Shana Andrews says
I love Crochet braid; To do them is very time consuming..
Shaleka Norris says
Yep got it in my hair now! It’s great!
AlexxaRhea Lee says
Love em! My profile pic is my crochet braids. I love that I can do them myself and that There’s so many diverse styles.
Darlene Elizabeth Brewster says
my hair grew like wild fire in crochet braids!! my only negative with them was I did them myself… took quite a bit of time… and my head itched like crazy! thought I had fleas on my scalp! no joke!! but I did like them.
Ena Blue says
I loved the experience!!! Because my hair is natural I really dont have the time to be doing my hair especially since i am in the gym so much!!! 🙂
Tina Greene-Dugas says
Love crochet braids! Yes they make your hair grow!
Samira Perry says
Shardonnay Macias are you still enjoying yours???
Robin Sturdivant says
I wore them back in 2005
Ericka Harrison says
Yed in early 90s..
Dana McDowell says
I am gonna try this soon..love this ..
Brenda Fitts says
love this gonna try it
Marsi Martin says
Yes I have it hurt like heck! #Neveragain
Pascha L. Lee-Linthicum says
Been wearing them for over a decade… Love them!! Grew my hair like crazy…Get compliments all the time..:-)
Kathryn Anderson-Atkinson says
Thank you this video was very informative. How long should these stay in and how do you care for them (washing etc.)
LaTasha Strahan says
Cute!
LaTasha Strahan says
I need to see is Marley hair comes in my colors….
Samantha Wint Agrios says
Thanks to you tube I mastered the technique..now I am on my second set. .I use soft dreads braiding hair but struggle to get them in the UK, so ordered in bulk from the states…
Shenikqwa Mcduffie says
I had this hair croch bread no one did know it wasnt my hair i did it my self for the 1st time and it came out nice! Its cheap to do it to
Malayna Abad says
I love her vidoes.
Rayven Elisabeth Reeves says
My fav & best protective style 3 years running!!
Siretta Bonds says
I love crochet braid hairstyles, excellent protective style for the colder months
Tiaira Gary says
Christina Parks this is what I did with my weave. Its not necessarily braids. Mine was like this loose weave.
Jessie Gii says
I do them have for years and am working them now as we speak lol I love this very easy and great for my hair! I use pre-packaged curly braids
Lakeisha Titwell says
I do. I do my own. Works good
Lasilia Imnottheonenottoday Thornton says
i love her vids. she and her husband are so cute together.
Alicia Adanna says
Yes that’s whut I have in right now and i love love love it… About 3 wks in now…
Cathrine De Roche Wiggins says
I have and I love it
Stephie Smith says
I did the crotchet braids myself 1 month ago. I used marley hair. Its easy actually, takes a bit of time though. It looks great in the end. Also, my edges weren’t so stressed. I will definitely be using this method more regularly.
Anita Copeland says
Just took mine out, best decision ever. My edges that havent grown in years finally started growing. Getting them done again real soon….
Jacquelyn Montague says
I have them in now and will be reinstalling more today. Great for transitioners such as myself.
Shaunda Harris says
Love it! Its quick, easy and lasts a few weeks!
Constance TwinTink Ross says
I have crotchet nubian that i did about 3 weeks ago. They are a great protective style, easy on edges and very easy to manage.
Sapphira Hayward says
I’ve had them three times. Currently wearing them now. Haven’t mastered how to keep them from slipping though and wish I could find hair that doesn’t shed so much, but they are pretty good to have and looks natural
Kaii Anderson says
Watching her videos taught me how to do Havana twist
Neresa Smith says
I have worn them in my actual hair and as a wig.
Watched Brianna and a few other ladies do it on YouTube.
Iysha Smith says
Currently wearing them now.I love them to keep them form slipping out tie them twice.
Stacie Hart says
How much does this cost?
Chandradaughterof Janettegranddaughter Ofjames says
Got tired of doing my hair and just had my daughter put some in to keep me from running back to the creamy crack. They are so cute and the Marley hair looks awesome. Best decision I made for a protective style.
Ni-Ni Henderson says
No because whenever I saw people with them while growing up, it looked very ugly, executed poorly, and cheap. Nowadays it looks worth doing to my hair, but for me, I can do other styles that include weaves that achieve the same exact results everyone is talking about, if not better, and it would only take a fraction of the time.
Shamieka Wilson says
Umm im sure its not called crotchet but crochet. **Ijs**
Cynthia Layeni says
I just installed my 2nd set for the first time and I love the way it turned out. I love them and the fact that it’s no stress on your head.
Lynnette Holley says
I put them in my daughter’s hair, best decision ever. No breakage to her natural and I was able to get to her scalp and clean it weekly.
Danielle Chambers says
In the process of an install right now
Christina Miller says
Yes, I just installed them two days ago. It took me much longer to do this time because I did smaller braids across the front. This is only my second time doing crochet braids but I will continue to improve.
Shuga Johnson says
I wear them with jerry curly like hair and really like it. I’ve never paid a professional so every time I’ve had them has looked different but cute. I am trying the Marley hair next time!
Abimbola Oduwole says
its a great protective style with easy removal.i used prebraided extensions with mine,so it was like having micro braids but without the stresss on your scaalp. plus when the extensions are braided, you can wash and reuse them with ease, so you save money! i’m gonna curl mine with water for the next time i use them, its a beautiful style.
Candi Ballard-Zolicoffer says
I useto wear them back in the day when I was in my teens thats when I first started going natural I loved it it stayed up for a couple months and it really grew my hair out
Drina No'MoreLyes Phillip says
I listen to her videos but the way she explains her video annoys me a little. I wish she didn’t sound so rehearsed … I do give it to her though she give you a lot of details but for me personally I get lost after she repeats it….