My Crochet Braids Experience

Winter is gone and I just want to reflect on the hairstyles I rocked all winter long. I basically had one protective style which I changed up depending on how I felt or what I wore that day. For the first time I tried out crochet braids on my own hair. I used two types of braids, Yaki (with no leave out) and Marley (with leave out). Both braids were awesome but I liked how the Marley hair looked more. So to make this post a little simpler, I’m going to state the things I noticed about crochet braids in point form. Here goes…

1. They are quick and easy. Because I have very few hair on my scalp, the whole process took me a little above an hour. That is plaiting my corn rows and crocheting the braids on.

2. Do not use too much or too little of the braids. Too little with no leave out, you’ll have gaps showing your corn rows, with leave out your hair will look uneven and tattered. Too much with leave out will look so unnatural, without leave out will only put pressure on your corn rows and weigh on them.

3. There’s little to no manipulation of your hair. You only temper with it when plaiting your corn rows or when you have a leave-out.

4. They are very versatile, especially when you have a leave out. I personally loved the Vixen crochet braids using Marley hair. The styles are endless!! With the Yaki after a week I ended up twisting the braids because they were slowly becoming a tangled mess.

5. If you do choose to have a leave out, moisturizer should be your best friend. Your hair (leave out) gets really dry real quick and tangled up with the braids. Make sure to moisturize, then detangle or comb to avoid breakage.

6. Sleep with a hair net or satin scarf. This will help keep your braids looking fresh and tangle free if they weren’t pre-braided.

7. Love your scalp. Like the usual braids, you are able to access your scalp so keep it moisturized and well cared for (do not scratch).

8. Care for them braids too. I personally like applying a leave in conditioner, this makes the braids feel softer, gives them a healthy glow and they won’t be of any harm to your hair, neck and shoulders (friction zero).

9. Be creative with those braids. Make use of headbands, scrunches, pins, clips and scarfs. Else you’ll have the same style always, get bored and remove them in no time without fully enjoying the braids.

10. Do not leave the braids in too long. The only way to remove crochet braids is to cut them off, and if you have natural hair, you know how wild your hair can act when that style gets old. You really don’t want to risk cutting your hair and struggling to remove the braids either so I advise you not to surpass 4-5weeks with the Marley hair and 6weeks with any other less kinky braid of your choice.

So that’s it, if you are a person who loves braids but doesn’t want to sit hours on end to get your hair done, these are for you. Whoever came up with the idea is a pure genius, got me fooling multitudes that my natural hair has grown so long and voluminous 😂😂😂

Have you tried them too? If you have, make sure to share your experience and advice in the comments. Also tag me @uvimbo_reviews on your Instagram uploads when you rock your own crochet braids.