The Elements of a Crochet Weave
It took me a long time to discover crochet, a gentler alternative to a traditional sew-in weave. For many years, I wore hair extensions, but blending my hair with a traditional weave was causing damage. Like so many African American women, I realized that I needed to embrace a natural hairstyle, but I didn’t want to sacrifice the length and volume I enjoyed with hair extensions. After a few years of trial and error, I settled on the crochet method because of its versatility. Using this method, I’ve enjoyed bountiful up-dos, blond faux locs, slip in micro-braids, and seamlessly worn my natural hair long.
What is a Crochet Weave?
A crochet weave is a natural hairstyle, meaning it does not require heat or chemicals. The construction of a crochet weave is similar to a traditional sew-in weave, except it is more affordable, more versatile, and the tools are different. Whereas a traditional weave is intended to blend, a crochet weave is intended to protect. Your crochet hairstyle can be long and wavy, short and curly, natural and thick, or anything else you want. Ultimately, your hairstyle will depend on the extensions you select and the design of your foundation, explained below,
Selecting the Extensions for a Crochet Weave
For the crochet method, hair extensions are usually made of synthetic fibers, rather than human hair, but the hair can still be soft, durable, and sometimes re-usable. Loose styles are beautiful but will mat quickly.
For crochet, hair extensions are usually equipped with a loop, where the extension is attached. A proper beauty supply store should have a dedicated section for crochet braiding, where you can browse the various colors and styles. Black-owned beauty supply stores have the best curated selections, and online stores have even larger offerings from their warehouses. I have even purchased re-usable options from Amazon, though the quality varies by vendor. A skilled hairstylist can also create her own loop, allowing for endless applications with any type of braiding hair.
How to Prepare for a Crochet Weave
Visit the Beauty Supply Store Give yourself plenty of time to buy your materials: your extensions, braiding hair, and a latch hook tool, if you are doing your own crochet weave.
Deep Condition & Moisturize Choose hair products that are formulated for your hair type. It’s a good idea to apply coconut oil to your hair for several nights before your hair is braided into a crochet weave, as well as a water-based moisturizing cream. I once made the mistake of using a shampoo-conditioner set from a hotel suite before I had my hair braided into a crochet weave. This made my hair terribly dry and break.
The Application of a Crochet Weave
The Foundation After your hair is washed, moisturized and prepared, it is braided in order to create a base for hair extensions to be added. For a crochet weave, the braiding pattern is simple, straight-back, and does not create tension on the scalp. The more cornrows you have, the fuller the crochet weave.
To create a natural appearance, I ask my hairdresser to do “single-crochet” along the hairline. She creates tiny braids, which are slipped through the hair extension to
How to Care for your Crochet Weave
Crochet braids can last anywhere from two weeks to eight weeks depending on how well you care for them. But four weeks is generally the recommended duration. If you plan on wearing crochet braids for an extended period of time, getting a tightly curled texture is your best bet as it’ll take more time for the curls to loosen and/or frizz.
How to Wash Crochet
I refrain from washing my hair while it’s in a crochet hairstyle. I get away with this because I don’t leave the style in for more than four weeks and I deep cleanse and moisturize my hair in between instillations. If you wash your hair in the traditional way, you run the risk of loosening the knots or making the hair mat. Here are basic steps to wash a crochet hairstyle.
- Spray your scalp with watered down shampoo
- Massage your scalp with the pads of your fingers.
- Gently rinse
- Apply conditioner to the exposed parts of your hair like the nape of your neck and edges.
- Finish by lightly adding a moisturizer to your hair and the added hair and sealing with an oil.
You can wash and condition the added hair, but it really depends on the type of hair as well as your own personal preference. Be sure your hair dries thoroughly, so you don’t run into the rare issue mildew forming in your hair. Some people moisturize the crochet hair as well, some don’t.
Daily-ish Maintenance
Treat your crochet braids as you would your own hair. Keep the added hair and your own hair moisturized by spritizing it with a moisturizing mixture of something like aloe vera water and a leave-in conditioner.
How to Remove your Crochet Weave
Taking Out Crochet Braids Crochet braids are relatively easy to take out. Simply cut the added hair as close to the knots as you can. Be careful not to cut your own hair. Then unravel your cornrows. The crochet knots should fall out as you unravel your braids.