My First Crochet Braids with Kinky Hair!

 I’m so excited making this post because I have been wanting to do crochet braids for so long and now I finally got the hang of it and took the plunge. Well this post is long over -due because it’s been 3 good weeks since I installed them.*covers face* Anyway, let me take you through the process and give a quick review from my experience.

Hair Preparation:

I shampooed and deep conditioned my hair as usual. I put up my moisturized hair in medium sized braids to stretch for a few hours. I later  put my hair in big  flexi -rods further stretching. I ended up having a super stretched-out fro ready to be cornrowed.

Braid pattern:

The braid pattern was a simple ”all- back” style. I wanted to wear the style with a side part but I then realised after installing that this pattern isn’t the right one for my intended style.

Hair Extensions used:

I used 2 packs of  Supreme Royal Silk Afro Twist Braid (N1300 per pack) and 1 pack Noble Gold Natural Braiding Hair (N700 per pack) These extensions were actually old extensions I used to install my kinky twists back in February 2014.

Installation process: (about 3 hours)

The installation process was quite easy and smooth. This was my first time installing crochet braids and I hope my hands would do  faster job later on as I install crochet braids. I installed using a single bobby pin!

Installation How-to:

A lot of naturals on Facebook have been asking about how installed the hair when I post the pictures on Facebook weeks back. Here is a pictorial from a very good Youtube video. This would save time rather than watching a 10-minute tutorial video.

Final results:

I loved the way the hair came out at the end of the day. This is a combed out hair to encourage easier styling.

Maintenance:

I simply mist my hair with a mixture of water and leave in conditioner. Whenever I style the hair, I mist it with the same mixture. Prior to going to bed, I simply wear my satin bonnet over the day’s style. I don’t pack it up or twist it.

Styling:

About the size of my smallest finger.

This is my third week in the protective style and I must say, I’m really loving it. I have tried different styles from curly hair to updos to wearing it down, wearing it straight, pony tails and scarfing but here is one prominent style I love. I achieve this my simply putting the hair in about 17 braids, setting it in (short blue) perm rods and dipping in hot water for small and curls.

Pros:

1) The look and feel of big hair on you:

Big hair is absolutely beautiful and eye catching at first sight!

2) Heads will turn; Eyes would stare: Well…lool, I don’t know if this is much of a good thing but to me,  personally I like a bit of attention (on my hair especially) form time to time.Some may even walk up to you to ask questions. A lot of random people have definitely asked me questions since I installed.

3) Marley hair is the easiest type of hair to install:

it is so easy to install. and you go with bigger sections of braiding hair instead of smaller sections that usually takes more time. But if you want a more sculpted and more-realistic look, you could go for smaller sections of hair. the knots also hold well just by knotting once.

4) More styling options than straight/curly hair extensions:

There’s just so many styles to try with this hair. I have achieved about 7 different styles from it.

5) It is almost weightless:

When I wear updos, I almost forget I’m wearing marley hair.

6) It holds styles really well:

Twisting, braiding, roll and tuck, etc. have never looked so beautiful. It keeps the styles in for a longer period of time than a curly/straight hair would.

Cons

1) It sheds:

Like..a lot. Every time I try to detangle the hair, the comb always ends up with a lot of hair on it. Sometimes I worry all the hair would come off before my proposed take down date X_X

2)It tangles easily:

I practically have to run a comb through it everyday. no matter how much i have detangled it the day before.

3)It can be a lot of hair to deal with:

This is nt much of a problem for me but  a lot of people have complained about styling the hair because it is so big. I personally noticed that every time i comb it, it gets sort of ”longer” so I trim the hair sometimes to get an even look.

4) I can’t revert back to it kinky texture and fuller look once pressed: Depending on the brand of hair extension you use, you should test a couple of hair if you want to straighten it. I realised the hair only needed just a little heat to be straight. I love the straight look I got from it.

So that’s pretty much it. I love the look, feel and versatility of this style. With Marley Crochet braids, it never gets boring! There are just so many styling options to explore.

 Until next time!