Choosing Hair for Crochet Braids

I've said this before and will say it again! I am not the best at choosing hair...AT ALL! I blog about natural hair with the hope that the things I learn along the way will help somebody somewhere...because I learned most of the things I know about my hair by trial and error! When it comes to picking hair for things like braided extensions, sew-ins, and crochet braids, I always have a ton of questions. I usually rely on my stylist to tell me what hair to get; any questions I have after that default to my sister. This time around was no exception!

Choosing A Crochet Style

How to Start

When you're a naturalista, protective styles become a saving grace! These styles give you a break from the hard work you have to put into maintaining a head full of natural hair. For the last couple of years, I've gotten protective styles each fall and winter. The colder months can be particularly harsh on the hair, so this is one of the influencing factors in my hairstyle decision making.

I spent most of the last year trying out different wedding hairstyles, but the year before that my protective style for the cold season was crochet braids. Crochets are an easy style to maintain! Since I loved the style so much, I decided to document the process this time around.

Protective Styling

Braided Updos

Before I moved to DC, I was in the salon every two weeks! I rarely got protective styles because I didn't care much for that look. It's been three years since that time and things have changed. What's changed, you ask? Let me explain.

6 Things To Consider When You Want Healthy Hair

The last time I saw my NC cosmetologist was in December 2013! I recently made an appointment with her after 2.5 long years, and the first thing we did was have a conversation about lifestyle changes and the health of my hair.

This conversation got me thinking about the many things that affect our hair and how it's so easy to get side tracked with routines that we forget about these correlations! With that in mind, let's review a few things so we can all be on the right track to healthier hair!

3 Things To Remember With Crochet Braids

My Advice for Handling Crochet Braids

I've had two sets of crochet braids over the past 4 months. I loved them! After my first set of crochets, I noticed something a little different about my hair. I had a hard press, so my hair didn't normally look like it does after being straightened, but I thought something else was off with my hair.

When I got my second set of crochet braids, I decided to look at how I was managing my hair and took a few notes of things not to do when caring for crochet braids.

4 Years Strong

4 Year Naturalversary

I celebrated being 4 years natural on this past weekend (January 30th). I can remember making the decision not to get any more relaxers like it was yesterday! It's been a very long journey.There have been many ups and downs, but and I believe that I am just not making my greatest strides. I'm proud of myself for that and I'm proud of everything I've learned up to this point.

For this year's celebration, let's recap my year in hair.

A Few Quick Tips For Crochet Braid Maintenance

How I'm Caring For My Senegalese Twists

I've had my twists for a month. I haven't had a hairstyle like this since the 4th grade when I had box braids! Before leaving the shop, I made sure to get some maintenance tips so I could be informed about how to care for the hair before being sent off to tend with it on my own. With that being said, here's a few things I've done to care for my natural hair during this first month.

Moisturize & Protect The Hair

One of the perks of having crochet braids has been accessibility to my scalp. I'm able to moisturize my roots and keep my scalp oiled. My hair didn't need much attention during its first week. I started moisturizing my roots and edges with one of my staple moisturizers, Creme of Nature Argan Buttermilk. Two days after I moisturized my hair, I oiled my scalp using Creme of Nature 100% Argan Oil.

Crochet Braid Senegalese Twists

2015 Winter Protective Style

The power of social media has introduced me to the best protective style I've ever worn! I'm very grateful so I want to share.

The Idea

This year things magically came together in a weird way. I'd always seen Senegalese twists and thought they were cute, but my edges are too tender for individual braids and twists (with extensions). I first saw this style on Instagram and that was my first time ever realizing you can do so much more with crochet braids besides crochet free hair.

Once I saw the style, I began researching (read Googling). Initially I thought I'd have to buy hair that would be twisted as it was crocheted. During my research I found out there was a such a thing as pre-twisted crochet Senegalese twists. My mind was blown!! This was the best thing that could ever happen to my hair. I would get my hair cornrowed and get pre-twisted hair crocheted into my braided hair to have a protective style I could wear for the harsh winter months.

One Secret To Keeping Your Hair Moisturized

Spin-Off Moisture Mixture

As long as I can remember, I've had issues with keeping my hair moisturized. Half of that time, my issues with dryness have been in my head. I'd go to the cosmetologist, tell her my hair felt dry, and she would tell me it was fine! I'm walking around thinking my hair feels like a box of rocks; other people feel it and tell me how soft it is! So, whether my dryness is real or imagined, I've always wanted to do something about it.

I was scrolling through Instagram one day and saw this post for a Max Moisture Recipe on We Are Onyx's page:

Beautiful Textures' products were my everything when I was transitioning. They did right by my hair, so when I saw this recipe included their conditioner, I was all for it!

My Revised Recipe

DMV Natural Salon Experience

Trying My First Natural Hair Salon in the DMV

I recently wrote a post about Finding The Right Salon. I put that system to work when I first decided to find a salon in DC and I've recently done it again when I determined it was time for me to find a natural hair salon.

Referrals & Research

I'm a natural hair blogger, so I talk about my hair chronicles often. Along my journey, I recently began researching natural hair salons in the DMV area. I was going to a salon in DC to get trims, but the stylist I was seeing wasn't natural hair focused.

I Googled and found a few salons in the area but none of them seemed to fit what I was looking for. One of my DMV readers hit me up on Twitter and suggested two salons in the area. She gave me their websites and IG names, so for the next couple of weeks, I watched like a hawk!

A Protective Style

Literally The Letter "A" Protective Style

I remember when Facebook first came out. It was only for college students and it was a social network. I guess you can still say that about it, but for me, I use it as a helpful source of information. Recently, I was doing my normal perusing and came across a video. A Facebook friend had shared a video of someone doing a protective style that looked simple enough for me to do. Like I usually do, I saved the link and kept it moving. Unlike I usually do, I actually went back to this video and decided to put it to use.

Wash and Go Success

Perfecting A Technique

I've been battling with the wash and go ever since becoming natural. I've never really been a fan of shrinkage so when my hair was in its earlier stages, I couldn't take the reduction in length. Now that I'm being more cognizant of my hair and the styles I choose, I thought it would be a good idea to revisit the style.

Relearning Old Styles

Protective Style

We all know by now that I’m on a healthy hair trip! There are many things I’m learning and trying so I can do what’s best for my hair. I’ve set a few hair goals and I’m determined to get this thing right. I mean, I have to if I want my hair to flourish!

One of the ways I plan to achieve this goal is with protective styling. Here’s one style I haven’t been able to accomplish since I was transitioning, so I’m very excited to share!

French Braids

When I was transitioning, the easiest style for me to do was a braid out. I would cornrow my hair nightly and wear crinkled hair each day. I was excited then because I was never able to cornrow my relaxed hair. I guess my naturally curly roots allowed my fingers to grab the hair better and those roots laid together better.

Since being natural, I’ve had this style done once in the salon. My cosmetologist French braided my naturally curly hair. The only product I remember her using is gel, but I'm sure there was a moisturizer and oil in the mix. The style looked great and I loved it!! I also loved not having to do my hair every night! Unfortunately, the style didn't last long. Like I've explained so many times before, my hair is super soft and doesn't respond to gel the way other hair types do.

The Second CoWash Experiment

Creme Of Nature Pure-Licious Co-Wash Product Review

I recently did a product review for the first cowash product I tried. I don't know what I expected but I'd heard so much about that particular product that I couldn't resist.

I've always shampooed my hair about every two weeks. Now that I think about it, that may be a part of why I think my hair is always dry! I don't have a staple shampoo but I think I may have found one with the ORS shampoo I tried recently. I shampoo so often because of product build-up but after defining my hair type, I learned I don't need to pile on products AND that cowashing might be the way to go for my type of hair.

I know many naturalistas use conditioner to cowash but I guess brands are getting "hip to the game" because I've been seeing many products advertised as cowashes. I usually don't think twice about trying new products because they're new, but I'm still subscribed to curlBOX and they recently sent this product. I figured since I had it, why not try it...especially after that last attempt.

The First CoWash Experiment

Head and Shoulders Product Review

Now that I've laid out my hair goals and what hair products I've already tried, we can talk about some of the things I've been doing with my hair.

One of the styles I decided to master as a protective style is the wash and go. I've tried this style several times throughout my journey and each time the shrinkage has steered me away from rocking the style.

There was never anything wrong with this style but I've never been a fan of shrinkage. Now with my new hair goals in tow, I knew it was time for a revisit. I had two sew-ins back to back so I had a little free time on my hands to do something evaluating. With this time, I decided to look into products to try for wash and go's. I must admit...my biggest influences were a conversation I had a few naturalistas in one my favorite FB groups and my friend's blog post.

So, with that, I went on a journey to find this Head & Shoulders Moisture Care Co-Wash (affiliate link)!

A Hard Reset

Setting Hair Goals

I've spent the majority of this year trying to do a better job of caring for my hair. Let's just start there.

I spent about five months with my hair under 2 different sew-ins. I needed to hide my hair from myself, protect it, and give it a chance to grow after a major cut. I was successful at doing that and happy with the progress and growth. While my hair was under wraps, I had a heart to heart with myself about how I would approach my hair once it was out. I set some goals. Even thought I haven't been here in a minute, I've started this process already. I needed to lay out the plan here, and do a better job of documenting what's going on, so let's take a look:

March '15 Length Check

38 Months Natural

SO! Sew-In #2 comes out and I feel it was a success. As tempting as it is to go right back and get another one, I'm deciding to give my hair a break. I kept the last sew-in for a total of 9 weeks and I've continued to take Hairfinity, drink a lot of water, and make sure my hair stays as moisturized as possible! Let's see my results!

November 5, 2014 = 144 weeks natural (2 yrs, 9 mos, 4 days)

Notice that my head is slightly tilted back in the pic on the left
...and is straightforward in the pic on the left

March 30 = 165 weeks natural (3 yrs, 2 mos)

Taking Out A Sew-In

Removing Extensions After The Sew-In

I showed you my latest sew-in then showed how I washed it. Now let's get into this takedown process.

The Last Step

Flat Ironing My Bob

Now let me share this with you.

I washed and conditioned my hair with little to no trouble. It didn't lather up as much as I wanted, but I feel I was able to get it clean enough to last a few weeks. I dried it and it took longer than expected, but I was able to get both my roots and the extensions all dry. Now, my hair was ready to be flat-ironed.

Before I started flat-ironing my hair, I was worried that the prolonged drying for my roots may have dried out the extensions a bit. As I was blow drying I could feel how stiff the hair was, but for some reason I was convinced that flat-ironing would get it back to it's silky state!

Washing My Bob

Washing My Tapered Bob Sew-In At Home

With my last sew-in I shared how I was able to wash and condition it at home with a little help from YouTube. Everything turned out so well the last time, I was encouraged!! I had no doubts that I could wash this sew-in with similar results. I had no reason to think otherwise. This wash has some of the same elements as the last one, but of course it didn't turn out the same way!

Here's what happened.

After re-sewing the extensions, the next step was washing the hair. When I asked around about the best shampoo and conditioner to use for the first wash, I decided to go with the Organix Moroccan Argan Oil brand. When I used it, I thought it did a good job with washing both the extensions and my natural hair. When I finished, the extensions looked very similiar to how they looked when I initially had them installed. I expected the same from these extensions.