My five-year-old recently told me, “Mummy, make a video of you doing our hair — your website is all cooking!” It made me laugh and realize how observant kids are. She’s been encouraging me to film hair tutorials and a “day in the life,” and while I haven’t filmed those yet, I can share a clear pictorial guide. One step at a time.
I’d been seeing crochet braids everywhere so I decided to try them. They looked simple, and they were. Crochet braids are hair extensions installed into cornrows using a latch hook, often called a crochet hook. I did this style on both of the older girls and loved how quick and neat it was. As a busy mom, I appreciated not spending hours on a single head. If I — a hair novice — can do this, you can too.
What you’ll need:
3 packs of crochet braids — I used 12-inch Senegalese twists suitable for kids and older; some people use more packs, but I find three gives a balanced look.
A crochet hook
A detangling spray (I used my DIY hair detangler)
Combs for parting and styling
How to install crochet braids:
Step 1
Begin by spraying the hair with detangler and combing through. Braid the natural hair into cornrows that run to the back. I made about eight cornrows across the head, then connected them at the base into one large cornrow and tucked the ends into another cornrow to neatly hide the edges.
Step 2
This is the fun part — installing the crochet braids. Hold a braid section in one hand and insert the crochet hook under a cornrow. Loop the extension hair onto the hook so it catches securely.
Step 3
Pull the hooked hair back through the cornrow and remove the crochet hook, leaving the extension looped through the braid.
Step 4
Feed the loose ends of the extension through the pre-looped opening and pull to tighten into a secure knot. Repeat this process along each cornrow, spacing the installed braids according to how full you want the finished look.
Work around the head until all sections are filled. For me, the full installation took about three hours from start to finish — much faster than the seven hours I typically spend on traditional braids. A simpler style I did with 12-inch Havana twists only took two hours.
When you open up the installed braids, you’ll see the neat knots and the uniform placement of the twists.
If you like, smooth the edges with a bit of gel for a polished finish. This method is quick, beginner-friendly, and perfect for creating long-lasting styles for the little ladies in your life.
