15 Types Of Crochet Hair: Gorgeous Hairstyle Ideas For Natural Hair

If you are planning to buy hair bundles or weaves, it’s also best to know the different types of available to make the right choice!

In This Article:

1. What is Crochet Hair Braiding?
2. Types of crochet hair
3. How To Apply Crochet Hair Extensions To Head
4. Frequently Asked Questions
5. Why You Should Trust Haireveryday?

Caring for Afro hair isn’t for the faint of heart. This hair texture, especially if you’ve got the coarser 4b or 4c type, requires extra love, care, and attention. This is where braids come in.

These styles help protect your hair from damage and allow them to grow long. 

Now one of the ways to braid your hair or put extensions in is through crochet. It is different from hair weaving as instead of a weft, it uses a crochet needle to loop and secure your tresses. 

There are several different types of crochet hair, depending on the length, style, and material you choose from. We’ve rounded up a few of the most popular styles below.

What is Crochet Hair Braiding?

Crochet braids are a form of protective hairstyles that can help your hair grow. There are several types of crochet extensions you can choose from. There’s synthetic, natural, curly, color-treated and even multicolored hair. These extensions let you experiment with hairstyles while protecting your natural hair from damage.  

Crochet hair braiding, often referred to as crochet braids or crochet hair extensions, is a popular and versatile hair extension technique. It involves adding synthetic or human hair extensions to your natural hair using a special crochet needle, typically with a latch hook.

This method creates a wide variety of hairstyles, from braids and twists to curls and locs, without the need for glue, heat, or sew-in weaves.

The process of crochet hair braiding involves creating cornrows or flat twists as a base for the extensions. Then, the crochet needle is used to pull the hair extensions through these base braids, securing them in place. The extensions are attached in a way that conceals the root of the added hair, giving it a natural appearance.

Types of crochet hair

Wavy  Crochet Extensions

If you want your crochet hair to look natural, try going for the wavy look. These types of crochet are also looser than other styles, so they give you more movement. We also liked how these styles make it look like you’ve done your hair, without there being any effort at all. 

Wavy crochet hair also makes you look younger as this is a very vibrant style. These styles give you a bit more bounce to your tresses. And all this without having to use any blow dryer in the morning. So not only does wavy crochet hair look good, they save you time during your morning styling routine as well. 

Human Hair Locs Crochet Extensions

These types of crochet are great for people who like to experiment with new hairstyles. If sleek and straight is your preferred style, these braids are the one for you. They do not form a mass of curls around your head but instead fall neatly down your shoulders and back. 

If you love creating elaborate updos and buns and feel like curls and waves wouldn’t look good with those styles, try straight crochet braids instead.

In fact, there are several straight crochet hair brands in the market that you can even curl. So if you want to change things up regularly, try getting those hair extensions. 

Curly Crochet Extensions

Curly crochet hair is one of the most common types of crochet there is. A lot of women opt for these extensions as they match their natural hair texture. You can go for something similar to your hair or choose a different type of curl pattern instead.

We love how curly crochets add more volume to your tresses. They also make you look a lot younger, which is part of the appeal of these hair extensions. Bouncy and full of life, these type of crochet hair can help you feel more confident.

Twist Crochet Extensions

If you want the sleekness of the straight crochet braids and the visual interest of the curly crochet hair, you can find peace with these twist style extensions. These types of crochet do not give you a lot of movement like curly styles do. But like straight crochet hair, they are good for updos and other elaborate hairstyles.

What we like most about twist hairstyles is that they come in different lengths and thicknesses. So you have more options to choose from, unlike straight crochet. And here is where you need to be careful. 

If you get twist braids that are too thick for your hair, you can damage your tresses as it puts too much pressure on the scalp. (Mayo, Tiffany T, and Valerie D Callender. “The art of prevention: It’s too tight-Loosen up and let your hair down.” International journal of women’s dermatology vol. 7,2 174-179. 29 Jan. 2021, doi:10.1016/j.ijwd.2021.01.019). It can also become difficult to move with your body. So choose well. 

Related: Can Hair Extensions Be Vegan Friendly

Natural Human Hair Crochet Extensions

Natural crochet hair is nothing but extensions made out of human hair. These are preferred as natural hair can be styles similarly to your own hair and they have a glossy shine that is lacking from synthetic alternatives. 

You can use hot rollers to give realistic-looking curls to these hair or even put a curling iron through them. Natural hair is great if you have a dry, itchy scalp as it doesn’t irritate the skin. 

But you need to be careful while crocheting natural hair as it slips a lot. And if you keep the braids too loose, it tends to tangle more frequently too. You also have to knot natural hair braids at every end as they won’t just seal when dipped in hot water. 

Another drawback of natural hair is that these crochet extensions are just too expensive. And they do not last long too as natural hair knots loosen and fall out frequently. 

Synthetic Crochet Extensions

Most people opt for synthetic crochet hair as it’s much easier on the pockets. But that’s not all. Synthetic crochet hair can be easier to style too. And you get so many more options when it comes to textures and colors. 

These types of crochet extensions are not slippery unlike natural hair. So it is really easy to crochet or braid them. And you can wear your braids loose without fear as synthetic hair doesn’t tangle too much either. These extensions are also denser than natural hair so they stay in place easily.

You can seal your braids with hot water if you’re using synthetic hair. So you don’t have to tie a knot at the end of each braid like you do with natural extensions. 

There is just one tiny problem with synthetic crochet extensions – they tend to dry out your scalp quickly. So make sure you spray in lots of leave-in conditioners. And while some brands of synthetic hair claim you can use heat styling tools on them, we don’t think its a good idea. 

Short  Crochet Extensions

If you want something no-fuss and do not want to take on the hassle of hours of maintenance, short crochet hair is a good idea. These extensions are generally about 8-10 inches long. 

When choosing short crochet braids, always go for hair which has more volume and feels thicker. These give you that extra bounce and more than make up for a lack of length. Also, go for wavy or curly textures while opting for short crochet hair as they give more volume.  

Long Crochet Extensions

Long crochet hair is great if you want some length on your tresses. They give you more room to experiment with your hairstyles. You can twist them up, pin them in an updo, or simply let them hang straight down your shoulders. 

The best part about long types of crochet hair is that you find them easily in different styles and colors. They do, however, require a bit more maintenance than shorter styles.

Another thing to keep in mind if you’re choosing long crochet hair is that they need to be of high quality. With longer extensions, you can see some of them coming apart at the bottom. To avoid this, make sure you’re choosing a highly reputed brand. A length of 20 inches is fantastic to work with. 

One-Color Crochet Extensions

Apart from the length and quality of hair, the types of crochet hair are also differentiated based on the color they come in. Some crochet extensions come in a single color and they are called one-color extensions. These can either be the hair’s natural color or dyed.

A lot of professionals go for this style as a single color is seen to be unobtrusive. Before choosing a color of braids, make sure it matches your skin and eye-tone. You can either go for braids in your natural hair color or try out different shades. 

Multicolored Crochet Extensions

Multicolored braids are great if you want a hint of fun in your hair without going the whole unicorn hair route. Multicolored crochet hair can be a natural ombre color, have very inconspicuous highlights, or come with colored tips. 

If you work in a corporate environment where bright hair dyes are frowned upon, getting these multicolored crochet seems like a good compromise. 

Dyed Crochet Extensions

Dyed crochet braids are just that – any style of crochet hair that’s been dyed a vivid color. If you love the jewel hair trend and can’t wait to jump on the pink, blue, purple-haired bandwagon, these extensions are the one for you.

They let you fulfill your color-treated hair fantasy without all that damage that comes with bleaching, coloring, and the whole process. 

Burgundy Crochet Waves

Crochet Jumbo Braids

Blonde Crochet Hair with Micro Braids

Crochet Human Hair Locs

How To Apply Crochet Hair Extensions To Head

Here are the general steps to apply crochet hair extensions to your head:

Materials You’ll Need:

• Crochet hair extensions (synthetic or human hair)
• A crochet needle or latch hook
• A rat-tail comb for parting
• Hair clips to secure sections
• Hair ties or rubber bands
• Styling gel or mousse (optional)
• Scissors (for trimming, if necessary)

Application Steps:

1. Prep Your Natural Hair:
   • Start with clean, dry, and well-detangled hair. You can use a leave-in conditioner to make detangling easier.
2. Create a Base:
   • Part your hair into small sections or cornrows, depending on the desired style. Use the rat-tail comb to create clean and even partings. Secure each section with hair ties or clips.
3. Thread the Crochet Needle:
   • Attach the hair extensions to the crochet needle or latch hook. Make sure it’s securely fastened.
4. Insert the Crochet Needle:
   • Starting at the base of your cornrow or flat twist, use the crochet needle to pull the hair extension through the braid, hooking it onto the needle’s latch.
5. Secure the Extension:
   • Close the latch hook and pull it back through the cornrow. This will loop the extension through and secure it in place.
6. Repeat the Process:
   • Continue inserting extensions along the length of the cornrow, working your way from the base to the tip. You can choose the density and spacing according to your desired style.
7. Styling (Optional):
   • Once all extensions are attached, style your crochet braids as desired. You can curl, braid, twist, or leave them straight. Apply styling products if needed.
8. Trim and Shape (Optional):
   • Trim and shape the extensions to achieve your desired length and style.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why You Should Trust Haireveryday?

The author of this article, Leah Marie Priest has a degree in Cosmetology with years of experience in dealing with hair care, scalp care, and hairstyling. As someone who extensively deals with all kinds of hair textures, products, styling methods and more, hair Leah Marie knows what kind of products and procedures suit each hair type and person. We have also tested these hair products and processes ourselves to provide you an unbiased review about every product. Each of our articles are also reviewed by a team of medical professionals so that you get the most accurate and expert-reviewed information.

Conclusion

Crochet hairstyles are now gaining popularity as a protective style as more women are embracing their natural hair texture. But be careful while choosing the types of crochet as this style lasts for weeks. With these crochet styles, you can wear stylish hairstyles and updos with pride. 

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