Are Those Crochet Braids?

YES! Yes, they are.

Throughout my transition to natural hair, crochet braids have been my greatest ally.  I have pretty much made it my mission to find the most realistic styles. They’re cute. They’re Affordable. And most importantly, crochet braids are convenient.

Early in my crochet hair journey, I came across an Instagram page with flawless styles, @crownedbyd. For a while now, that same hair stylist has since started selling the hair  used in some of her most notable style. Hair is available for purchase via email (hear me out, the hair is amazing… for crochet hair) with the style options viewable on the store page, @crownedbydshop. So, here’s the review:

The Purchase: 2/5

It… was… interesting. The process entails:

• Locating the style of hair you’re interested in purchasing.
• Contacting the email address with the description of the hair you’d like to purchase.
• Then you wait… for a reply. This will include a price list if it is your initial purchase. (Price list also states if hair is water friendly or not.) Or, I’ve you’ve purchased previously and know the routine, it’ll just be a PayPal invoice.
• The invoice requires payment within 24 hours or your order is cancelled.
• Then you wait, again. This time you await hair shipment, which can take up to 2 weeks.

Exasperating, but it seems easy enough, right? You should have hair, in hand, within about 2-2.5 weeks? Wrong. That is the timeline if everything goes accordingly. Here is where everything went wrong. Emails are not responded to right away, and sometimes multiple emails are required for a follow-up. Additionally, I waited 2 weeks (patiently), for my tracking information, only to be told the hair was not in stock and wouldn’t be for another 2 weeks. I was given the option to wait or pick another style. I emailed back immediately, but got no response for another week. By my next email I was livid, and the owner responded right away. She apologized for her assistant’s lack of professionalism, while she was away. She offered my 20% off a future purchase and I had my hair in 2 days. (It was in stock, after all.) I started the process of purchasing hair June 16th and received the hair July 8th.

The Hair (Spanish Curl in Ombre 1b/33): 4/5

First day of installation.

The hair arrived, packaged inside of a hair net and complimentary bonnet. It was silky and the color, bold but subtle. I was excited.

Day 2 of install before manipulating my edges or the crocheted hair

*Frizzing along the lower inches

Install was fast as the hair didn’t tangle upon separation. However, as with any silky textured hair, knots must be secured tightly. After installation I went to dinner and immediately began receiving compliments. At that point, I was wearing the hair at almost full length, with minimal trimming. It was about 22/24 inches and extremely hot. With a combination of hot New York summer and constant workouts, it started to frizz within days. Alcohol-free mousse helped tremendously, until I got to my bun stage around 2 weeks in. (It was so hot, in New York.) I wore it for 2 weeks in the bun until I decided to chop the hair for a new look, a bob.

This is one of those crochet styles that looks more natural over the time. The luster finds a perfect balance and your new growth blends with the hair. It was gorgeous and big, and I loved it. My only issue with the hair was how much the lighter portion frizzed and matted, if not handled appropriately. With that said, it’s synthetic hair. That issue is, almost, expected.

Overall: 3/5

The process of purchasing the hair is unnecessarily draining and annoying. A little more help and a lot more communication would go a long way. I have since placed a second order, for which I am still awaiting notification of shipment. Le sigh. Although I loved the hair, I probably wouldn’t have purchased again if I didn’t have the 20% off. And, honestly, I was hoping to be pleasantly surprised by an outstanding experience this time around. That way I could mention their fault, but then sing their praises. It didn’t work out that way.

In my opinion, if you have time and patience, it is worth the buy. If you are like me, and both those things are scarce, this may not work for you. Give the shop a look, or even book an appt with her (My installs are done by someone else; unaffiliated), and make your own decision. @crownedbydshop / @crownedbyd She’s definitely talented.

As always…

Sincerely,

TriciaMichelle

Check out my Instagram page to see how this and other styles have held up: @trishypear

Passionfruit and Crochet Braids!

Happy Thursday everyone!

Today we’re talking hair. Specifically, my current protective style… crochet braids. I am so enamored with this style. It is easy to do, easy to maintain and a lure for compliments. Pretty much, it’s every girl’s dream style. In addition to sharing my new do, I have a favorite product to include as well.

Janet Collection: Havana Mambo Twist 2X- 4.5packs of hair. 4 black & .5 purple at the nape

First, the hair. If you’re not familiar, crochet braids consist of any style that uses cornrows (braids secured to the scalp) as a base, and hair attached with a crochet hook and looping method. In my case, the hair attached was pre-styled as twists. Simple, right? Trust me, there are an abundance of YouTube videos to show you the process. In all, it took my friend and I about 2 hours from start to finish. However, that time included wine, sushi, and the occasional dance break.

As far as maintenance goes, there isn’t really much to do. At night I use a silk scarf and satin bonnet to decrease the possibility of frizz overtaking my mane. Other than that, I just tame my edges when necessary, shake, and go. When needed, I condition and oil my scalp and cornrows. That’s it. After having the hair installed for 3 weeks, I decided to unravel the twists for a different look. The level of maintenance required did not change.

**Update: Some of you wanted more specifics and have no problem obliging. I tied my hair with a large scarf at night, twisting the bottom into a loose bun above my head. Then I placed a bonnet over the entire thing. To condition my hair, I used Jane Carter Solution’s revitalizing leave-in conditioner spray. It is a holy grail product, no matter how my hair is styled. To oil my scalp I used a mixture of castor and coconut oils.

***Additionally, if you viewed my previous post then you know that I had a few purple twists in the back. The purple twists began to frizz immediately after install. They were so matted I could only untwist the very ends during my twist out week. Because they could only be seen at ends of the back, I did not mind too much. However, my experience leads me to think that the colored hair would be extremely hard to maintain neatly.

Unraveled= The most epic twist out, ever! The hair is 24″ long.

Which brings me to my holy grail product… Curls passion fruit control paste. This was a questionable purchase at first, then I learned how to use it properly. All of a sudden, life made sense. As a makeup artist, you get used to warming products with your body temperature. (Back of the hand… using fingers to blend… etc.) Do not do this with edge control products. The product will melt before it can serve its purpose. The Curls paste is no exception. Now I apply straight from the jar and blend with a small brush. (**I prefer a soft bristled toothbrush.- Judge me not. Thank you very much.**) You can tie it down with a scarf for a more structured hold, or let it air dry for a more flexible hold. Congratulations, your edges are now on fleek. ( Isn’t that what the children are saying these days?) For $7-9 at your local drugstore or beauty supply store, you get a decent amount of product. It is definitely a new staple in my collection.

Curls Control Paste

Edges slayed!

Overall, I love my low maintenance, protective style. Two hours and some control paste can make life so simple. If you’re in a rut, like I was and just don’t know what to do with your hair. Try these. I am already searching for my next, crochet braid, style. As always, these are my honest opinions and what has worked for me. Let me know, how you feel about crochet styles or the Curls paste.

Sincerely,

triciaMichelle