How to Latch Hook Braids
Latch hook was once thought of as a craft project, and then someone decided to use it in her beauty salon. This hair style is accomplished by using a crochet latch hook to insert and secure sections of false hair into a cornrow design. Latch hook braids can generally be incorporated into hair in three to four hours and, with a little instruction, is a very manageable do- it- yourself project. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Latch hook
- Synthetic hair
- Shampoo
- Baking soda
- Hair gel
- Needle and thread (optional)
- Matches or lighter
- small rubber bands
Instructions
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Preparation
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1
Braid synthetic strands first if you did not purchase pre-braided hair. Make sure the braids are a consistent and appropriate width for the size of cornrows you intend to put in the natural hair.
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2
Wash the natural hair that is to be styled, thoroughly shampooing but not conditioning it. Use a baking powder solution on hair with excessive amounts of oil or product buildup before applying traditional shampoo. Mix baking powder with just enough water to make a thick paste. Apply the paste to the hair starting at the roots and moving down the length as far as needed to remove buildup. Any residue from hair care products will make it more difficult to part and cornrow hair.
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3
Cornrow the natural hair, starting at the hair line and working your way toward the nape of the neck. Cornrows should be a consistent width, and there should be the same number on each side of the central part to ensure that when extensions are attached, the two sides of the style are equally thick and full. Use the width of your finger to measure the parts.
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4
Braid the remaining length of hair and fasten when you cannot cornrow any further. Accomplish this in one of two ways. If synthetic hair was incorporated into the corn rows, the synthetic material can be melted with a lighter or match; melting the synthetic fibers to one another and the natural hair will affix the end of the braid. If only natural hair was used, fasten the ends of the braid using small black or brown rubber bands.
Latch Hook Weave
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5
Slide the latch hook under the cornrow and, after traveling the desired length down the braid, push the latch hook through so that it emerges on top.
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6
Place a synthetic braid, folded in half, onto the hook.
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7
Pull the synthetic braid which you placed on the hook between one-half and one-fourth inches into the cornrow and sew the extension in place. Use a needle and a sturdy sewing thread; machine embroidery weight is best. Select a thread that matches the hair color.
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8
Take small, careful stitches down through the natural hair, into the synthetic braid and then back up through the natural hair. Take stitches across the full width of the cornrow to fully secure the extension. Or knot synthetic hair to natural hair. Pull the loop created by folding the synthetic braid up through the cornrow. Run the two loose ends of the synthetic braid back through that loop and pull tight to secure.
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9
Repeat the fastening process in multiple places down the length of each cornrow, until the desired thickness is accomplished. When the weave is correctly completed, the scalp should not be visible.
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1
Tips & Warnings
Smooth down any frizzy spots or flyaway hairs with a little hair gel.
Incorporating synthetic hair into the cornrows can protect the natural hair from damage when the latch hook is being used to add extensions.
Hair can be carefully styled to hide any knotting visible once the weave is completed, or knots often can be camouflaged by a headband.
