Crochet braids come in six main style families: curls, goddess locs, box and goddess braids, faux and butterfly locs, twists, and straight. Most installs take 2 to 4 hours, use 5 to 8 packs of hair, and last 4 to 8 weeks. Curls and straight styles are the fastest to install; locs and twists last the longest.
Crochet braids are the most versatile protective style there is, and the cheapest way into a full head of hair. Your natural hair is cornrowed underneath, then loops of extension hair are pulled through the braid with a latch hook. No glue, no sewing, no tension on the hairline if it is done right.
Crochet braid styles compared
| Style | Install time | Packs needed | How long it lasts | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Curls | 2-3 hrs | 5-7 | 4-6 weeks | Volume, first-timers, fastest install |
| Goddess locs | 4-6 hrs | 6-8 | 6-8 weeks | Longest wear, lowest daily maintenance |
| Box & goddess braids | 3-5 hrs | 6-8 | 6-8 weeks | Classic braided look without the install time of real box braids |
| Faux & butterfly locs | 4-6 hrs | 6-8 | 6-8 weeks | Textured, lived-in loc look |
| Twists | 3-4 hrs | 6-8 | 6-8 weeks | Senegalese, passion, and Marley textures |
| Straight | 2-3 hrs | 4-6 | 3-4 weeks | Sleekest finish, but needs the most upkeep |
Two install methods exist. The cornrow method braids your hair into cornrows and pulls the extension hair through with a hook — faster, flatter, and what most stylists use. The individual method parts your hair into small sections and attaches hair to each one — slower, but it gives more natural movement at the root and lets you part anywhere.
Most crochet hair on the market is synthetic. If you want a style you can wash, heat-style, and reinstall, look at human hair crochet instead — it costs more up front and survives multiple installs.
Crochet curls
The fastest crochet style to install and the most forgiving if you are doing it yourself. Pre-curled hair hides an uneven part, and the volume covers the cornrow pattern completely. Expect 4 to 6 weeks — curls loosen and frizz faster than braided or twisted styles.
Photo: @kiitana
Photo: @kiitana
Photo: @kiitana
Photo: @kiitana
Photo: @kiitana
Photo: @thebrilliantbeauty
Goddess locs
The longest-wearing crochet style. Goddess locs wrap the loc hair around a braided base and leave curly ends loose, which is what separates them from faux locs. They take the longest to install — four to six hours is normal — but they need almost nothing from you afterward, and six to eight weeks of wear is realistic.
Photo: @kiitana
Photo: @kiitana
Photo: @kiitana
Photo: @kiitana
Photo: @kiitana
Photo: @jadahdoll
Box braids and goddess braids
Crochet box braids give you the look of a full braid install in a third of the time. Real box braids take six to ten hours; crochet box braids take three to five. Goddess braids are the same idea with curly pieces left out along the length. Both hold six to eight weeks and are the easiest crochet styles to put in a ponytail.
Photo: @kiitana
Photo: @kiitana
Photo: @thebrilliantbeauty
Faux locs and butterfly locs
Faux locs wrap hair around a braided base for a smooth, uniform loc. Butterfly locs leave loops of hair out along the length, which is where the name comes from — the loops read as a lived-in, distressed loc. Butterfly locs are lighter on the scalp than traditional faux locs, which matters if you are going long.
Photo: @fauxlocsnbeautiful
Photo: @fauxlocsnbeautiful
Photo: @fauxlocsnbeautiful
Photo: @fauxlocsnbeautiful
Photo: @fauxlocsnbeautiful
Twists: Senegalese, passion, and Marley
Three different textures under one name. Senegalese twists use smooth, silky hair for a sleek rope twist. Passion twists use wavy hair for a softer, bohemian finish. Marley twists use coarse, kinky-textured hair that matches natural hair most closely and is the lightest of the three on your scalp.
Photo: @thebrilliantbeauty
Photo: @braidsgang
Photo: @braidsgang
Photo: @braidsgang
Photo: @braidsgang
Photo: @braidsgang
Straight crochet hair
The sleekest crochet look and the hardest to keep looking new. Straight hair shows the cornrow pattern more than any other texture, so the install has to be flat and the parting has to be clean. Expect three to four weeks before frizz at the root gives it away. This is the one style where human hair is worth the upgrade — you can flat iron the roots to blend and wash it without losing the finish.
Photo: @kiitana
Photo: Seun Okimi
Crochet braids FAQ
How long do crochet braids last?
Four to eight weeks depending on the style. Straight crochet lasts three to four weeks before the roots frizz. Curls last four to six. Locs, twists, and braided styles hold six to eight weeks.
How many packs of hair do you need for crochet braids?
Five to eight packs for a full head. Shorter curly styles need five to six; long locs and twists need seven to eight. Buy one extra pack — running short mid-install means matching dye lots later.
How long does it take to install crochet braids?
Two to six hours including the cornrows underneath. Curls and straight hair are fastest at two to three hours. Goddess locs and faux locs take four to six.
Do crochet braids damage your hair?
Not when they are installed with even tension and taken out on time. Damage comes from cornrows braided too tight at the hairline, leaving the install in past eight weeks, and skipping washes so buildup mats the braids underneath.
Can you wash crochet braids?
Yes, every two weeks. Dilute shampoo, focus on the scalp between the cornrows, rinse thoroughly, and dry completely. Synthetic crochet hair frizzes after washing; human hair crochet does not.
Can you reuse crochet hair?
Synthetic crochet hair is single-use. Human hair crochet can be washed, conditioned, and reinstalled several times, which is what closes the price gap over two or three installs.
What is the difference between the cornrow method and the individual method?
The cornrow method pulls hair through braided cornrows — faster, flatter, and the standard. The individual method attaches hair to small individual sections — slower, but it gives natural root movement and lets you part anywhere.
Is crochet hair better in synthetic or human hair?
Synthetic is cheaper per pack and comes pre-styled. Human hair costs more up front but can be washed, heat-styled, colored, and reinstalled, so it works out closer than the sticker price suggests over multiple installs.
Shop human hair crochet
Mayvenn's feather crochet collection is 100% human hair, pre-separated into fine strands for miracle-knot installs, in seven textures at 16 and 20 inches. Wash it, style it with heat, and reinstall it — the same set carries across multiple installs.
