Yay for you, you’ve decided to get put your hair away for a bit and install crochet braids! Crochet braids are a favorite protective style due to their ease of installation, versatility, and convenience. When I decided to do crochet braids on myself a few weeks ago, I spent at least an hour looking through dozens of images on Google of crochet braid patterns that would provide the perfect foundation for my style. If you’re trying to figure out which crochet braid pattern is best for you, here is a round-up of five crochet braid patterns to use depending on what look you’re going for!
Straight Backs

Image credit: TheChicNatural
Aka the cornrows that all our favorite rappers and R&B singers of yesteryear loved to sport, straight back cornrows are simply cornrows that begin at your forehead and go all the way back. Depending on the length of your hair, you may need to sew up the ends to provide a flat surface with which to attach your crochet braids. While this is perhaps the most straight-forward and common crochet braid pattern, it does not allow for much versatility, such as a bang or leave-out.
U-Part Cornrows

With regular sew-in weaves, a u-part braid pattern means that you part a u-shaped section of your hair to be left out, creating a natural looking leave-out. In crochet braids with no leave-out, a u-part can be simulated by braiding one’s hair in straight backs, and crossing the braids in the middle over one another. This allows for multiple parts, and the slight curve can look more realistic than a straight part. Furthermore, you can focus on adding more hair on the braids in the u-part during your install, ensuring that your crochet style looks as natural as possible. This is the pattern that I used for my Curlkalon crochet braids in my YouTube video below! You can also read more about the install here.
Zig Zag

Image credit: A Desired Beauty
Though this pattern starts off like it’s first two cousins, rather than braiding all the way straight back, the braids go horizontally back and forth across the scalp to create separations that are perfect for a layered look. If you are opting for a knotless crochet braid style that will go around your whole head, the zig zag crochet braid pattern may be also be good choice because it will provide a straight surface on which you can form your “knotless” knots for a natural look.
Beehive

Image credit: Kitchen Kurls and Alicia Francisco
If you’ve ever gotten a sew-in weave, you are likely familiar with the beehive braiding method, beloved by hair stylists and weave addicts galore due to it’s ability to provide an extremely flat surface on which to build your protective style. Some crochet braid wearers like this braid pattern because it is perfect for ponytails, crochet braid senegalese twists and box braids, as well as crochet braid styles with bangs. However, the closeness of the braids can make it difficult to reach in between to get the almost inevitable itchy braid scalp!
Vixen

Image credit: BeautyCanBraid
Vixen crochet braid patterns – consisting of a four section version of the beehive with optional leave-out – are extremely versatile. They can be styled in buns, ponytails, and half updos. One major drawback is the numerous tension points can cause quite the headache – I got sores in the middle of my scalp from vixen crochet braids and was forced to take them out after 5 days. While vixen crochet doesn’t cause irritation for everyone, they may result in more stress than the look is worth, so if you go this route, make sure your braider is gentle!
The bee hive braid style was #1 because of how the weight of the extensions won’t all be in one place. But it will be distributed across my whole scalp.
What braid pattern would you recommend for senagalese twist?
I think straight backs would be just fine, but would leave one inch out in the front and do individual twists so you can keep them looking fresh for longer.
Hi i love micro braids and was wondering if i should either crochet micro braids or regular micro braids. What are the pros and cons on both? Also I like the EZ hair for braiding.
I would definitely crochet micro braids so there’s less tension on your scalp. Or even get a microbraid wig!
What braid pattern would you suggest for crochets with shaved sides and back?
I think zig zag or beehive because you’d want to do knotless braids around the perimeter of your hair in case you want to wear it up to keep your sides exposed.
Omg that meme lol! ????????
LOL!
Awesome….. Great knowledge I will apply these styles daily…. Thanks for sharing
Thanks for reading!
I am doing my crochet braids my self, Im doing a long natural marley hairstyle which one should i use. I love to put my hair in ponytails and wear visors
If you want to be able to put your hair up then I suggest the zig zag or beehive options. If you’re crocheting marley twists though, you should be able to get away with straight backs or a u-part since your twists will be think enough to cover some of the parts.
I doing crochet braid for the first time. I purchased the Bahama curls and want a versatile natural look. which braid pattern would you recommend
What would be the best method if I were to get the crochet faux locs?
I think it depends on if you’re planning to wear them in a ponytail or bun. I would say beehive but that can be extremely bulky. If you’re cool with having some leaveout, I would actually suggest zig zag but do regular (non crochet) faux locks in the back 1 inch of your hair so it can cover the back. I’ve never gotten them done though so this is just an idea!
I’ve done all except the vixen crochet. But my favorite is the zig-zag due to how the hair falls after installation. Now i have combined the u-part with the zig-zag.
Now I want to try the vixen but only if they cornrow my hair loosely.
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Good luck girl!
I love the beehive pattern for the fullness it gives my crochet braids. As for reaching my scalp, I use an applicator bottle ( like a hair dye bottle) filled with Sea Breeze to clean it and another applicator bottle filled with curl activator to moisturize my scalp.Works like a charm!
Thanks for the tips!
I love the beehive pattern to creating cute bangs…but I also like a braiding pattern where I can have a natural side part. Then as my hair gets old I can create bangs for a full look
I’m scared to try beehive now due to my vixen experience, but I’d love to rock bangs at least once!
I’ve only done crochet once and I did the straight back- like 12 cornrows in front combined at the crown to make 6 in back. It worked out pretty well. I’ll likely stick to that. As for the vixen, I can see how that would cause stress, esp if the braids are a bit tight.
Can’t wait to see your next ones!
I have had crochet braids before about 4 times but I didn’t do the braid pattern. I like crochet braids but the only downfall is the hair can’t be put up. I love yall style
If you leave hair around the perimeter and do the beehive or vixen, you should be able to put your hair up in a ponytail. That also would probably work better if you were using kanekalon hair for the install