Gina

For this method you will use bulk hair to incorporate the extension, just as other methods such as Haipolice, Prostyles, etc...(see Rae's tutorial in the 101 archive for secure braiding techniques) Keeping tension is the most challinging part! It will want to slide away from the scalp! The braid is soooo tiny, but you'll get it! Practice!

Start with a basic three strand braid. Your section should be tiny, apx. 1/8" (or smaller) I think mine could be smaller.I'm still working with this method!

After you braid about 1/4" down, youll use your latch hook and place it between these divided sections: one being soley the extension strand and the other- the natural hair along with the other end of the extension strand. They will be separated from the eachother. So, you'll have 2 strands on one side and 1 on the other.

Wrap the 1 EXTENSION strand around the latch hook and previously divided 2(natural+extension) strands of hair.

Once wrapped twice put the strand in the*hook* Pull down. This sometimes is difficult because of the tension. Be patient! I sometimes use my rattail if I can see the "loop" come through. 

Once it's pulled completly through...you're done!

I've included a few pix for scale and comparison to what I think a pinchbraid would be in size...

That looks like a winner.  I'm going to have to try this out.  Thanks!

How do you remove the braid?  Is it difficult with the hair knotted around the braid?  This looks cool. 

amm: you gotta get a stand!!!! Practice. You gotta keep those first few crossovers pinched and tight. Otherwise they'll slide.

Kalika: ask away and I'll try to explain more thoroughly. Same for you Candi

Angel: Yup!

Scotchy: You cut the knot. That's why I*tried* to explain: separate strand 1 of the natural hair with  strand 2 of extension hair, keep those two pinched aside. Strand 3 of extension hair will remain solo. That is what you use to wrap around the hook and create the knot. This ensures you will only cut extension hair...not yours or a clients, when you do the removal.

Mocha: I used synth for this demo and tried creating the "latch knot" on a pinchbraid. I think it may work! However...a little heat seal couldn't hurt!

Oh yes...This really help me: Saliva! I discovered this by keeping the center of the loose hair in my mouth...it helped me get the braid tighter and the hair to stick together thus making the whole process easier!

This method doesn't use thread Jenny.  This is actually similar to how they do it in the african brading shops when they do invisibles and tie the micro off with the hair vs using thread. 

It's impossible to overlap 100% cuticle hair and not experience tangling.  It turns into a tangled mess.  I have some cuticle hair that when they made the weft they overlapped the hair too far and I literally had to cut off the excess over lap because it was matting even before I had the chance to put it in. 

I would guess that you can still do micros and pinchbraids using cuticle hair but they'd have to make sure the overlap is braided.

How did you use GL hair for pinchbraids?  I thought that was fusion.

[QUOTE=Jenny_RR]Well, I had about 75 GLs strands left over (I hated the method, so I stopped using it), so I cut off the tips and my stylist braided them in. But seriously, I've used all those brands with pinchbraids--Bohyme, GLs, H&H Cuticle--and my stylist never braids in the excess. About 1 1/2 inch remains loose, and I've really never had problems. :) [/QUOTE]

Bohyme isn't cuticle hair.  All the cuticles are removed so I can see how that one works.  As far as the others- you said you only leave 1 1/2 inch out.  That's not a lot compared to folding the entire length of the hair over, so If it works for you then that's cool.  That small amount you leave out obviously is okay.  But I still don't recommend it, the cuticle hair I have that I was talking about folds over about 2 inches to weft it and it gets tangled.  The nature girl only folds over about 1/4 of an inch when they sew it on a weft and there's no problems. 

When I get micros, the fold over the entire length of the hair.  I'd never dream of using cuticle hair for that.  *shivers at the thought*

[QUOTE=Jenny_RR]OK, I gotcha. For some reason, I was thinking the microillusions only had a 1 1/2 inch overlap, too, but I see what you're saying--that the entire strand is overlapped. Thanks for clarifying, AP. :) [/QUOTE]

ohhh, thank you, you cleared it up a binch for me, the new pics are a big help :)

Ive been doing micro pinch braids before, they're much easier to do then bigger ones.  never tied them off without thread before.

Yes Candi...The 1 solo strand. You wrap it around the Hook *and* the 2 separated strands...place the 1 loose solo strand in the clatch, close it up and pull down through the wrap. It's usually tight from the tension and takes a little patience. It works because it's creating a very small tight knot. The hook is used because it would be impoosible to wrap the hair around and pull through the center with your fingers...it's just too small and you'd probably loose tension aon the braid.

Does that help?