It has been common practice for generations to braid hair in cornrows. You’d think that something that has been around for so long would be simple to pick up.
It can be challenging to understand the proper parting, the optimal tension, and the finest method to employ. However, if creating cornrows is your aim, you can learn how to do it.
In addition to more specialized readers, this is intended to assist beginners in their hair braiding skills. Along with learning how to braid cornrows, you will discover more about the numerous cornrow kinds, as well as a list of goods you can use safely to achieve the finest results.
“Let’s start now without further ado!”
Just what is a cornrow?
Short Style History
A braiding technique known as cornrows involves plaiting the hair flat against the scalp. The phrase itself dates back to the 19th century. The majority of Black Americans at the time supported their families by working in agriculture. Because it makes us think of cornfields, Americans use this phrase. However, owing to their resemblance to sugar cane, they are known as “cane rows” in the Caribbean.
Although widely believed to have African origins, cornrows are a common hairstyle around the world.
As far back as 3,000 B.C., depictions of women wearing them have been discovered in Saharan paintings from the Stone Age.
Male cornrow style can be dated historically to Ethiopia in the early 19th century, where soldiers and rulers like Tewodros II and Yohannes IV were portrayed sporting them.
In the Modern Era, Braid Cornrows
In Africa, particularly in the Horn of Africa and West Africa, the custom of women wearing their hair in cornrows has persisted.
In Africa, cornrow hairstyles served as a tribe-identification tool and covered a variety of social strata, including:
- Religion
- Ethnicity
- Kinship
- Age Marital status Income
- Other aspects of identity that this haircut might all express.
Braiding is a significant activity that communicates cultural values between generations, expresses friendship relationships, and sets the practitioner’s function.
When people of African origin sought to learn more about their heritage in the 1960s and 1970s during the Civil Rights and Black Power movements, cornrows made a comeback.
The Jheri curl contributed to their decline in popularity in the 1980s, but in the 1990s, celebrities like NBA basketball player Allen Iverson helped bring back this hairstyle.
Tools:
- Rat Tail Comb
- Hair gel or Edge Control
- Hair Elastics
Step By Step Tutorial:
- For starters, wash and moisturize your hair.
- Detangle your hair to make braiding simpler and to maintain the neatness of the braids.
- Using the technique of your choice, pull your hair through. Once more, doing so will prevent tangling and keep the braids nice.
- You should divide the hair into sections before braiding. Your braid will be smaller the smaller the portion.
- To avoid mistakenly grabbing that hair and braiding it in, secure the remaining hair with a clip or a hair tie.
- Take the area of hair you just parted, apply some edge control at the hairline, and then cut a little horizontal section off of it.
- Divide the little horizontal segment of hair into three strands. Each component functions as a braided leg.
- You should hold one strand of hair in your right hand with your thumb, index finger, and middle finger while holding the other two strands with your left hand.
- The thumb and middle finger will hold the outer strand.
- The index finger and thumb will hold the middle strand in place.
Now:
- Put your right index finger over the outer left strand of hair and behind the center strand.
- Grab the outer left strand of hair with your right index finger, and with your thumb, pull up some hair from behind.
- Pull the outer left strand under the middle strand while holding it between your right index finger and thumb.
- The middle strand should now be on the outer left, and the outer left strand should now be on the inner left.
- In your right hand, hold two hair strands, and in your left, one.
- Put the index finger of your left hand over the outer right strand and under the middle strand.
- Grab the outside right strand of hair with your left index finger, then pick up more hair with your thumb.
- Now tuck the outermost hair on the right side under the middle.
- Continue doing this until you reach the nape of the neck.
- If there is still hair to braid, you can do so in one continuous braid and then fasten it with an elastic.
Advice for Braiding Cornrows
- Use edge control or gel to maintain a neat appearance at the hairline and prevent flyaways or untidy-looking hair.
- Make sure your hair part follows the natural curvature of your hairline around your ear as you part your hair.
- To keep the braid even, make sure the divided hair is the same thickness all the way through.
- Before you begin braiding, make sure each piece is free of tangles.
How to Make Braid Cornrows on Hair with Less Texture
Contrary to hair with a silkier texture or hair that is fully straight, hair with a kinky structure is more likely to keep braids (and hold them well). That does not exclude those with straighter or less wavy hair from having cornrows, though.
You may learn how to braid cornrows even into this sort of hair by using a few tips and tactics.
- Before beginning to braid, mist the hair and add a protein-based wax for the hair.
- As a result, it will be easier for the hair to remain together in the braid.
- You must follow the same methods as before, and you can be confident that you will successfully obtain the same look.
Modern Braid Cornrow Styles: Radical Braids
Even though cornrows have a lengthy history, they have always remained fashionable. How? Because they always modified their styling to meet the times they were popular.
You should also keep that in mind while you learn how to braid cornrows. In order to assist you, let us point out that wearing cornrows in public is considered fashionable among current trends.
- Big braids
- 2 and 4 cornrow hairstyles
- Swept to the side
- In cornrows, ponytails
- In cornrow buns
How to braid cornrows in big Rows
For a simple, everyday hairdo, this look offers the ideal solution. Although these braids need close attention to detail, the sheer magnitude of them will ultimately save you time and effort.
Large braids are usually easier to maintain and style. In addition, your hair will look gorgeously wavy and entirely natural when you pull these braids out—no heat tools are required!
Braid Cornrows in 2 And 4
- Long cornrows are rather simple to braid because there isn’t much detail involved.
- However, the two-cornered version has a more refined and beautiful appearance.
- The way you braid it makes 4 huge ones seem just as lovely and allows you to add various accessories to your hair.
When drawn from the various images of celebrities and beauty bloggers, lovely ornaments on top of one’s head appear extremely fashionable.
The Side Row Braid Cornrows
While classical long cornrows cover the entire scalp, a more modern take on this style is to wear the braids to the side of your head. Meticulously done, these weaved strands almost look like a side mohawk with some extra spice.
But for this style, you don’t have to have all of your hair in braids. You can spice up your appearance by plaiting some hair on one side of your head.
Braid Cornrows Ponytails And Bun hairstyles
If you like, you can even get your hair styled to resemble Princess Leia’s or the Space Buns.
Ponytailing them is an equally stylish approach to creating sleek and tidy hairstyles.
The Best Products to Use for Braid Cornrows Care!
1. Moisturizer
Before braiding, treat your hair with a moisturizer to keep it healthy and manageable even after the braids are in.
2. Edge Control/ Gel
If you want to smooth down infant hair in the morning, apply this cream. It’s also helpful if you want to refresh your appearance following a workout.
A gel or edge control will typically keep your hair smooth and in place.
3. Spray leave-in conditioner.
With an ultra-light leave-in conditioning spray, you can get the hydration without the frizz. Your braids might also benefit from a leave-in conditioner spray to keep them smelling fresh.
4. Hair Oil
Hair oil is beneficial for your scalp and for braiding your hair. It will maintain moisture and add some flexibility to new growth. Even when the braids begin pulling on the hair’s roots, it will still be beneficial.
Additionally, hair oil can help keep your hair healthy and protected, which is crucial because your braids’ parting will make your roots more exposed to the environment.
5. Hair Serum
Smoothing the ends of your braids will instantly update your look, whether or not you have added hair.
What Motivates YOU to Grow Hair?
Your options for braiding will be endless after you learn how to do cornrows! Moreover, it’s a very adaptable and modern universe.
With some practice and the help of this guide, you will quickly become an expert cornrow maker!
What contemporary cornrow design is your favorite? And do you have any advice of your own for planting cornrows? Please tell us in a comment!
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