How to Braid Designs Onto the Scalp
Intricate braid designs using the traditional African method of cornrows is actually a method of weaving the hair close to the scalp, creating a tight, continuous braid. The method yields a braid that is flush to the scalp, as it pulls the hair together at the roots until the end of the scalp is reached, and then the braid continues along the length of the remaining hair all the way to the tip. Braiding hair seems a little complicated at first, but it is a simple, repeated method that yields the completed cornrow. Graduating from basic braids to professional-grade cornrows is simply a matter of parting the hair with even lines and pulling the hair tightly and consistently along the length of the cornrow. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Plan the overall design of the hair as cornrows. This step is very important as it helps to decide where to start the first cornrow. Sketch out the design on a piece of paper -- and with more experience it will be easy to plan and execute the plan mentally.
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Brush all of the hair evenly to loosen any uncomfortable tangle pulls.
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Part the hair. A part is formed by using the tip of the comb, lightly pressing it onto the scalp, and gliding it along the head in the desired direction of the part line. This separates the hair you will work with from the rest of the hair. If you are starting on one side of the head just above the ears, then this is one part, but if you are starting somewhere in the middle, this will take two parts.
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Start at the beginning end of the cornrow braid, grab a small section of hair and divide into 3 parts.
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Grab one part with your right hand using the thumb and the middle finger and grab the section on the left with your left thumb and middle finger.
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Slide your right index finger under the middle section of hair to grab the left section of hair. Use your left middle finger to give the middle section a little tension.
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Cross the left section over to the right, and move the middle section to the left at the same time. Gently pull to give each section a little tension to make the braid tight.
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Grab the right section of hair, pull it under the crossed-over left section and lift it to now become the middle section.
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Pull the left section over to the right, grabbing a little more hair underneath, and grab the right section and pull it under the middle over to the left. Pull the left section -- which was the middle -- over to the right and repeat, making sure to grab more hair as the cornrow moves down the scalp.
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Braid the excess hair at the end of the cornrow as a standard braid to finish the hair.
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Part the hair again and start a new cornrow. Continue until the desired braid design is complete.
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References
Resources
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