How to Cornrow Your Hair in a Circle Around Your Head

Cornrows create a fun and energetic style.

Cornrowing, or braiding close to the scalp, creates a classic hairstyle worn by women and men alike. Cornrows offer a range of looks, from straight-back cornrows, usually worn by men, to braided bangs popular among female youths. Braiding your own hair around your head may seem complicated, yet the technique is no different than in other cornrow styles; if you can braid straight, you can braid in a circle as well.

Things You'll Need

• Clarifying shampoo
• Deep conditioner
• Rattail comb
• Non-alcohol styling gel
• Leave-in oil or conditioner
• Blow dryer
• Bobby pin

Instructions

1. Wash your hair with a clarifying shampoo, cleaning the scalp in particular. Use the balled tips of your fingers, not your fingernails, on your scalp. Open scrapes on the scalp before braiding can lead to hair loss due to the stress and tension on the hair. Condition your hair with a fortifying conditioner or a deep conditioner; braiding dry or fragile hair causes excessive shedding and breakage. De-tangle your hair, and dry it straight with a blow dryer if it is kinky or natural.

2. Part the hair with a rattail comb from ear to ear along the hairline in front in any desired width. Start braiding from your left or right ear along the hairline, including new hair in the braid as you go. Braid the parted section, and continue to part the hair around your hairline in the back of your head. Braid until you reach the beginning braid; make a slightly slanted braid, and continue the braid around your head.

3. Continue braiding the second circle. Once the third circle or the thicker part of your hair is reached, compensate by thinning the sections so the braid appears to be of a consistent size. Continue braiding the hair around your head all the way to the top.

4. Braid the loose top hair almost to the end. Secure it with a rubber band if your hair is naturally straight, or do not secure it if your hair is kinky. Align the loose braid along a cornrow so it does not stick out. Secure it with a bobby pin if necessary.

5. Finish styling your hair by applying a leave-in conditioner or oil. Use a styling gel and pomade to hold down flyaways or tame the hairline.

Tips & Warnings

• Do not braid tightly, as this can cause hair loss and scalp irritation.

• Make clean parts that do not include hair from other braids, which can lead to matting in kinky hair and excessive tangles in straight or wavy hair.

• Avoid applying oil products to the scalp, which can create product buildup.

References

• LongLocks HairSticks: Hair Braiding