How to Step By Step Cornrow Braids

Cornrow braids can look good on people of all ages.

Cornrows are a highly braided type hair style that creates long strands fitted close to the head. It is a hairstyle worn by a wide range of people, from famous musicians to everyday people. Creating cornrows may look like a complex process, but it isn't as hard as it may seem. It isn't incredibly easy, but with patience and careful hair styling methods, you and a friend can create cornrows in no time.

Difficulty:

Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Shampoo
• Conditioner
• Towel
• Comb
• Metal rat tail comb
• Brush
• Hair clips
• Hair grease
• Rubber gloves

1. Wet your hair and wash it with shampoo. Rinse out the shampoo and use conditioner as well. Towel dry your hair after you are finished and comb it straight.

2. Use your metal comb to separate your hair into thick strands.

3. Make your corn row bundles as thick or as narrow as you want and run them in any direction. Corn rows usually run straight along your head from front to back but can be taken anywhere your hair will allow.

4. Attach hair clips at the ends of each of your corn row bundles except for one to hold them together while you work on braiding each individual row.

5. Add grease to your hair and brush it through each bundle from scalp to ends. Work it into the hair with gloved hands.

6. Divide the non-clipped hair bundle into three equal-size sections.

7. Take the middle stand and move it over the left strand. Now take the left hand strand and move it over the right hand strand to create a single braid. Tighten the braid by pulling it down to the beginning of your hair bundle.

8. Repeat this braiding process with the new strand positions, always moving whatever strand is in the middle over the left and whatever strand was the left strand over the right. Continue to pick up new hair in your bundle as you braid to make sure you have enough hair to continue braiding.

9. Continue to weave until you reach the end of the strand. Braid the ends of your strands together to finish.

10. Remove the hair clip from another cornrow bundle and repeat the braiding process. Braid each strand in the same way to complete your cornrows.

Tips & Warnings

• Caring For Your Braids:

• You can wash your hair with the cornrow braids in. The best way to wash your hair is to wear a stock cap over your braids and then use the head of a shower or a water pick to force water under the braids. Shampoo hair by diluting it with water and follow up with a leave in conditioner.

• You should wear a hair scarf while you are sleeping to help the braids stay for at least a week.

• If you're going to go out in the sun, wear a sunscreen on your scalp or wear a hat to keep from being burned. Now that you know how to cornrow braid, have fun and enjoy.

• Some Things to Remember:

• If you have very straight hair, consider using a protein hair gel to help the style to last longer.

• Avoid pulling hard from the scalp. If you do, it can cause the style to no last as well as cause hair loss, infection and pain. You'll know if you're pulling too tight if the scalp looks raised or the person complains of pain.

• When braiding, keep in mind that narrow braids will last longer than bigger ones.

• If you'd prefer, you can use a hair cream or leave in conditioner instead of misting hair with water when braiding.

• If you have tight, curly hair, you should use a natural oil mixture or hair grease to prevent hair from becoming brittle and braids from loosing their shape too soon.

• Generally your cornrow braids will only last for about a week. After that they will need to be redone.

References

• Cornrows: How to Braid Cornrows the Long Version