How to Braid Cornrows Step by Step
Cornrows are a traditional African and African-American hairstyle in which the hair is braided close to the scalp. The style is low-maintenance after the intial braiding and can last from two to four weeks. It's also versatile, lending itself to straight rows, spirals and every design in between. They flow in and out of fashion in the U.S., for men and women, but someone, somewhere is always rocking the look. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Wide-tooth comb
- Water-based hair moisturizer
- Scrunchies or barrettes arrettes
- Beads, barrettes or hair elastics
Instructions
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1
Plan your braid design. Decide whether you want traditional rows, funky zigzags or showy spirals. Sketch it or mentally map it out on your own head, or someone else's.
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2
Apply water-based moisturizer to the hair, then use a wide-toothed comb to get out all the kinks and tangles. Keeping the hair moist will help the braids last longer.
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3
Part the first section of hair that you want to start braiding. Keep the rest of the hair out of the way with scrunchies or barrettes. Grasp a small piece of that section of hair at the starting point near the edge of the scalp.
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4
Divide that first small piece into three even strands and braid them together, making 2 braid stitches.
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5
Put the two outside strands down and go underneath the braid to grab some hair from the line. Add the new hair to the middle strand. Pick the two outside strands back up and braid one more stitch.
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6
Continue until you are done with that line of hair. If you get to the end of the scalp with more hair to braid, finish up by doing a standard three-strand braid.
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7
Secure the end of the cornrow with a bead, a barrette or hair elastic. Repeat steps two through seven until all of the hair is braided.
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Tips & Warnings
To wash cornrows, wear a stocking cap over your braids and massage shampoo and conditioner through the cap into your hair.
Narrow braids last longer than wide ones.
References
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images
