How to Braid Natural Black Hair

Cornrows can be braided in many patterns. Switch them up to add variety to your hair style.

Experimenting with natural black braiding hair styles can spruce up your hair. Whether your black hair is moderately short and course or long, fine and straight, French braids and cornrows are two braiding styles that can give your hair a neat and uniform appeal. Before braiding your hair, wash and condition it with a protein-based product to maintain and promote strong hair follicles. Although braided hair can be a convenient styling technique that minimizes the need to fuss, it still needs to be nourished with hair products to keep it from drying out.

Things You'll Need

• Rat-tail comb
• Hair brush

Instructions

French Braid

1. Take a moderate section of hair from the top center of the head. Separate the hair into three strands--determine how many strands to gather (the more hair you grab, the thicker the braid will be)--and cross the right over the middle strand, and the left over the middle strand.

2. Switch all of the strands over to the left side, maintain a complete separation from the other strands. Gather a new section of hair from the right, continually adding more hair to the right strand. Braid the right strand over the middle and braid, then bring the middle section over the right, then the left strand.

3. Grab more hair strands as you braid further down. Alternatively switch strands in a crisscross fashion, making sure to keep all the strands separate from one another.

4. Keep your hands close to the head so the braid will be succinct and tight. Continue to braid until you reach the end of the hair. Place a rubber band over the end or snap on a hair clip to keep the braid from unraveling.

Cornrows

1. Determine the cornrow path you would like the braid to follow. Section off the hair with a rat-tail comb in those areas. Use hair clips to keep extra hair from falling in the way of your parted path.

2. Gather a small section of hair where you would like the braids to start. Take only a moderate amount of strands near the hairline so you will not pull too much, weakening the hair follicles.

3. Take three strands of hair, and from those three strands, braid the outer strand--the left over the middle. Bring the right over the middle and continue this process, picking up more strands from the middle strand as you braid down to the end.

4. Steady the hands as you braid to keep it straight. Braid with your hands close to the scalp (but don't grab hair too tightly) to ensure the cornrows are tight and flat on the scalp.

5. Continue the cornrow braiding process until the whole head is complete.

References

• Learn Cornrows: How To Braid Cornrows
• Two Good to Lose: How to French Braid