Isla Bennett
Cornrowing your hair can be a tricky process to master, but with a bit of practice, you'll be cornrowing with ease. Cornrows are a traditional African hairstyle that has been popular for over 3,000 years, and they remain popular today due to their stylish and practical nature. Before you start cornrowing, it's important to wash, condition, and detangle your hair. You'll then want to part your hair into rows and separate each row into three sections to start braiding. Cornrowing can take a lot of time and patience, but the result is a gorgeous and protective hairstyle that's easy to maintain.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Hair length | 4-8 inches is ideal |
| Hair texture | Dry and stretched hair is best |
| Hair preparation | Wash, condition, detangle, and part hair |
| Hair products | Holding products, hair butter, oils, serums, and edge control |
| Hair sections | Divide into three strands: left, middle, and right |
| Braiding technique | French braid or pass strands under the middle strand |
| Grip | Hold each piece of hair with tension |
| Braid length | Dependent on hair length |
| Maintenance | Wrap in a silk scarf before bed |
| Removal | Gently unbraid each strand, starting at the ends |
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What You'll Learn
Wash, condition and detangle hair
Before you start cornrowing your hair, it is important to wash, condition, and detangle it. This step will make your hair easier to braid and help your hairstyle last longer.
First, wash your hair with a shampoo that has a lightweight, gel-like texture to prevent hard-to-remove buildup that can lead to flaking. Avoid sulphates, as they can dry out and irritate your scalp. You can then apply a protein-based conditioner, oil, and warm water mixture to your hair using a spray bottle. Cover your head with a shower cap and leave the conditioner on for 20 minutes. Finally, rinse your hair with room temperature or cool water to avoid frizz.
After washing your hair, you may want to use holding products to minimize frizz and help with moisture retention. Hair butter, oils, and serums can all work well for this. If you have curly hair, you might want to blow-dry it before starting the braiding process, as straight hair is easier to braid. However, if you prioritize keeping your hair moisturized, you may want to air-dry your hair instead.
Before braiding, make sure to detangle your hair with a wide-tooth comb or brush. You can also use a tail comb to create clean, even sections for uniform braids. This will ensure that your cornrows look neat and well-defined.
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Part hair into rows
Cornrowing your own hair can be tricky, but with a bit of practice, you'll get the hang of it. Before you start cornrowing, you'll want to wash, condition, and detangle your hair. Detangling your hair beforehand makes it easier to braid and helps the style last longer.
Now, it's time to part your hair into rows. You can create different parts to achieve various styles. For example, you can part your hair horizontally, starting at one ear, if you want to style your cornrows to the side. If you want to try something unique, you can create swirl cornrows by parting your hair in the front near your forehead and curving the line to one side of your head, then back to the other side. This will give you a total of five rows that appear to swirl from the front to the back. If you have long hair and usually wear it in a high ponytail, you can create parts around the perimeter of your hairline and braid the cornrows up and away from your scalp.
Once you've decided on your style and parted your hair accordingly, you can start cornrowing. Choose the first row of hair you want to cornrow and separate it into three sections: a left strand, a middle strand, and a right strand. Use both hands for this step, with one hand holding one strand and the other hand holding the remaining two strands.
Now, you can begin braiding. Take the left or right section and pull it over the middle section. Then, switch the middle section to the side, replacing the piece of hair you just used. Move your fingers to allow a new section to take place in the centre, ensuring that you hold each piece of hair tightly to keep the braid from loosening.
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Divide hair into three sections
To cornrow your hair, you'll first need to part your hair into rows before you can start braiding. You can part your hair in a variety of ways, depending on the style of cornrows you want. For example, you can part your hair horizontally, starting at one ear, if you want to create a side-swept look.
Once you've decided on a style and parted your hair, you can begin cornrowing. To do this, you'll need to divide your hair into three sections. Using your fingers, separate the row of hair you want to cornrow into a left strand, a middle strand, and a right strand. If you have long hair, you can use both hands for this step, with one hand holding one strand of hair and the other hand holding the remaining two strands. If you're left-handed, simply reverse the hands.
Now that you have your three sections, you can start cornrowing by French braiding each row of hair. Take the left or right section and pull it over the middle section. Then, switch the middle section to the side, replacing the piece of hair you just used. It's important to hold each piece of hair tightly so that the braid doesn't loosen. Continue this process, moving down the row of hair until you reach the nape of your neck.
Once you've braided the first row, you can move on to the next row of hair. Repeat the process by dividing the hair into three sections and French braiding until you reach the nape of your neck. Secure the braid with a hair tie or hairband.
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Braid each row
Now that you've washed, conditioned, and detangled your hair, it's time to part it into rows before you can start to braid. Section your hair to correspond with the amount of braids you want, ensuring that the sections don't overlap. You can create a swirl pattern by parting your hair from the front of your forehead to one side of your head, then back to the other side, creating five total rows.
Now, choose the first row of hair you're going to cornrow and separate it into three sections: a left strand, a middle strand, and a right strand. Use two hands for this, with one hand holding one strand and the other hand holding the remaining two strands.
Now, you can start cornrowing! Take the left or right section of your row and pull it so that it's sitting over the middle section. Then, take the middle section and bring it to the side, replacing the piece of hair that you just used to overlap it. Switch hands to allow a new section to take its place in the center, making sure that you're holding each piece of hair with tension so that the braid doesn't loosen.
Once you begin the braid, don't lose your grip on the hair. Grab a half-inch section from the unbraided hair left in the section you are working on, and use it to create one bigger section with the middle piece of hair. Then, cross both the left and right sections over the new center and continue this process down to the nape of your neck.
Continue the same braiding technique for each row on your head. Unclip the next row of hair, divide it into three even sections, French braid it until you reach the nape of your neck, and then braid the remaining hair. Secure the braid at the end with a hair tie.
Remember, the most important thing is to have patience with yourself. Cornrowing can take hours, and you may not get it perfectly the first time, but that's okay!
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Secure with an elastic band
When braiding cornrows, it is important to secure the hair with an elastic band to hold the style in place. However, it is crucial to be mindful of the potential risks associated with using elastic or rubber bands on the hair. While they are versatile and essential for styling, incorrect use can lead to hair breakage, hair loss, and split ends. To avoid these issues, follow these guidelines:
Firstly, it is important to moisturize and seal your hair with oil before using any elastic or rubber bands. Dry hair can cause friction between your hair and the band, leading to potential damage. Satin or silk scarves are recommended for securing hair from the front, rather than rubber bands, to avoid pulling and tight grip.
Secondly, avoid making the elastic band too tight. While a secure hairstyle is desired, an overly tight band can stress the hair and cause breakage during the removal process. Using a gel to hold your hair back can help achieve a secure style without needing an extremely tight band. Additionally, consider using snag-free elastic bands, which provide a strong hold without pulling or gripping the hair too tightly.
When braiding cornrows, it is recommended to use a regular elastic band and replace it when it starts to slacken or break. Broken elastic bands can get stuck in your hair and cause breakage. If you are washing or styling your hair, you may not need an elastic band at all. Simply twisting or braiding the hair loosely can provide enough hold, and it can be easily untied later.
Finally, it is advised not to sleep with an elastic or rubber band in your hair. This can cause unnecessary stress and potential damage to your hair. In summary, while elastic bands are useful for styling cornrows, it is important to take precautions to avoid hair breakage and hair loss. Proper use and replacement of elastic bands are crucial to maintaining healthy hair.
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Frequently asked questions
Before you start cornrowing, wash, condition, and detangle your hair. You may also want to use some edge control at your hairline to add moisture and make your hair easier to work with.
Part your hair to correspond with the number of braids you want, ensuring the sections don't overlap. You can create straight parts or curved parts for a unique twist on traditional cornrows.
Find a comfortable hand position where you have a good grip on the strands, but be careful not to grip too tightly. Start by passing the right strand of hair under the middle strand to your left hand. Hold the middle strand with your right hand, then pass the left strand under the middle strand to your right hand.
To keep your cornrows looking neat, you can use hair butter, oils, or serums to minimise frizz and help with moisture retention. To maintain your cornrows, wrap them in a silk scarf before bed.
