Some hairstyles make it easy to look good and keep your hair safe while being very simple. Cornrow braids fit perfectly into this desirable group. If you already know how to braid, you are well on your way to becoming an expert at cornrowing. The main difference is that traditional braids fall in separate strands, while cornrows are carefully woven close to the head.
Cornrow braids are not only beautiful to look at, but they also honor our African roots by using modern braiding techniques. They make you feel free and offer many design options for different styles. Below is a guide on how to come up with the perfect cornrows.
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Prep Your Hair
Experts recommend using hair cream or butter to fight frizz and add moisture to your hair. First, put this cream on wet hair and let it dry naturally before braiding. This method removes frizz and makes hair healthier and better prepped for the cornrow braiding process.
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Sectioning Hair For Individual Cornrow
To start the cornrowing process, use a comb with a pointy end to divide your hair into sections of the size you like. Cornrows will be smaller if the units are thin and thicker if the sections are wide. For example, you could part a piece of hair toward the front to make a side-falling cornrow.
Knowing that you can part your hair in different ways with cornrow braids is important. Cornrow braids can be directed from the side, made from back to front, lined up straight back, or even crossed over each other in a complicated way.
Cornrow braids can be done in almost any design, giving you a lot of different ways to style your hair.
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Section The Hair Into Three Parts For Plaiting
Starting at the hairline, divide the first piece of hair into three equal parts, just like you do when braiding. This first step sets the stage for making the cornrow and ensuring it has an organized shape.
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Use The Small Portion To Start Braiding
Start making cornrow braids by braiding the small hairpiece at the head. If you are new to cornrow braiding, you should start with a simple style. The easiest way to learn how to do cornrow braids is to begin with a straight-back pattern.
Once you are comfortable with this method, you can move on to more complicated patterns and eventually try adding more hair to make longer lengths.
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Add Hair As You Plait
As you continue to braid, add hair from the specific section to the cornrow. This important step makes a braid different from a cornrow and secures the braid to the head. When you lift one of the three sections of hair to start braiding, carefully add hair from the piece that has been parted off.
Do this as you braid. Make sure you use the same amount of hair each time so that the cornrow looks the same all the way through.
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Untangle Hair Sections
If your hair has been curled or relaxed, you may not need to detangle as much as you braid when making cornrow braids. But with natural hair, detangling as you move through the parts
is important.
Slowly pull the hair out of the knots with your fingers as you move down. This step makes sure that the braids stay clean and look the same. Detangling is key to keeping the cornrow braids neat and well-structured for natural hair types.
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Securing The Cornrow Ends
A good way to keep the ends of cornrow braids from coming apart is to curl them around your finger. This method works best for hair with a natural structure. If your hair is straight and the ends tend to split, use rubber bands or barrettes that do not snap to keep them in place.
This practical method ensures that the cornrow braids last long, look neat, and work for people with different hair types and needs.
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Repeat The Steps
Continue braiding around the whole head, ensuring that each piece’s size stays the same for a balanced look. Using the same braiding method all over the head, you can make cornrows that look nice and regular.
This step-by-step consistency helps give the hairstyle a polished look that goes well with its general symmetry.
