How to Braid Cornrows

Cornrows are traditional African braid hairstyles that can be kept on for a week. You require a lot of patience and practice to master the art of braiding cornrows. Cornrow braids become a bit easy if you have prior knowledge of braiding basics. Simple hair braids hang freely, while cornrow braids are braided to the scalp.

Cornrow braids have been in vogue since thousands of years. Also known as the underhand track braids, they have been popular in the land of the Pharaohs, that is, Egypt. This style gained popularity in the western world in the late 60's and 70' and was again voted as a popular hairstyle in the 90's due to the hip hop culture. Cornrows are popular black hairstyles. This unisex hairstyle looks fantastic on whoever sports it. The following easy steps will help you understand how to cornrow braids.

How to Braid Cornrows Hair?
Before trying to practice how to braid cornrows hair, be sure you have at least 3-4 hours to spare as cornrows require a lot of time to get the perfect tight braids. You will require small rubber bands for the hair, a rat tail comb, gel, leave-in conditioner, spray bottle and water. Let's begin with how to braid cornrows.

The first step involves wetting your hair. Do not make your hair sopping wet, just make it damp. You can apply some leave-in conditioner to protect the hair from breakage. Wetting the hair also makes it easy to braid hair.

The second step involves deciding the hair braiding design of the cornrows. Once you plan the pattern of your cornrows, start dividing your hair into sections that are not more than an inch to inch and a half. Smaller cornrows hold better.

Now use a rat-tailed comb and take a section of your hair that is close to the top of your head. Part hair such that you can see your scalp. Secure the other loose hair with a rubber band so that they stay out of the way.

Now divide the hair section into three equal parts. Braid hair strands by pulling the left over the center strand. Now the center becomes the left strand and vice verse. Pull the right over the new center. Repeat the step twice and make sure it is tight and close to the scalp.

Take some more hair that is under the braid and add it to the middle strand so that you still have three strands. Continue the braiding process as above. As you move further, keep adding more hair to the central strand after two braids. Once you reach the end of your hair, secure it with rubber bands. Tie the rubber bands securely so that they remain tight.

After completing one cornrow braid, work on the next section of the hair. Start from the center and work on either side to maintain even number of cornrows. Use the spray bottle to keep the hair wet as you continue to cornrow braid.

How to Braid Cornrows with Extensions
You need to wet your hair and apply leave-in conditioner as mentioned above in how to braid cornrow hair. Now, when you want to braid cornrows with extensions, you need to part small sections of your hair from the top of your hairline to the nape of the hairline.

Secure the loose hair with rubber band to avoid them from interfering with the braiding. You can use human or synthetic hair as an extension. Take the needed amount of hair extension you require to complete the cornrows.

You should hold the hair extension up at the eye level and check if the extension hair is even. Now, tilt your head in the opposite direction of the side you are adding your cornrow hair extension. This will help give the required grip and neater cornrows.

Add the extensions using an underhand motion. Loop the extension in with the natural hair as you continue cornrow braiding. Lift the hair strand on the left and pull it across the central strand. Carry out the braiding just as mentioned above in how to braid cornrow hair. Keep adding the extensions in the cornrow till you complete the entire row.

This funky hairstyle with or without the hair extensions should last for about a week. You can let your imagination run wild and try new patterns and styles with your cornrow braids. As they say practice makes a man perfect, how to cornrow braids requires a lot of practice. I hope you have got the hang of how to braid cornrows hair and will surely try it out. Happy cornrow braiding!