Ask around, and there are a few things people think you should justknowhow to do, like riding a bike or playing spades. Another is knowing how todo and maintaincornrows, which is a staple hairstyle in the Black community. "Cornrows date back for over 3,000 yearsfor women and for men, going back to parts of Africa," hairstylist Camille Friend previously told PS. Back then, the hairstyle served as a signifier and made clear someone's social position, age, marital status, occupation, or tribe. The hairstyle has since evolved, with styles like"designer cornrows"gaining popularity on social media. So what exactly is one to do if they don't know how to do cornrows? The only real answer is to never let anyone learn your secret and to teach yourself in private, and this is where hairstylist Kadeisha Placide comes in. Before you start the cornrowing process, there are a few steps to do first. "The best way to achieve cornrow braids is on dry and stretched hair," Placide says. "Start with detangling and combing through the hair for a smooth and manageable canvas." It may also be helpful to presection your hair. "It's important to note that all part spaces should be neat and precise for clean results. We recommend using a tail comb to part the hair and applying braiding gel to the scalp to keep the braids frizzfree.". Now that the basics are covered, read ahead for a stepbystep photo tutorial on how to cornrow your hair and keep your cultural dignity intact. Camille Friendis a hairstylist and Hask brand ambassador. Kadeisha Placide is a Brooklynbased hairstylist and the owner ofClassic Beauty Salon. After you've detangled your hair, part your hair to correspond with the amount of braids you want, sectioning each piece so they don't overlap. "Make sure you're parting cleanly from the front of the hairline to the nape of the neck," Placide says. Once you've parted your hair and sectioned off the areas you're not working on, start the cornrow closest to your hairline. "In the section of hair that you are braiding, make a small, horizontal part, from one end of the presectioned area to the other, left to right," Placide says. "Then, section and divide just that front area into three small sections.". It can get confusing to visualize where each section of hair should be, but Placide has a tip. "Use your thumb, index, and middle finger to separate the sections. Each finger will create a left section of hair, a middle section of hair, and a right section of hair," she says. The beginning of a cornrow is similar to any other braid, crisscrossing one section of hair over the other. "When figuring out how to cornrow, start with the side sections, either right or left, and begin to cross the hair over the middle piece of hair that your index finger created," Placide says. "Once you cross the hair over that middle piece, take the middle section and bring it to the side. It will replace the piece of hair that you just used to overlap it. Switch fingers to allow a new section to take place in the center, and make sure that you are holding each piece of hair with tension, so that the braid doesn't loosen up.". Once you begin the braid, make sure that you don't lose your grip on the hair. "Grab a halfinch section from the unbraided hair left in the section you are working in, and use it to create one bigger section with the middle piece of hair," Placide says. "Then repeat step four, crossing both left and rightside sections over the new center and continue this process down to the nape of your neck.". When you reach the nape of your neck, complete a traditional plait, crossing each side section over the center and switching fingers to take each side section over the center piece smoothly. Since you're coming toward the end of the braid, there will be no extra hair to have to incorporate into the braid at this point. Follow the previous step all the way to the end of the length of your hair, and secure with an elastic. Repeat steps one through seven for the other presectioned areas of your hair, and voila you've just given yourself cornrows. Ariel Bakeris the associate editor for PS Beauty. Her areas of expertise include celebrity news, beauty trends, and product reviews. She has additional bylines with Essence and Forbes Vetted.
Cornrows, a staple hairstyle in the Black community with a history dating back over 3,000 years, have evolved into trendy variations. To achieve cornrows, start with detangled hair, section it neatly, and use braiding gel for clean results. Begin braiding by crisscrossing hair sections and maintain tension for a secure braid. Complete with a traditional plait at the nape of the neck and secure with an elastic.Repeat the process for each section of hair to master this cultural hairstyle.