How To Cornrow For Beginners

Here’s an 3 easy step by step process of how you can cornrow your hair as a beginner.

1. It can be confusing when the terms cornrows is used or canerows. They’re basically all the same thing. Cornrow looks are a type of flat plait that originates from Africa and the Caribbean. As you may have guessed, the name comes from their appearance, similar to rows of cane or corn.
2. To create the style, start by taking one to two inches of hair from the top and divide it into three parts. Take the right section and cross it underneath the middle one, then do the same with the left section. Now pick up hair from the sides, adding them to your strands before repeating the weaving process. Keep doing this until you reach the ends of your hair and secure with a hairband. Remember not to leave any hair in the middle. Otherwise, you’ll end up with a standard Dutch braid instead.
3. You don’t have to worry about cornrow styles damaging your hair. In fact, it’s quite the opposite. Cornrows are a great option if you’re looking for a protective hairstyle or even to do a braid out. You just have to remember to be gentle with your hair and not to make the braid too tight so you don’t end up with a tension headache or hair loss! A great way to protect your strands during this process, give them extra hydration and nourish them is by combing a leave-in conditioner into your strands before you braid. 

Below, is an excellent incredibly detailed tutorial for cornrowing, by GlamFam Hair & Beauty.

Photo by Nadezhda Diskant

Now its time to Braid your Clients Hair. Follow the directions below:

Step 1: Shampoo Clients hair.

Start by shampooing your clients hair, then comb through to remove tangles.

Step 2: Section hair.

Next, section off clients hair to create a vertical row from front to back of your head. Using a tail comb will make this easiest.

Tip: More sections equal smaller braids, larger sections will create bigger braids.

Step 3: Divide hair to start braiding.

Starting at the front of your clients hair, take a small section of hair, and divide this small section into 3 equal pieces.

Step 4: Begin braiding.

Now that you have the hair divided, start the braid by crossing the left or right strand under the center strand and then repeating with the outer strand from the other side.

Step 5: Repeat step four.

Now, you’ll want to keep repeating step 4. However, this time, add in additional hair to each side from underneath as you weave. Do this until you’ve reached the base of your neck.

Step 6: Start a three-strand braid.

Once you don’t have anymore hair to add from underneath, continue to do a traditional 3-strand braid until you reach the end of your hair.

Step 7: Secure with an elastic (if needed).

To make sure your braid stay secured, finish off the ends with a knot or secure with an elastic.(only if needed)

Step 8: Repeat steps two – seven.

Continue step 2-7 until all of your hair is braided.

Step 9: Smooth edges.

Using a smoothing gel, smooth edges down with a toothbrush.

Photo By Styves Exantus