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How To Braid Your Own Cornrows
Protective style season can be, well, any season. We love them during the fall and winter, when it's too chilly to wash and go, and during the spring and summer, when we'll be hitting every rooftop pool party imaginable. And there's no greater resource than being your own hairstylist. Think about it: Wouldn't you rather allocate your funds towards mint mojitos and that adorable two-piece, rather than a fresh sew-in or getting your crochet braids touched up in the salon?
It may take a few tries and a whole lot of patience, but if you're armed with these tips from celebrity braiders Susan Oludale (AKA Hair by Susy) and Perineé Preston, then you're in better shape than you think. Check them out ahead, then grab a mirror and get started.
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Contents
Braided hair is extremely flexible for styling. Every year stylists create new and trendy hairstyles, but African braids always stay popular. Cornrow braid hairstyles is a perfect way to style black hair. Usually, black hair is curly and naughty. So, cornrow braid hairstyles are very suitable for such hair. There are many types of cornrows, tight and edgy cornrow styles, wrap-around braids, whimsical braids for long hair, twisted rope braids. By the way, cornrows and braids are trendy this summer. This hairstyle allows you an opportunity to forget about styling your hair about one or two months. It is a great pleasure for black-haired women because it is very hard to style curly hair.
As you may have noticed, we are gonna talk about different types of cornrows here. The thing is, we all love cornrow braids — as we’ve said, they’re perfect for curly hair, they’re cute and chic, they can be elegant, messy and formal… and they are also nostalgic as hell. The 1990s trends are here again, and all these amazing cornrows hairstyles have their roots in the 1990s — but the good news is, you don’t have to be a hip-hop star or fan to wear such hairstyles. All you have to do is to have curly hair, that’s all.
Here we’ll tell you about the best cornrows hairstyles in the world. We’ve found 25 fantastic haircuts that will suit all hair lengths and all face shapes. Just choose any of these gorgeous braided cuts and change your style!
Fancy long cornrow braids hairstyles
We’d like to talk about some really long hairstyles here. They usually look extremely feminine and elegant, and of course they are really trending this year — sounds good, right? Well, braids are always trending and we don’t see any reasons why they should go out of style. The majority of experts agree with this statement, btw.
Alright, let’s cut to the chase. The first hairstyle here is a feed-in braided cut, and it’s just perfect. Seriously, it looks gorgeous, and if you have long hair, you just can’t miss it. The good news here is that it’s one of those so-called “protective” hairstyles — so if you wanna protect your hair while you’re wearing cool African American braids, well, that’s what you need. Please, note that if you want to prevent itching (it’s a common problem for those who have such a haircut) it would be better for you to use some dry shampoo. Yeah, it’s obvious, but lots of people forget about it. Well, you certainly won’t!
Let’s continue talking about these cool cornrow designs. The second one is not basically a classic cornrow hairstyle, no. It’s what we call “goddess braids” — thick cornrows, in short words. It’s another protective haircut, but it’s definitely differs from the previous cut.
We mean that it’s definitely a little bit “extra” hairstyle, if we may say so. But well, it’s not forbidden in the 21st century to be extra, right? If you wanna stand out from the crowd, that’s exactly what you were looking for. Check it out!
The third hairstyle here is a classic long braided cornrow style. Basically, pulling your cornrows to the back is a perfect classic choice that will never go out of style, and this hairstyle certainly proves these words. Super long braided ponytail is exactly what we call a stylish hairstyle. Don’t you agree?
What about some Fulani braids? It’s a very complex, yet really beautiful and elegant braided hairstyle that would suit dark skin ladies perfect. “Fulani” is an African tribe in the Western Africa, and the women from this tribe wear the haircuts that look like this one. But it’s definitely not a classic Fulani haircut, because this large bun brings some modern style here. The cornrows braided into a bun — what can be better than that?
Beautiful hairstyles with thick cornrows
The answer to the questions like “how long does hair have to be for cornrows?” is extremely simple. It sounds like this: your length is most likely ok. The thing is, cornrow braids work great with both short and long hair (of course, medium length braids look great, too). It means that you don’t have to worry about whether your hair length is enough or not, cos we are sure it’s enough. If you are not one of those shaved head ladies, of course — in this case you’ll have to wait until your hair grows.
Speaking of thick cornrows, the longer and thicker your natural hair is, the better. And the good news is large and thick cornrows look even more beautiful than ordinary ones. Well, of course, we like all types of cornrows, but bigger braids look incredibly chic.
If you wanna know how to do cornrows and how long does it take to make such a hairstyle, well, we have the answers… but you will not like them. Thus, it may take up to 5 hours to make some cornrow braid updos, like this one. But the result is worth it, right?
Elegant updo cornrow braids
We couldn’t ignore more formal hairstyles like these fancy cornrow braids which form impressive updos. Thin cornrows into a high bun is by far the most popular option when it comes to braided updos and we can see the reason why they are so sought-after. Not only do such hairstyles look neat, but they are also very comfortable to wear. You can go for a simpler version of updo with cornrow braids like in the first photo or more complex ones which are presented below. One thing is sure – cornrows make any hairstyle better. Agree?
Cute female cornrow styles for black hair
Do you have black hair? Are you looking for some beautiful African cornrow braids? Then you are in the right place, because here we will offer you three amazing examples of what you can do with your black hair. Let’s go!
The first cornrow hairstyle we’d like to talk about here is called “lemonade braids”.Such braids look very fresh and stylish, and that’s why we love them.
Why are they called “lemonade”? Because of Beyonce! She presented her “Lemonade” album in 2016 and wore such braids during her “Formation World Tour”. Needless to say, such braids become a superhit that year — but the good news is, it seems like they are not gonna go out of style!
It’s a very creative, stylish and trending braided cornrow hairstyle, and we love that you can change this style according to your preferences. The gaps, their length, the length of the braids and the pattern in general — it’s only you who makes the choice. However, you have to know that it’s not the easiest hairstyle in the world. If you wanna know how to cornrow your own hair and how long does it take, well, the answer is 6-8 hours! It’s definitely not the best hairstyle for beginners.
The second hairstyle isn’t simple, too. It’s a braided mohawk, and it’s another style that looks perfect on black-colored hair — but if you decide to dye some braids brown or light brown, there’s nothing bad here. What’s more, such coloring look fantastic in the majority of cases — just take a look at the photo we’ve found for you and you’ll get it!
As for the last hairstyle here, well, it sounds like it’s a very simple style that will not take much time.
However, it’s quite a complex braided cornrows style and we can’t say that it’s a very good choice for beginners. On the other hand, this braided bun would be a great choice if summer is coming, because it’s a heat-protective style. If you are interested in how to take care of cornrows, this style is quite easy to maintain. You just tie the bun down at night and use a good braid spray, that’s all. If you are wondering “how long do cornrows last?”, you’ll like the answer, because this hairstyle will last up to 4 weeks!
Ideas of half head cornrows braids for women
Half-cornrows braids look great, too! If you don’t wanna have your whole hair braided, that’s exactly what you’re looking for — and we are happy to present you these three amazing half-cornrows hairstyles!
What about half cornrows? If you love the natural beauty of your hair just as you love the braids, you don’t have to choose between these two anymore. The solution is here, and it’s called “half cornrows” — the hair at the back will look like your natural hair, while the vertical cornrows will take your hair out of your face. It’s a gorgeous hairstyle, and really a unique one.
The second haircut is a half-braided cut, too. It’s very simple, basically — all you have to do is to stop at the end of your head when you’re making braids. The hairstyle will look extremely elegant and would suit all kinds of formal and informal occasions. Would you try it?
The last hairstyle is a sew-in hairstyle, and it’s just perfect for those who wanted to find the cornrows with weave. And half head cornrows, of course. If you don’t wanna have the whole head braided, the one sided cornrows hairstyles like this one will be a good choice for you. No heavy maintenance is needed, btw!
Different small cornrow braid styles to try
Some ladies like large cornrows, the other prefer small and tiny cornrow braid styles. We have something interesting for the second type of women — meet these amazing small cornrows that will help you stand out from the crowd!
The first style is quite simple here. Tiny braids on top, loose braids on the back of the head — simple as that. The only difficulty you may face is the number of the braids — yeah, it makes sense that the smaller the braids are, the more of them you will need to make. But if it’s not a problem for you, you’ll get a perfect result: a very elegant and feminine hairstyle!
Some micro braids, maybe? They can be actually styled in lots of different ways, but here we’ve chosen one of the simplest way to do them. Micro braids and ponytail — looks like a timeless classic, right?
Remember what we’ve said about short hair at the beginning? Like, about the cornrow braids that look great on any hair length?
Yes, you’ve got it right — very short hair isn’t an exception. If you have such hair, you can still wear cornrow braids, even the small ones. Just take a look at the photo and we can guarantee that you’ll love this style!
Simple big cornrows into a ponytail hairstyles
Big cornrows are what we call the nostalgy. They were extremely trendy 20-30 years ago, and the good news is they are still cool. Especially if they are mixed with top knots or ponytails!
We’ll begin with a really cool braided ponytail. It’s not one of those easy cornrow hairstyles, so if you wanna braid the hair at the back like this, you’ll have to ask your friend for help. Or you can go to a salon, it doesn’t really matter. The result will be worth it, we guarantee that.
The second style is extremely cool, too. It’s definitely a good choice for you if you prefer big and thick cornrows. It’s a classic ponytail which would look amazing on long hair.
The third photo will show you that the cornrow braids can look creatively. It’s a spiral braid which is definitely not too easy to do, but the combination of the thick braids and long, straight ponytail is the thing you just can’t miss. Agree?
How To Cornrow Your Own Hair For Men
Braiding cornrows hairstyles for kids
The first hairstyle here would work great for those who need some cornrows with box braids. It’s a protective style, and it’s very easy to make it even at home. You won’t need to go to a salon, and it’s a major advantage when we are talking about kids, right? Oh, and of course, it looks just great, so your girl will certainly love it.
The second hairstyle is quite simple, too, but, of course, it doesn’t that it’s bad or out of style. It’s a side ponytail for box braids. A simple protective hairstyle that looks extremely cool and fashionable — what else does a girl need, eh?
Check the third photo out, too. These four cornrows look really stylish, and the braids on top of head are creative as hell. Seriously, this pattern is the thing that will make your girl the star!
The last hairstyle is very stylish. Again! Well, we are sure that little girls have the right to wear trendy and fashionable hairstyles, too, so what’s the problem? Just take a look at the fourth photo — it’s a half cornrows half braids style, and your girl will 100% like it.
Pictures of side cornrows for natural hair
Extensions are a cool thing, but the cornrows can be good even on your natural hair. Like, take a look at the first photo — these classic cornrows don’t need any extensions, they look great even on short, natural hair. The sides look fantastic, that’s all we can say here.
The second style is perfect for short/medium curly hair. If you don’t wanna use any extensions, it may be a good choice for you — of course, it’s not as impressive as the previous cornrow styles, but it’s natural, and there’s nothing more to add here.
Are you blessed with long black natural hair? Then check out the third photo. These 5 cornrow braids look gorgeous and they would work great for any formal event.
Best braided hairstyles: short cornrows hair
If you don’t know how to braid cornrows yet, it would be better to start with something simple. Like the first hairstyle — these large cornrows are quite easy to do, and you won’t need any extensions to do them. Just your natural hair, that’s all (short hair would be perfect).
Meet another perfect style for your short hair! These cornrows are braided to the side, and this little detail makes them extremely elegant, even if your hair is short.
And the last one is bob, of course. We just couldn’t ignore bob hairstyles, ‘cause they are extremely popular, and mixing two popular things can’t lead to a bad result. Check this asymmetrical inverted braided bob out — it’s very, very good.
/ Thursday, 30 March 2017 / Published in Hair Extensions Care Tips
How to braid hair, and then sew hair tracks into braided roots?
Basic Cornrow Instruction
You can turn to a hair mannequin to practice your braiding technique.
Firstly, master an individual three-strand braid. Use a rat-tail comb to part hair vertically, starting from the front of the hair line moving to the back of the neck.
Make sure part is straight. Before starting the braiding process, your hair should be kept moisturized properly. Grab all three pieces of hair at the front of your hair to take complete control of their mobility.
Put your hands on the underneath the middle strand of hair, and then grab the hair at the front of the hair line to the left with your right index finger and grab the hair at the front of the hair line to the right with left index finger.
Hair that hangs past the back of the neck can use three-strand individual technique.
Braiding Techniques for Weaves
Properly section hair to lessen the mobility of your weave and significantly decrease the appearance of hair tracks. Visible hair tracks will make hair look artificial. Leave a certain amount of unbraided hair to hid tracks and blend well into your own hair.
After braiding, you can apply sew-in extensions by using beehive or straight-back techniques.
Beehive technique is that braid natural hair in a circular direction starting from the right outermost corner of hair line.
Straight back technology consists of the hair vertically and evenly separated.
Sew the loose ends of braids into the base of braids, eliminating their visibility.
Sew hair extensions horizontally from left to right. Tie a knot at the end of an extension. Add many layers of extensions.
Blend your own hair into the hair extensions. You can straighten your hair texture if your hair is thick. Make sure that your natural hair covers any sign of a hair extension by using a thin-tailed comb. Style your hair as you like.
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If you are wondering “How Long Does Your Hair Have to Be for Cornrows” then the answer lies in the hands your hairstylist. For cornrows, your hair can be long or short depending on the style. At minimum you hair has to be at a length that you can at least comb and part. There are some hair stylist out there who’s specialty is nothing but braiding. These hair stylist are use to doing small hair like micro braids so as long as they can have a fingertip or two to work with they can turn your hair into cornrows. How ever you have some people who do braids that may not have the skills of a professional hair stylist or may be just a little inexperienced and will need for your hair to be a length that they can comfortable grab.
If your are not that concern with the skills of the stylist but more worried about whether your cornrows will look good or not if you don’t have enough hair. Well take a breath and relax there is a solution for that. Stylist have been using hair extension and weaves to braids for decades. The right hair extension will give your corn rows a thick, full look that you will be more than happy with. extension will also add the desired length to your braids as well.
So if you want cornrows now and do not want to wait for your hair to grow, feel free to do just that with just a little help along the way. If you decide to go with hair extension there are a couple of key factors to consider. What ever you choose for hair extension you should always make sure that the hair color and hair texture match yours. This is very important because if you decide to go with cornrows and add hair that is not the same color or texture of your natural hair it will make your cornrows look cheap and just thrown together.
Before wondering how long does your hair have to be for cornrows you should ask yourself if your hair can take the stress of cornrows. Cornrows done with a small amount of hair will require your hair being pulled tight. Overtime the pulling will cause your hair to actually be pulled out of you head if your hair isn’t strong enough to handle it. If you have any questions about the length and the health of your hair and is it ready for cornrow feel free to ask your hair stylist.
Updated On: March 13, 2019
There are many braiding styles available for men's hair, including cornrows. Men's braids may not be as flamboyant as the braiding styles available for women but they are just as attractive and easy to maintain.
Learn to Make Cornrows
Prepare your braiding tools. You will need a comb, preferably one with a long end, to make parts in the hair. You will also need some rubber bands and a spray bottle containing water. Spraying a little water on the hair as you work will make it easier to braid.
Pick a style and plan the directions of the cornrows before you begin. It may be easier to draw this out on paper. This will also give you something you can refer to while you work.
Make a part for your first cornrow. This will separate a strip of hair from the rest of the hair. Secure the rest of the hair with clips or rubber bands to keep it out of the way.
Start at the beginning of the strip of hair. Take a small amount of hair and separate it into three strands.
Braid two stitches. To do this, pass the middle strand of hair over the strand on the left, and then pass the former left strand over the right strand.
Pick a small amount of the hair behind this braid and add it to the strand in the middle of the braid. Make another stitch.
Pick a small amount of hair and, again, add it to the strand in the middle of the braid. Make another stitch.
Continue in this fashion until you have completed this cornrow. Make another part in the hair for the next cornrow, according to your design.
Learn more about braiding men's hair with one of the many videos and books on the topic. One such book, for instance, is 'Braiding: Easy Styles for Everyone' by Diane Carol Bailey (see Resources below).
How To Cornrow Your Own Hair Men
Maintain Your Braids
Moisturize your braids with a light hair oil. Use just enough so that your hair is not dry.
Keep braids in no longer than 3 months. After 2 months in braids, hair starts to get thin and brittle.
Cover your braids with a silk scarf when going to bed. This helps to keep the braids neat.