Cornrows used to be a “signature” hair for black girls with large, voluminous, and curly hair. With such an amount of hair, the cornrows hairstyle makes them look outstanding and unique.
Judged from the outside, cornrows seem to be simple and quick to do. But this hairstyle requires skills, time, and experience to make, but there are just too many complicated steps to do if you seek the cornrows tutorial on the Internet.
Understanding your problem, in this post, we will clarify the process of making cornrows in just five short, concise, and simple steps. No time to waste; let’s learn how to do cornrows!
How to do Cornrows? – Step-by-step Guide for Beginners
Apply Cream to Moisturize the Hair
The first step is to apply styling butter to the hair. It’s a must to start with freshly-washed, well-conditioned, and detangled hair for any hairstyle because it’s easier to style.
You will also add styling creams later, and the hair will turn oily, so it’s better to start with a blank canvas, right?
According to hair experts, your hair will be at the best status to spray detangler products right after washing.
Then, wait for the hair to partly dry and the product to absorb into your hair until there is no tangle area.
Next, apply a thin layer of moisturizing cream to prevent your hair from dehydration. This step not only protects your hair from drying but also makes it look shinier and smoother. Besides, the cream provides your hair with essential nutrients and strengthens the root before braiding.
In case you don’t have any professional, specific cream for hair care, then coconut oil, argan oil, or shea butter are suitable alternatives.
To add-in, you can blow-dry your hair supposing you have a curly or coiled hair texture. This drying step prevents the hair from automatically curling.
Part Hair into Small Cornrow Sections
Now that you already have healthy and well-conditioned hair. Let’s start making cornrows.
First, use a comb to divide your hair into small sections. You can separate your hair into how many parts you wish. Skinnier sections make shorter rows.
If you are bored with the traditional separation way – the 3-rows, you can create the new cornrows sections as you like. You can part them from backward to forwards, straight at the middle, braiding over other braids, big braids by tiny braids, etc.; there is no limitation for creativity, right?
After dividing your hair into small sections for braiding, start dividing each row into smaller parts. The typical way is to begin at the hairline, use a comb to part the hair section, and divide into three more rows. Take a clip to secure each row if needed.
Start Braiding with Each Portion
With the hair section given from the previous step, start making the first braid stitch. Hold the left row, move it over to the center row. Hold it firmly with your finger. Then, gently take the right row, move it to the center position, place it over the left row mentioned above.
Here is a short brief for you to check whether you have performed the right steps or not: when putting the left row to the center, the center position is the left row mentioned above. Next, place the right row over the center row, so the right row is at the center position.
Continue repeating the same pattern: place the left to the center, then move the center’s right. Please remember that if you keep doing it uniformly, the cornrows will slowly appear.
Add Hair to the Cornrow as You Braid
Here is the most challenging step so please pay more attention.
Continue braiding with the same stitching technique as above for about 2 or 3 more stitches. Then, add a 1/2 inches section of hair to each stitch as you go toward the end of the hair section.
Try to pick the new hair sections equally and gently from each side to ensure that the braid is still balanced at the center position, not to deviate to the left or the right.
In case you don’t like adding more stitches to the central braid, it’s fine too. You can braid many single stitches and tie them together, but the technique may be too hard for entry-level people.
Besides, between the add-more-hair-to-the-central-stitch and the braid-many-single-stitches, the former method is preferred. Because the latter creates a loose and uncomfortable braid. It isn’t the “real” cornrow style but the French braid style, either.
Typically, making a simple cornrow takes you about 15 minutes if your hair is a not-too-thick-and-curly type. So, for people who have the signature Afro hair – my girl – please prepare the mindset that you may have to spend more time than other girls. But it’s all worth it, right?
Additionally, if you are braiding on straightened hair, there will be no detangle hair as you have already applied the cream before. But, it’s not the same “chill” case for natural curly thick hair. In these cases, girls have to detangle as they work down the hair sections.
Use fingers to stretch out the curls so that the hair is neat enough to braid. If you use curl hair to braid, it’s acceptable, but the braid can turn out to be messy.
Secure the Cornrow with Rubber Bands
When the stitch goes out off the scalp and touches the neck, you know that it’s already long enough. Finish the braid with all the hair remaining, and secure it with an elastic hairband, small barrette, or rubber bands.
There is one thing we want to remind you at this stage: your hair is quite delicate and fragile now after tons of stretching and buckling, so please try to set the stitch as gently as possible. It’s better to wear a barrette than bands because the bands can shear your hair.
Conclusion
Through this article, we have discovered how to do cornrows in 5 steps. There are many complicated tutorials about this hairstyle on the Internet. We understand that they are so difficult to follow, so we have tried to make our guidance as simple and condensed as possible.
Additionally, there are some differences among different types of hair. For instance, curly hair needs a distinct approach, and straight hair should receive distinguished treatment. Please take these things into consideration.
We hope the article has provided you with helpful tips on making cornrows. Good luck with your beauty journey!
