Q&A for How to Braid Cornrows

At least 3 inches ideal. It is easiest to cornrow hair that is 4-8 inches long.

Begin by sectioning out a small piece of hair where you want the braid to begin and divide it into thirds. Braid, as you would a three-strand braid, but each time you cross an outer strand of hair over the center add a bit of additional hair from that side. Continue until you run out of hair to incorporate, then plait the ends.

Bumps and redness may occur when your hair is braided too tightly. Itchiness from braids is normal, especially if hair extensions are added to the braids. You could also have a sensitive scalp.

Cornrows can be braided on anyone’s hair. However, it may be challenging to braid the hair of textures that are naturally straight, because straight hair tends to be slippery causing the braids to loosen and unravel.

Use a clarifying shampoo or conditioner to strip some moisture from your hair. Then, wet your hands with edge control gel as you work to give some moisture back. This will balance out your hair's oils.

As you work, thread beads onto strands of hair intermittently, then braid the hair as normal. Alternatively, use clip-on beads, which don't need to be threaded.

Cornrows may not help your hair grow faster, but they are a protective style that helps avoid knots and tangles for extended periods of time.

Yes, but it'll be much harder than it is with long hair.

People of African American decent typically have thicker, coarser hair than Caucasians, but it will still work with smoother hair as long as you still take the precautions this article specifies to help keep the braids in. It's possible that Caucasian hair will not keep the braids in as long or as well as the hair type of African Americans, but you can use hair oil or hairspray to help you with that.

Cornrows will last longer than a week, if you take care of them.

Of course! It's probably better to condition your cornrows rather than shampoo them because if you don't wash all of the shampoo out, they can get itchy. If you condition your hair twice a week, it'll stay moisturized. If you keep shampooing it day after day, it'll start to dry out again.

Take off the bead or the rubber band. Then use a comb for the tip of the braid, to undo it. After that, you can probably use your fingers to take out the rest. For each cornrow, repeat the same method until you get all the cornrows out of your hair. Once finished, wash your hair and it'll be clean and loose again.

It depends on your hair type. It's probably better and healthier for the cornrows to stay in for only 1-2 weeks, but if you think that your hair type would tolerate them for a longer period of time, then go for it!

Each time you make a braid stitch, add a few strands of hair from the row underneath the braid to get it to lay flat against yourself. It can take practice to do cornrows on your own hair; they are often easier to do on someone else.

If your hair is really short, you can use the same method but instead of letting it go after you braid it, tie it back in a crown. Simply tuck the ends of the cornrows at the back of your head and bobby pin them together.

Yes, but do not scrub your hair as your fingers can get caught in the braids and only wash it every couple of days.

Try using a thickening shampoo. It temporarily swells the hair strands and makes the hair thicker. I don't know whether it will last for as long as your cornrows will, though.

Of course! Just thoroughly wash your hair, and let it air dry. Never braid your hair while it's wet, as humidity will get trapped in your scalp and can lead to health problems. Thoroughly brush your hair, section it, and start braiding.

Remember the sides also become the middle as you continue to braid downwards. In this way, you will be adding hair to the different sides.

You can wear hats outdoors and also use moisturizing products to lock in moisture. Good moisturizing products to use are leave-in conditioners, coconut oil, Argan oil, jojoba oil, or shea butter.

As you braid, tie your extensions into the hair at the end, and then continue to braid.

Yes. You can have someone else pull it back for you, or you can slick your hair back with some gel before you start to cornrow it.

They shouldn't look loose if you are adding hair from the row underneath each time you make a braid stitch. Sometimes it takes practice to get them tight, just make sure you are adding some strands of hair every time you make a braid stitch in your row.

They're different. Dreadlocks involve twisting hair, tying it and leaving it in for quite some time.

Yes, it should be curly and crinkly. You could leave it like that for a day or two until you decide to either wash it and/or do something else with your hair.

Yes, leave the ends loose so you can pull them hair back into the tie as well. If you limit to 3-5 rows starting around ear level it will also help to maintain the balance

Yes, that would work.

Yes, you can do cornrows with an undercut.

Around an hour for the whole head, but it also depends on your hair length.

Your hair will be curly when you take them out. The length depends on the thickness of the braids; typically very small cornrows will last for a couple of months (maybe 4-6), medium ones should last around 2-4 months, and very big ones will last around 2 months. The right moment to undo them will be the moment when your natural hair starts growing through the braids, making them messy.