Because of their natural thickness and fullness, braiding African-American hair can be a challenge, but it's totally possible with a little help. Rope braids or cornrows are gorgeous, classic styles that you can do without going to the salon. Handle your hair gently, and take your time! The results will be worth it.
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Method 1 of 3: Making a Box of Braids
Step 1. Prepare your hair
Start by washing your hair as you normally would, and then apply conditioner to help soften each strand. When you rinse off the remaining conditioner, use a fine-toothed comb to comb through all the tangles, from the roots to the tips. Use the blow dryer on the 'low' position to blow the wind out of your curls, so that your hair is almost completely dry. Comb your hair back to make sure there are no tangles, and then you're ready to start braiding.
Step 2. Prepare the hair braiding package
Box braids use 'braids' - very long strands of synthetic hair - to fill in the gaps in your scalp and give the braid lots of fullness. Choose braids in the same color as your natural hair, and get at least two big packs. Then, take each haircut from the pack separately, and hold it in the middle, cutting the rubber bands and holding them together. Holding on to the center and the two ends of the tail hanging down, start pulling each strand on one side of the hair. This will give the ends of your hair a more natural look, otherwise a hair pack packaged in a straight cut, your hair will look a little unnatural when the braid is done.
- When you pull your hair, gently pull a few strands rather than many.
- Tuck your fingers through your hair when you're done with the ends, to remove any tangles that might appear.
Step 3. Get a braid of hair ready to braid
Part the first section of your braid into a braid about 5, 1-7, 6cm wide. Then divide 1/3 of this part; You should hold two sections with one section being twice as thick as the other. Wrap the smallest strands around the largest, so that the ends end in the opposite direction (like '><'). Take the smaller strand, and take it in the middle where it will be related to the first strand. Carefully twist the strands up and down, so that the two ends of the tail form a part that sticks together between the tails of the original strand.
You should only have three roughly the same size strands that you can hold in one hand
Step 4. Part the hair from your scalp to braid
Use a fine-toothed comb to carefully divide your hair into small strands from your scalp, about 1-inch to 1-inch. It's probably the easiest way to start on the one side of your head closest to your hairline and work your way up to the next, but you can start anywhere you're comfortable. Use a little oil or gel to prepare this piece, making it easier to shape.
Step 5. Start your first braid
Hold the braid in your hand so that one strand is between your thumb and index finger, the second strand is between your index and middle finger, and the third strand hangs behind the first two strands. Grab the section of hair closest to your scalp using your thumb and forefinger, as close to the hair roots as possible. To start braiding:
- Grab your bare hands that are around your head, and grab the three strands of hair hanging behind the strands that are in your grip.
- Simultaneously pull the third strand at the bottom, and join the hair from your scalp into the section between your thumb and forefinger, twisting it up and down in opposite directions.
- Pull the loose part of the third hair towards the middle, between the two sections. You should now have three separate strands of hair that are firmly attached to your scalp, with your natural hair tied naturally in one section.
Step 6. Braid a section of your hair
With your hair braided as close to your scalp as possible, start braiding as tightly as you can in a traditional pattern; alternatively placing the leftmost strand above the middle strand. When you have reached the end of your braid, the strands should taper into smaller and smaller braids. You don't need to use an elastic to hold it in place, because it holds itself up.
Step 7. Braid the extra section of hair
Repeat the same steps as mentioned to finish off the remaining hair on your head:
- Divide the 1-inch to 1-inch haircut from your scalp, and apply hair oil or gel
- Prepare your braid and divide it into three strands
- Use the twist method to incorporate your natural hair into your braid
- Finish the braid using the usual 3-strand method until you reach the ends of your hair
Step 8. Perfect each braid, it is very important to take the time to make sure everything is smooth, flexible and even
When you notice any bulging strands or lumps in your braid, you need to remove them and start over. If your natural hair comes loose from the strands you're braiding, you'll need to remove the braid and add oil or gel to moisturize it and reduce the frizz.
- You may need to re-braid the same strands several times to get the braid 'just right'.
- If your braid is uneven, you may have to start with a section of a different thickness. You'll need to remove your braid and twist it back into three even sections.
Method 2 of 3: Braiding Cornrows
Step 1. Prepare your hair
Since it's likely that you'll have cornrows for the next few weeks, you want to make sure to start with clean, well-conditioned hair. Wash your hair with your regular shampoo, and then use conditioner to soften it. Then you'll also need some hair oil as you braid, to make your hair soft, frizz-free, and easy to manage and shape.
Step 2. Decide which part it will be
Cornrows can be braided from any direction, so it's important to determine which part before you start braiding. The two most common styles are in a straight line following your hairline straight back to the nape of your neck, or braiding in a loop around your head from the center. You will need a fine-toothed comb to part your hair into the pattern you want, and to separate your hair into strands that are ready to be braided.
Step 3. Part your hair
Fill a spray bottle with water and a little olive oil, and shake well. Then, spray the section of hair you're working on. Use a comb to separate this section of hair into rows all the way to the bottom of your head. The smaller the part, the smaller the braid; the bigger the piece, the bigger the braid. Use butterfly clips to hold the rest of your hair away from your face.
Step 4. Start your first cornrow
Take the hair that has been divided using one hand, and pull slightly from the very top (near your hairline) away from the rest of the hair. Separate this small section of hair into three sections of the same size. Begin braiding these three pieces into a traditional braid pattern; Cross the rightmost section over the middle, then cross the leftmost section under the middle, back and forth.
Step 5. Add hair into your cornrows
Cornrow is created by braiding your strands in a French style braid very close to your head. As you work the lower part of the strands, continue braiding in the same pattern you started with. However, when you're braiding, take a small section of hair that isn't braided and tie it into each of the strands that you cross in the middle. Basically, you're creating a very small French style braid.
- When you add hair, pull the braid tight and keep your fingers close to your head.
- Don't braid your hair away from your head, as this will loosen your cornrows and make them look cute.
Step 6. Finish your cornrows
When you reach the nape of the neck, it may still have hair or be out of hair. If you have short hair, you will finish the cornrow by wrapping the ends of the braid together to secure them and prevent them from falling back. If your hair is a little longer, you will continue to braid the cornrows past the nape of the neck in a regular braid. Wrap the ends of your hair to secure the braid, when you're done.
- You can choose to use a small, light-colored elastic to hold your cornrow in place, if you're afraid the braid will loosen later.
- Some people choose to decorate the ends of the braid with beads as a decorative detail.
Step 7. Cornrow the rest of your hair
Work along your scalp, parting your hair evenly and braiding it in a cornrow. The process can take some time, so don't worry if it takes a few hours to complete. Make sure that each cornrow is the same size and follows the same pattern, so that the braid is even and tight across your head.
- If your hair is coming out of the braid, it doesn't look like it's damp enough and your braid isn't tight enough. Add more oil or gel to fix it.
- You may need someone's help to make sure that all the rows are even and even, especially at the back of your head.
Method 3 of 3: Making a Two-Strand Wrapped Braid
Step 1. Prepare your hair
Just like any other braid style, your hair needs to be well moisturized and free of tangles before starting your two-strand braid. Wash your hair as usual and then use conditioner to moisturize it. Your two-strand braid will be easier to shape if your hair is wet or at least damp, so don't blow-dry or air-dry your hair completely before styling it. Use a comb to remove any tangles or knots that may appear.
Step 2. Determine your coil size
There are many options when it comes to braiding with two strands. The most obvious decision you will make is to decide how much braid you want. You can do a 'micro-twist' that uses a dozen small braids, or you can do a jumbo twist that uses a 1-inch section of hair or larger. Small loops will last longer than large loops, but the process will obviously take more time. Decide what size you want based on your personal style and the amount of time you will spend styling your hair.
Step 3. Prepare your first section
Use the tail of a fine-toothed comb to divide a section of your hair into the size you want. The section should have a flat square shape. Apply a small amount of gel or cream all over your hair, and spray it with a little water and olive oil to reduce frizz and make it easier to style. Use your comb to brush through these sections several times, to ensure that the hair is completely smooth and tangle-free.
Step 4. Start your first winding
Separate a section of your hair into two equal strands. Start wrapping them tightly away from your head into a string-like pattern; you'll easily wrap the strands together tightly around each other to create a loop. To keep it tight, you will pull the loop tightly against your scalp as you work.
Step 5. Complete your first twist
When you're near the end of the strand and you're running out of hair to wrap, you'll need to alternate with a single strand to secure the ends. To do this, take two strands and join them together(there won't be much hair left to do this). Then, wrap this section around your fingers a few times, in the same direction you wrapped your two strands of hair. This will curl the ends of the hair, securing them in place.
Step 6. Repeat the twisting process on the rest of your hair
Continue working your hair on the scalp, creating your two-strand loop. The process is exactly the same with each twist, just make sure that each section of hair is the same size so that all your loops are the same size.
- Divide hair into small pieces, comb and apply gel, cream or oil
- Part the hair into two equal strands
- Wrap the strands around each other to form a braid-rope
- Wrap the ends of the two strands together to secure them and prevent the braid from unraveling.
Tips
- You can combine curls or braids into these various styles for a fuller look.
- If you're not sure how to braid your hair without causing damage, or if you're happy with the overall look, visit a local salon or hair style business that specializes in African-American styles.
- If you have short or medium hair, but you want to wear some African-American hairstyles, incorporate synthetic hair into your braids. This will give your style extra length and volume.
- You can add beads to your hair when it's braided.
