Cornrow hairstyles reflect the rich history of Black hair philosophy, dating back centuries before colonization. Your cornrows tell your story across time. Despite its beauty, maintaining this protective style is difficult. Modern cornrow braids are a rich mix of styles that add a touch of charm.
Maintaining cornrow braids requires balancing regrowth, ends, scalp care, itching spots, and frizz. Cornrow braids protect hair from moisture escape and damage and are low-maintenance. Read on for more tips on how to maintain cornrows.
1. Take Time To Prep Before Installing
Cornrows are a protective hairstyle, but it’s important to be careful because too much stress on the hair roots could cause damage. This risk is especially high if you do not properly treat your hair beforehand or if the styling is too tight.
For the best results when getting your hair ready for fitting, it’s best to plan. Give it lots of water instead of blow-drying your hair before putting it in cornrow braids. Start by shampooing your head well to ensure it’s clean, and then use conditioner to give your hair the moisture it needs.
This well-rounded process takes care of the foundation and sets the stage for the cornrow styling that will come next.
By carefully taking care of your hair in this way, you lay the groundwork for a successful cornrow installation, reducing the risk of damage from stress and setting the phase for an experience that looks good and protects the health of your precious locks.
2. Avoid Too Much Tightness
It is important to consider the risks cornrows might pose to your hair and skin. Too much tightness in the braids can cause stress, making hair strands more likely to break. Also, this tension can make the head feel uncomfortable and itchy.
Over time, these problems can lead to traction alopecia, a type of hair loss that is permanent and caused by constant stress on the head. To lessen these worries, it’s important to take some steps.
It is important to ensure the braids are not too tight during braiding. There shouldn’t be any discomfort or burning after your stylist does the cornrow braids. Taking a break between getting one cornrow hairstyle and another.
Let your hair grow out for at least a month before you consider getting cornrow braids again. Also, changing the patterns of the cornrow braids can help spread the stress over more of the scalp, lowering the total risk of problems caused by manipulation.
3. Look Setting
To make your chosen haircut look more elegant, you need to use the right products that balance, giving your hair the shine you want and not causing too much buildup on your scalp. Finding this balance is important if you want your look to stay the same.
Using mousse to set the style is an important step in the cornrow process, whether using extensions or your hair. Spread the mousse thoroughly through your hair to ensure it covers everything.
In a studio, you can speed up setting your hair by using a hair dryer or wrapping it in a silk scarf for a while.
Initially, it’s best not to get the cornrow braids wet and to do what you can to keep them in perfect shape. When you go to bed at night, putting on a silk headscarf is a smart way to keep your style looking neat and last longer.
4. Minimize Friction
As time go by, your hair will naturally start to grow out, which will cause your cornrow braids to soften over time. But this doesn’t have to mean the expiration of your chosen hairdo. There are various ways to keep your cornrow braids looking good and make them last longer.
The main thing you need to do to keep this braided hairstyle in place is to dodge rubbing your hair too much. This is true even when hair items like hats or beanies are involved. These things can cause the braids to get frizzy and come apart.
You can take care of this important issue by sleeping with a silk scarf or another acceptable covering. These steps keep your hair from rubbing against your mattress, which could put extra stress on your braids.
