Creative Cornrows Inspired By Essence

Inspired by a picture seen in Essence Magazine, Guest Blogger Aisha puts her own spin this amazing cornrowed 'do. See below for instructions.





Anisa in her Halloween costume.


Instructions:

• Anisa's hair was washed with Shea Moisture Organic African Black Soap Deep Cleansing Shampoo and conditioned with HEHH. Her hair was banded overnight. While braiding her hair I used Dabur Vatika Enriched Coconut Hair Oil (Export Quality) and Organic African Black Soap Dandruff and Dry Scalp Elixir. She doesn't have dandruff but she does have eczema.

• Detangled and ready to braid.

• Start by parting a small section in the back from left to right. Make another part, this time much smaller, to make your first cornrow. The cornrow will go from left to right or right to left depending on your preference.

• Repeat the last step again right above the cornrow you just made.

• Make a new section of hair right above your second cornrow. Do not add another cornrow. She now has three sections (A, B, and C) and two cornrows (1 and 2).

• Anisa has her head on her Pillow Pet in this pic. I now have two sections of free hair and two cornrows going from left to right. Now I will begin to cornrow upward. make a part going upward in sections A - C. Cornrow the hair together, overlapping cornrows 1 and 2.

• Two upwards cornrows

• Continue to make parts in each section (A, B, and C) and overlap cornrows 1 and 2. Continue until you reach the other side.

• I left some of her hair unbraided on the side until I was almost done.

• Now it is time to do the top. I made a part and gathered some hair in the very front of her head because I wanted to make small box braids in the front. Next, I began to once again make sections (D, E, and F) and cornrows (3 and 4). Instead of braiding upwards, you will now braid in a downward motion.

• Continue these steps until you reach the other side.

• My next step was to braid the loose hair.

• I finished off the look by cornrowing the braids together. The braids that were made in sections A - F will now be cornrowed together. The cornrow will be big! It is now time to make the box braids in the front.

• Finished side view. I made four cornrows along with several small box braids in the front

• Finished back view. I decided that I wanted the box braids to be curly but it was time for Anisa to go trick-or-treating so the curls would have to wait!

• The end of the Big Cornow was braided into one of her cornrows/box braids. Her hair is completely band and clip/pin free!!

Total braiding time: 2-2.5 hours

(The next day.) I used satin covered sponge rollers to achieve her curls.








Anisa will have this style for as long as possible. I will moisturize her hair daily with the elixir spray and a little coconut oil.