Braid freeze

Cornrows are one of the strongest links to the African culture. While the hairstyle doesn’t just serve fashion purposes, the braids keep the thick, curly hair of Africans healthy. Also, back in the years it even conveyed religions, kinship and social or personal status. But, today, one can always get inspired by the hairstyle. Taking a cue from this are not just the Kardashians and the Jenners, but even B’wood celebrities such as Yami Gautam, Sonakshi Sinha and Shraddha Kapoor, who have been spotted with the hairstyle.

With summer at its peak, cornrows are a great way to stay cool. While cornrows work best for thick, curly hair, people with all kinds of hair can try it too. But, unlike your usual braids, cornrows can stay for a day or can even last up to two weeks.

Sonakshi Sinha

While there are several kinds of cornrows, that range from simple to the most complicated, one that is quite easy to sport is the cornrow on one side of your head that merges with the rest of your untied hair. Then you have cornrows where the entire crop of your hair is braided and the ends of it are fastened by a band. Whatever the style, if you’re planning on getting cornrows that you want to keep on for a few weeks, here are a few dos and don’ts.

“Cornrows are actually quite hassle free but need a bit of care. While getting the hairstyle is not a trouble, maintaining them is where the real work starts. You will have to make sure that the plaits are well done when you get them,” says Rod Anker, creative director at Rod Anker Salons in Delhi. For those who keep cornrows on for a day or two it doesn’t make a huge difference, but if you’re planning on getting the hairstyle for more than a few weeks, here is what you need to know. “Always use a leave-in serum before you start braiding and make sure that you fasten your braids with a silicon coated band,” adds Rod.

Since cornrows can be kept for a few weeks, washing your hair and taking good care of it becomes imperative. Sapna Bhavnani, celebrity hairstylist says, “If you don’t want the hassle of washing your hair, use dry shampoo. You can also  let water run through your hair, but make sure that it is dried well.” Any amount of pressure can force the braids to open up or get loose, but if you do want to wash your hair, here is what you can do. Rod says, “Instead of using your fingers while shampooing, use your palm, that puts less pressure on the braids. Also, light conditioning is what you will need, so don’t use a heavy conditioner.”

Sleeping too can cause your cornrows to become loose. “One should sleep on  satin pillow covers, they don’t cause the hair to get frizzy and also help the braids stay on longer,” advice both Sapna and Rod.