Want to try a gorgeous braided hairstyle but not sure which one? Cornrow braids are a great choice for both women with natural black hair and Caucasian women. The technique involves forming braids tight and close to the scalp.
For short and long hair, cornrow braids add beautiful detail. Choose to braid them all the way down to the ends or stop halfway and leave the rest of your hair loose.
The cornrows are generally perfect for women looking for a low-maintenance hairstyle.
1. Half Cornrows, Half Box Braids
Cornrow Braids
If you want to try a stunning braided hairstyle, try cornrow braids! We’ve handpicked a list of gorgeous cornrow braids to inspire your next look.
If you like the look of both cornrows and box braids, mix them together! Start the braids and cornrows at the edge of the head and braid them up to eventually wind around a cute bun updo.
2. Center-Parted Cornrows with a Low Bun
Maintain the symmetry of your face with a center part and cornrow braids. Your stylist will part hair in the center, then add the cornrows and form one braid on either side. These braids will combine into a low bun above the neck.
3. Four Cornrows
If you have thick hair, braiding it into four cornrows is a great hairstyle option for you. Not only do the middle two braids look thick, but by having the side braids smaller and thinner, you create a cool balance across the head.
4. Loop-Pattern Cornrows with a High Ponytail
To make a dramatic statement with your hairstyle, go for a ponytail with cornrow braids. Tiny braids start at the hairline to create wavy designs that are gathered into a ponytail. Wind several of the braids around the ponytail instead of using a hair tie. Gathering the lengths higher, lower or to one side changes the finish while keeping the scalp pattern.
5. Long Cornrows with Curved Side Rows
Is your natural hair still growing out? These long cornrow braids are feed-ins and are a great protective hairstyle. They’ll combine with your natural hair to form a gorgeous lengthy look no one will realize isn’t your real hair!
6. Star-Pattern Cornrows with Loose Waves
Your eyes won’t know where to look with this crazy beautiful braided hairdo. The back is long and loose with soft waves while the top of the head all the way to the hairline is braided into cornrows. A cool star shape makes this hairstyle a must-try.
7. Side Cornrows with Crimped Curls
There are so many ways you can transform straight, dull hair into an extravagant look. Firstly, get a crimping iron to build that texture. On one side, instead of braiding the cornrows starting from the hairline, choose a point and weave towards it.
8. Shoulder-Length Cornrows with Clear Beads
African braids are absolutely fabulous, especially when they all have the same length and thickness. Keep them roughly the same length and decorate each knit with translucent beads. Clear beads can be exchanged for coloured beads, or the braids can include coloured extensions.
9. Cornrows with a Low Ponytail
If you don’t want those cornrows hanging on your back and shoulders, you can always opt for an elegant cute hairstyle like a low ponytail. It looks fabulous for both short and long hair, and you can use a braid to wrap it around the base.
10. Center-Parted Cornrows with Faded Sides
Love a casual tomboy look? The best way to get it is to opt for a short hairstyle with a fade on the sides. As for the top crown, get a middle part and do your cornrows on the side and towards the back. You can even use one knit as a middle parting.
11. Fulani Braids
These types of cornrow braids are eye-catching, especially because they involve a different technique. While you keep most of your hair tightly braided to the back, you will need to spare some hair around the ears. Start knitting the pieces from the place behind the ear and go towards the sideburns.
12. Lattice Cornrows with Triangle Parts
Ghana braids with triangle partings that create little squares for the top can’t be done at home. They are way too complicated to get them to look as perfect as the ones presented above. They involve crossovers and you might need a few hair bundles to create that impressive length.
13. Heart-Shaped Braids
If you go for regular cornrows for the top, you can spice things up with a design on the sides. Go for two curved-shaped braids that meet into a single knit and create a thicker piece. Also, you can purposely miss some strands and not knit them, creating a mix with the braids.
14. Fan-Pattern Cornrows with Face-Framing Braids
Choose a center pointing to the middle of your forehead line, and starting from there, build your cornrow braids. Feed them in with hair extensions so they’ll look chunkier towards the back. Using your sideburns, style two braids and wear them in front of your ears.
15. Twisted Cornrows
From far away, these cornrows might look like regular braids, but up close you’ll see they’re actually twisted. They’re created by only using two small sections of hair and winding them around each other down to the ends.
16. Mixed-Width Cornrows with Jumbo Braids
Mixing different types of braids is a wonderful way to make an impression while reducing the hassle of styling. Start with cornrow braids on top and go on to create the classical braid on the bottom. Check braided updo styles.
17. Fan-Pattern Cornrows with a High Bun
When you make cornrow braids, you don’t lose an opportunity to create the same hairstyles you did without them. This high bun looks especially appealing when coupled with some bright accessories.
18. Curly Mohawk with Side Cornrows
If you’ve always wanted to make a statement with your hair, but shaving it or dyeing an outrageous color was out of the question, cornrows can help you. Create a wonderful fohawk by braiding the side strands.
19. Patterned Cornrows with a Side Bun
The uniqueness of your cornrow style fully depends on your imagination. If you have someone who does these braids professionally, you can come up with a truly amazing hairstyle and enjoy it for days.
20. Cornrows with Long Rope Twists
Simple braids are exactly what every girl needs to try at least once in her lifetime. If you are black, have long and thick hair and are dreaming about perfectly neat cornrows, the classical approach is for you.
21. Branched Cornrows with a Long Curly Ponytail
These cornrow braids are arranged in a way to make the high ponytail seem natural. There is no brushing, tying, or twisting. Your ponytail is half-ready. All you have to do is sweep the rest of your hair up.
22. Chevron Cornrows with Long Braids
Using cornrow braids to create amazing designs is a popular approach to the African hairstyling. Take advantage of your cornrows and make whatever patterns you can come up with. A professional hairdresser can follow even the wildest dream.
23. Stitch Cornrows with Curved Parts
There is no absolute rule for making great cornrow braids. You can practice any style you like, including these large braids that surely can make an impression. The idea is the same while the result is magnificent.
24. Twin Cornrows with Purple Ends
Not all women are patient enough to handle the full blown cornrow hairstyles. That’s why you can use your imagination to come up with partial braids. Take a look at how well the cornrows are incorporated into this simple hairstyle. For a half-up variation, tie the two braided sections separately and leave the remaining lengths loose.
25. Looped Cornrow Mohawk
What’s a better way to create a stunning hairstyle than doing it with cornrows? No mohawk in the world looks as stylish and creative as the hairstyle you can come up with using the braids. Give it a go!
26. Alternative choice
Alternating the size and the position of cornrows on your head is exactly what you need to create a unique hairstyle. Consider using prominent dyes to make highlights before braiding the cornrows.
27. Jumbo Center Braid with Side Cornrows
For the center, build more dimension by styling a French Knit. On the sides, create a curved cornrow and another braid that enters the curve. Repeat the procedure on the other side and style a low bun.
28. Cornrow Half-Up Bun with Beaded Bangs
This is probably the best approach when you want something extravagant for your new look. Use hair extensions to make your hair longer and to obtain the same thickness for each braid. Get knitted bangs and decorate each with beads.
29. Triangle-Pattern Cornrows with Twin Braids
Some love to sport their designs on the sides, but here’s a better option. Starting from the center back, do triangle partings and cornrows that you will use to feed into the French braids on the sides.
30. Cornrow Bun with a Geometric Undercut
Low-back undercuts are still trendy. They look impressive and are a great way to complete your look. Do the design on the lower half of the back of your head. The longer pieces you will use to create cornrows that start at the end of your undercut and go towards the top. Pin them in a bun.
What Are Cornrows?
Cornrows are a series of braids that are as tight as possible. This hairstyle has braids lying flat against the scalp. While these braids look good on people with most hair types, the hairstyle was originally for coarse, curled hair.
How To Do Cornrow Braids
If you want to do cornrow braids on your hair, follow these steps:
- Wash and dry your hair.
- Moisturize your hair with oil or a leave-in conditioner.
- Using a rat-tail comb, part your hair in sections from the front to the back (for uniformity, you may want to begin in the center of your head, but this is not necessary).
- Take the first section you wish to braid, and split that section into three even, smaller units.
- Take one of the side units and place it over the middle section letting go of the piece you were holding and picking up the middle section instead.
- Take the opposite side unit and place it over the middle section, making the opposite side unit the new middle section.
- Once you have done each side unit once, pull in slightly more hair from the overall hair you will cornrow into the smaller sections.
- Repeat the process of weaving in side sections and pulling in loose hair until you have worked your way down the entire scalp.
- Once you reach the bottom of your scalp, braid any remaining hair length like usual.
- Repeat this process for each braid.
Note: Braiding a cornrow is similar to creating many small French braids of even size across the scalp. To know the process in detail, read our step-by-step guide to cornrow braiding.
There are so many cornrow braiding styles for women that the above ones are just the tip of the iceberg. Use your imagination to create real masterpieces. Your hairstylist can show you the way or you can experiment in the comfort of your own home.
A Similar Effect with a Small Side Braid
A small braid along one side can give a similar visual accent when you do not want a full cornrow pattern. Treat it as an alternative styling detail rather than another cornrow design.
