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Cornrows

By: Marquetta Breslin Have you ever seen someone with beautiful braids that lay close to their scalp? Oftentimes these braids can be decorated with shells and other types of beads. If you know what I'm talking about, then you have seen "cornrows." Originally from Africa, cornrows are known for their low-maintenance regime, and the style is popular on men and women alike.

Cornrows sparked their popularity during the ''Black Power Movement'' of the early 1970s. During this time millions of African Americans were afraid to wear their ''natural hair'' in public. This period of time also brought other popular styles to our attention, including the afro. Cornrows are popular because they are not only very low maintenance but because their intricate designs are also very popular.

The actual designs in the cornrows have been known to stand for multiple factors of an individual's life such as religion, kinship, status, age, ethnicity, and other attributes of identity.

Here are some other interesting facts:

1. During the 1960s African American women preferred not to be seen in public with their natural hair. On a popular television show of that time, East Side / West Side, actress Cicely Tyson wore a full head of cornrows for one of her scenes. Some people believe this sparked the end of the ''natural hair'' trend.

2. With proper care and maintenance, cornrows can look beautiful for about two to four weeks. However, keeping them longer may result in the hair becoming locked or matted.

3. Over the years cornrows have been disputed in the workplace for their ''unprofessional appearance.'' In fact, some employers have deemed them unsuitable or have banned them altogether from the workplace.

4. There are several different designs for cornrows, but the most popular is the ''straight back'' design. This consists of braids laying flat in a back to front direction. However, the design can literally be manipulated thousands of different ways, resulting in many different styles. Very intricate styles like the zig-zag can take up to 13 hours to finish.

Since everyone's body is different, the maintenance of cornrows varies from person to person. However, there are some general ideas to keep in mind if you're thinking about having this style done on your hair. For instance, cornrows can damage the hair if not completed correctly, so make sure your stylist is experienced. Also, cornrows that are braided too tightly can pull the hair out from the roots, mainly around the edges.

You can wash cornrows using a dry shampoo, but make sure not to use regular shampoo. If you wash your cornrows like normal hair, they will unravel before your eyes. You can also use a mild astringent to clean the scalp. For any stray hairs that pop up, just rub a little bit of gel on the cornrow. Before going to bed, make sure you wrap your hair in a silk scarf to keep the style intact while you sleep.

With such fascinating origins, it's no wonder that so many people have fallen in love with cornrows over the years. For men, women, and children alike, cornrows have stood the test of time, and they have become a stylish icon for African Americans.

Article Source: http://www.lifeweightloss.com

Marquetta Breslin, owner of Braids By Breslin, is a licensed hair braider and has been braiding hair for over 12 years. For more tips and tricks about cornrows, please visit Marquetta's website.

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