Cornrows, also known as cane rows are traditional West African technique of hair grooming.
In this style of hair grooming, the hair is braided close to the scalp. The movement used in making cornrows is the underhand and upward action which creates a constant raised row.
The most common style of braiding cornrows is a straight line, but nowadays, other more complicated styles of cornrows such as geometric and curvilinear designs. So many people have fallen in love with cornrows throughout the years.
Almost all African American generations and ages, men, women and children choose to wear their hairs in cornrows. Cornrows have become a stylish icon for most.
Cornrows are ancient. It is a common hair grooming style among the population in the continent of Africa was they tagged as a means of self-expression. The warriors and black kings of Ethiopia, Tewodros II of Ethiopia for example were the first people said to wear cornrows.
In 1963, African American women chose to wear cornrows because they were reluctant to wear straightened hair in public. At the same time an actress of the show East Side/ West Side named Cicely Tyson wore cornrows and that marked the end of straightened hair which most considered the natural hair for African American women.
This hairstyle became popular in the early 1970s during the Black Power Movement, wherein most African American men decided to show the natural texture of their afro hairs. Most of the African Americans were frightened to show off their ordinary hair in public.
Hairstyles with a great resemblance to cornrows have been observed in Greek art and in the Celtic culture. During the pre-slavery times, cornrows represented so many things such as religion, age, ethnicity, status, kinship, etc.
Cornrows have received several disputes in the American workplace. Most employers considered cornrows unsuitable for the office and have literally forbidden them. Yet, cornrows still become popular because of African America hip-hop artists and NBA basketball players choose to wear such hairstyle.
Braiding cornrows make take twelve to thirteen hours to finish but it is still preferred by others because the hair style can last from two to four weeks if properly cared for and maintained.
