Cornrows

Cornrows are a hairstyle made by braiding hair close to the scalp in continuous, raised rows. The rows can form straight lines or intricate patterns.

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Three-strand braid: A braid formed by crossing three strands of hair over one another in a repeating sequence. Cornrows use repeated strand crossings while adding hair along each row.
African hairstyles: Hair traditions developed across the diverse peoples and regions of Africa. Cornrows belong to a broad range of African hair practices and styles.
African hair braiding: A family of hair-braiding techniques practiced in African communities and their diasporas. Cornrows are one recognizable technique within this wider tradition.
Protective hairstyle: A hairstyle designed to reduce handling and exposure that can contribute to hair damage. Cornrows can keep hair organized and reduce daily manipulation when installed and maintained gently.
French braid: A braid that incorporates additional hair as it progresses, usually forming a raised plait away from the scalp. Both incorporate hair progressively, but cornrows remain closely attached to the scalp.
Nok culture: An ancient West African culture known partly through terracotta sculptures from present-day Nigeria. Some Nok sculptures show patterned hairstyles often compared with braided rows.
Black is Beautiful: A cultural movement affirming Black beauty, identity, and pride, especially in the 1960s and 1970s. Cornrows became visible alongside renewed public affirmation of natural Black styles.
Feed-in braids: Cornrows made by gradually adding small amounts of extension hair as braiding progresses. This technique creates a tapered appearance rather than a bulky starting point.
Parting (hair): The division of hair into sections by creating lines in the hair. Partings define the paths and shapes of individual cornrow rows.
Yoruba people: A West African ethnic group with a long history centered in present-day Nigeria and neighboring countries. Yoruba hair traditions include elaborate styles and social meanings associated with braiding.