History

• Cornrows are derived from the practices of the ancient African tribes of the sub-Sarahan region. The style was transported from Africa across the world along with the victims of slave trafficking between the 17th and 19th centuries. Cornrows were embraced as a sign of cultural solidarity by African Americans during the social transformation of the 1960s and 1970s as a rejection of the era's straight-hair style. In the 1980s, the Cornrow trend disseminated to other cultural groups in the United States and more mainstream hair salons began offering the service. The trend became affiliated in the 1990s with the hip-hop musical movement and Caribbean vacations.
  
  

Types

• The Cornrow braids are created by plaiting the hair tightly against the scalp in a piling and compacting motion that raises the braids from the surface of the head slightly. They can be arranged in the traditional linear style, running straight back from the hairline back, or set in weaving patterns, circular designs, or other shapes. Cornrows are most commonly braided from root to tip, however partial braids that only extend from the root to mid-scalp are also popular.
  
  

Identification

• Due to the intricate and small braiding that needs to be done to produce Cornrows, it can often take multiple hours to completely braid a full head of hair, depending on the length, thickness and texture. Therefore the styling can be expensive, however if properly cared for can last up to a month.
  
  

Considerations

• Caring for Cornrow braids is easier than expected given the complicated design. It is important to wash the hair with shampoo regularly being careful not to disrupt the weaving of the braids and also oil the scalp and roots to keep exposed areas from drying out. If the braids are styled incorrectly, worn for too long, or poorly cared for, hair loss can occur.
  
  

Misconceptions

• Cornrows have been the center of cultural controversy in both the United States and Africa due to their brazen style. Starting in the 1990s, the style began to come under fire as American employers who felt it was inappropriate for the workplace were fought by employees who believed it was an infringement on rights to fire someone or not hire them over their hairstyle. In early 2008, Glamour magazine faced this issue after a chief officer claimed that braids, along with afros and hair colored unnatural shades, were unprofessional and unacceptable in the work place. Also, recent complaints from employees at Abercrombie & Fitch clothing stores who claim their jobs were threatened over their cornrows indicate that the discussion over braids in the work place is not resolved.
  
  The braiding technique has also been an issue in Nigeria, where it is considered a signifier of gayness. In both environments, people who wear Cornrows have fought for the style to be accepted.