Advantages, Upkeep, Inspo, and Extra

Cornrows are among the many hottest protecting types—and rightfully so. They require comparatively little time in your braider’s chair, last as long as three weeks, and supply a possibility to present your hair a break from manipulation. Straight-back cornrows are at all times in fashion, however individuals are getting further artistic as of late. The most recent trending fashion on social media? Coronary heart cornrows.

Maybe the cutest, most romantic replace to the look, the sort of cornrow is braided on the again or sides of your head within the form of a coronary heart. Forward, professional hairstylists Ursula Stephen and LaRae Burress clarify every little thing that you must learn about getting coronary heart cornrow braids (together with find out how to maintain your edges intact).

Hold studying to be taught extra about coronary heart cornrows.

What Are Coronary heart Cornrows Braids?

Cornrow “coronary heart braids are a sort of braid design the place a coronary heart is braided into the hair,” Stephen tells us. Cornrow coronary heart braids are making waves throughout social media platforms like Pinterest, TikTok, and Instagram, with the totally different variations unlocking the creativity of purchasers and stylists alike.

How Are They Made?

Putting in coronary heart cornrows is very easy. Here is Stephen’s step-by-step information:

1. Part and half the hair the place you need to create the center
2. Cut up the part from prime to backside
3. Braid a kind of sections into half a coronary heart
4. Do the identical to the opposite part

That was a breeze, proper? Nevertheless, there are some issues to recollect earlier than, throughout, and post-installation. The hearts are sometimes positioned alongside the perimeters of the pinnacle and even on the nape of the neck. Whereas that is very cute, rigidity from braids may be problematic for the scalp. So, the way you put together, look after, and hydrate your hair is essential for its well being.

Find out how to Look after Coronary heart Cornrow Braids

Correctly Moisturize Hair Earlier than Braiding

“Any form of braid may cause breakage if the hair is just not correctly moisturized first,” says Burress. “To keep away from breakage, you’ll want to correctly shampoo, situation, and moisturize hair [before] any braiding.” She additionally says to verify your hairstylist is not gripping your hair too tight in any areas whereas braiding.

Rinse Your Braiding Hair (or Use an Different If You Have a Delicate Scalp)

The primary time I received field braids put in, my scalp was infected. Not as a result of my hair was braided too tightly however as a result of the coating on the braiding hair had irritated my scalp. Since cornrows lay straight on the scalp, Burress advises these with delicate scalps to soak braiding hair in an apple cider vinegar tub earlier than set up. Alternatively, she says it’s also possible to go for pure braiding hair like Rebundle, which is constituted of naturally extracted banana fiber. You should utilize this hair proper out of the field with out worry of irritation; no pre-install rinse is critical.

Do not Braid in Child Hairs

My braider at all times asks me: “Would you like me to braid in your child hairs?” Instinctively, I at all times reply “no”—and in keeping with Stephen, I have been making the appropriate name. “Whether or not it is coronary heart braids, field braids, or cornrows, there’s at all times an opportunity of breakage with regards to the hairline,” she shares. One of the simplest ways to keep away from hairline breakage, she says, is to go away these child hairs out.

Do not Go away Them in Too Lengthy

Each stylists agree: Three weeks is the longest you possibly can maintain this fashion in. The longer you put on a protecting fashion, the extra moisture your hair can lose, resulting in breakage. That stated, Stephen notes that the longevity will finally come right down to upkeep. “The higher you [care for] them, the longer they may final,” she says. (Extra on that beneath.)

Look after Your Hair Whereas It is Braided

• Curbing itchiness: Although most of us grew up greasing our scalps after they began to itch, it is higher to go for merchandise with hydrating and soothing elements—corresponding to aloe vera, glycerin, and hyaluronic acid—over heavy oils or greases. I like to recommend Briogeo’s Scalp Revival Charcoal + Tea Tree Scalp Therapy Serum and Act + Acre’s Chilly Processed Stem Cell Serum.
• Protecting clear: If you cannot wait till wash day, TPH By Taraji’s Grasp Cleanse Scalp Shampoo and Hydrating Hair Rinse is designed with a tri-touch applicator for direct-to-scalp cleaning. The design prevents disrupting the hair, whereas the elements, together with tea tree oil, eucalyptus oil, and witch hazel water, assist rinse away build-up. African Pleasure’s Black Castor Miracle Braid & Scalp Cleaning Rinse can be beloved by the braided. 
• Stopping frizz: Cleansing the scalp and hair is one of the simplest ways to maintain hair wholesome and moisturized, however we perceive the need to fight frizz, too. Although your hair will not look the best way it did on the day if you left the salon, resetting your coronary heart cornrows is straightforward and yields nice outcomes. To reset and hydrate braids after washing, I apply Mizani’s 25 Miracle Milk Warmth Protectant Go away-In Conditioner (I want a twig leave-in with braids), The Doux’s Mousse Def Texture Foam on the braids, and a gel, like Eco Fashion’s Olive Oil Gel, or an edge management, like Sample’s Edge Management, to put down my edges. Lastly, I tie my hair down with a satin or silk scarf. If I am dwelling and never touring, I will sit below a hooded dryer.

The Closing Takeaway

Coronary heart cornrow braids are a enjoyable method so as to add oomph to a standard protecting fashion staple. The important thing with this fashion is to let your child hairs hang around to forestall breakage and make sure you’re preserving your hair well-moisturized pre-installation, and throughout the weeks (not more than three!) you will be rocking the fashion.