Cornrows

Cornrows (also called canerows) are a style of three-strand braids in which the hair is braided very close to the scalp, using an underhand, upward motion to make a continuous, raised row.^[1] Cornrows are often done in simple, straight lines, as the term implies, but they can also be styled in elaborate geometric or curvilinear designs. They are considered a traditional hairstyle in many African cultures, as well as in the African diaspora.^[2][3][4] They are distinct from, but may resemble, box braids, Dutch braids, melon coiffures, and other forms of plaited hair, and are typically tighter than braids used in other cultures.^[5]

The name cornrows refers to the layout of crops in corn and sugar cane fields in the Americas and Caribbean,^[1][6] where enslaved Africans were displaced during the Atlantic slave trade.^[7] According to Black folklore, cornrows were often used to communicate on the Underground Railroad and by Benkos Biohó during his time as a slave in Colombia.^[8] They often serve as a form of Black self-expression,^[9] especially among African Americans,^[1] but have been stigmatized in some cultures.^[4][10] Cornrows are traditionally called "kolese" or "irun didi" in Yoruba, and are often nicknamed "didi braids" in the Nigerian diaspora.^[11]

Cornrows are worn by both sexes, and are sometimes adorned with beads, shells, or hair cuffs.^[1] The duration of braiding cornrows may take up to five hours, depending on the quantity and width.^[12] Often favored for their easy maintenance, cornrows can be left in for weeks at a time if maintained through careful washing of the hair and natural oiling of the scalp. Braids are considered a protective styling on African curly hair as they allow for easy and restorative growth; braids pulled too tightly or worn for longer lengths of time and on different hair types can cause a type of hair loss known as traction alopecia.^[13]