Some braids are woven so that they sit straight and tight against the head.
The African braid is a form of hair braiding that has long, culturally significant roots among women and men of African descent. Like other forms of braids, which typically consist of three intertwined sections of hair, there are various styles of cornrows. A traditional expression of different aspects of the culture, the braid is still popular today, although the importance behind the different styles has become widespread.
African braids have cultural significance for the descendants of the continent.
Not only a practical and aesthetically pleasing way to style hair, the African braid was created as an indicator of the cultural aspects of African tribes. The different style variations may indicate a number of social attributes, such as age, marital status, and kinship ties between villages. The skill of braiding was passed down from generation to generation for thousands of years and was an important social activity that cemented social bonds.
This form of braid came out of Africa during slavery, when women, men and children were transported to other countries. The African braid continued to flourish, allowing slaves to maintain a form of their identity and culture, asserting their independence in subtle ways that their captors did not notice. After the abolition of slavery, traditional braiding in America became less popular as many African-American women adopted more “white” hair styles.
A revival of the African braid occurred in the United States in the 1950s and 1960s with the Black Pride movement. It remains popular today, although the braid is now often done at specialist hairdressers. Popularity also continues due to the influx of immigrants to America, helping to reaffirm and renew more traditional styles. Braids chosen and worn by women and men now tend to be more about which braids fit a hair type and face shape rather than indicating specific cultural significance.
There are many basic cornrow styles and many modern variations on these styles. Long loose multiple braids are popular and are braided in different thicknesses, including small micro braids. Stylists can also weave braids so that they lie relatively flat and tight against the person’s head in styles including cornrows and country braids. These lines can be straight and follow the curvature of the woman’s or man’s head, or they can be braided in a variety of curved patterns. Variations on the traditional three-strand flat braid popularly include twists and knots.