How to Braid Extensions

Section off a line of hair. Start your cornrow by sectioning off a long, narrow section of hair. This section should be in a straight line from your scalp to your nape. Make sure to separate the edges as crisply as possible.^[6]

• Use rubber bands, clips, bobby pins, or another styling tool to secure the hair not in the cornrow section. You want to make sure hair from the rest of your head doesn't get integrated into the cornrow.
• Make sure to comb the hair in the tract straight back before you begin.

Separate a thin section near the scalp. To start your cornrow, you need to make the base for the braid. Begin by taking a thin, even section from the very front of the section - right next to the scalp.

Add the extension hair. Position the hair extension around the natural hair so the natural hair rests in the direct middle of the extension. This will produce 3 strands to braid - the extension on the right, the natural hair in the middle, and the extension to the left.^[7]

• Prepare these strands to braid by placing the 3 strands between your fingers on 1 hand. One strand should be between your thumb and index finger, the middle between your index and middle finger, the last between your middle and ring finger.

Begin the braid. Get your fingers as close to the scalp as possible. Start with the strand of hair resting between ring finger and middle finger. Take that strand between your thumb and index finger on your free hand. Wrap the strand around the base of the hair in the direction of the hand you are wrapping with. Keep the hair tightly close to the scalp. Keeping that strand secure between your thumb and index finger, place the middle strand between the index and middle finger, while the outside strand is between your middle and ring finger.

• The strands have now shifted position. The hair that started in the back is now in front, the original middle strand (your natural hair) is in the back, and the original front strand is in the middle.

Repeat this on the other side. Now with the other hand, repeat the same steps, wrapping around the other side of the strand. Take the strand currently between your ring and middle finger and wrap it around the hair using the thumb and index finger on your free hand. Make sure you wrap it around a different side than in the previous step; you are wrapping it around towards your free hand. Now place the middle and outside strands between the index and middle and middle and ring finger, respectively.

• If you are wrapping with your left hand, the hair will be wrapped on the left side of the strand. If you are wrapping with your right hand, the hair will be wrapped on the right side of the strand.

Continue for three or four turns. Continue braiding the hair this way for 3 to 4 more turns. You want to establish a tight, secure base braid for the rest of your cornrow.

Add hair to the braid. Now that the base braid is ready, start adding hair to the braid. Pick up a small amount of hair from the tract and add it to the strand between your thumb and index finger. Make sure that you add hair from both sides of the section you are braiding.

• Continue adding small sections of hair from directly below where the braid is, braiding complete turns each time.

Continue the braid to the end of your hair. When you have incorporated all the hair from your scalp into your braid, keep braiding but transition to a box braid and continue until you get to the end of your hair. Secure your hair with a small rubber band.^[8]

• After you finish the first section, go back through the process for the other rows.

Braid cornrows into your hair. To prepare your hair for crochet braids, braid your hair into cornrows. You can do 5-6 large cornrows, or you can do smaller ones.

• The amount of cornrows you braid into your hair might depend on the kind of extensions you are braiding into your hair. If you are braiding bulky extensions, you can braid less cornrows into your hair.^[9]
• Crochet braids are braids where you first cornrow your hair, then attach the extensions into the cornrows by a latch hook method.^[10]

Sew your tails to your cornrows. If your hair is long enough to extend beyond the nape of your neck, fold them up so they are directly alongside the cornrow. Push a threaded needle through the cornrow and the braided tail, then out and through a loop on the end of the thread. Pull tight to secure the thread around the hair. Repeat a few times along the cornrow.^[11]

Attach the extension with a latch hook. Fold the extension in half so the ends meet evenly. The center of the extension should make a little loop. Carefully slide the latch hook under the cornrow. Hook the loop of the extension into the latch hook, then close it.

• Buy a latch hook tool. This tool closes the hook so that it doesn't tear, break, or snag on your hair. If you use a regular crochet needle, you might damage your hair.^[12]
• Alternately, you can use a bobby pin. Slide the bobby pin under your cornrow until just the looped end is sticking out on the other side. Slide your extension through the looped end of the bobby pin. Make sure to pull the hair through until both strands are even. Slide the bobby pin and extension under the cornrow.

Pull the extension through. Carefully pull the extension underneath the cornrow until the loop of the extension is below the cornrow. Take the strands of the extension and pull them through the loop. Tighten the loop until it is snug against the cornrow, and therefore, attached to your hair.^[13]