How to Care for Cornrows

Co-authored by Amber Rose

Last Updated: October 25, 2022 Approved

Cornrows are formed by braiding the hair closely to the scalp. Cornrows not only look beautiful, but they are also a great choice for natural hair because they promote healthy hair growth. This style requires consistent care. Wash your hair every 7 to 10 days, moisturize your braids, and maintain the look to keep your style looking awesome for as long as possible.

Things You Should Know

Wash your hair about every 7-10 days to keep your scalp healthy without damaging your braids.
Use applicator bottles with pointed nozzles to get your shampoo and conditioner right where you need them.
Pat and squeeze your braids with a towel to dry them without adding frizz.
Every few days, fight dryness by moisturizing your braids with shea butter and applying essential oils to your scalp.
Cover your braids with a hair wrap, bandana, or scarf while you sleep to prevent frizziness.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Washing Your Hair

1
Wash your hair every 7 to 10 days. Washing your hair every day or even a few times a week can be too much for braids. Not washing your braids at all, however, can lead to even more damage and breakage. Washing your hair every 7 to 10 days is best for most hair types, but you can ask your stylist for advice if you’re not sure if that is right for your hair.
2
Dilute your shampoo and conditioner in applicator bottles. Get an applicator bottler with a pointed tip. Fill this applicator bottle with 90% water. Top of the bottle with the shampoo of your choice. Do the same with the conditioner of choice in another applicator bottle.^{[1]
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3
Cover your braids with shampoo. Use the applicator bottle to apply shampoo to your scalp and braids. Once everything is covered, give your scalp a gentle massage to lather up the shampoo. Massaging your scalp will help reduce flakiness and oils.^{[2]
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4
Rinse out the shampoo. Do not stand under a shower head to rinse off. Instead, use a cup or removable shower head. Make sure every bit of shampoo gets rinsed out.^{[3]
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5
Repeat the process with conditioner. Take the applicator bottle filled with conditioner. Apply it to your scalp and braids. Again, massage your scalp. Then, rinse out the conditioner completely.^{[4]
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6
Towel dry your hair. Your braids will likely feel heavy with water at this point. Use a towel to get some of the excess water out of your hair. Pat and squeeze your braids. Do not rub your braids, as rubbing will cause frizz.^{[5]
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- You could also use a hair dryer on the warm setting.^{[6]
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  Expert Source
  
  Amber Rose
  Licensed Cosmetologist
  Expert Interview. 13 April 2021.}

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Moisturizing the Braids

1
Rub shea butter onto your braids. You can use the shea butter of your choice. Rub shea butter into and all the way through your dry braids. Repeat this every few days. Or, you can repeat this any time your braids start to feel dry.
- You can use raw shea butter or shea butter hair moisturizer.
- You can also apply shea butter on damp hair after a shower.
2
Spritz your braids with water. Fill up a spray bottle with water. You can also use a water-based moisturizing product if you’d like. Spritz your scalp and braids whenever your hair starts to feel dry.
- Using a water-based product is better if your hair is very dry.
3
Keep your scalp moisturized with essential oils. Keeping your scalp moisturized will reduce the possibility of your braids looking dry and dull. Use essential oils or the moisturizing product of your choice. Oils such as lavender, rosemary, and tea tree are all good options. Because these essential oils are potent, mix a few drops with a carrier like coconut or jojoba oil. Rub the oil into your scalp every few days.
- You can also dilute essential oils with floral water, vinegar, or alcohol.
- You can moisturize your scalp less often if it is naturally oily.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Maintaining the Look

1
Cover your braids while you sleep. Covering your braids while you sleep will reduce flyaway hairs and frizz. You can use a hair wrap, bandana, or scarf. A non-absorbent fabric, like satin or silk, is ideal because it won’t take moisture out of your hair while you sleep. Cover your hair every night right before you go to sleep.
- You can put your cornrows up in a bun if your hair is very long.
2
Take care of your edges to avoid damaged roots. Cornrows are braided very tightly against the scalp, which can cause pulling. Pulling can be uncomfortable and lead to uprooted roots. Apply oil around the edges whenever you feel uncomfortable.
- If you feel too uncomfortable, go to your stylist to have your braids loosened or removed.
3
Choose an experienced artist to handle your hair. Cornrows will require professional upkeep after a few weeks. Your braids are only as good as the person who handles your hair. Go to someone with experience to make sure the job is getting done right. If you aren’t sure about the stylist’s experience, you can ask them upfront or search for reviews online.
- You can also ask friends and family members for recommendations.
4
Get a trim about every six weeks. A trim is necessary to keep your braids looking neat. A trim every six weeks is recommended, but you should ask your stylist what they think is right for you. Go to your stylist sooner if you experience significant damage or loosened braids.

Warnings

Go to your stylist if your braids are very uncomfortable. Braids that are too tight can cause Traction Alopecia.

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Never rub your braids. This could cause them to become frizzy.^{[8]
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Digging at your cornrows will cause them to loosen up.^{[9]
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