Cornrows

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Cornrows or braids , also called canerows in the Caribbean, are traditional African-style hairstyles, where hair is braided very close to the scalp, using hand gestures which bends downward to produce a continuous line and lift. Cornrows are often formed in simple straight lines, as the name implies, but can also be formed in complex geometric or curved designs.

Depending on the region of the world, cornrows are worn by men or women, or both, and sometimes decorated with cowry beads or shells. Often favored because of its easy treatment, the line can be left for weeks at a time if treated through careful hair washing and oiling the scalp regularly. Braids that are pulled too tight or worn for long periods of time can cause this type of hair loss known as alopecia traction.

Video Cornrows

History

Cornrows are a traditional way of styling hair in various global areas. The depictions of women with cornrows have been found in Stone Age paintings in the Tassili Plains of the Sahara, and have been dated as far as 3000 B.C. The tradition of female hairdressing in cornrows remains popular throughout Africa, particularly in the Horn of Africa and West Africa. Historically, the male style with cornrows can be traced as early as the nineteenth century to Ethiopia, where warriors and kings like Tewodros II and John IV were depicted using cornrows.

Cornrow's hairstyle in Africa also includes a wide social field: religion, kinship, status, age, ethnicity, and other identity attributes can all be expressed in hairstyles. Equally important is the braiding act, which transmits intergenerational cultural values, expresses bonds between friends, and establishes the role of professional practitioners.

Cornrows made a comeback in the 1960s and 70s, and again during the 90s, when NBA basketball player Allen Iverson popularized this hairstyle.

Maps Cornrows

Controversy

For years, cornrows, along with dreadlocks, have been the subject of several disputes in the American workplace, as well as the university. Some employers and educational institutions have considered it inappropriate, and forbid them - sometimes even terminating employees who have put them on. Employees and civil rights groups have denied that such attitudes reflect cultural bias, and some disputes have resulted in litigation.

In 2011, the High Court of England, in a decision reported as a test, decided against the school's decision to refuse admission to students with cornrows. The school claims this is part of a policy that requires "short back and side" haircuts, and prohibits styles that might be used as an indicator of gang membership. However, the court ruled that the student expresses the tradition and that the policy, although it may be justified in certain cases (eg skinhead gang), should accommodate reasonable ethnic and cultural practices.

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Gallery

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See also

• Crochet braids
• Gimbal
• French Braid
• Waves (hairstyle)
• Bucket box

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References

Source of the article : Wikipedia