Curly Hairstyle of the Week: Jamaican Cornrows and Beads

If you’ve ever been to Jamaica, then you know all about Jamaican cornrows and beads. The braided curly hairstyles are actually called cane rows back home, and here in America people call them Dutch braids.

I remember the night before we boarded the plane from Sangster International Airport in Monego Bay, Jamaica to begin a new life in the U.S. My sister and I got our hair braided by a friend of the family. Our bags were packed and sailor girl outfits were hung and ready to be worn the next day.

My brothers, sister, and I were so excited to start a new life in the states. But along with the excitement came fear. Will we have problems assimilating into the American culture? We had spent the last few months perfecting the American accent and studied pop culture to help with the transition. However, there was no hiding our Jamaican patois. The kids had a field day mimicking us, which caused me to avoid speaking during the first year at school.

Even though we wanted to fit in, we didn’t want to forget our roots. With that said, we stayed connected to our Jamaican culture. Ultimately, we were able to switch accents at the drop of a hat. Jamaican cuisine was a staple in our household, and hair has always been huge part of our lives too.

Now that I’m a mom, I want to continue those traditions. I love trying braided hairstyles on Princess’s curly locks. Since it’s Black History Month, I thought it would be great to teach her about black people who have made a lasting impact in our history.

We talked about civil rights and some of those who paved the way for us like Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King Jr. We also discussed Maya Angelou, Frederick Douglas, and Harriet Tubman.

Princess was like a sponge, soaking up my every word. “Can I see a picture of her?” she asked. I Googled a photo of Harriet Tubman and all the others that we spoke about. She was in awe of their stories, especially Frederick Douglas. Knowing that he was also biracial somehow connected her to his story. I happened to have a copy of Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglas and told her the abridged version of his story. Her face lit up as I spoke about how he manage to overcome so many adversities throughout his journey as a slave and later becoming free.

We discuss these great individuals, as I braid her hair. We also talk about cane rows and what they mean in our culture.

“People from America came to visit our country and would pay to have their hair braided like this with beads,” I said.

Check out our Jamaican Cornrows and Beads for our Curly Hairstyle of the Week, along with a quick tutorial.

1. I made small to medium sections of her damp hair, and carefully corn rowed each part making sure not to pull the hair too tight. Note: This style may take a while depending on how much hair you have to work with. I did Princess’s hair the night before, which allowed us to save on time the following morning.

2. Once braids were completed, I added beads by looping the ends and threading the hair through each bead. It’s important to be careful with how you handle the ends because it’s the oldest part of the hair.

3. After beads are in place, I secure the ends with a small elastic band.

 

 

Princess went to bed with a satin cap. Her corn rows and beads were still in place the next morning.

This braided curly hairstyle can last a few days. Princess wanted to keep a couple of corn rows in front to frame her face, and rock a braid-out in the back later in the week. I just added a light elixir for added moisture and sheen, and she was good to go.

Honoring our history and culture is important when it comes to raising my children. Learning about those who paved the way is an integral part to knowing their own identity. Also, sporting this unique hairstyle is another way of paying homage.

Check out more curly hairstyle tutorials and share your styles on Instagram and Twitter with #weeklycurls.

How did you celebrate Black History Month with your kids? Have you tried any cute hairstyles lately?