A full breakdown of the technique — from sectioning to the finishing beads — for braiding the style yourself or following along with your braider.
Before starting, gather everything so you're not stopping mid-braid to search for supplies. Here's the full kit:
Wash with a clarifying shampoo to remove product buildup, deep condition, then fully detangle from ends to roots. Blow dry or stretch the hair so it's easier to section cleanly — braiding over tangled or shrunken hair leads to uneven parts.
Divide the head into three main zones: the center panel (for the dominant cornrow) and two side panels (for the face-framing braids). Clip each section out of the way so you're only working with one area at a time.
Starting at the front hairline, begin a single cornrow running straight back along the center part. If adding extensions, feed small amounts of hair in gradually as you braid down, rather than all at once, for a more natural taper.
Braid the two side panels into cornrows that curve around the hairline toward the temples. Keep tension even on both sides — this is the step most likely to come out uneven if you rush it.
Braid or individually twist the rest of the head, working in a slightly looser pattern than the center and face-framing rows so the structured front doesn't look out of place against the back.
Thread beads, cuffs, or cowrie shells onto select braids — usually concentrated near the face for the classic look. Finish by trimming all ends evenly to your desired length.
The most frequent issue is uneven tension between the two face-framing sections — one side often ends up tighter than the other simply because most people are more dexterous on one hand. Take your time matching both sides, even if it means redoing a section. The second common mistake is starting the center cornrow off-center, which throws off the whole symmetry of the style — double-check your part line before braiding the first few inches.
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