The Difference Between Cornrowing Hair and Braiding

When we see a delightfully intricate hair design, we are often fascinated. Most likely the design has taken hours to complete. But, as an onlooker, it is difficult for us to determine where the design begins and ends. To us, it often simply looks like a very beautifully crafted work of art. As a stylist, one of the questions that I get the most is, “What is the difference between cornrowing hair and braiding hair?”

Do you know the difference between cornrowing and braiding? If not, don’t sweat it. Because most people do not know the difference between cornrowing hair and braiding hair.

Basically, the difference is a slight one in that cornrowing IS braiding (often called plaiting), but a braid is not always a cornrow. Lol. Don’t worry if I have confused you, let me clear this up…cornrowing is braiding the hair close to the scalp in a continuous design…like a row of corn. Get it?!

When someone says, “I’m going to get individual braids”, generally the hair is sectioned into less than 1 inch sections and braided away from the scalp. So the braider would section the hair starting at the scalp, then continue the braid away from the head.