00:03My name is Gabrielle Corny. I'm a hairstylist for film and television. I am
00:07here to show you how I braided my own hair today. Braids are African American
00:12culture personified. I learned how to braid when I was 15 years old. Braiding
00:18my own hair just made me get better and better and better. It goes so much deeper
00:24than just a hairstyle. It is a connection. It's a bond that's
00:31indescribable.
00:35The history of braids is absolutely amazing. Corn rolls were used as a sign of
00:42resistance for the slaves. Our ancestors used to braid rice seeds into their hair
00:49prior to their journey to enslavement to possibly grow food. And they braided the
00:59seeds into their children's hair prior to separation at the plantations so that
01:05their children could eat too. The difference between honoring and
01:11appropriating is giving respect where it's due. Since we can remember black people
01:18have had their art and their work stolen and it has been a vicious cycle that
01:25needs to stop. Appropriating is taking on something that means so much to a culture
01:34and pretending as if it's your own. It is really harmful when people don't give us
01:41the credit that is due because we earned it and we deserve it.
01:48I am about to demo some beautiful cornrows for you guys. You're going to take your spray bottle and you're
01:54going to wet your whole entire hair
01:56until it's saturated. The hair needs a little bit of texture to be able to cornrow.
02:02Then you're going to take your leave-in conditioner. I'm using the Design Essentials Almond and Avocado Moisturizing Leave-In
02:09Conditioner.
02:10You're going to make sure that you use a decent amount so that you can protect and condition the hair
02:17before you start to blow dry.
02:20Next up is the most important part. Detangling. I have the Pattern Detangling Comb.
02:28I'm using a rat tail comb to section into four sections. And next up is the blow dry.
02:46So now it's time to use your tail comb to part and braid. Self-braiding can be a little tricky,
02:53but with some practice, you'll be able to do it.
02:56You decide on how many braids depending on your desired style. I'm choosing seven.
03:02So when you're starting the braid, the motion that your fingers are doing is to go under.
03:09It's three pieces and you just take the three pieces and you just keep grabbing as you go.
03:16Once you get the hang of it, it's rhythmic. Once again, repeating the same exact motion.
03:23Three pieces, starting at the base and going under.
03:29Okay, so how you know it's done is once you reach the base of your neck, especially if you're taking
03:36your cornrows all the way back.
03:38And because my hair is a little bit on the shorter side, I am going to secure it with a
03:44small rubber band once I get to the bottom.
03:49I think you could really honor a culture by educating yourself and also doing the research.
03:54A lot of people don't know. That's why conversations like this are so important so that we can educate others
04:02on the history of braids in African-American culture.
04:07You can call it anything that you like, you can rename it, but that doesn't take away from where it
04:15originated from.
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