QuoteReplyTopic: Cornrows - Ouch, Ouch, Ouch! Posted: January 24 2008 at 8:06pm
Hey all,
Yes, I have been MIA recently but I have a good excuse. I have been going to braiding school and tomorrow I am graduating and will be getting my license shortly.
Today my teacher told me that I really needed to have my hair cornrowed since I have been learning to do several kinds and should experience it.
So they cornrowed my entire head and I literally had tears rolling down my cheeks it hurt so bad. It only took one hour to put 6 rows in but oh my god...I had no idea it hurt so freaking much. The student that did it was really fast even though he was freaking out how much hair I have.
All the other students told me that cornrowing always hurts but they are all used to it. Really?
Yesterday we did cornrows on a women getting ready to go to Iraq. She said once she had cornrows put in that were so tight she couldn't even smile. I can smile but my entire scalp is red. I have been getting lots of compliments everywhere I go but the students at the school thought it was so funny that a white girl like me had a full set of cornrows.
Billy is also taking the classes with me and we will be taking advanced sew in classes in a few weeks. I have been braiding so much my fingers are swollen but it has been a great experience. We have learned every imaginable type of braid including doing add-in hair with extensions and updos with just braids.
My favorite braid? Cornrows. And I like microbraids but sooooo time consuming.
By the way...I have LOVED this school so much that instead of going back to Paul Mitchell I might transfer to this school. The entire school is African American and all the clients are African American so I have been learning how to do locs and nubian designs and core twists. Today we learned iron curls and did a relaxer. Of course we have been doing lots of cornrows and learned how to do braids in the design of a star and a name.
Sheesh.....braiding is a lot of work but I am obsessed.
Edited by Karen Shelton - January 24 2008 at 8:09pm
That which doesn't kill you makes you stronger or drives you totally insane. :-)
Ms.Honey
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Oh, and you know not to take out those braids before you've taken plenty of pics. The soreness should be gone in a few days. Soreness is fine, pain is not. If it's really painful you need to take them out pronto. Beware, it's going to hurt like a dog tonight when you futilely attempt to find a comfortable position to sleep in. Keep us posted.
I do declare! You are the most fascinating woman I've ever encountered!!!!!! I need my hair done, I'm coming to Texas, make up the spare room.
Hi Ms. Honey.....HA HA. You are too funny.
I have to tell you about my school. They would have charged me $25 for my full head of cornrows but because I am a student...I got a discounted rate. All the students get discounts but then they all do the work on each other so it works out.
I have learned while at Paul Mitchell and now at my braiding school that going to a cosmo school for expensive services is the way to go. The teachers all hover and the students at my braiding school can do the most amazing work. Plus it helps them learn.
I highly recommend that everyone consider checking out local cosmo colleges. Its a win/win.
Catch ya later Ms. Honey. :-)
That which doesn't kill you makes you stronger or drives you totally insane. :-)
Oh, and you know not to take out those braids before you've taken plenty of pics. The soreness should be gone in a few days. Soreness is fine, pain is not. If it's really painful you need to take them out pronto. Beware, it's going to hurt like a dog tonight when you futilely attempt to find a comfortable position to sleep in. Keep us posted.
Hi,
Billy took some photos today and mailed them from his cell phone to all my friends. They were freakin out a little. Brigid could not believe I let them do this and all the HB.com warehouse guys were ooohing and awwing. Matt who let us put colored temp extensions in his hair is now asking for cornrows. HA HA. I guess we will be doing lots of braiding but I am going to give them pain pills or a stiff drink before I work on them because as I said.....OUCH.
My braids aren't painful. The scalp is red and tender but I can move my head and smile.
I will let you know how the sleeping goes. I may be sitting up sleeping....
Anyone have any hints for a new cornrollee please let me know. :-)
That which doesn't kill you makes you stronger or drives you totally insane. :-)
I new you were missing........I figured it had to do with Cosmetology School. Congratulations on getting your license!!! It took commitment! I noticed when I was in school a lot of the people dropped out before state board.
The first time I put cornrows on a new client it usually pulls a little, but by the time for the 2nd install they say it doesn't hurt any more. I've heard other braiders say the same thing.
Can I find a book which shows how to cornrow in patterns???? I would love to get good at that!
Kudos to you Karen.. You are officially the SHIZNIT in my book!! I thinks it's absolutely AWESOME to see a caucasian woman learning black haircare techniques!! You really are going to be an AWESOME and well rounded stylist!! Good for you!!!
I keep giggling though at the looks folks were giving you being a caucasian woman getting cornrows.. Tell 'em they need to dig up the old Bo Derek flick "10"..
You might be a little sore if you're a first timer, but you shouldn't be suffering from any severe pain.. Can't WAIT to see these flicks!
Edited by Divavocals - January 25 2008 at 12:59am
Check out the 5th So Cal offline luncheon?? For more info: divahairtalk.overthehillweb.com/lunch.html
Links to my fav vendors & hair albums + Weave 101 information: divahairtalk.overthehillweb.com
Congradulations! I think it's awesome. We're all proud of you!
I had cornrow weaves for 5 years and only occasionally did they cause severe pain and tightness. I think it's common to be somewhat sore until your head gets used to it.
I don't have the patience for microbraids. Takes way too long, 6 or more hours? No way!!! But my daughters get the sometimes.
Yes...they take forever. One of the other female students had them done every 3-4 months and her hair is to her shoulders. She said they would start braiding at 6:00 pm and they would not be finished until 2 or 3 AM. But she paid a pretty price for them. She now has a very short natural cut and wears a variety of wigs because the micro braiding got way too expensive.
I can get it done at the school but I would have to have it done over a matter of days because they estimated it would take 12 hours for all my hair. Not sure if I want to endure that much pain. :-) We'll see. Meanwhile my next experiment is to try and braid around star partings. My partings need some work but they gave us drills for our hands so I am getting much better and faster.
Edited by Karen Shelton - January 25 2008 at 7:19pm
That which doesn't kill you makes you stronger or drives you totally insane. :-)
Congrads Karen- awesome- your going to be an amazing stylist!
Hi Tangles,
Thank you for your kind words.
After spending the last few months in cosmo school I have nothing but respect for any hairdressers.
I have realized how much work and skill it takes. I think hairdressers should get more respect. They are as a general rule...awesome people who work their butts off. The standing all day and learning to use new muscles to blow dry and roll curlers and irons has really given me a whole new appreciation for the business and hairdressers. Not that I didn't respect them before but now in my book they have all of my respect. It really is true that you have to walk a mile in someone's shoes to understand what they go through.
So kudos to all you hairdressers out there.
That which doesn't kill you makes you stronger or drives you totally insane. :-)
Kudos to you Karen.. You are officially the SHIZNIT in my book!! I thinks it's absolutely AWESOME to see a caucasian woman learning black haircare techniques!! You really are going to be an AWESOME and well rounded stylist!! Good for you!!!
I keep giggling though at the looks folks were giving you being a caucasian woman getting cornrows.. Tell 'em they need to dig up the old Bo Derek flick "10"..
You might be a little sore if you're a first timer, but you shouldn't be suffering from any severe pain.. Can't WAIT to see these flicks!
Hi Diva,
Thanks so much for your kudos. It is very much appreciated.
I actually LOVE black hair care techniques. They are so fascinating. Yesterday after we did the relaxer we did a wrap to make sure her hair dried stick straight. It was very interesting to watch. Also, both men and women come into the school and I helped do core twists on a man who was teasing me that I am "white chocolate". HA HA. I have been having so much fun at this school.
Last nite after school I went out to eat and I literally had 4 of the African American waiters come over and want to see my cornrows. They were all telling me that looked great and asked where I got them done. Of course I recommended my fellow student at the school (he will probably kill me for sending all those folks over for cornrows but hopefully he will make good tips).
I had a table of white women stop me and ask where I got it done and tell me it looked good.
I am really enjoying them. I am going to leave them in for at least a couple of weeks although I have a definite need to figure out if they can touch up my highlights with the braids in. That will be a discussion today at school.
Edited by Karen Shelton - January 25 2008 at 7:20pm
That which doesn't kill you makes you stronger or drives you totally insane. :-)
Congradulations! I think it's awesome. We're all proud of you!
I had cornrow weaves for 5 years and only occasionally did they cause severe pain and tightness. I think it's common to be somewhat sore until your head gets used to it.
You go girl!
Hi Metal....
Thanks so much for your congrats.
I actually wrapped a big soft towel around my head AFTER I spent the first hour trying to get comfortable. The towel worked and cushioned the braids. The pink in my scalp is almost gone and the shower and shake worked great. I am getting ready to go off to my last day of class although I will be going back for more advanced classes.
The woman that owns the school (it used to be a Madame CJ Walker school) is 78 and invented a special technique where she can build a wig on someone's head who has alopecia and has limited strands. It takes her time to do it but her work has won awards. She is president of a national weavers forum that meets every year and I am going to take some advanced training with her. I am also going to take more braiding classes.
Billy doesn't like braiding as much as me but he is very good at it. He is amazing at color, cut and extensions now but braiding is not as much fun for him as me. I am totally obsessed with learning all the methods even though I have to practice, practice, practice.
We are also learning a lot of long hair care techniques and special braids for long hair like fishtails and rope braids and full head stacked braids for long hair. I am going to be taking a few long hair care classes as well since as a long hair person, I would love to be able to work on long hair as well.
My biggest concern at this point is wanting to quit working my day job at HB and just do hair all the time. No...I won't do that because I have 10 years in at HB but trust me, I will probably be working those medieval fairs where they have braiders just so I can practice new braids. HA HA.
Thanks again for your kind words. I had no idea you wore cornrows for years. I need to get some tips from you including if you used any special shampoo or conditioners to keep your cornrows soft.
Also...any helpful hints on removing the braids? Besides very slowly?
Edited by Karen Shelton - January 25 2008 at 5:39am
That which doesn't kill you makes you stronger or drives you totally insane. :-)
Madame CJ Walker is an Icon. I believe she wrote the first how-to book by an American on how to do weaves. I have her instruction book somewhere, it's probably very valuable by now!
I'm so jealous! I would love to get her autograph. Karen, you are so fortunate to be able to be trained by her!!!! But, I'm sure you know that already. You go girl.......
I actually LOVE black hair care techniques. They
are so fascinating. Yesterday after we did the relaxer we did a wrap
to make sure her hair dried stick straight. It was very interesting to
watch. Also, both men and women come into the school and I helped do
core twists on a man who was teasing me that I am "white chocolate".
HA HA. I have been having so much fun at this school.
"White
cocolate" I love it!!! That's hilarious..
Karen Shelton wrote:
I am really enjoying them. I am going to leave them in for at
least a couple of weeks although I have a definite need to figure out
if they can touch up my highlights with the braids in. That will be a
discussion today at school.
The
short answer is that any chemical services (perms relaxers, color)
can't be performed while the braids oare in place.. You need to perform
the chemical services first, then have the braids done.. I would
strongly suggest a GOOD deep conditioner after any chemical services if
you are getting braids afterwards..
Karen Shelton wrote:
The woman that owns the school (it used to be a Madame CJ Walker school) is 78 and invented a special technique where she can build a wig on someone's head who has alopecia and has limited strands. It takes her time to do it but her work has won awards. She is president of a national weavers forum that meets every year and I am going to take some advanced training with her. I am also going to take more braiding classes.
That's sooo cool.. Sounds like you're learning from a true weave icon! There are so few schools teaching braiding and weaving techniques.. Most stylists who do braids & weaves learned on their own.. (Alll of my past and present weavologists had been braiding hair since they were PRE-TEENS) So IMO, it's awesome that you found such an amazing place to learn! I wish there were more schools like it..
I love the fact that the school used to be a Madame CJ Walker school.. It adds such a good vibe to what they are teaching there.. IMO Madame CJ Walker is a fascinating character in American history.. She's not only an icon for black hair care, but an icon for women entrepreneurs.. I went to an awesome fundraiser years ago that was held in her mansion in New York. (BEAUTIFUL home) You couldn't help feeling an overwhelming sense of greatness being in that house..
Karen Shelton wrote:
Also...any helpful hints on removing the braids? Besides very slowly?
Yep go slow and take your time.. You will come up with ways/tools that work best for you as you wear braids more. Just remember that you will have trapped shedding hair in the braids.. so PLEASE do not freak out when you take them out if you see lots of fallen hairs.. The other tip is to make sure that you do not shampoo your hair after taking the braids out until you are sure you've gotten all of the trapped/fallen hair out. You want to comb and comb to clear as much of that trapped hair once you take all the braids down and BEFORE you shampoo.. You don't want to risk your hair dreading/locing for failing to clear the trapped hair..
Check out the 5th So Cal offline luncheon?? For more info: divahairtalk.overthehillweb.com/lunch.html
Links to my fav vendors & hair albums + Weave 101 information: divahairtalk.overthehillweb.com
I new you were missing........I figured it had to do with Cosmetology School. Congratulations on getting your license!!! It took commitment! I noticed when I was in school a lot of the people dropped out before state board.
The first time I put cornrows on a new client it usually pulls a little, but by the time for the 2nd install they say it doesn't hurt any more. I've heard other braiders say the same thing.
Can I find a book which shows how to cornrow in patterns???? I would love to get good at that!
Hi Mokipono....
Thanks for the congrats. Yes..it is shocking how many people drop out but what is even more surprising is how many people don't go to school. I mean literally they don't go except mandatory days which is different depending on the school.
I guess I need to get more braids after I take these out (hoping to keep them awhile) to see if it still pulls so much.
As far as a book on cornrow patterns...I asked the same thing but someone thought there was one. I am trying to locate it. If/when I do you will be the first I tell about it.
That which doesn't kill you makes you stronger or drives you totally insane. :-)
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