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feed-in cornrows and braids extensions
http://fromgrandmaskitchen.com/Natural-Hair-Beauty/articles/3768/1/feed-in-cornrows-and-braids-extensions/Page1.html
naanis naturals
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By naanis naturals
Published on 08/19/2008
 
This method creates a braid or cornrows that seemlessly attaches to the hair.  in other words, there's no bulky knot at the start of the braid or cornrows which indicates that hair extensions have been added.

Feed-In Braids and Cornrows - No Knots
This method creates a braid or cornrows that seemlessly attaches to the hair.  in other words, there's no bulky knot at the start of the braid or cornrows which indicates that hair extensions have been added.

Begin at the hair line and part the first section of your cornrow or braid.

Unlike the traditional method of adding extensions, with the feed-in method, no hair is initially added (resulting in a no-knot braid/cornrow).



Divide the parted section into three equal partitions.

Braid or cornrow a small portion of the hair.  In other words, braid or cornrow as you normally would.  

After a few revolutions and/or pick ups if you're cornrowing, you will begin feeding-in the extensions.

Fold the hair extension in half so that it forms an upside down "u"...which i guess is another way of saying it forms an "n."  Place the folded extension UNDER the braided/cornrowed section.  You will be matching the two strands of the folded extensions with the center and outside strands of the braid/cornrow.  In other words, there are three legs/strands associated with your braid/cornrow.  the extension is therefore integrated into two of these three strands...the adjoining center strand and outside strand.

In the case of cornrows, you should add the extension BEFORE the next pick up.  a pick up is just what it sounds like.  when you cornrow, you pick up hair from the parted section to complete the row.  

after you have folded the extension into the center and outside strands of the braid/cornrow, continue braiding.  you will gradually add more extensions (feed-in) as you work your way down the braid to create additional length.  with cornrows, you must make sure that you pick up your natural hair with each cornrow revolution.  you will gradually add more of the extension in the same manner described above to get additional length.



how much of the extension is added is the trick.  with traditional or the knotted method, ALL of the extension is added at once.  this created a bulky, thicker braid/cornrow that had a knot or loop at the start of each braid/cornrow.  in the case of feed-ins, you will be adding small portions of the extensions as your braid/cornrow down the hair.  

make sure that the extension portion is smaller than the size of the base.  now this is where you say, "what in the hell are you talking about?"  it's really hard to describe but overall, if you add too much hair, then the addition of the extension won't be seemless...it will look bulky.  if it's too small, then the extension portion will look awkward and straggely.  you don't need to count the strands before you add them.  you'll have to eyeball it and with practice, you'll know exactly how much hair to add as you feed-in the extensions.


photos courtesy of braidsbykristen.blogspot.com - DVD tutorial available!