From hip-nearing boho box braids to shoulder-cropped faux locs, TikTok has become a burgeoning hub of protective style inspiration. Stylists, beauty influencers, and DIY hair creators are virtual hair besties who help those of us who dare to accomplish every season’s most viral look.
What is the platform’s latest low-maintenance style to add to summer’s roster? The cornrow beehive.
Here’s How The Style Emerged
Video Credit: @tookiedidit/TikTok
Monteria Chisholm, the owner of Tookie Did It, posted her reimagined version of stitch cornrows to the platform in early April. The braiding pattern requires intricate craftsmanship to create the illusion of a singular braid endlessly weaving designs across the head. The Los Angeles-based braider’s video of the style — which she coined “The Braided Bald Head”— shot into virality across the app with over a million likes.
Image Credit: @neyhairs_/Instagram
“It’s so versatile, lightweight and low maintenance,” says Angie Duroseau, the owner of 2Perfect Braids. Shortly following the viral video, the trend’s momentum sprawled across the nation. In Miami, Duroseau’s clients have been booking the style for its multipurpose capability. The stylist notes her clients love the flexibility of wearing the braids and also converting them into the perfect foundation for an at-home wig install.
Image Credit: @knawtkai/Instagram
The hype around this hairstyle can be easily understood. Summer’s sweltering heat stands no chance against a style that doesn’t pass the shoulders, kanekalon hair is optional and its bold appeal is an easy addition to the vacay braid rotation.
Video Credit:@dianaeneje/TikTok
This style’s minimal chair time (three hours maximum) and no-hassle takedown is beginner-friendly bliss for first-timers ready to explore scalp braids. “The style is normally just one braid designed to look extremely intricate, so you can just take it out in one go. You wouldn’t have to spend the whole day taking out a head full of braids,” Duroseau says.
Video Credit: @juste.dominiquee/TikTok
For those who yearn for the dopamine boost of hair expression, the iterations of this style are never-ending. Woven flowers, hearts, dollar signs, stars, and zig-zags have all found their way into this trend. Duroseau recommends braiders strategize their client’s vision thoroughly to ensure all the designs are seamlessly intertwined rather than harshly segmented.
“Plan it out in your head ahead of time while you’re braiding. If you’re doing one design, you have to be already thinking about the next three and imagining how it would look,” Duroseau says.
Video Credit: @giftedsar/TikTok
If attempting this look at home, Duroseau emphasizes the importance of quality products: “The product you use can make or break this style.” A no-flake braiding gel and a sharp comb are paramount to create a precise stitch effect that won’t budge. Most of all, quality hair oil is essential to mitigate dryness and irritation that may arise from the exposed scalp.
Video Credit: @gvldentransformations/TikTok
Maintenance is equally important to the beehive’s longevity. “Wrap it up as much as you can,” Duroseau says. Overnight protection with satin bonnets and scarves will significantly reduce the frizziness that comes from nighttime friction. Lightly applying a leave-in conditioner spray two to three times a week will also maintain the sheen of both the braiding and natural hair.
Video Credit: @braidedwithprecision/TikTok
If fly-always do occur, mastering them at home is quite simple. Trim them carefully and gently apply a generous amount of setting mousse across the head. Using a setting mousse instead of a curling foam is important as it contains a higher water content that will easily revert the hair to its natural state.
Once the mousse is applied, tightly wrap barber neck strips across the entire head and blow dry on medium-high heat until completely dry. This step will melt the fly-always into the hair. Duroseau suggests a holding spray like Got2Be or a holding spritz for an added finish to maintenance day.
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