Course Syllabus: African Hairstyles, Cornrows, Dreadlocks, Extensions, and Hairweaves

Educational Requirements: No prior courses necessary, but reasonable manual dexterity and the ability to follow instructions, and some experience doing hair is suggested.  If you can comb your own hair, and braid three pieces of string, you should be okay.

Goals:  To give hair artists and aspiring loctitians a good start, and provide a way for people to ask someone experienced questions in a professional environment.  Those experienced braiders who wish to study to become professional Natural Hairstylists should take the Advanced African Hairstyles course.  Professional natural hairstylists and cosmetologists may want to move straight to the Hair Extensions course to learn advanced techniques such as interlocking and tree braids.

Reading Materials: All supplementary texts are available for free on the internet.  This is a very student driven course, so some students have posted information on their websites and companies that contain useful information and photos.

Grading Policy:  Certificates available for academic performance, participation in the forums, attendance, and completion of the course.  Students are expected to read the lessons thoroughly, and complete the assignments thoughtfully.

Special Discount on the Advanced Course!

Students of the beginning course come from many backgrounds and have different needs.  So it is written for the casual learner/family braider or cosmetologist who just wants to add to their existing skills.  If after completion of Beginning African Hairstyles, students wish to take Advanced African Hairstyles, they will receive a $20 discount off the normal price ($35).

• Basic hair care supplies including barrettes, hairpins, etc.
• A person to practice on (or yourself if you like) or a beauty student head or one of those large doll heads on a stand that can be bought at a toy store or a baby doll with a healthy head of hair.
• A packet of bulk hair for braiding or a weft of hair for weaving, depending on how lucky you feel.
• A small pack of "pony beads".
• Optionally, you may want to use a digital camera, but this is not required.  You'll have a choice of either a photo assignment or written assignments.

Lesson 1 - Basic Black Hair Care

• Washing, conditioning and maintenance of natural hair
• Styles for kids and safety
• Chemically processed hair

Lesson 2 - Basic Cornrowing

• About cornrows
• How to braid cornrows with illustrations and video demonstration.

Lesson 3 - Cornrow Patterns

• A few patterns to get you started, and explanations
• A couple of photos

Lesson 4 - Dreadlocks Basics (Care and maintenance)

• Washing and conditioning dreadlocks
• Herbal hair wash recipes
• Health issues

Lesson 5 - Basic Instructions for Creating Dreadlocks in Various Hair Textures

• Super Curled
• Medium
• Straight

Lesson 6 - Extensions for Cornrows and Dreadlocks

• Braiding in bulk hair
• Braiding in a weft for weaving
• Adding hair at the ends
• Making a synthetic "dreadlock"

Lesson 7 - The Bush Baby

Illustrated step by step guide on how to create the popular style called the Bush Baby.

Lesson 8 - Girly Tails

Illustrated step by step guide on how to create the style with cornrows leading to pigtails or ponytails on the sides of the head.

Lesson 9 - Cherokee Sun

Illustrated step by step guide on how to create the Cherokee Sun hairstyle as made popular by Alicia Keys.

Lesson 10 - Techniques:  Braid Loops and a 4-strand Braid

Illustrated instructions on creating connecting loops of braids, and 4-strand braids.

Lesson 11 - Techniques:  Senegalese Twist Rows (also known as Rope Twists)

Illustrated, step by step instructions on how to braid the more secure 3-strand Senegalese twist

Lesson 12 - Techniques:  Wrapping

• Illustrated instructions for crochet and rat tail wrapping.

Lesson 13 - Techniques:  Weaving With a Latch Hook Tool

• Illustrated instructions on how to install a hair weave using a latch hook tool.

Lesson 14 - Techniques:  Box Braids and Box Rows

• How to make box braids (even with only two hands).
• How to braid box rows.

Lesson 15 - Techniques: Celtic Knots and Braids

• Celtic Heart pattern
• An easier 'endless' braid trick
• A crown hairstyle pattern.