Even if you aren’t a basketball fan, you have probably seen Allen Iverson braids on television or in the news. He’s one of the most well-known basketball players in the world. Some may even argue that his hair is one of the reasons!
Perhaps his choice to wear his hair this way in the 1997 Schick Rookie Challenge was part of a brilliant strategy to create an image and a brand. After all, he is one of the most iconic players of this generation—and not just because of his Killer Crossover. It is probably safe to assume that he was the first professional player to sport this hair style on the court, which is very common now. Just take a look at Latrell Sprewell and Rasheed Wallace, who have both had great success and notoriety.
However, physical appearance and aesthetics are not the only reasons why Allen Iverson might have chosen to wear his hair this way. In fact, this hair style is actually very common among African Americans because it is easy to maintain. You can treat cornrows, which is the technical term for this style of hair braiding, almost like regular hair.
Of course, transforming the natural, kinky state of African hair to the straight-seeming nature of cornrow braids is painstaking work. It can actually take hours or even days to complete a full head of hair depending on the length of the hair, any extension that you might need to be put in, and the overall design you are going for.
Obviously, then, these hairstyles require a great deal of skill to complete. It is important that you see a professional stylist if you want hair like this because they have mastered the necessary techniques and understand how to go about completing the job in the most efficient manner possible. This is extremely important both to you and your stylist because you both want to have something you can be proud of, and nobody likes to wait a long time!
Cornrow braids are a classic style that dates back to around 500 B.C. It is a tradition that has been passed down through many generations. For some people this is very important as it allows them to keep in touch with their roots. The best stylists are the ones who understand this and will treat your style project with the same care and precision as the historical communities that developed it.
