Blog

When we talk about braids, we’re not just talking about a hairstyle—we’re talking about history. At The Canerow Company, we honour the ancestral practice of braiding, a tradition passed down through generations, connecting us to our roots.

Growing up in a Jamaican household in the UK, I heard the word “Canerow” every time my auntie sat me down between her knees to braid my hair. It wasn’t until I was older that I realized many people called it something else: Cornrows. But for me, it was always “Canerow”—a term that carried stories, warmth, and heritage.

The history of Canerows stretches back thousands of years to Africa, where intricate braid patterns were more than adornment. They were visual maps of identity, used to signify tribe, age, marital status, wealth, and social standing. During the transatlantic slave trade, Canerows became a quiet act of rebellion and resilience. Enslaved Africans used braids to hide seeds and gold dust, and in some cases, to map escape routes to freedom—their hair literally carrying the blueprint for survival.

Today, Canerows still speak. They represent strength, beauty, creativity, and connection. They tell the world who we are and where we’ve come from.

At The Canerow Company, naming our plant-based braiding hair after this ancestral artform felt natural. It’s a tribute to the women who braided before us, the mothers and aunties who taught us, and the stories we carry with every braid.

We believe that how you braid matters just as much as what you braid with. That’s why we’ve chosen a clean, plant-based material—banana fibre—to honour our roots while protecting your scalp and the earth.

✨ Whether you wear Canerows, box braids, twists, or locs—every braid is a statement of pride. Together, we braid better.