Some Vikings—young women in particular—may have worn braids. However, braids were likely not the most common hairstyle for most Vikings. By examining statues and texts discovered from the Viking era, it appears that most Norse warriors wore their hair short, making braids fairly uncommon.

Who wore cornrows first?

Cornrows on women date back to at least 3000 B.C. and as far back as the nineteenth century for men, particularly in Ethiopia. Warriors and kings were identified by their braided hairstyles.

What race did cornrows come from?

Cornrows originated in Africa and the Caribbean — their very name indicates agriculture, planting, and labor. “In Trinidad, we call them 'cane rows,' because of slaves planting sugar cane," says Patrice Grell Yursik, author of the blog AfroBella.