Pencil Lines Hairstyles are African braiding styles built around neat, narrow feed-in cornrows.
The name is commonly used interchangeably with pencil braids, pencil lines braids, and Ghanaian lines, particularly in East African hair conversations.
Table of Contents
The defining feature is the way the braid is constructed. Instead of starting with a large amount of extension hair at the hairline, the braider begins with a relatively small amount and feeds in additional hair as the cornrow progresses.
This creates the characteristic gradual increase in thickness associated with pencil lines.
What Are Pencil Lines Hairstyles?
Pencil lines are essentially feed-in cornrow hairstyles. They can be done as simple straight-back rows or arranged into more elaborate designs.
The rows can:
- Run straight from the front toward the back
- Curve around the head
- Follow diagonal or zigzag paths
- Form geometric patterns
- Be combined with larger Ghanaian lines
- Lead into ponytails or buns
- Be combined with individual braids
The important thing is that “pencil” refers to the type of feed-in cornrow construction, rather than simply meaning that the braid is narrow.
Simple Pencil Lines
A simple pencil-lines hairstyle might consist of several relatively fine feed-in cornrows running backward from the hairline.
This is one of the easiest versions to wear because the pattern itself does most of the work.
You don’t need an elaborate design for the hairstyle to look neat.
You can also vary the number of rows.
A style with only a few larger pencil lines will have a very different appearance from one made with numerous finer rows.
Pencil Lines With Patterns
Pencil lines don’t have to be straight.
A braider can use the feed-in technique to create:
- Curved lines
- Waves
- Diagonal sections
- Zigzags
- Swirls
- Geometric shapes
- Side-swept designs
Current pencil-line styles increasingly use the parting and direction of the cornrows as part of the hairstyle itself, rather than treating every row as a simple straight line.
This is particularly useful if you want something that looks distinctive while still keeping the basic pencil-braid technique.
Pencil Lines With Individual Braids
One of the most interesting variations is combining pencil lines with individual plaits.
This is where you get styles such as half pencil hair with braids.
The pencil/feed-in cornrows occupy one portion of the head, while individual plaits are created on another portion.
A similar half Ghanaian lines, half braids construction has long been used in African hairstyling, with cornrows covering one section and individual braids beginning farther back on the head.
That combination gives you the structured appearance of cornrows at the scalp and the movement of individual braids through the lengths.
Pencil Hairstyle With a Ponytail
Another popular option is to direct the pencil lines toward a ponytail.
The feed-in cornrows can converge toward a high, medium, or low ponytail, allowing the braids to become the foundation for the gathered hair.
This can also be adapted into a braided bun or other updo.
Feed-in braids are particularly useful for creating a smooth transition into gathered hairstyles.
Big and Small Pencil Lines
Pencil lines don’t all have to be exactly the same size.
You can combine:
small pencil lines + larger feed-in lines
to create contrast across the scalp.
Alternating larger and smaller Ghanaian cornrows is an established variation of the style.
This can make a relatively simple hairstyle look considerably more detailed.
Pencil Lines With Accessories
Because the individual rows are so clearly defined, pencil lines also work well with accessories.
You could add:
- Gold or silver cuffs
- Beads
- Coloured extensions
- Decorative rings
- Contrasting braid colours
Accessories can be concentrated around particular rows rather than added throughout the entire hairstyle.
Pencil Lines for Different Occasions
One reason pencil lines remain popular is that they can be adapted to very different settings.
A simple black pencil-lines style can look understated enough for everyday wear.
A more elaborate pattern with coloured extensions or accessories can make the same basic technique suitable for a party, celebration, wedding, or other occasion.
The hairstyle can also be particularly practical when you want your hair arranged neatly without having individual plaits covering the entire head.
Pencil Lines vs. Ordinary Cornrows
The terms overlap, so the distinction isn’t always absolute.
Ordinary cornrows:
Hair is braided along the scalp, and the rows can be created in many different sizes.
Pencil lines:
A specific feed-in/Ghanaian-lines style in which additional hair is incorporated progressively, producing the characteristic tapered beginning and fuller braid.
That means pencil lines are a type of cornrow, but not every cornrow would normally be called a pencil line.
Pencil Lines Hairstyles in East Africa
The terminology is particularly useful when looking at hairstyles in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and neighboring parts of East Africa.
“Pencil lines” is a familiar salon term in the region, while the same or closely related styles may be called Ghana braids, Ghanaian lines, feed-in braids, or banana braids elsewhere.
There is even a Swahili-influenced term, mwongezo lines, associated with the idea of adding hair progressively into the braid.
So if you’re searching for Pencil Lines Hairstyles, don’t restrict yourself to that exact phrase. Searches for pencil braids, pencil lines braids, Ghanaian lines, Ghana braids, and feed-in cornrows can lead to closely related styles.
The main idea
At its simplest, Pencil Lines Hairstyles = feed-in cornrows that begin relatively fine and build up as extension hair is added.
From that basic technique, you can create straight-back pencil lines, curved designs, geometric patterns, ponytails, buns, half-pencil/half-individual-braid styles, and many other combinations. The terminology can vary between countries, but the feed-in construction is what gives pencil lines their characteristic appearance.
Hair Tie Site:ChickAboutTown.com
If you would like to know what I have to share about choosing a good hair tie, click here.
READ ALSO: 3 Interesting Cornrows Men Short Hair Styles & More
Photo Credits: BraidsBy_Dorcas, Steph Odia, Hair Style & Makeup Artist, Buzz South Africa, CuteLooksDar, @J_Handroz, Indulgy, Pinterest, Hair by Clipperz
READ ALSO: 4 Great Men’s Long Straight Hairstyles