1) Twist on dry, stretched hair.
Twists done on wet hair tend to frizz faster than those done on dry, stretched hair.
2) Use a twist pudding.
Use a twist pudding to twist your hair. This step will help to add hold to your twists. The pudding can be made from a simple mix of gel, a butter (e.g., shea), and a little oil (optional). Be sure not to use too much pudding.
3) Refrain from using moisturizers with humectants.
Prior to twisting, do not use a humectant-based moisturizer. Humectants draw moisture from the air and can cause your twists to frizz faster. Glycerin, propylene glycol, and honey are just a few examples of humectants. (If you absolutely cannot do without humectants, then neglect this step because health comes before beauty.)
4) Use the rope/Senegalese twist method.
Take two strands, coil each one upon itself, and then twist. The coiling makes for smoother, longer-lasting twists. For a further description and tutorial of the rope/Senegalese twist method, check this post.
5) Wear a silk/satin scarf to bed.
Bonnets are fine, but scarves will lay down any frizzies and keep the style looking fresher longer. Be sure not to tie the scarf too tight.
6) Wear a silk/satin scarf under your shower cap.
The scarf will reinforce protection of your style from the water and steam.
7) Keep moisturizing to a minimum.
If you are spritzing your twists daily, then your style will not last long. Find a moisturizer or sealant that can allow you to go days, or even a week, without reapplication.
8) Keep washes to a minimum.
A good twist style can usually survive 1-2 washes before it is time for a redo. If you are washing more times than that during the week, your twists will not last long.
9) Braid your twists before washing.
Doing this will help to keep your twists intact and minimize frizzing.
10) Airdry in braids.
Not only will this minimize frizzies, but it has the added benefit of minimizing shrinkage.
11) Redo the perimeter only.
Re-twisting the twists on the perimeter (particularly after a wash) will give your overall twist look a fresher appearance.
12) Wear smaller twists.
The smaller the twists, the longer lasting the style. Bigger twists tend to unravel and frizz faster.
Ladies, how do you make your twists longer lasting?
38 Responses
Can someone please tell me what kind of products can I use to hold my Marley twists and my actual hair. I just got my hair done yesterday and my hair is already trying to unravel from the twist. Please help 🙁
Well, I’m a guy and I have been wearing twists for about 4 months now. I started out with very small twists that barely had any “hang time”, but now the edges are hanging over my ears, and can be stretched to extend to my mid-forehead. I’m happy about the growth in such a short time, what I’m not happy about is how dirty and flakey they get after only a week, or sometimes a couple of days.
My stylist uses a combination of gel, honey and a little shea butter. She twists my hair with a rat tail comb, and then sits me under the dryer frequently spraying the head with a spritz. At first, I was constantly returning to her to have my hair washed after only a week and a few days, just short of two weeks, but that’s not to suggest that it took that long for my head to become a messy, frizzy, itchy, dusty-looking pile of twists. When my hair finally got to a length that she can apply the Senegelese Twist style to it, we noticed that I was able to go an entire month before I needed to come back and have it “freshened up” and looking good again. Although I could’ve gone longer than that month, “I” am the type of guy who likes my twists looking fresh and neat “all the time”.
So even though I could’ve gone longer with the “unkempt but still twisted” twist look, kinda like an “Afro Twists” appearance, know that it didn’t start out in that style. It started out with my twists layed neatly down, going back. New Growth for me happens after about two weeks or so.
What I did to maintain the Senegelese Twists: I used a product called “Rasta Jamaican Mango and Lime Maximum Relief “No More Itch Gro Spray” (Medicated). Almost every other day, and sprayed it unbiasedly all over my head to combat against the itching. What it did in addition to cooling my irritable, very dry, soaks-up-every-oil-or-moisturizer-that’s-put-on-it scalp of mine was it also caused the hair to grow from the roots faster while maintaining the twists on the end. Making it appear as it my hair really didn’t “need” retwisting after a month, because the ends were still in good shape.
Now I don’t know if my being a brother, has any difference to what some of you ladies do, have done, or will do with YOUR tresses, but as a man I’ve always worn my hair “natural”. Except for the one time I called myself being smooth and relaxing it – it was during the “New Jack Swing” era, Teddy Riley and Blackstreet were doing their thing and so was I, but anyway..that was the only time.
After the retwisting of my Senegelese Twists, my stylist only retwisted the new growth from the root, below the original Senegelese “braid” instead of re-braiding the new growth. My question is; Was that right or wrong?
I’m guessing it was “wrong” because now, I’m two weeks in with the redo, and needing to go back to her to have it redone again. I realize the Senegelese Twists take longer, but I plan on growing and keeping my locs once they get to the locking stage, which some of them already have. Detangling hasn’t been an issue for me (yet) because each time my stylist has washed my hair, the twists either come completely undone, or some of them stay twisted.
Side Note: I have extremely dry scalp, so keeping my head moisturized is always going to result in my twists becoming frizzy faster, than lasting longer. The honey that cakes up and dries in my twists only adds to the dirty and flakes, and i believe that the natural oil she uses to “oil my scalp” after being under the dryer, only adds to my scalp becoming clogged and filthy too. I’ve tried NOT adding anything to my head after I get them twisted, I’ve tried OILING my scalp once or twice a week after I get them twisted…but my head just seems like it stays “dirty”. I live in Vegas, so maybe the atmosphere has a lot to do with why my head stays so dry and soaks up everything so quickly? I don’t want to apply too much moisturizers or oils because it will only produce more dirt and flakes, but I can’t go without applying SOMETHING or else my head will itch like crazy.
I figure that because I’m just starting out with twists, the maintenance is going to be frequent in the beginning, but as time goes on and my locs get longer (and thereby Stronger), they will last longer making it possible for me to wear them without needing as many “touch ups”.
Dickens’ Victorian England is actually quite dark (like Great Expectations), but cenrtialy no tears (well not to me anyway), so I don’t know what these people’s reasoning behind mixing the film name with Les Miserables is (hence my posts before that HK marketing people always add extra layers of unnecessary meanings during translation) I’ve read both books by the way.I think they found the right director to do this movie, Polanski is cenrtialy dark and arty enough to master this literature legend.
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I can only wear twists for about a week, but my main concern is not frizz, it’s untwisting! Ugggh, so frustrating, my twists start to come out completely in 3 days. I use lock gel, and the way I twist naturally id a bit rope twist-ish. If I twist my hair dry, they will pretty much come out in a matter of minutes, it has to be a little damp. I will try 3 strand twists next time.
I recently had my hair twisted (no extensions) and one week later, the parts are still clean, the twists are not frizzy, and the ends of the twists are still beautifully coiled. zHere is what my stylist did…. First she washed my hair and conditioned it, then lightly blotted excess water. She parted it, oiled the clap with a mixture of castor and olive oils, mixed with rosemary, lavender and peppermint essential oils. Then she applied a liberal amount of Organic Root Stimulator Twist and loc gel (to think of all the money I routinely spend on Kinky Curly curl Custard, Keracare etc) and twisted the hair. When the twists were done, she dried my hair with a diffuser and then created an updo with the individual twists flat twisted together. I have never EVER had a twist style look so fresh for so long. My hair is fine and frays easily. While this routine goes against the grain of all that I had held sacred (only twist dry stretched hair, etc), the proof is in the pudding, and I have now bought a small jar of loc and twist gel. ???? has anyone had a similar experience?
Thanks for the tips! The comments were informative, also. I am confident my daughter will love the transition from regular braids to Senegalese or Marley Twists. We are excited to try, but her hair is permed (very seldom). Any tips or advice?
Thanks a bunch, ladies!
Thank you for this topic U
Please explain no. 11. “11) Redo the perimeter only. Re-twisting the twists on the perimeter (particularly after a wash) will give your overall twist look a fresher appearance.” What is ‘the perimeter’?
The “perimeter” is the area around the outside. So she’s saying just re-twist around the edges of your hair and you might not have to do the whole head.
Hope that helps.
This was a life saver. I twist my hair and I leave the twists in for about two weeks. After the two weeks, I cowash my twists and then redo them.I do this for about a month and a little longer.
Anyways my twist will always look a hot mess after a week and will unravel and sometimes you couldn’t tell that they were twists.
I decided to change the way I twist my hair, instead of just detangling my hair and twisting it. I detangled my hair first, added a leave in, a little bit of gel, and then extra virgin olive oil. My twist are so defined and look so cute.
The only problem is trying to stretch them out now.
I have been twisting my hair for the last month. I do my twist outs wet using Shea Moisture Souffle. So it is best to do the twist with dry hair? I workout 5-6 days a week and sweat a lot in my scalp. Which is this best method?
I think these instructions are for twists you plan on keeping in, not for twist outs.
Thanks for the response. So this is NOT for twist to wear for a week or two?
If you plan on keeping the twists twisted, and not taking them out for a twist out, these are good tips.
Thanks
This article says not to spritz but how can you keep twists moisturised without water? I have this dilemma and my twists frizz after the first day because I choose to moisturise them with Oyin spritzes, water and seal with karens Creamylicious. If I don’t use water, my hair is bone dry and I’ve yet to see a natural hair product (aside from spritzes) that added moisture without first adding water.
It doesn’t say not to spritz- it says to avoid using a moisturizer with humectants BEFORE twisting your hair, and to keep spritzing to a minimum while your hair is twisted. You should try to find a moisturizer that keeps your hair moisturized longer so that you don’t have to spritz as much.
Yes I was wondering what the alternative might be to spritzing. I’ve tried quite a few natural moisturisers and found Qhemets Burdock Root to be good but unfortunately I don’t have access to it because I’m not in the US. I was wondering if other people were not spritzing and what they may be using. I certainly wasn’t trying to offend anyone. I may have misread it as I thought it said don’t spritz at all when your twists are done. I’d like to lessen frizz but I’m not sure how.
Great, timely article…thanks so much!
My hair is in twists now, and I’m paying close attention to how long I can keep this up. Also – good tips, Misskanyared! I think I’ll try them, come wash day.
I mostly have twists on my hair when campus session, usually last a month. Most girls here (Nairobi) wear the Senegalese. I recommend washing (shampooing) the scalp/ roots using an old toothbrush instead of the braids themselves -keeps mine neater. Aaand, when taking ’em down, detangle using your fingers maybe after taking down each one. Makes it easier to brush when done and minimises breakage.
I am on a protective style challenge and my hair cannot last more than one week in mini twists…and even a week is pushing it!!I find that disheartening since I do my twists on stretched, dry hair and use all the tips provided here. Still,my twists get super fuzzy after 4 days. The only option I have not tried is #4. I am curious to see how it will work out.
So many restrictions
@LaNeshe my stylist has used this method and the twist do look great and last forever even through swimming and washes but it was a detangled nightmare to take out. I will never do it again.
Thank you!
I would to see a list of products that are moisturizing that dont contain Glycerin or any other humectant.
Here are just a few:
Certain Bee Mine moisturizers (e.g., Deja’s Hair Milk, Luscious Balanced Cream Moisturizer)
Kinky-Curly Knot Today Leave-In (not really sold as a moisturizer but some people like to use leave-ins as moisturizers).
Giovanni Direct Leave In
Darcy’s Botanical Peach Kernel Hydrating Milk (order the glycerin-free version)
etc. …
You can also make your own humectant-free spritz.
When I twist, I’m fine sealing my freshly washed hair with my homemade shea butter mixture (no humectants). My hair stays moisturized for a week or more. If it gets dry, I spritz with water and oils then re-seal with the shea mixture.
Thanks!
Great tips. I’ve been afraid to try the Senegalese twist method for fear that it would make detangling harder. Anyone ever had a tangling problem during take down?
It’s a beast. If that’s a current pic of you, my hair is about the same length and it took FOREVER to do the twists. I have the hardest time trying to keep my hair twisted. After three days they always look a hot mess. These did stay longer and looked lovely without getting all frizzy.
However, when I it took me two full days to untwist and detangle. I unraveled the twists one by one and finger detangled with coconut oil, but the hair kept on wanting to revert back to the twists. After a lot of combing, coconut oil and deep conditioning I finally got them out and my scalp was not happy with me when I was done.
It sure is a beast! I’m from Nigeria and this is how we do our twists (extensions or no extensions). When you’re done getting your twists, they always look fantastic, but taking them out is another matter; because you start coiling/twisting from the roots, the hair there tends to get badly tangled or just plain loc up. Problem areas for me (and for most women I know) are the hairline and back hair. It’s even worse if you wear your braids for too long. I think it’s better to just twist the regular way–as Chinwe says, health before beauty–but it doesn’t apply to everyone. A lot of people may find that twisting method to be completely fine, so different strokes.
I also find that using oils more than butters works better for me because butters make my twists become matted more easily. My hair’s naturally really coarse and I always need butters, so I just use a little butter and a lot of oil.
I never had a detangling problem with them.
How did you detangle with your fingers or a comb? I was seriously struggling.
I never had a problem detangling either. After I undid the twists, I wore my hair in a twist out for a few days, and when those got messy/frizzy, I would take a shower and finger comb while the water was running on my hair. Afterwards, I would use some conditioner to comb it out properly with a comb.
I have some problems to detangling my hair after doing senegalese twist. It s because of my hair texture but i think everybody will have different reaction.
I never had problems detangling after taking down Senegalese twists, but I think that’s because I ensured my hair was super detangled before installing them. After wash day, I let my already detangled hair dry in chunky twists, and then I finger detangle each twist with a Vatika/castor oil mix. I pre-section my wash day twists so that I can install the Senegalese twists section by section–it helps cut down on time, but it still takes forever. When I take them down 3 weeks later (any longer is a matting/breakage nightmare), I do so one by one, detangling with the Vatika castor mix as I go.
By following that process, I’ve avoided any take-down tangling, but your hair may behave differently than mine….
I wear 90 to 95 twists. I have applied the above advice and that of blogger Alicia James. My twist are happy now. On take down I use small amount of Cream of Nature Conditioner and olive oil on twists. One twist at a time. I have 4B/C hair. Untwist closer to the bottom first. My twist glide right out. Very little detangeling make 5 large braids and wash. Start over again. The above mentioned advice has help to keep frizz down and keep my full length.
Hope this helps.