A friend of mine texted me the other day about her failed twist out. “I did a twist-out and I look like I came out of a science lab where the experiment went ‘poof’!” It was also raining that day and she had pictures to back up her statement. We both laughed about it, but I assured her that I would give her the steps to make her next twist-out a success.
I know that I have had my days of failed hairstyle attempts after I diligently listened to a friend or watched a popular YouTube tutorial from one of my favorite natural hair gurus. I watch the video, get psyched up, and watch it a couple more times just to be sure I am on the right track. Then I envision the finished product on my head, only to be left in a hot mess. Lol. The level of defeat is REAL. But the good thing is that I have learned to turn my occasional lemon hairstyles into lemonade masterpieces. Here are 10 steps to achieve an awesome twist-out.
1. Ensure that you have enough time to do your twist-out. I hate having to rush to do a hairstyle because it doesn’t come out how I hoped it would. Take your time in the beginning to achieve a better result.
2. Start out on clean hair. Clean hair is the perfect canvas for a hairstyle. This allows you to manipulate your hair into the desired effect. Our Coconut Milk Moisturizing Shampoo and 2-in-1 Hydrating Botanical Conditioner provides the perfect canvas.
3. Prior to starting your twist-out, moisturize and seal your hair. Some persons use the LOC (leave-in, oil, cream) or the LCO (leave-in, cream, oil) method. Our Nourishing Hair Oil combined with our 2-in-1 Hydrating Botanical Conditioner work great to seal in moisture.
4. Use a twisting cream, butter, or gel. This is trial and error as well as preference. Some persons don’t use gel and prefer to use butters or creams, and that is ok. Chose a product that will provide your desired level of definition.
5. Separate each section of hair equally BEFORE you start to twist. This minimizes you having to borrow hair from the other section increasing your chances of frizz during the take down.
6. Allow your style to set. A twist-out may be done on dry or wet hair. If you choose to do your twist-out on wet hair, it needs ample time to dry. Overnight is best. If you are pressed for time, you may use a hooded dryer. If twisting dry hair, it is also important to give your hair time to achieve your desired effect.
7. If allowing your hair to set overnight, use a satin bonnet, scarf, or satin pillowcase to minimize friction to the hair. Friction equals breakage.
8. Prior to unraveling your twists, coat your fingers with oil to reduce frizz. Take down each twist carefully. Our Nourishing Hair Oil is lightweight and perfect for this step.
9. When separating the twists to achieve a fuller look, make sure to gently pull hair apart where it naturally wants to separate. This will decrease frizz.
10. Increase volume by using a wide-tooth comb or pick to lift hair at the roots and down the hair shaft to achieve your desired look. To extend your twist-out when going to bed, retwist hair into big sections or pineapple the hair. Protect the style using a bonnet or silk scarf.
The next time you do your twist-out, follow these ten steps and tag us on Instagram @mayabe.essentials or on Facebook @simplymayabe with your awesome results. Happy Twisting!
Credits
Photo: © Oranduu (Danilo Silva) via pexels.com