How to Do a Twist Out

A twist out is a great natural hairstyle that can be done using a variety of techniques. You can create tight ringlets, large curls, or even chaotic waves. The key is to start with freshly washed hair and to regularly apply oil or holding product to the twists. After you’ve created the twists, let them sit and set for a while before taking them down. When you do unravel them, go slowly. Practice different ways to twist out your hair and you’ll be an expert in no time at all.

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

Cleaning and Detangling Your Hair

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1
Shampoo and condition your hair as usual. Go through your standard shower routine and wash your hair thoroughly with both shampoo and conditioner. Make sure to fully rinse out these products with water. Clean hair responds better to styling products and is more likely to hold a twist.^{[1]XExpert SourceNdeye Anta Niang
Professional Hair Stylist & Master BraiderExpert Interview. 10 January 2020.}
- Choose products that are sulfate-free to shampoo and condition your hair.
2
Blot your hair with a microfiber towel or t-shirt. Twists will not stay put with soaking wet hair, but your hair should be damp for doing a twist out. Gently blot your hair with a microfiber towel or t-shirt to speed up the drying process. You can also carefully use a blow dryer on a low setting. If you accidentally fully dry your hair, just give it a few quick spritzes with a spray bottle before continuing on to styling.^{[2]XResearch source}
- Overdrying your hair can also lead to frizziness, which can loosen the curl.
- Keep a spray bottle of water nearby, so that you can mist your hair if it starts to dry out while you are curling.
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3
Rub a curl crème or natural oil on to your hair. Place a few drops of crème or oil on your fingertips. Start applying the oil to the ends of your hair. Then, work your way upwards toward your scalp. Try to evenly apply it so that every strand is touched.
- A leave-in conditioner is another product that you can use for this stage. If you prefer a natural oil, many people find using a coconut product keeps their hair manageable and smelling nice.
Start at the bottom tips of your hair and work your way upwards to your scalp. Use the comb and your fingertips to divide any knots. By the end of the process, your hair should feel smooth to the touch and easy to divide.^{[3]XExpert SourceNdeye Anta Niang
Professional Hair Stylist & Master BraiderExpert Interview. 10 January 2020.}

Part 2

Part 2 of 3:

Creating the Hair Twists

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Place your comb against your scalp and move downwards to create a separate section. Repeat this process until you have as many sections as you like, usually 4-6 is standard. If you do larger sections, then the waves will be loose. If you have smaller sections, then the waves will be tight. To keep your sections apart, you can secure each one with a clip or loose tie.
2
Use a single-strand technique if you have more time. Grasp a section of your hair at the root and gently twist in a single direction either outward or inward. Keep going until you’ve created a tight coil. Repeat with the rest of your hair’s sections. To keep them tight, you may need to massage some gel or oil on to the surface of the coils.
- This method generally works best when you’ve divided your hair into many small sections.
- A single-strand twist is also called a finger coil.
3
Go with a 2-strand twist technique if you are a beginner. This is a great way to learn the basic twist-out method. Take a section of your hair and divide it into 2 strands. Pull the hair tight and twist the 2 strands around one another. Keep going until you reach the end of your hair for that section. Then, repeat the process with a new section.
- You’ll also want to apply gel or oil with your fingertips when twisting, especially at the ends of the hair. This will help to moisturize your hair and secure the ends.
Go to the top of a section of hair. Divide the section into 2 separate strands. Then, twist these strands over and under. Keep the twist flat against the scalp and pick up extra hair from the section as you go along. The final result for each section should look like a flat, 2-strand twist. Repeat with the other sections.

Part 3

Part 3 of 3:

Releasing and Styling the Twists

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1
Let your hair dry completely. Your twists will need to be totally dry from root to tip before you attempt unravelling them. You can actually let your twists set for 2-3 days if you like. They double as a separate hairstyle as long as they are neat, but you can cover them with a scarf if they look messy. Just make sure to lightly mist them with water each day to keep them from frizzing.
- If you decide to untwist your hair on the same day, use a hair dryer on them to ensure that they are completely dry.
- You may also let the twists dry overnight and then take them out the next day.
Re-apply as needed during the twist-out process. If your hair seems dry or becomes tangled, massage it with coconut oil to work the strands apart.
Grasp each single coil by its end. Then, twist in the opposite direction. When it is fully untwisted, divide the coil into 2 sections. Then, twist each of these new sections back into the direction of the starter coil. Repeat with all of your coils. This will create a series of small finger coils.
Grasp a single coil at the bottom with your oiled fingertips. Move your fingers through the coil and break it up gently. If you want a fluffier curl for extra volume, break up the coils more. For a tighter look, only slightly unravel each coil. You can also use a comb to pick at the roots and lift them a bit for extra volume.
You can follow essentially the same method as you would with a 2-strand twist. Start at the bottom of each coil and work your fingertips upwards. Untwist the coil at the same time that you fluff it slightly. You can also pull a flat-twist a bit away from your scalp to give it some volume.

Expert Q&A

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Question
How do I wash my twists if they get kind of dirty?
Ndeye Anta Niang
Hair Stylist & Master Braider
Ndeye Anta Niang is a Hair Stylist, Master Braider, and Founder of AntaBraids, a traveling braiding service based in New York City. Ndeye has over 20 years of experience in African hair including braiding box braids, Senegalese twists, crochet braids, faux dread locs, goddess locs, kinky twists, and lakhass braids. Ndeye was the first female of her tribe in Africa to move to America and is now sharing her knowledge of African braids passed on from generation to generation.
Ndeye Anta Niang
Hair Stylist & Master Braider
Expert Answer
Wash them very carefully! Don't be super rough when you're handling the twist stem and stay away from rubbing them too aggressively.
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Why do my twists keep coming undone?
Ndeye Anta Niang
Hair Stylist & Master Braider
Ndeye Anta Niang is a Hair Stylist, Master Braider, and Founder of AntaBraids, a traveling braiding service based in New York City. Ndeye has over 20 years of experience in African hair including braiding box braids, Senegalese twists, crochet braids, faux dread locs, goddess locs, kinky twists, and lakhass braids. Ndeye was the first female of her tribe in Africa to move to America and is now sharing her knowledge of African braids passed on from generation to generation.
Ndeye Anta Niang
Hair Stylist & Master Braider
Expert Answer
It's possible that you aren't twisting them correctly. If you are and they're still coming undone, I'd highly recommend using mousse as you're finishing up your twists to keep your hair from getting too rebellious while it settles into its new shape.
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Question
Can I wash my twists?
Ndeye Anta Niang
Hair Stylist & Master Braider
Ndeye Anta Niang is a Hair Stylist, Master Braider, and Founder of AntaBraids, a traveling braiding service based in New York City. Ndeye has over 20 years of experience in African hair including braiding box braids, Senegalese twists, crochet braids, faux dread locs, goddess locs, kinky twists, and lakhass braids. Ndeye was the first female of her tribe in Africa to move to America and is now sharing her knowledge of African braids passed on from generation to generation.
Ndeye Anta Niang
Hair Stylist & Master Braider
Expert Answer
You can, but they may get kind of frizzy and unruly if you do. Your hair will do its natural thing when it is twisted, so you have to treat it like that when you wash it.
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Sleeping on a satin pillowcase or wearing a satin nightcap can actually make your twist-out last longer. It also can reduce frizziness.
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Warnings

Try to strike a balance between applying too much product or too little. If you over-apply, then your hair might get oily. However, if you under-apply, then your coils will not hold up over time.
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