With coily and curly hair, it is extremely hard to go online and know what is good or bad advice. All these influencers seem to be saying something completely different. One girl will say that air drying coily hair is the best, while others say that using a diffuser or blowdryer is the way to go. While there are many divided opinions about what is best for the best for coily or curly hair, one thing almost everyone agrees on is the superiority of mini twists.
Mini twists are exactly what they sound like. A small section of hair is separated into two pieces and twisted around each other. Due to their simplicity, mini twists have many benefits.
One benefit that they have is to help to protect coily and curly hair. The style is not as tight as braids, especially when extensions get put in. Mini twists can also be kept in for long periods of time which allows the wearer to leave their hair alone.
Although mini twists are very beneficial, there are some ways that they can be detrimental too.
For example, if a person twists too tightly on their hairline, the twists can actually rip out the hair instead of protecting it. Using tight hairstyles like ponytails and buns while twists are in can also pull at the hair, making it easier to pull out. However, do not fret. There are tutorials on how to get perfect mini twists for both protection and style.
To make sure the mini twists are really protecting and helping grow the hair, the wearer should make sure to get a nice good wash before the styling. After washing and making sure the hair is nice and clean, the next step is to separate the hair into at least four sections. Immediately following separating, put in a leave-in conditioner or detangler and gently detangle all of the hair.
After the hair is detangled, part the hair into horizontal rows. After parting horizontally, part vertically in each smaller section. Then the twisting can begin. To make sure the twists stay in and do not unravel, braid the very top section about six times and then starting the twist usually works. After twisting, make sure to seal the ends of each twist with a moisturizing hair product. For sleep, put on a bonnet or scarf to keep the twist fresh.
Style wise, there are many ways to do mini twists. Some people like their twists to be long, while others like theirs to be juicy. To make them long, blow drying beforehand is one option. Using a strong braiding gel can also help retain length.
If a person does not want to use heat, they can try other stretching methods. One method requires lots of scrunchies. Separate the hair into two or four sections. Tie a scrunchie on the top of the section like creating a ponytail, and tie another one directly under it and so on until getting all the way to the bottom. Repeat on the rest of the sections. When taking the scrunchies out, they should have let the hair stay in place at that length, and they will stay that length for a little longer.
Another way to avoid using heat is to get clips and put them at the ends of the twists. This way, the twists are being weighed down and therefore stretched.
Some people do not like longer twists because they often come out skinny or “boneless.” If a person likes to have “juicier,” or fatter twist that has more volume, they should use a mousse or curl cream instead of a gel. This way the twists are bouncy and not weighed down by gel. Twisting a little looser can also help with the volume of the twists.
To get the best of both worlds, try the more volume twisting method for the first couple days and then stretch them with clips or scrunchies a couple days later. This will get the twists to be bouncy and lengthened.
Twists are such an amazing hairstyle that every person with coily hair should try. While wearing the twists down is an option, they can be styled in so many ways such as ponytails, buns, and braids. Whether a person is trying them to help grow hair, or just to have a fun hairstyle, mini twists are definitely the way to go.