Dear CN community,
I have a 3-4 inch twa, and I’ve found my night time routine for my hair to be very tedious. Unless i rock funky two strand twists under a beanie for a week, I’m two strand twisting my hair EVERY night and, subsequently, have to take those twists out in the morning to fluff. This feels like it is too much manipulation for my hair. It’s almost like I can feel my ends shredding between my finger tips (since i have to grip my short hair relatively tight to twist–this is also because alot of my hair won’t stay twisted). I make sure my hair is moisturized and sealed. I also make sure that my hands are lubricated with oil before handling my hair.
I just want to know if there is an alternative to putting 15+ twists in my hair every night, which is very time consuming for me. I can’t just leave my hair loose under a bonnet because, no matter how much I moisturize and seal, it will become really tangled. Maybe I’m worrying over nothing, but I need some input.
Hi,
I totally have an answer that will not only stop you from dealing with your hair everyday, but will grow it out at the same time. I do it, and it works. The answer is: put your hair in box braid extensions. Put in extensions when your hair is clean, dry and has been conditioned and natural oils have been applied (coconut, jojoba, etc.). Leave in braids for 2 months. You can style the extensions anyway you want without touching your natural hair. Wash (your scalp only)once a month with sudless shampoo by Organic Root Stimulator "Dry Shampo" (comes in slim purple bottle). Of course the braids will get wet too – that's fine. Just make sure to rinse out shampoo thoroughly and all will be well. Dry your scalp and braids with towel by squeezing and blotting. I grow my natural hair out super fast this way because there is less manipulation. P.S., doesn't matter if you use human hair or synthetic. I use synthetice because it's way cheaper!
i twisted every night to prevent a tangled dry mass of hair in the morning..i take my showers at night so i dont have to wake up super early to get to class on time. i tried pineappling this weekend and it worked out amazing! very few tangles and it didn't dry out. I dont know if it will have the same effect once i take my cornrows out in the front since they kind of hide the fact that i have a different texture on the left side than the right side of my head lol. i will try flat twists next to try and save time..
I have to co-sign with the multi-pineapples (dampen hair lightly if you're having a hard time putting them in), with using a product with hold, but most importantly with HAIR ACCEPTANCE.
Back when I first went natural and got to about 3-4" of hair, I twisted it for a twistout approximately once every 4 nights. I never spent more than 30 minutes putting the twists in. In the morning I'd take the twists out and fluff. However, every day after that (until it was time to retwist again), my hair care took less than 5 minutes: I spritzed lightly with a water-based spritz, fluffed, and went. Did my twistout frizz and puff up? Of course…I have mostly 4b hair and that's just what it does. When my hair became more 'fro than twistout, I'd repeat the cycle.
But sometimes I got tired of twisting and those were the days when I rinsed my hair in the shower, blotted damp, applied a moisturizer and oil, gently COMBED IT OUT (fingers and/or comb), and went. 15 minutes, barely! What exactly is wrong with the combed-out 'fro?
I'm sorry, but 3-4 inches of hair is only a big deal if you're trying to make it do something it's not meant to do. Who says you HAVE to twist it every night? If it's really a time issue, comb it out and let it be!
i have the same problem because my hair is short but what i do is 2 big cornrows and my hair usually last a couple of day cringly try it..i know twist is not for my hair so try braiidng it.. good luck
I had the same problem. My hair is about 3.5 inches and I have struggled to find something that lasts. I am still in the trail and error phase but I think finally found something. Last week I wore finger coils (they took forever to do) that lasted all week. I started with a henna treatment, DC, then sealed in my moisture with a mix of shea butter and EVOO before making the finger coils using KCCC. Every other day I moisturized by spritzing water and sealing with EVOO and Shea Moisture Organic Raw Shea Butter Reconstructive Elixir (that's a mouthful :D). This past weekend I did a co-wash and ACV rinse after making bigger twists (about 15 or so) and holding the twist ends with clips. I did this as I wanted to clean my scalp so I gently message it during the co-wash and ACV rinse. Afterward I stretched the twists by pulling gently, pinning the ends and air dried them. Today I am rocking a coil out by untwisting the big twist and the finger coils. I used coconut oil during this process. I have already received compliments. Even though I cowashed and did an ACV rinse, I still feel I have rocked the same hair (week 2) with minimal manipulation.
i tend to leave my twist in and do an updo style…i moisturize by making a homemade spritz w glycerin, honey and castor oil. seal with coconut oil. when it starts looking old i untwist it and wear it out for a day, then wash and keep in twist again for the new week!!!
Two strand are great but unless your working out you can go at least 1 week w/o twisting them out. Try a medium twist with damp hair and all natural white shea butter. You can do a blend of oils or any natural oil (I.e grape seed or jojoba or vitamin e oil) to add moisture daily..if needed. When you take you twist out start at the scalp and light separate to keep the tight curl! Depending on you hair texture you may be able to pull off large twist. If you just want to go crazy curly… Do med to small cornrows with leave in conditioner and take out after drying, then apply oil.
For the twists in the back of your head covered by the beanie, just pin them down. so the ends wont get weirdy , and then for however long, just maintain the ones that actually show. or you can do french twists in the back, kinda like corn rows, but twists, and the for the front, regular twists.. twa love here 😀
Flat twists are my savior. For those of us with 4a/b coarse hair with super duper shrinkage some methods just won't work, even the mini pineapples can be tricky. I do a twist out, braid out, or flat twists on wash day then each night loosely flat twist my hair in about 5 large twists to maintian my pattern and avoid smushing my hair while sleeping. Then in the morning just take out the loosely flat twists, usually takes about 5 mins bc they are not twisted to my head and just fluff to remove the parts. Very easy, low manipulation style method, and saves time bc I don't have to retwist at all during the week. Throughout the week I'll wear my hair in various styles with headbands, hairpins, scarfs, etc. I can normally do this a full week and my curl pattern is maintained for about 5-6 days, then I wash on the 7th day. My hair is about 8-9 inches so it's not long but not too short. I do agree that a major factor is the styler you use to maintain your hold. Oyin handmade Shine and define is really good, but pricey. Another good product for hold is ORS Lock and Twist. And Shea Moisture is always good too.
Hey I used to have this problem too! Two-strand twists used to take me FOREVER!! So i tried flat twists instead. For me, they usually take less time to put in and you have a pretty diverse set of ways to wear them. I like to put a part on the left side of my head and twist horizontally from the part then do the back going down my head. If I don't have a lot of time I'll wear a beanie and let the front few flat twists show. If I have more time I'll take out the back and leave the front in. If I have even more time I'll take them all out and have big curly hair. I usually wear 6-10 depending on the style.
I have the same issue. From some of the responses, I don't think some ladies understand how a TWA with major shrinkage is challenging to style. I don't have enough hair to even do twists. I comb it every day, yes too much manipulation some may say but since I have to look presentable for the environment in which I work, not combing my hair is not an option.
If you're able to cornrow your hair and leave it in then that would also be a good option. I hope you're able to figure something out. Good luck.
I second what sandy said..try different updos besides twist outs instead of curly everyday. Protective styling should take the stress out too.
I BC'd two weeks ago and my length is about 4 inches also I had the same issues until 3 days ago. I did a henna gloss then two strand twisted using the Shea moisture deep conditioning mask. Mind you it was a lot of twists. It took an hour to put them in.
At night I tie with silk scarf, then put a bonnet over that. I add my oil mixture and lift the roots with my pick in the morning. Good luck:)
all the advice helped me too! I'm too lazy to twist daily.. I can only do weekend twists. Once I take them out on Monday, my hair looks A-MA-ZING. Then I sleep on my hair and from the moment I wake up Tuesday until I re-twist Fri, Sat, or Sun..my hair looks a mess because I just let it do what it do. My hair has passed the point where I can let it do what it do because it's too long now, but I just don't have the time. So thanks ladies for all the advice *BIG smile*
I love the advice ladies! Thank you so much for taking the time to help me. I just got some ponytail holders so i will try the multiple pineapple method. I currently have the front half of my hair cornrowed with a braid out in back. This is my first time trying a braid out and it seems to hold alot better than the twists. i have alot of different textures in my hair and it seems easier to blend them with the braid out.
I agree with Anon 2:08 . I collection of loose ponytails with satin scrunchies or cloth covered elastic bands (by Scunci), would be a faster way to keep hair stretched overnight without having to go through twisting process each night. As the hair grows out, you would need to use fewer scrunchies and will eventually get to the point of needing only one or two.
Be careful not to put them in too tight or you will create breakage around the edges. As always, keep them covered with a satin bonnet.
Im sure your hair is amazing, as you continue to "grow through" this awkward length stage. Hang in there!!
Using a product with hold helped to maintain my twist outs longer. I'm a fan of Qhemet Biologic's products for hold. Kinky Curly Curling Custard is good for type 4 hair hold, too, but I never like it for wash & go styles. It's about hold; once your hair gets an inch or two longer, you will be able to braid it quickly and in less braids with great definition.
I have about 5-6 inches of hair and since it isn't long enough to do one big pineapple at the top, I do about 10 small ones. I just take the small elastic ponytail holders (I use them on my two year old's hair) and make about 10 small ponytails throughout my hair. This helps to keep my twist outs defined and less frizzy. In the morning I just take these down and fluff a little at the roots. After wearing my twists for about three days, I can wear a twist out for an additional 2-3 days and then a puff on the last day. It works great and you can get a weeks worth of hair from one style :). Hope this helps!
I had that issue. Even if I left the twists in for several days I still felt the need to retwist daily.
And then one day I saw a YT video about hair acceptance. I realized that the issue wasn't the twists but the issue is that I wanted a hair type which I did not have. I wanted my hair, everyday, to be wavy or curly.
Once I saw this I realized the challenge was to find new styles I could do with the hair in its loose state. One set of videos that helped me was by bronzeqt on YT. I loved the styles with the pomp on top and natural hair in its afro state going back.
Its a challenge but experiment until you can find some styles you like which don't require so much manipulation. Daily manipulation, however, can be done but you have to be careful not to "tear" the hair or handle it too much when you're wearing it out.
Good luck.
Well my hair is a little longer than apl, but I put my hair in either two loose pigtails or loosely pull it into a ponytail on the top of my hair. My braid out and twist outs last longer than three days.
@LaNeshe..i think my hair is too short for larger twists..they never stay twisted. i had a rough time getting those twists in the photo to stay put 🙁
After your initial twisting session, try putting in bigger twists at night, not really tight twists, just big and loose enough so that you don't smush your hair while sleeping, but it keeps the definition of your twist-out from that day.
I have the same problem. My hair is longer, APL, but I've just started wearing it out. Help us out 🙂
I have the same issue. To be honest I'm not too sure if there's another alternative. I usually try to make long term protective styles and then anticipate taking the twists off at the end of the week instead of everyday. It's a nice break for your ends and helps retain length as well.
i have the exact same issue! looking forward to responses!