As a naturally curly girl, I understand the struggles of having curly hair, and maintaining twists can be kinda hard especially if you don’t do it a certain way.
Twists are such a great protective hairstyle.
One of the most frustrating things is to spend hours twisting your hair only to have it unravel a few hours or a few days later.
This tends to happen if you have very fine hair or looser textured curls.
That is why in this post, I’m going to share a couple of personal tips and tricks on how to keep twists from unraveling.
Grab a cup of coffee and let’s get down to it!
This post contains affiliate links, meaning I may make a commission at no extra cost to you if you decide to click on a link and purchase something. Click here to read the full disclaimer.
Before we talk about how to keep twists from unraveling, let’s understand why twists unravel:
- Improper twisting technique: Maybe you’re not twisting tightly enough or not twisting all the way to the end.
- Improper use of the product: You may not be using the right product for your hair or not using enough product.
- You are not sectioning your hair properly: If you use large sections of hair, then your twists will be too big and it will unravel quickly.
- Your hair is dry or damaged: If you’ve colored your hair too much, or used a lot of bleach/heat or chemicals – chances are your hair doesn’t have enough moisture. This will make your hair prone to breakage and your twists will unravel.
So, how do we prevent our twists from coming apart?
1. Work with damp hair only
You’ll want to make sure that you are working with damp hair and not wet or dry hair.
This will ensure that your twists dry in that position and won’t unravel.
The reason you don’t want to be working with wet hair is that wet hair is very susceptible to breakage and you don’t want to damage your hair!
So, make sure it’s damp or semi-dry, and then twist your hair.
2. Detangle your hair properly
You should never work with hair when it has knots or tangles. This is not only going to damage your hair but it will also not look great when you do your twists.
You have to ensure that your hair is properly detangled.
You can use a detangling brush like this – this one is my favorite.
When you detangle your hair, your hair will be smooth and so will your twists. Twisting will become seamless.
3. Do rope twists instead of two-stand twists
Rope twists are more secure than two-strand twists.
This is because rope twists involve twisting two sections of hair together in the same direction and then twisting those 2 sections again in the opposite direction – this results in a tighter and more secure twist which is less likely to unravel.
They’re honestly not that hard to do and once you get the hang of it – it becomes like second nature.
Here’s a video explaining how to do rope twists:
4. Use the right styling products
I know, I know.
There are countless products on the market and it can be a little difficult to find the right ones to do your twists.
But after a lot of experimentation, here are 2 products I recommend:
- Aunt Jackie’s Curl La la Defining Custard: Ah, this is so beautiful. It has shea butter and olive oil and makes twisting so, so easy. It’s also very inexpensive and under $10. I have not noticed any white residue and my curls are uber soft and moisturized after using this.
- Camille Rose Almond Jai Twisting Butter: If you haven’t guessed by now, I like products that smell beautiful. This product has a nice, nutty aroma and you can use this while your hair is still damp. This also works as a leave-in conditioner – so, win-win!
5. Keep misting your hair while twisting
You have to work with your hair in small sections. I’ve already mentioned this before.
But it is going to take some time and if your hair is like mine, it might dry out too quickly.
So, you’re going to want to mist your hair while your working with it. I use this hair spray bottle because it’s not like a regular spray bottle – it doesn’t spray out water and drench your hair.
It sprays a mist that makes your hair damp.
And I strongly believe that EVERY single curly girl should have one – it’s a game-changer, honestly.
6. Don’t touch your twists till they’re dry
Once you’ve finished doing your twists, resist the urge to touch it.
Constantly touching your twists will make them more frizzy and also cause them to become undone and unravel.
I’m guilty of this, and I know it’s hard but avoid playing with your hair as much as possible.
7. Twist all the way to the end
Another important tip to keep in mind is to twist your hair all the way to the ends.
Leaving some hair untwisted at the end can cause your twists to unravel quickly.
You can also use a little curl cream at the ends and seal it with some oil.
Don’t overdo the product – this is just to keep your tips nice and moist so that it doesn’t unravel and look healthy.
8. Set it with a hooded dryer
A hooded dryer costs around $15 or less and it’s so useful – you’ll get your money’s worth in just a few sessions.
If you use this after you finish twisting your hair, then your hair will set well and this is honestly one of the best ways to ensure that your twists don’t unravel.
You’re good to go once your hair dries!
9. Use a silk bonnet or a silk pillowcase
Once you finish twisting your hair, use a satin bonnet like this to keep everything in place. Silk is very gentle for the skin and hair and reduces friction immensely.
These also come in so many pretty colors and they last forever practically.
This will reduce the possibility of frizz and even the chances of your twists unraveling.
I’ve actually seen the difference between sleeping without a satin bonnet and with and I can tell you that your twists will look more defined and neat if you do this.
How do you make twists stay?
If nothing else works, try this simple hack.
Just use a little coconut oil on the tips of your twists near the ends. This will help the twists stay in place and not unravel.
Conclusion
I hope these tips helped you learn how to keep your twists from unraveling.
Twists are a great protective hairstyle.
But please don’t leave it in for too long.
Doing this can cause a lot of issues like matting, tangling and even breakage. This is because your hair is stretched tightly and eventually it will compromise the structure of your hair – especially where the tension is the highest.
You don’t want to make your hair weak because it will break easily.
Moreover, twists are difficult to properly cleanse and moisturize. And you’ll end up with product-buildup.
I do not recommend leaving twists for more than 6 weeks.
This will give your hair a chance to recover.
Also, please listen to your hair – if you notice any breakage – take out your twists and let your hair breathe for a while.
I hope this helps.
You may also enjoy:
