This isn’t an easy decision, you might think, well that’s boring, who wants to wear a protective styles all the time?
If you use your hair as a means of creating content, then making that choice might be hard too because constant manipulation, and styling can wreak havoc on our fragile strands.
So what’s the answer?
The most realistic expectation you can have is either do what your hair prefers to retain length or face the fact that your hair will probably remain in the same position length wise for a very long time if you choose to leave it free to enjoy the elements.
In this post we want to try to give you the best of both worlds with a loose twist regimen for length retention that you can style and not feel bored about.
We will not touch on goals one, two and three too much because we have a wealth of information on moisture, protein and sealing your natural hair right here on the blog. Instead we want to focus on goals three and four as they relate to loose twists.
What are loose twists?
Loose twists are simply miniature twists installed all over your head as a means of protecting your hair, and keeping the strands separated and largely detangled.
Most women who do this, tend to braid or twist tightly, the roots of their hair and loosely twist the length to keep the hair separated. One example of an avid ‘loose twister’, would be Cipriana Quann of Urban Bush Babes.
On any given day, Cipriana will have at least 150 loose twists installed in her hair, she has since reduced that number but over all Cipriana has been very upfront about her regimen for her now waist length type 4 hair.
Her regimen simply consists of cleansing and protective styling by using loose twists once the hair is detangled and ready to style. Her styling technique is pretty unique she kind of does a freelance updo with her twists and it can be considered her signature daily style.
Check out Cipriana on the following page as she talks about her loose twists and takes them down on camera:
DA White says
WoW!! Gorg!!
Carmella McCoy says
Im wearing mini twists right now. 🙂
Shakira Iswi Gantt says
A question… would I need to do this on stretched, dry hair? I am thinking it would work best if I maybe tension blow dry first. What do some of you do to prep for this style? Today is my wash day and I am thinking of trying this.
Jazz Marie Anderson says
Bomani Chi
Zelekah McClam says
When it’s time to take this out, there is going to be so much breakage because she has so much hair. It’s going to be a hot mess and in need of an ends trim and a treatment. Never put this many twists in this much hair. The same thing happens when people get very small kinky twists or micros. I would not recommend this to anybody. Smh
Quez says
Zelekah, she has waist length hair, gained using this method… I’m guessing she knows what she’s doing… smh.
Tabatha says
Well she has waist long hair, so clearly she has her own formula of doing things. I had micro braids in High school and never had an issue. It wasn’t until I had to chop my hair and went into the Navy. Sheesh the hard water was horrible. Thank the lord they allowed me to get cornrows as long as I kept them front to back and my natural color and I could bun it up when I was in uniform. That saved my hair. I think it comes down to people knowing what their hair can and cannot do. if you know that your hair is prone to tangling then no maybe you shouldn’t do it, but if not I say go for it. Just take it a step at a time.
Sandra Brooks says
Wow
Dee Davis says
Zelekah, Those are very loose twist she does not damage her hair. Check her tutorial on you tube
Lisa says
I’ve had mine in mini twist for 14 months retwisting on wash days. I plan to keep my hair in twists for 2 years. It’s really working for me.
Kindra Casanova says
Omg her hair!!! LOVE!
Tabatha says
The only thing that doesn’t really work for me is the always detangling. I have had issues with always detangling, sometimes it make sit worse. I actually like my 4 type hair, but it was just rough getting used to. I’m still getting use to it. I just got my hair to cooperate with twist outs. Now if only I can get the curlformers to work with me. Yes I do need to protect my ends more, but I have a hard time finding styles that I can do and not have done for me. I’ve always been partial to corn rows. It helped me out in the military. I never thought about loose twists. I should give it a try. I could wear them for my sisters graduation coming up this June. I look at the DIY video.
Lynn Lydia Ferguson says
Nice photo
Hannah Omor Lora Eli says
Nice one i like your hair
Vivian Jackson says
I wear loose twists 3 months out of the year.
Deanna Lewis says
Totally gives me life!! Chantelle Lewis Crashay Lewis
DutchGirl4C says
So,… my issue with this style is, that after a few DAYS, the twist roots start to tangle. The hairs start to wrap around one another and the roots start to somewhat ‘dread’. What to do about that?
Do you guys blow out yr hair before twisting? Do you lube it up with an oil, or with shea butter when starting to twist? What to do about that. I don’t want to start with a braided root, because it’s a ragged mess after a week or so. My hair is 4B-4C but it just die not stay this neat as with Cipriana or Ms. Alicia James, or MsTanish.
Any tips on preventing the dreading or tangling in this style?