We love our natural curls, no question. But there’s no denying that some days they can be unpredictable. That’s why I love looking for techniques that can take a bit of the guesswork out of what my curls will look like when I wake up in the morning. Many women use variations on twists, braids and knot outs to manipulate their curl pattern or make their curls more uniform. They can work from Type 2 waves to Type 4 coils, you just may need to customize the products you use or the amount of hair in your twists. In this tutorial YouTuber AlexandrasGirlyTalk shares her twist out technique on her natural Type 2C waves and curls.
What you’ll need
- A lightweight oil
- A liquid leave-in conditioner
Directions
1. It is important to begin by detangling your hair for your most successful results. Alexandra brushed her hair before getting in the shower, and this is the only time she recommends brushing curly hair. Personally I use detangle in the shower with a wide tooth comb and conditioner, but do whatever works for you, just make sure your hair is knot-free.
2. Allow your freshly cleansed, wet hair to air dry partially. Starting on partially dry hair will mean that your twists do not take quite as long to dry.
3. Section your hair so that it is easier to work with. Then start by taking a small, 1-2 inch section of hair and spray it with your leave-in conditioner.
4. Take 2 pieces from the top of your section and start twisting them around each other, adding a little bit of hair into the twist each time you twist. The smaller the sections, the smaller and more defined your curls will be in the end. Twist all the way to the end of the hair and tie with a small elastic.
5. Repeat this process until all of your hair is twisted.
6. Leave the twists in as long as you can, overnight is best. Alexandra slept with hers in.
7. When you wake up you might find that you have frizz the friction on your pillow. To reduce your frizz you can rub a small amount of a lightweight oil between your hands and smooth your hands lightly over the frizzy sections. Alexandra used Carol’s Daughter Marula Oil.
8. To unravel your twists, just work slowly through each section until all of your twists are unraveled. Do not move too quickly or you may create tangles and knots – be patient!
