How to Wash Twists

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Keep your twists gorgeous and fresh without ruining them
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Twists are a popular hairstyle that look sleek and eye-catching. Twists are made by wrapping two strands of hair around each other until the hair resembles a rope twist. This delicate hairstyle needs gentle care to ensure it does not unravel or become frizzy. In order to keep twists looking their best, shampoo and condition your hair every 2 weeks and dry wash in between water washes. Drying your hair completely and applying natural oils to the twists will help to keep your twists looking their best. [1]

How to Wash Twists: Overview

In a spray bottle, dilute about 3 tablespoons of shampoo with equal parts water. Wet your twists in the shower, shake the shampoo bottle well, and spray the mixture onto your scalp. Gently work it over your scalp and the top of the twists, then rinse the shampoo out through your twists.

Method 1
Method 1 of 3:

Washing Your Twists in the Shower

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  1. Start by running some water lightly over your twists in the shower. Wait until all of the surfaces of your twists are wet. For best results, use warm (not too hot) water. [2]
  2. Dilute about 3 tablespoons of shampoo in a spray bottle with an equal amount of water. Shake the bottle well and then spray the mixture onto your scalp. Gently rub the mixture over your scalp and the top of the twists using your fingertips. [3]
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  3. Tilt your head back and direct the shower head to the top of your scalp. Rinse the shampoo out of your twists using gentle water pressure. Gently squeeze the twists to help remove the shampoo. Continue rinsing until all of the shampoo is out of your hair. [4]
    • Be careful not to rush this as you need to give time for the shampoo to clean your twists as it is pushed down the hair.
  4. Squeeze a moderate amount of conditioner into your hand. Gently massage the conditioner into your scalp and then work your way down to the ends of the hair. Make sure that all of your twists are covered with conditioner. [5]
    • If your hair is particularly dry, gather your unrinsed braids on top of your head in a loose bun and cover them with a shower cap. Let them soak in the conditioner for 15 minutes before rinsing.
  5. Tilt your head back and direct the shower head to the top of your scalp. Rinse the conditioner out of your twists using gentle water pressure. Gently squeeze the twists to help remove the conditioner. Continue rinsing until all of the conditioner is out of your hair. [6]
  6. Gently pat your twists with a towel, starting with the scalp and moving down to the ends of the twists. Use your towel to lightly squeeze the end of the twists to remove any drops of water.
    • Avoid rubbing the twists as this can make them frizzy. [7]
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Method 2
Method 2 of 3:

Dry-Washing Your Twists

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  1. Wet a face cloth with warm water and squeeze any excess water into the sink. Squeeze a small amount of shampoo onto the face cloth and spread it around so that it covers the bulk of the cloth. [8]
  2. Start by pulling the hair away from one side of your scalp. Wash that section of scalp by wiping between the twists using the facecloth. Continue to separate the sections of twists and wash the scalp in between them. [9]
  3. Hold the bottle of astringent about a hand length away from your head and spray your scalp until it is lightly coated in astringent.
  4. The roots of your hair may be slightly damp from the wet cloth. The easiest and least damaging way to dry your hair is to allow it to air dry.
    • This should take about 30 minutes - 1 hour. [10]
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Method 3
Method 3 of 3:

Maintaining Your Twists

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  1. [11] If you find that your twists get dry, try using a natural oil. These help to soothe the scalp and moisturize the twists. Squeeze a small amount of natural oil into your palm. Rub your hands together so that the oil is evenly spread on your hands. Starting at the scalp, gently rub the oil over the twists in a downward motion.
    • Coconut oil and almond oil work well and don’t clog pores.
    • Avoid using mineral oils as these will build up in your twists making your hair look greasy. [12]
  2. Damp twists that haven’t properly dried can lead to scalp issues like dandruff, fungus, and mildew. Allow your braids to air dry for a full day after washing. Do not try to pull the braids into a style until they are completely dry.
    • Sit under a hooded dryer for at least 30 minutes if you need to style your hair quickly after washing your twists. [13]
  3. Gently gather your twists and secure them using a hair tie. Tying your twists up will keep them out of your face and off your back while you exercise. Keeping them off your skin will help them to stay cleaner between washes. [14]
    • Limiting the amount that you wash your hair in the shower will help your twists to last longer. [15]
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Expert Q&A

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  • Question
    How do you keep twists looking fresh?
    Ndeye Anta Niang
    Hair Stylist & Master Braider
    Ndeye Anta Niang is a Hair Stylist, Master Braider, and Founder of AntaBraids, a traveling braiding service based in New York City. Ndeye has over 20 years of experience in African hair including braiding box braids, Senegalese twists, crochet braids, faux dread locs, goddess locs, kinky twists, and lakhass braids. Ndeye was the first female of her tribe in Africa to move to America and is now sharing her knowledge of African braids passed on from generation to generation.
    Ndeye Anta Niang
    Hair Stylist & Master Braider
    Expert Answer
    Natural products such as witch hazel or diluted lemon essential oil work well and will help to remove trapped oils in your scalp.
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    How do I get my hair to grow?
    Community Answer
    There are some great tips in Grow Longer Hair .
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      Tips

      • Look for a natural shampoo and conditioner. Using chemical-free products will help to avoid residues building up in your twists.
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      • Use as little friction as possible when washing and drying your twists. This will help to prevent the twists becoming frizzy.
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      References

      1. ↑ https://chocolatyprints.wordpress.com/2015/01/21/how-to-wash-your-box-braids-and-twists/
      2. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s9I4GHkG3To
      3. ↑ https://chocolatyprints.wordpress.com/2015/01/21/how-to-wash-your-box-braids-and-twists/
      4. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s9I4GHkG3To
      5. ↑ Ndeye Anta Niang. Natural Hair Stylist. Expert Interview. 5 March 2020.
      6. ↑ https://chocolatyprints.wordpress.com/2015/01/21/how-to-wash-your-box-braids-and-twists/
      7. ↑ https://chocolatyprints.wordpress.com/2015/01/21/how-to-wash-your-box-braids-and-twists/
      8. ↑ https://blackhairspot.com/blog/hair-talk/9-essential-steps-maintaining-braids-twists/
      9. ↑ https://blackhairspot.com/blog/hair-talk/9-essential-steps-maintaining-braids-twists/
      1. ↑ https://blackhairspot.com/blog/hair-talk/9-essential-steps-maintaining-braids-twists/
      2. ↑ Ndeye Anta Niang. Natural Hair Stylist. Expert Interview. 5 March 2020.
      3. ↑ https://blackhairspot.com/blog/hair-talk/9-essential-steps-maintaining-braids-twists/
      4. ↑ https://www.glamour.com/story/how-to-wash-braids-locs-and-twists
      5. ↑ https://blackhairspot.com/blog/hair-talk/9-essential-steps-maintaining-braids-twists/
      6. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s9I4GHkG3To

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