The twist out was one of the first styles I learned how to do once I decided to go natural. It doesn’t take a ton of time, and it can last for a while… if you do it right. Finding the ideal twist out prep and maintenance process for my hair type took a lot of trial and error. Let me spare you the extra work. Here are my tips for making your twist out last.

Start with damp hair

You want your hair to be freshly moisturized for your twist out.  Wash your hair with a shampoo and condition with LENGTH₂O Aquaholic Moisture Shampoo + Conditioner Duo and Conditioner. You might want to do a deep condition before you get started - try Shedavi’s Protein Masque for this step. Once you’re done moisturizing, dry your hair so that it’s damp  when you put in your twists. Don’t twist when your hair is soaking wet. It will make it harder to get clear definition and make it harder for your twist out to last.

Create a nighttime routine

Hopefully you’ve gotten to the point where your twist out is popping. Now you’ve got to make it last for more than one day. Before bed, put your hair into to large twists. The twists should be at least double the size of the twists you originally had for your twist out.  Eight to twelve big twists is the number you should aim for.

Keep it silky

After you’ve re-twisted your hair, put on a silk or satin bonnet. And, for good measure, sleep on a silk or satin pillowcase as well. Frizz is the enemy of your twist out. You want to do everything you can to avoid frizz-inducing friction between your hair and other materials.

Strategically moisturize

You need just the right amount of moisture to make your twist out last. The goal is to keep your hair as moisturized as possible without having to re-wet it. Avoid products with drying ingredients. Opt for a spray moisturizer or an oil-infused steam treatment using Shedavi's Iconic Hair + Scalp Growth Elixir Oil that will add moisture without taking anything away from the style.

Know when to call it quits

We all wish our twists outs could last forever, but you’ve got to know when to call it quits. There are a lot of external factors, like weather, that can affect how long your twist out will last. Know that the same process can lead to a twist out that lasts for a week or a twist out that lasts for two days. If your hair doesn’t look or feel at its best, it’s time to transition the twist out into another style.

What’s the longest you’ve been able to make your twist out last? How did you do it? Let us know in the comments below.

Written By: Taylor Morrison