So you’ve got your hair in kinky twists for a protective style but that’s the easy part! Making sure your twists stay looking their freshest can be just as tedious as the installation process itself. There are a few things you can do to keep the maintenance on this style simple and pain free.
Prepping Your Hair
Preparing your hair before installation can be critical to achieving sleek, uniform twists. I performed a blow out on my hair prior to installing the twists, which allowed my hair to be stretched and tangle free. Even though I used the kinky Marley braid hair, this helped to create a smoother look when I was installing the twists. I also used Jane Carter Nourish & Shine on my hair and the braid hair while I was twisting. This literally nourished my hair as I twisted, and even though the braid hair is not human hair, it helped to create a sense of continuity between the two types of hair.
Kinky Twist Care
This is where the work begins. So usually my hair stays pretty “new” looking for at least a week without having to do anything to it. This is a big plus for protective styling. Even though it takes a long, long time to do, minimizing the daily manipulation of your hair is great! Your hair is still in there and I think a lot of people forget that when they’re wearing a long term protective style. I wouldn’t dream of going longer than four days without moisturizing my hair in twists or a twist out, and the same holds true when I’m rocking this protective style.
To give my hair some TLC while rocking these kinky twists, I’ve been adding a few key products every 3-4 days at night. Since I usually follow the LOC (liquid, oil, cream”> method for moisturizing my hair, I lightly spray my hair with Darcy’s Botanicals Herbal Leave-In spritz — not enough to saturate, but enough to evenly cover from roots to where my hair ends in the twists. Then I spray a few pumps of EDEN BodyWorks Natural Hair Oil into my hands and disburse throughout the twists from root to ends. This lightly coats the hair in oil, giving a wonderful shine to your twists. I know my hair is happy now, but if I feel like its extra dry, I’ll add the EDEN BodyWorks Natural Hair Milk as the cream to round out the LOC method. This ensures my hair is well moisturized while in the twists and also make it easier to take them down.
Nighttime Routine
This routine is simple. I tie my hair up with a satin scarf and sleep on a satin pillowcase. This is no change from my nighttime routine when it’s just my hair. Your hair is still in the braids and cotton pillowcases can draw the moisture away from your hair in the same way.
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Final Thoughts
Taking care of your hair while in a kinky twist can make a world of difference. If you want your hair to stay healthy, take some time to moisturize your hair and tie it up at night. This not only helps keep the frizzies at bay, it helps you retain a fresher looking style longer! Happy styling!
