The Best Twist Out Routine For Type 4 Hair
The two-strand twist-out is hands down one of the easiest, most reliable protective styles out there. Don’t believe me? Let me put you on.
Twist-outs have been a staple in my wash day routine for seven years now, ever since I started my natural hair journey back in high school. So, trust me—I’ve put in the time, testing every product and technique to perfect my twist-out.
After finally cracking the code, I found what works for my 4b/4c type hair, leaving me with minimal frizz, a defined curl pattern, and, most importantly, ultimate softness. So, if you’re ready for the best twist-out of your life, keep reading for all the tips you need to achieve and maintain it.
How To Do A Twist Out
Materials you’ll need:
Denman/Detangling Brush
Wide-tooth comb
Spray bottle with water
Rattail comb
Mousse
Curl cream
Hair Oil
Satin Scrunchies
1. Shampoo And Condition Your Hair
It’s best to do this style on damp, clean hair with little to no product, so I suggest shampooing and conditioning your hair first in the shower.
Tip: If you’re refreshing an old twist-out, spritz your hair with water, reapply some product, and retwist strands that need touching up. This way, you don’t need to wash your whole hair again, bringing longevity to your style.
2. Part Your Hair Into 4 Sections
Work in sections, it’s so much more efficient than free parting. Grab your rattail comb, and section your hair into four large parts. Two parts in the front and two in the back.
3. Condition & Detangle
Separate each section into smaller parts one at a time, starting from the bottom two sections and then working your way upwards. These smaller parts are going to be your twists, so make sure they’re all relatively equal in size.
Your hair may be drier now (shoutout high-porosity hair), so before detangling, dampen the parted section of hair with a spray bottle. Once the strands are wet, comb from end to root with a wide-tooth comb.
4. Moisturize
The hair product you use can make or break this style. I used to be a gel girlie, but I found out that mousse is where it’s at. Compared to gel, mousse shortens drying time without actually drying out your hair. This is especially true for my favorite mousse product, Creme of Nature’s Coconut Milk Curl Quenching Foam Mousse. Pair this with a curl cream (I recommend Carol’s Daughter Hair Milk), and you’ll be living out your curl fantasies! Use your fingers to rake the product in. You can also use a detangling brush for a more thorough application.
Creme of Nature Coconut Milk Curl Quenching Foaming Mousse
Carol’s Daughter Curl Enhancing Styling Pudding
5. Coil Your Hair
For the best results, do NOT skip this step before twisting.
After raking the product in, simply grab a single strand of hair and twirl the hair around your finger (see video above for visual). Doing it for every single strand seems extensive, but trust me, it’s worth the effort.
6. Twist Your Hair!
Once your hair is detangled and moisturized (bonus points if you coiled your hair), separate the strand into two smaller pieces and start twisting them. To ensure the twist stays in place, ravel the hair tightly together by keeping the strands close. You should see no gaps. Oh, and don’t forget to coil the ends of your twists!
Repeat steps 3-6 until finished!
Once Your Hair Is Dry, Take Down Your Twists
Check if your hair is completely dry. Unraveling hair when it’s still damp will increase the likelihood of frizz.
If it’s all dry, prepare to unravel by lathering your fingertips in your favorite hair oil. Separate each twist from end to root.
How To Maintain Your Twist Out:
Now that you have achieved the most flawless twist-out, you want to make sure it lasts. This step has allowed me to go almost two weeks without having to retwist my hair, saving me time and energy.
Before going to sleep, put your hair in two or four ponytails using satin scrunchies and throw on a bonnet. It’s that simple.
And voila! You’ve mastered the two-strand twist out.