How To Do A Twist Out: 13 Steps (with Pictures) - WikiHow

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Terms of Use wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. Learn why people trust wikiHow How to Do a Twist Out PDF download Download Article Co-authored by Ndeye Anta Niang

Last Updated: February 24, 2025 Approved

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  • Cleaning and Detangling Your Hair
    • |
  • Creating the Hair Twists
    • |
  • Releasing and Styling the Twists
    • |
  • Video
    • |
  • Expert Q&A
    • |
  • Tips
    • |
  • Warnings
    • |
  • Things You'll Need
|Show more |Show less X

This article was co-authored by Ndeye Anta Niang. 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. wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. In this case, 92% of readers who voted found the article helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. This article has been viewed 186,051 times.

A twist out is a great natural hairstyle that can be done using a variety of techniques. You can create tight ringlets, large curls, or even chaotic waves. The key is to start with freshly washed hair and to regularly apply oil or holding product to the twists. After you’ve created the twists, let them sit and set for a while before taking them down. When you do unravel them, go slowly. Practice different ways to twist out your hair and you’ll be an expert in no time at all.

Steps

Part 1 Part 1 of 3:

Cleaning and Detangling Your Hair

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  1. Step 1 Shampoo and condition your hair as usual. 1 Shampoo and condition your hair as usual. Go through your standard shower routine and wash your hair thoroughly with both shampoo and conditioner. Make sure to fully rinse out these products with water. Clean hair responds better to styling products and is more likely to hold a twist.[1]
    • Choose products that are sulfate-free to shampoo and condition your hair.
  2. Step 2 Blot your hair with a microfiber towel or t-shirt. 2 Blot your hair with a microfiber towel or t-shirt. Twists will not stay put with soaking wet hair, but your hair should be damp for doing a twist out. Gently blot your hair with a microfiber towel or t-shirt to speed up the drying process. You can also carefully use a blow dryer on a low setting. If you accidentally fully dry your hair, just give it a few quick spritzes with a spray bottle before continuing on to styling.[2]
    • Overdrying your hair can also lead to frizziness, which can loosen the curl.
    • Keep a spray bottle of water nearby, so that you can mist your hair if it starts to dry out while you are curling.
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  3. Step 3 Rub a curl crème or natural oil on to your hair. 3 Rub a curl crème or natural oil on to your hair. Place a few drops of crème or oil on your fingertips. Start applying the oil to the ends of your hair. Then, work your way upwards toward your scalp. Try to evenly apply it so that every strand is touched.
    • A leave-in conditioner is another product that you can use for this stage. If you prefer a natural oil, many people find using a coconut product keeps their hair manageable and smelling nice.
  4. Step 4 Detangle your damp hair using a wide-toothed comb. 4 Detangle your damp hair using a wide-toothed comb. Start at the bottom tips of your hair and work your way upwards to your scalp. Use the comb and your fingertips to divide any knots. By the end of the process, your hair should feel smooth to the touch and easy to divide.[3]
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Part 2 Part 2 of 3:

Creating the Hair Twists

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  1. Step 1 Separate your hair into sections with a wide-toothed comb. 1 Separate your hair into sections with a wide-toothed comb. Place your comb against your scalp and move downwards to create a separate section. Repeat this process until you have as many sections as you like, usually 4-6 is standard. If you do larger sections, then the waves will be loose. If you have smaller sections, then the waves will be tight. To keep your sections apart, you can secure each one with a clip or loose tie.
  2. Step 2 Use a single-strand technique if you have more time. 2 Use a single-strand technique if you have more time. Grasp a section of your hair at the root and gently twist in a single direction either outward or inward. Keep going until you’ve created a tight coil. Repeat with the rest of your hair’s sections. To keep them tight, you may need to massage some gel or oil on to the surface of the coils.
    • This method generally works best when you’ve divided your hair into many small sections.
    • A single-strand twist is also called a finger coil.
  3. Step 3 Go with a 2-strand twist technique if you are a beginner. 3 Go with a 2-strand twist technique if you are a beginner. This is a great way to learn the basic twist-out method. Take a section of your hair and divide it into 2 strands. Pull the hair tight and twist the 2 strands around one another. Keep going until you reach the end of your hair for that section. Then, repeat the process with a new section.
    • You’ll also want to apply gel or oil with your fingertips when twisting, especially at the ends of the hair. This will help to moisturize your hair and secure the ends.
  4. Step 4 Make a flat twist if you want more curl definition. 4 Make a flat twist if you want more curl definition. Go to the top of a section of hair. Divide the section into 2 separate strands. Then, twist these strands over and under. Keep the twist flat against the scalp and pick up extra hair from the section as you go along. The final result for each section should look like a flat, 2-strand twist. Repeat with the other sections.
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Part 3 Part 3 of 3:

Releasing and Styling the Twists

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  1. Step 1 Let your hair dry completely. 1 Let your hair dry completely. Your twists will need to be totally dry from root to tip before you attempt unravelling them. You can actually let your twists set for 2-3 days if you like. They double as a separate hairstyle as long as they are neat, but you can cover them with a scarf if they look messy. Just make sure to lightly mist them with water each day to keep them from frizzing.
    • If you decide to untwist your hair on the same day, use a hair dryer on them to ensure that they are completely dry.
    • You may also let the twists dry overnight and then take them out the next day.
  2. Step 2 Rub a natural oil or conditioning lotion on your hands. 2 Rub a natural oil or conditioning lotion on your hands. Re-apply as needed during the twist-out process. If your hair seems dry or becomes tangled, massage it with coconut oil to work the strands apart.
  3. Step 3 Separate single-strand twists slowly. 3 Separate single-strand twists slowly. Grasp each single coil by its end. Then, twist in the opposite direction. When it is fully untwisted, divide the coil into 2 sections. Then, twist each of these new sections back into the direction of the starter coil. Repeat with all of your coils. This will create a series of small finger coils.
  4. Step 4 Separate and fluff 2-strand twists with your fingertips. 4 Separate and fluff 2-strand twists with your fingertips. Grasp a single coil at the bottom with your oiled fingertips. Move your fingers through the coil and break it up gently. If you want a fluffier curl for extra volume, break up the coils more. For a tighter look, only slightly unravel each coil. You can also use a comb to pick at the roots and lift them a bit for extra volume.
  5. Step 5 Unravel a flat-twist by simply pulling it apart. 5 Unravel a flat-twist by simply pulling it apart. You can follow essentially the same method as you would with a 2-strand twist. Start at the bottom of each coil and work your fingertips upwards. Untwist the coil at the same time that you fluff it slightly. You can also pull a flat-twist a bit away from your scalp to give it some volume.
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Expert Q&A

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  • Question Can I wash my twists? Ndeye Anta Niang 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 Ndeye Anta Niang Hair Stylist & Master Braider Expert Answer You can, but they may get kind of frizzy and unruly if you do. Your hair will do its natural thing when it is twisted, so you have to treat it like that when you wash it. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 1 Helpful 7
  • Question How do I wash my twists if they get kind of dirty? Ndeye Anta Niang 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 Ndeye Anta Niang Hair Stylist & Master Braider Expert Answer Wash them very carefully! Don't be super rough when you're handling the twist stem and stay away from rubbing them too aggressively. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 0 Helpful 4
  • Question Why do my twists keep coming undone? Ndeye Anta Niang 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 Ndeye Anta Niang Hair Stylist & Master Braider Expert Answer It's possible that you aren't twisting them correctly. If you are and they're still coming undone, I'd highly recommend using mousse as you're finishing up your twists to keep your hair from getting too rebellious while it settles into its new shape. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 0 Helpful 6
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Video

Tips

  • Sleeping on a satin pillowcase or wearing a satin nightcap can actually make your twist-out last longer. It also can reduce frizziness. Thanks Helpful 10 Not Helpful 0
Submit a Tip All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published Name Please provide your name and last initial Submit Thanks for submitting a tip for review! Advertisement

Warnings

  • Try to strike a balance between applying too much product or too little. If you over-apply, then your hair might get oily. However, if you under-apply, then your coils will not hold up over time. Thanks Helpful 2 Not Helpful 0
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Things You'll Need

  • Conditioner
  • Shampoo
  • Towel or hair dryer
  • Natural oil, such as coconut
  • Wide-toothed comb
  • Sleeping cap or satin pillowcase
  • Hair clips
  • Styling gel

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References

  1. ↑ Ndeye Anta Niang. Professional Hair Stylist & Master Braider. Expert Interview
  2. ↑ http://www.curlynikki.com/2014/04/the-ultimate-twist-out-guide-for.html
  3. ↑ Ndeye Anta Niang. Professional Hair Stylist & Master Braider. Expert Interview

About This Article

Ndeye Anta Niang Co-authored by: Ndeye Anta Niang Hair Stylist & Master Braider This article was co-authored by Ndeye Anta Niang. 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. This article has been viewed 186,051 times. 13 votes - 92% Co-authors: 13 Updated: February 24, 2025 Views: 186,051 Categories: Curling Hair Article SummaryX

To do a twist out, start by washing your hair and blotting it dry with a towel so it's damp but not soaked. Then, work some oil or leave-in conditioner into your hair, and detangle it using a wide-toothed comb. Next, divide your hair into 4 sections, and twist small chunks of your hair in each section into tight coils until all of your hair is coiled. Finally, let your hair dry completely before unraveling all of the coils. For more advice from our Cosmetology co-author, like how to use a flat twist to get more curl definition, scroll down! Did this summary help you?YesNo

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Yes No Advertisement Cookies make wikiHow better. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Ndeye Anta Niang Co-authored by: Ndeye Anta Niang Hair Stylist & Master Braider Co-authors: 13 Updated: February 24, 2025 Views: 186,051 92% of readers found this article helpful. 13 votes - 92% Click a star to add your vote Anonymous

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"This article is very enlightening and so helpful. I would usually pay someone to do it, but I am proud to say..." more Ebose Light

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"Very helpful. I single handedly did my twist out and it turned out great!! Thanks guys!" Nina Manino

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