HELP! I hate my DIY Twists!

[Determined22]

Ladies I need help!

I'm 5 months into my transition, and it was starting to get unmanageable so I decided I wanted to do some twists. I did a lot of research and thought I could do a good job. Well I spent 9 hours yesterday doing twists, and this morning I hate them! I really want to cry, I don't think I did a good job. Is there anything I can do to salvage them? One thing I hate is that they are a so freaking long! I used Kankelon hair, and I didn't cut it in half, cause I thought my twists would be too short on the top.

Should I just take them out? DIY ladies, what should I do differently for next time?

I've attached pics...

 

[Kacie]

I think you did a good job!!! There are some braid on the top right side that look to be bigger than the rest. Maybe you could redo those to match the size of the others.

Did you set them on perm rods and dip in hot H2O? If you make the ends spirally and pull them up in a ponytail, then I know that you will like them a lot better.

 

[diamond42377]

I'm not a DIY twist lady, but they look okay to me. You can always style them and add hair jewelry. Maybe pull them up into a bun or pony with a headband or flower. Hair jewelry always seems to make everything better. Maybe some of the twist ladies will chime in but like I said they don't look ad to me. Don't take down your hours of work yet.

 

[lashannasmall]

I think they look fine. Just play around with them and style them to hide any imperfections

 

[Tamrin]

It's not as bad as you think. However what you can do different is the hair you use. It seems as if you used regular braiding hair. If you are doing that. You need to make the twists tighter. However you should use this type of hair

You will get this type of result

http://images47.fotki.com/v1455/photos/6/1142276/7377179/feb2009-vi.jpg

I'm a DIYer and I did these. I did then tight and pulled as I twisted for the length. I use the small perm rods and curled the end of 5 twists at a time in one rod and dip in boiling hot water.(PLEASE BE CAREFUL use an extra thick towel to hold the hair after you dip until it cools off) It takes time and patience. Practice makes perfect. you will get there.

In that time here is a good tutorial she is good. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QvqhnDCAtU8.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WUa2Eh11X6k&feature=related

 

[Determined22]

It's not as bad as you think. However what you can do different is the hair you use. It seems as if you used regular braiding hair. If you are doing that. You need to make the twists tighter. However you should use this type of hair

You will get this type of result

I'm a DIYer and I did these. I did then tight and pulled as I twisted for the length. I use the small perm rods and curled the end of 5 twists at a time in one rod and dip in boiling hot water.(PLEASE BE CAREFUL use an extra thick towel to hold the hair after you dip until it cools off) It takes time and patience. Practice makes perfect. you will get there.

In that time here is a good tutorial she is good. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QvqhnDCAtU8.

I saw the Marley hair in the store, and it felt so incredibly rough and dry that I didn't want to use it on my hair. I did use regular braiding hair.

Your twists look great! Maybe I will redo mine this weekend with the Marley hair.

Thank you.

 

[glamazon386]

Put them in a bun.

 

[Determined22]

Put them in a bun.

I tried that this morning, but they are too long.

I'm thinking i'm going to have to shorten them some kinda way. At the length they are right now I can't do anything with them besides pull it back.

 

[Tamrin]

I saw the Marley hair in the store, and it felt so incredibly rough and dry that I didn't want to use it on my hair. I did use regular braiding hair.

Your twists look great! Maybe I will redo mine this weekend with the Marley hair.

Thank you.

No problem. All you have to to with regular braiding hair is tighten the twist. they will come out like Glamazon's twist. (Senegalese). Mine are kinky twists.

GLAM btw yours are incredible (might try those next time)

 

[tailormade84]

Tamrin was on point! Janet marley hair is the best hair of kinky twists!!! and that second youtube video is a great example of how to properly start and finish a twist

 

[lilsparkle825]

When I have done kinky twists I used the Janet marley hair, pics are in my fotki. HOWEVER for the latest set, I used regular braiding hair to get senegalese twists, here are some pics:

Did you roll and twist? They might look puffy if you left out the "rolling" step. My sister does that a lot and that's how hers come out. Also, what did you do to the ends? They just look unfinished, that's all.

 

[Determined22]

When I have done kinky twists I used the Janet marley hair, pics are in my fotki. HOWEVER for the latest set, I used regular braiding hair to get senegalese twists, here are some pics:

Did you roll and twist? They might look puffy if you left out the "rolling" step. My sister does that a lot and that's how hers come out. Also, what did you do to the ends? They just look unfinished, that's all.

I did the roll & twist to start, but I didn't keep it going, and I think that's why its looking crazy. I need more practice.

I think I'm going to take them down and practice some more before I try to wear them out.

 

[lilsparkle825]

I did the roll & twist to start, but I didn't keep it going, and I think that's why its looking crazy. I need more practice.

I think I'm going to take them down and practice some more before I try to wear them out.

Yeah I feel you. I start by braiding them in, because I don't have the patience to start it out with a twist. After an inch or two, then I start the roll and twist. Unraveling is not cute

Good luck, I'm sure they will turn out fantastic!

 

[curlcomplexity]

Hi!

I think you did good for your first time :0)

Next time I would roll and twist and the same time....so roll the two sections between your fingers as you twist them together. Also, after you create the base, apply a duckbill clip to keep the twist stable as you go down the whole braid. This keeps the whole thing stable so that you can get a more consistent braid and also keeps you from twisting the base too tightly. Also, try making the parts a little smaller and adding a little more hair...but not so much that it weighs the hair down.

You should be able to get great twists w/ both straight and kinky Kanekelon hair (which is what the Janet brand is). If i'm using the straight hair I cut it in half and then "stretch " it our to the length I want. It's easier to handle that way.

I have pics of my twists in my Fotki. Let me know if you have any more questions
http://public.fotki.com/qtslim83/2008-operation-wais/my-twists!/



ETA: I agree w/ Glamazon and Diamond....just put them in a bun. Don't let those 9 hours be in vain :0)

 

[Determined22]

Hi!

I think you did good for your first time :0)

Next time I would roll and twist and the same time....so roll the two sections between your fingers as you twist them together. Also, after you create the base, apply a duckbill clip to keep the twist stable as you go down the whole braid. This keeps the whole thing stable so that you can get a more consistent braid and also keeps you from twisting the base too tightly. Also, try making the parts a little smaller and adding a little more hair...but not so much that it weighs the hair down.

You should be able to get great twists w/ both straight and kinky Kanekelon hair (which is what the Janet brand is). If i'm using the straight hair I cut it in half and then "stretch " it our to the length I want. It's easier to handle that way.

I have pics of my twists in my Fotki. Let me if you have any more questions
http://public.fotki.com/qtslim83/2008-operation-wais/my-twists!/



ETA: I agree w/ Glamazon and Diamond....just put them in a bun. Don't let those 9 hours be in vain :0)

Thank you so much! I didn't know the tip about the duckbill clip.

I was in a rush yesterday so I wasn't making them as small as a should have. I'm going to practice some more and then the next time I do them, I'm going to work over an entire long weekend so I can make them smaller and not be so rushed.

 

[chosen07]

now I've never done my own twists but I have worn them (last fall) and now I have the twists but with a afro kinky hair. yours look fine...its bigger than I had mine done but I think you can wear them at least for 2 weeks.
I played with my hair with different styles until I find something that I like. Styling may be more of a challenge because your hair is so long but I put my hair in low buns, I did twists and pin ups, I curled the ends with rollers (various sizes and hot water) all this with the kaneckalon hair....I think there may be one pic in my transitioning folder in my fotki of the braids...I didn't have a fotki then so I didn't really take a lot of pics of my hair. my mom is wearing the twists too and she actually has someone else style for her.. she does that once every 2 weeks for the past 6 weeks (she is about to take them out now). unfortunately I don't have pics of those either..but maybe you can get a friend who can fiddle with your hair (with plenty pins) and can give you something that you can live with.
i would hate for you to take them out so soon...
sorry for the rambling; hope this was helpful!

 

[LaLaa]

Keep Practicing. You will get it. But like someone said start off with a braid then twist. That's how i did mine when i had them. I also use the kinky hair.

 

[lilsparkle825]

Thank you so much! I didn't know the tip about the duckbill clip.

I was in a rush yesterday so I wasn't making them as small as a should have. I'm going to practice some more and then the next time I do them, I'm going to work over an entire long weekend so I can make them smaller and not be so rushed.

Mine usually take about two to three days. Those senegalese twists were MURDER on my arms, so that bun/updo in that one pic was pretty much out of necessity

 

[glamazon386]

I did the roll & twist to start, but I didn't keep it going, and I think that's why its looking crazy. I need more practice.

I think I'm going to take them down and practice some more before I try to wear them out.

You can just retwist a few at a time instead of taking them all out. That's what I did the first time I twisted my own. I just kept doing it for a day or two until I was done.

 

[Encore]

Um
i typed "Senegalese Hair Twists" in google and clicked on images and the link to this thread along with I think its lil sparkles pic... the pic there isnt the one thats up now.

Funny this is how i discoverd this site when i searched Biotin

 

[lilsparkle825]

Um
i typed "Senegalese Hair Twists" in google and clicked on images and the link to this thread along with I think its lil sparkles pic... the pic there isnt the one thats up now.

Funny this is how i discoverd this site when i searched Biotin

that's kinda freaky...at least that's not the one with my face...lol