box braids or kinky twists?

[lilsparkle825]

so...i need to put my hair up. i am loving the puffs, but they are murdering my ends...i trimmed them a month ago and they are already jacked up again. i flat ironed it for the time being, but i don't want to keep doing that every weekend. with that said, i'm gonna box braid or kinky twist it up over spring break, when i can take my time and not have to rush to get them finished in 1-2 days. the only thing is, i am the most indecisive person in the world.

if you had the choice, which would you get and why? it's not really a cost issue, as i am doing them myself and they both will cost under $10 for the hair...both can last me 4 weeks, which is how long i am thinking i can go before i get tired of them and do the other one...i just really can't decide. and because i like to keep my options open, i put "other" -- maybe there is something else i am missing.

 

[Vanity1]

I have kinky twists now, I have had them in since the first week of December. I am doing the crown and glory challange, and I know it says 2 months for the installments, but I decided to stretch it a month more A) cause I love not having to do hair, and B) because it cost an arm and leg to get them, but the lady did an excellent job.

Nearly 3 months in I am just now getting bored, but I love the look, they look natural and you can wear them down or in a cute pony. I think I am going to get box braids next. But I need to see if these have damaged my hair any. I will probably get kinkys again later this year though, if they didn't hurt my hair.

 

[lollyoo]

If you are trying to protect your ends, then I will have to say box braids. I have decided to leave kinky twists for warmer months, as I always find that my ends tend to suffer a bit in kinky twists in dry winter weather.
HTH

 

[trendsetta25]

I voted box braids....I also self style and installed them last friday and I'm in nappy roots heaven. I have 3 weeks till my next touch up and I find that box braids has helped with this process. They are better than kinky twist to me because I have the length at BSL so its fun to throw it up in a messy pony when running errands and in a slick bun for work. I'm going to try 3 different hairstyles for the remainder of the weeks I have them in.
Also I shamppoo'd, acv rinsed, and DC'd with them last night and had no problem getting to my scalp. It was also easy to apply my MT/OCT mix during the week.
So if I can help u make a choice....choose box braids (lol that sounds like a campaign speech)

 

[Tamrin]

Girl you know Im gonna say kinky twists. Btw I just curled my ends a few minutes ago. As you saw I make mine long. I can do updos and pony tails. They do not have to be short.

 

[1babydimple]

I voted box braids simply because I can do 4 wks with box, washing every weekend. I haven't learned how to keep my twist looking nice for more than 1 wash. After that I have to re-twist. Those who do pah -leessee tell the secret to washing them and keeping them nice I would like to know that too. (3 months WOW)

 

[Vanity1]

I took this pic the weekend of Valentine's Day.
Honestly, for the first 2 months, I didn't wash. I would run a hot, wet towel over the length of the twists to clean braid spray and conditioner residue and I would clean my scalp by putting some astringent on a cotton pad when I see build up. I started shampooing once a week this month, and I have only had one twist slip out. I had one twist slip out in early January, and it came out while I was unraveling my hair one day.

I have tons of new growth, and it feels very soft and manageable. So hopefully the length of my hair will be the same way once I remove them. This is my first time in kinky twists, so it will definately be trial and error, but hopefully my ends are ok as I do keep them moisterized.

 

[Foxglove]

I was in this same predicament for the last week. I went fokti surfing and settled for box braids or micros with curly hair
I definitely recommend fokti surfing. Or google images and google braids or kinky twists

 

[blessedandlucky]

i think senegalese twists are beautiful. sorry no pics but you can google it. good luck!

 

[melodies815]

I voted for box braids. I've had both, and the most recent time was kinky twists.

I can honestly say that the kinky twists jacked up my hair...not sure why but I have breakage issues like I have never had. Nurturing my hair back to health is REALLY getting on my nerves. I don't know if they weaken the hair because of how rough they are or what...but I will never do kinky twists again...box braids only...unless I find that senegalese are smoother and won't damage my hair.

I hope you found what you need.

HHG!

Blessings,
Christi

 

[Nonie]

I voted box braids because I believe they'd hold better through washes, etc. But I have to confess, I'm partial to braid extensions. I am trying to save up to buy water wave from hisandher.com. I just noticed it's $10 more than the last time I got some. Grrh!

 

[rsmith]

I voted other. I like the mini two strand twist. I like them because I can do them myself and they last a long time.

 

[Mook's hair]

Kinky Twists
I just did my own for the first time. They are faster to put in and faster to take out.
If you're only going to keep them for 4 weeks then ease of application and removal should factor in.

Also mine are long (the images are in my fotki) I can do pony tails and other cute stuff with them. My NG feels great.

 

[morehairplease]

I voted for box braids.....never had kinky twists. The box braids are easier for me to maintain and I get a lot of growth with them.

 

[loulou82]

I'm all about the kinky twists. I've had mine in for 8 weeks now and I'm taking them out at 10 weeks. This is my fourth installation. As long as you keep them moisturized very well you'll be a happy camper. My roots are braided for an inch and then the two strand method begins. They're easy to take out.

 

[RavenMaven]

I can't stand kinky twists.

 

[lilsparkle825]

I voted box braids....I also self style and installed them last friday and I'm in nappy roots heaven. I have 3 weeks till my next touch up and I find that box braids has helped with this process. They are better than kinky twist to me because I have the length at BSL so its fun to throw it up in a messy pony when running errands and in a slick bun for work. I'm going to try 3 different hairstyles for the remainder of the weeks I have them in.
Also I shamppoo'd, acv rinsed, and DC'd with them last night and had no problem getting to my scalp. It was also easy to apply my MT/OCT mix during the week.
So if I can help u make a choice....choose box braids (lol that sounds like a campaign speech)

i wanna see these styles! PICS PLEASE!

i think senegalese twists are beautiful. sorry no pics but you can google it. good luck!

i was thinking about this...but i need a how-to first. i have *heard* it's just kinky twists with braiding hair, but i wanna make sure. they are really nice though.

needless to say i am still torn, but i am leaning towards box braids for the first install. if the c&g thing works out i may do kinky twists after that.

 

[1babydimple]

I'm all about the kinky twists. I've had mine in for 8 weeks now WHAT, HOW, and HOW AGAIN

How do you maintain - what's your wash schedule? I like kinky twist w & wo entensions but can never keep tham looking good for more that 2 wks.

Mook you're right they are easier but the maintenance. I always have to re-twist no matter how I do them (w/wo extensions) after washing. I just re-braided after a month of box braids (wash 1x a wk). erplexed Maybe it's my hair texture.

I have to learn the secret to washing because they are much quicker to put in.

 

[loulou82]

How do you maintain - what's your wash schedule? I like kinky twist w & wo entensions but can never keep tham looking good for more that 2 wks.

I wash and DC every 10-14 days with diluted shampoo and diluted conditioner. I gently massage the scalp and let the rest run off. I sleep with a satin bonnet and usually wear them in a ponytail. I moisturize every day/ every other day with a water/aloe vera juice, light conditioner (like VO5) mix. No glycerin and no oil. I have pics in my fotki. It's best to re twist the edges and nape after 4 weeks but I've gone 7 weeks without re-twisting any of the twists.

 

[lilsparkle825]

i did senegalese twists. told you i'm indecisive. and my camera broke the day before i planned on doing my photoshoot for fotki, so all i have are two pics from the night i went out clubbing. LOL

regardless, i love them. greatest $4 hairstyle ever.

 

[Distorted Barbie]

i did senegalese twists. told you i'm indecisive. and my camera broke the day before i planned on doing my photoshoot for fotki, so all i have are two pics from the night i went out clubbing. LOL

regardless, i love them. greatest $4 hairstyle ever.

Could you post the steps in which you self-installed...pretty please :eyebrows2

 

[Nonie]

i wanna see these styles! PICS PLEASE!

i was thinking about this...but i need a how-to first. i have *heard* it's [Senegalese] just kinky twists with braiding hair, but i wanna make sure. they are really nice though.

needless to say i am still torn, but i am leaning towards box braids for the first install. if the c&g thing works out i may do kinky twists after that.

Lilsparkle, kinky twists are also done with extensions (braiding hair). Glamazon explains the difference between Senegalese and Kinky twists here: http://www.longhaircareforum.com/showpost.php?p=4164861&postcount=12

 

[Skiggle]

Kinky twits
look like
the ish..but
the box braids
last longer...

 

[Nazarite27]

I voted for box braids. I've had both, and the most recent time was kinky twists.

I can honestly say that the kinky twists jacked up my hair...not sure why but I have breakage issues like I have never had. Nurturing my hair back to health is REALLY getting on my nerves. I don't know if they weaken the hair because of how rough they are or what...but I will never do kinky twists again...box braids only...unless I find that senegalese are smoother and won't damage my hair.

I hope you found what you need.

HHG!

Blessings,

----------

I am SO glad you posted this! You and I definitely have something in common and I am with you 100%. I will NEVER EVER wear kinky twists again. No way, no how!

I have also experienced breakage issues like never before and right now, my hair is in a serious recovery period. What you said in your post was my "hair epiphany" just a few weeks ago. I finally realized that my hair's breakage problems stem from wearing kinky twists and the type of hair used, which in hindsight, was too rough for my 4a hair. Initally, when I started wearing them, I'd wear the Afro Human Hair. In the latter part of my wearing twists, I switched to the Naffy hair, which is synthetic and was cheaper on the purse. As a result of having my hair all twisted up in this rough hair off and on, my hair is weak, thin and has a very hard time growing, I often wonder if I'll ever see a full healthy head of hair ever again. Seriously.

Finally, I had a thought -- my hair always grew like crazy when I wore human hair for my braids -- never any problems, just mega growth!

I do want to say thank you to SistaSlick for her informative articles. In particular the article on Shedding vs. Breakage. That article helped me to realize exactly what my hair's problem was. Knowledge is power! So, a BIG, BIG thank you to SistaSlick for sharing the knowledge!!

My hair is slowly but surely getting better now that I've learned what I am dealing with and how to minimized breakage. It's been a long and frustrating road to recovery, but just knowing the cause and effects of what those kinky twists and the texture of the hair used, I vowed never get kinky twists again. It's so true -- everything ain't for everybody.

If anything, I would get box braids with human hair.

 

[Aggie]

If you are trying to protect your ends, then I will have to say box braids. I have decided to leave kinky twists for warmer months, as I always find that my ends tend to suffer a bit in kinky twists in dry winter weather.
HTH

, I have to agree with you lollyoo. Kinky twists are beautiful but my ends really suffer when I have them in. Boxed braids keep my ends from drying out and last a lot longer to me. I usually keep them in at least 6 weeks but no longer than 8 weeks at a time. My boxed braids are usually hip length with a littel wavy human hair attached to the ends for a natural affect.

Here's a few pics of them:

 

[tkj25]

i voted box braids. i prefer yarn braids too, because i find they hold moisture better, making for a more productive protective style.

 

[ajargon02]

I choose "other". I have box braids in now, but I do mine sans (without) extensions. I keep them in for 2-3 months at a time. You can wash/condition with them in, they don't shrink up as much, and for the most part, the roots don't tangle. After about 1-1.5 months, if any roots are feelin tangled, I will just re-do that one. I love it. It's light and easy for me! I say try it without extensions! You just might love it!

 

[beans4reezy]

Kinky twists...on me, they look better as the style gets older, so keeping them in three months is a breeze. Also, my edges are thin, so with Kinky twists, I do not have to twist the edges and they are hidden by the fat twists I've already created...i don't think I could do the same with box braids.

 

[Pamsc]

Kinky Twist for me. IDK, but for some reason, box braids break my hair off and moisture doesn't seem to penetrate. My hair holds up better w/ kinky twist.

I am doing another set of twist this weekend with kaneklon hair....

 

[BrownSkinQT]

I voted for kinky twists because of the nubian look they offer, but that's just me.