The Mini Twist / Mini Braid Thread

[MzSwift]

I've never tried tbh. But from many other youtubers and posts on this forum, washing with the twists in has high risk for serious tangling and I'm afraid my hair is gonna Matt up if I wash them.

Totally understand!

Would you be opposed to trying cowashing? Especially with a moisturizing condish. The extra slip can be beneficial during take down.

I'm asking bc I know keeping the scalp clean can help with growth and the overall health of your hair. Not that you need much help bc you seem to be retaining VERY well!

 

[Mapleoats]

Totally understand!

Would you be opposed to trying cowashing? Especially with a moisturizing condish. The extra slip can be beneficial during take down.

I'm asking bc I know keeping the scalp clean can help with growth and the overall health of your hair. Not that you need much help bc you seem to be retaining VERY well!

That's actually a really good suggestion, thank you! I'll try cowashing when I get a chance. Conditioner doesn't tangle my hair the way shampoo does

 

[snoop]

I think that the more coated and moisturized my hair is, the easier it is to take down after washing. Don't quote me on that because I don't want to break anyone's hair.

Normally, I wash weekly with or without twists (usually with). Up until a few years ago, anything more than 2 weeks with my mini twists in would cause my hair to mesh and be too hard to detangle. I don't know if it was slight changes that I made to my twisting technique or if there is less variation in my length or if it's slight changes to my product line up, but I can now go longer. Earlier this year, I went almost 2 months without taking them down and (clay/ayurvedic) washing in between and my hair came apart like butter. I was shocked. This is why I'm going to try it again, now. If it works again, then I can start doing it on the regular. My only temptation will be not to actually look at my hair or touch it in the weeks in between because then I'll get bored and want to change the look.

All that to say, adding a heavier oil, but not something sticky like castor oil to you your hair, may reduce the amount of meshing before you have a chance to take your hair down.

 

[Mapleoats]

I think that the more coated and moisturized my hair is, the easier it is to take down after washing. Don't quote me on that because I don't want to break anyone's hair.

Normally, I wash weekly with or without twists (usually with). Up until a few years ago, anything more than 2 weeks with my mini twists in would cause my hair to mesh and be too hard to detangle. I don't know if it was slight changes that I made to my twisting technique or if there is less variation in my length or if it's slight changes to my product line up, but I can now go longer. Earlier this year, I went almost 2 months without taking them down and (clay/ayurvedic) washing in between and my hair came apart like butter. I was shocked. This is why I'm going to try it again, now. If it works again, then I can start doing it on the regular. My only temptation will be not to actually look at my hair or touch it in the weeks in between because then I'll get bored and want to change the look.

All that to say, adding a heavier oil, but not something sticky like castor oil to you your hair, may reduce the amount of meshing before you have a chance to take your hair down.

Trying to break this down a bit. Did you wash in the twists during the two months time? Or no wash at all?

 

[MzSwift]

I think that the more coated and moisturized my hair is, the easier it is to take down after washing. Don't quote me on that because I don't want to break anyone's hair.

Normally, I wash weekly with or without twists (usually with). Up until a few years ago, anything more than 2 weeks with my mini twists in would cause my hair to mesh and be too hard to detangle. I don't know if it was slight changes that I made to my twisting technique or if there is less variation in my length or if it's slight changes to my product line up, but I can now go longer. Earlier this year, I went almost 2 months without taking them down and (clay/ayurvedic) washing in between and my hair came apart like butter. I was shocked. This is why I'm going to try it again, now. If it works again, then I can start doing it on the regular. My only temptation will be not to actually look at my hair or touch it in the weeks in between because then I'll get bored and want to change the look.

All that to say, adding a heavier oil, but not something sticky like castor oil to you your hair, may reduce the amount of meshing before you have a chance to take your hair down.

I think you're on to something...

I actually mix up my own Ayurvedic products about once/mth for the past 10 years.

I make an ayurvedic cleanser and that's what I use daily or every other day to cleanse my scalp and hair. It's 50% tea (not strained) made from Shikakai and Neem powders with horsetail and nettle, 40% cheapie condish, 10% peppermint castile soap and a few drops of lemon essential oil for scent.

I follow that with a leave in ayurvedic condish I make with 30% tea (not strained) made from Henna, Amla and Hibiscus, 60% cheapie condish and 10% carrier and essential oil mix.

So I guess you can say I primarily use ayurvedic glosses on my hair. In the shower, I cleanse my hair, slather on my condish and then throw it in a ponytail and then I'm done w my hair until my nighttime M&S session. And my hair is rarely NOT in mini braids/twists, a fact I was recently noticing in all of my family photos. lol So I do all of this in mini braids/twists with very minimal issues at take down/refresh time.

I don't use shampoo on my hair often either, only for a squeaky clean right before taking down my mini twist braids. The reason is bc I get buildup around my perimeter, only on the outermost row in my nape area and right around my ears. So I rub in shampoo on the base of my mini braids in those areas and then a little on my scalp only for the rest of the hair. I think that helps to reduce meshing/tangling in the length of my hair bc I'm not using drying shampoo products directly on my hair. So my hair is usually also "coated."

ETA: So maybe the ladies who are having trouble washing while in mini braids/twists are using shampoos, whereas we're using clay/ayurvedic mixes to cleanse and not experiencing the same issues?

 

[snoop]

Trying to break this down a bit. Did you wash in the twists during the two months time? Or no wash at all?

I washed weekly.


I'mma turn you all onto tallow, like I'm doing with clay. It melts like an oil, but has some of that firmness of shea...only better.
Sshhhh...don't tell @Chicoro I said that.
Seriously, though. I think that it has the right kind of fats in it. Mine and my children's hair improved after we started using it. (Sheenier/shinier...less tangles...) It is a fat, so it does get solid at room temp. I still make it work in winter.
(And for use, I whip it with glycerine.)

But if you're vegan/vegetarian...ignore the second half of my post....

 

[snoop]

I think you're on to something...

I actually mix up my own Ayurvedic products about once/mth for the past 10 years.

I make an ayurvedic cleanser and that's what I use daily or every other day to cleanse my scalp and hair. It's 50% tea (not strained) made from Shikakai and Neem powders with horsetail and nettle, 40% cheapie condish, 10% peppermint castile soap and a few drops of lemon essential oil for scent.

I follow that with a leave in ayurvedic condish I make with 30% tea (not strained) made from Henna, Amla and Hibiscus, 60% cheapie condish and 10% carrier and essential oil mix.

So I guess you can say I primarily use ayurvedic glosses on my hair. In the shower, I cleanse my hair, slather on my condish and then throw it in a ponytail and then I'm done w my hair until my nighttime M&S session. And my hair is rarely NOT in mini braids/twists, a fact I was recently noticing in all of my family photos. lol So I do all of this in mini braids/twists with very minimal issues at take down/refresh time.

I don't use shampoo on my hair often either, only for a squeaky clean right before taking down my mini twist braids. The reason is bc I get buildup around my perimeter, only on the outermost row in my nape area and right around my ears. So I rub in shampoo on the base of my mini braids in those areas and then a little on my scalp only for the rest of the hair. I think that helps to reduce meshing/tangling in the length of my hair bc I'm not using drying shampoo products directly on my hair. So my hair is usually also "coated."

ETA: So maybe the ladies who are having trouble washing while in mini braids/twists are using shampoos, whereas we're using clay/ayurvedic mixes to cleanse and not experiencing the same issues?

Ooooh! You started in with the ingredients and I'm hooked!

One question that I have is how do you use these mixes without the herbs getting stuck in your hair? Or when you say "not strained" you mean something else? Sometimes mine will get stuck and I've just decided that whatever will be will be. This happens more if I'm wearing medium, large or loose hair at the time I'm using coarser herbs. Herbs like Sidr are a no-go. It will NOT come out.

Uhhh...it just occurred to me that you could be making the tea using powders and not leaves. Here I am wondering how you don't have hibiscus, horsetail, and nettle leaves clinging to your hair.

 

[MzSwift]

Ooooh! You started in with the ingredients and I'm hooked!

One question that I have is how do you use these mixes without the herbs getting stuck in your hair? Or when you say "not strained" you mean something else? Sometimes mine will get stuck and I've just decided that whatever will be will be. This happens more if I'm wearing medium, large or loose hair at the time I'm using coarser herbs. Herbs like Sidr are a no-go. It will NOT come out.

Uhhh...it just occurred to me that you could be making the tea using powders and not leaves. Here I am wondering how you don't have hibiscus, horsetail, and nettle leaves clinging to your hair.

Yes, absolutely! I use powders for the tea mixes and I leave my herbs for my oil infusions. I strain those when I pour them into my applicator bottle using nylons. I like to reuse the herbs for a few more infusions.

 

[Mapleoats]

*taking notes furiously*

 

[Napp]

I had such a bad experience shampooing my mini braids. I ended up with like 10 locs that were a pain to comb out so since then i just co wash them. i find after washing them a few times this way they are very easy to take out and rebraid.

I really like using this dry shampoo to cleanse my braids. It gets rid of all my build up

 

[snoop]

Yes, absolutely! I use powders for the tea mixes and I leave my herbs for my oil infusions. I strain those when I pour them into my applicator bottle using nylons. I like to reuse the herbs for a few more infusions.

I use cut herbs for my oil infusions. When I've used all of the oil, I boil the herbs and for a tea rinse. It's oily, but my hair always feels good after.

 

[snoop]

I had such a bad experience shampooing my mini braids. I ended up with like 10 locs that were a pain to comb out so since then i just co wash them. i find after washing them a few times this way they are very easy to take out and rebraid.

I really like using this dry shampoo to cleanse my braids. It gets rid of all my build up

View attachment 492423

How does this product work? It looks like a liquid but it says "dry".

 

[Napp]

How does this product work? It looks like a liquid but it says "dry".

Its a foam. you put in on and rub it in at the root and then wipe it off with a damp towel

 

[Chicoro]

I washed weekly.


I'mma turn you all onto tallow, like I'm doing with clay. It melts like an oil, but has some of that firmness of shea...only better.
Sshhhh...don't tell @Chicoro I saiIf I d that.
Seriously, though. I think that it has the right kind of fats in it. Mine and my children's hair improved after we started using it. (Sheenier/shinier...less tangles...) It is a fat, so it does get solid at room temp. I still make it work in winter.
(And for use, I whip it with glycerine.)

But if you're vegan/vegetarian...ignore the second half of my post....

If I could get some tallow on a consistent, regular basis, I'm sure I'd come to the same conclusion regarding its firmness. Tallow is the original hair grease!

 

[Mapleoats]

I cowashed my twists last night and am happy to report it was a smashing success . Thank you @MzSwift and @snoop for the tips and encouragement. I cowashed with Aussie moist coils (silicone free) and then I braided my twists up in 6 braids, only adding my product to the ends.

this morning when I took the braids down my hair was like 85-90% dry, I added some product and stretched it the rest of the way dry with the blow dryer.

Obviously my hair has shrunken considerably now, but I love it.





i think i could easily get another week or two out if these twists, but it's my first time with mini twists these long so I don't want to push my luck. I still plan to take the twists down later this week, but for my next set I'll try to keep them 6 weeks instead of 4

 

[Napp]

It looks good @Mapleoats

 

[Mapleoats]

It looks good @Mapleoats

Thank you !

 

[MzSwift]

@Mapleoats

It looks FANTASTIC!!

Giving your braids texture is a GREAT way to extend the style!
Totally understand about wanting to keep it low risk though. I don't go any longer than 3-4 weeks either for the same reason.

 

[MzSwift]

@Mapleoats

I forgot to ask, are you planning to refresh the braids or do an actual take down?

 

[Mapleoats]

Thank you @MzSwift!! I plan to do a full take down, fully cleanse and detox my hair, than rock some chunky twists/twist out for week "break" and then right back into another set for another 4 weeks, which I'll take down just in time for my birthday silk press/ year end "reveal"

when you do a full refresh your of braids, what does that process look like? How long does it take? And how often do you do an actual take down?

 

[MzSwift]

Thank you @MzSwift!! I plan to do a full take down, fully cleanse and detox my hair, than rock some chunky twists/twist out for week "break" and then right back into another set for another 4 weeks, which I'll take down just in time for my birthday silk press/ year end "reveal"

when you do a full refresh your of braids, what does that process look like? How long does it take? And how often do you do an actual take down?

I usually take 4-7 days for my refresh bc I don't spend the whole day on my head. Usually just a couple of hours each evening. Watching TV. That's usually if I do really small/micro braids. If I do larger braids, the refresh can take anywhere from 4-9 hrs.

First, I wash/clarify a day or two before I plan to refresh and then do a very moisturizing DC. I don't put any leave in product on my hair after that. Then I tie down my braids to dry. I let my hair dry bc I find it easier to take down my braids on dry hair (fine strands). The tie down is a similar effect as when ladies put on a scarf on their hair line to lay their edges. It smooths my braids/twists for an easier take down.

On day one, I start in the front and refresh the first 2-3 rows, one braid at a time, one row at a time. This is probably one of the biggest parts of my head so it takes the longest. I turn some investigative TV shows or Christmas movies and take down a braid, de-shed and then rebraid it and then I move on to the next braid. I do that until the first 2-3 rows are done.

I learned to do it that way bc if I don't get to the rest of my hair in a timely manner, the front camouflages that. Lol

The next day, I do a few more rows in the same manner. One braid at a time, one row at a time. I do that until it's all done.

I should note that I don't rewash my hair at any time when I'm refreshing it. Once it's all done then I do a cowash to soften up the braids/twists (bc they're initally pretty stiff).

I honestly prefer to go 4-6 months before I do an actual take down. And I do the take down in a similar manner except that I start in the back, one braid at a time, one row at a time over the course of days. I wash and DC the day or two before.

I keep wigs and scarves on hand for these transitions to cover my hair.
I hope this makes sense.

HTH!

 

[Mapleoats]

Very helpful. Thank you @MzSwift !

 

[snoop]

I took a picture of the weekend's clay wash. I added ayurvedic stuff to the clay and so I kept it on for about 20 minutes. When I would do plain clay/goat's milk masks, I would leave it on for as long as it took to shower and then rinse out. I know a lot of stylists like to make fun of the full day wash routines, but really, my 5 minutes in and out of the shower + 5 more minutes to moisturize was a LOT shorter than anything of them could do, playing up in my hair. Short wash day routines ARE possible.

I should also add, then if I'm keeping clay in my hair for longer than 5 minutes I cover my hair with a plastic cap. I find that allowing the clay to dry and get hard only makes it harder to wash out, especially since I don't use a rinse out conditioner.

NOTE: If you do find that your clay mask is difficult to rinse out, conditioner will create slip to allow the clay to wash away.

 

[Mapleoats]

I took down my twists yesterday/today. What a tedious process. @MzSwift I completely understand now why you do it the way you do.

I had to take frequent breaks to make sure I wasn't ripping my hair out! When I started to get impatient/frustrated I encountered more breakage and tangling.

I used Shea nilotica as my detangler. It provides plenty of slip without reverting my hair.

I only had 3 knots that needed cutting out and 1 knot that broke off. One of the knots I cut out was a pretty bad one and that was entirely my fault cus I was rushing. Next time I'll strive for no knots that need cutting .

some thoughts/ learnings from this take down.

1. Patience and being gentle will make or break (literally) the process.

2. I will never go more than 4 weeks without refresh/takedown. After this point I feel like the risk/time required to safely detangle is too great.

3. I prefer not to do a full takedown of mini twists. Next time I will spend a few days to refresh/transition them to medium twists at 3 or 4 weeks, wear them for another week or two before taking down the medium twists. It's probably a little extra time spent overall, but better for my sanity and hair health to do it this way.

 

[VinDieselsWifey]

What are people using to keep your twists/braids moisturized? That’s my only issue with having mini braids. I feel like my hair doesn’t hold on to any moisture. I’ve been using African Royale braid spray & Hawaiian Silky 14 in 1 and sealing with oils or rubbing my shea butter mix into the braids but they still feel dry. I also cowash them. Maybe I need to sit under my steamer with conditioner in them. I’m about to mix up some Elucence MBC with some castor oil & aloe Vera juice and see if that works.

 

[ItsMeLilLucky]

What are people using to keep your twists/braids moisturized? That’s my only issue with having mini braids. I feel like my hair doesn’t hold on to any moisture. I’ve been using African Royale braid spray & Hawaiian Silky 14 in 1 and sealing with oils or rubbing my shea butter mix into the braids but they still feel dry. I also cowash them. Maybe I need to sit under my steamer with conditioner in them. I’m about to mix up some Elucence MBC with some castor oil & aloe Vera juice and see if that works.

I use either TGIN Green Tea Leave in Conditioner or Aphogee Green Tea Keratin and Green Tea or Originals Olive oil anti breakage moisturizer and believe it or not I usually seal with hair grease. Blue Dax is at the top of list, then whatever other grease I can get a hold to. I do not add any products to my scalp, just the length of my hair. I think it's something about the chemical makeup of the TGIN that my hair agrees with. It keeps it moist and the Dax is the icing on the cake because it's not too heavy, and I don't use a lot of it.

 

[snoop]

I DIY all of my stuff and use the LCO method. L = water O = tallow

 

[MzSwift]

I took down my twists yesterday/today. What a tedious process. @MzSwift I completely understand now why you do it the way you do.

I had to take frequent breaks to make sure I wasn't ripping my hair out! When I started to get impatient/frustrated I encountered more breakage and tangling.

I used Shea nilotica as my detangler. It provides plenty of slip without reverting my hair.

I only had 3 knots that needed cutting out and 1 knot that broke off. One of the knots I cut out was a pretty bad one and that was entirely my fault cus I was rushing. Next time I'll strive for no knots that need cutting .

some thoughts/ learnings from this take down.

1. Patience and being gentle will make or break (literally) the process.

2. I will never go more than 4 weeks without refresh/takedown. After this point I feel like the risk/time required to safely detangle is too great.

3. I prefer not to do a full takedown of mini twists. Next time I will spend a few days to refresh/transition them to medium twists at 3 or 4 weeks, wear them for another week or two before taking down the medium twists. It's probably a little extra time spent overall, but better for my sanity and hair health to do it this way.

When you first start rocking them, it's a learning curve - like everything else in this HHJ, lol. But once you find what works for you, it will go so much smoother!

Bc of the size of mine, trying to do them all in one day has taken me 25 hrs in the past. I learned to break it up. More importantly, I learned to RARELY do takedowns. I prefer to convert/transition them into straight back cornrows. That allows me to do smaller sections at a time. I only do one or two cornrows each day, starting on the sides. So I have this weird mohawk going on with cornrowed sides and mini braids in the middle. I don't really care to have very straight parts bc the cornrows aren't meant to wear out, they'll be rocked under a wig for a few weeks or so. And then when I'm done w the cornrows (weeks or months later), I convert them back to mini braids. My hair is rarely loose.

 

[MzSwift]

What are people using to keep your twists/braids moisturized? That’s my only issue with having mini braids. I feel like my hair doesn’t hold on to any moisture. I’ve been using African Royale braid spray & Hawaiian Silky 14 in 1 and sealing with oils or rubbing my shea butter mix into the braids but they still feel dry. I also cowash them. Maybe I need to sit under my steamer with conditioner in them. I’m about to mix up some Elucence MBC with some castor oil & aloe Vera juice and see if that works.

Oh no!

OK, this is gonna sound counter-intuitive but it sounds like maybe a good clarifying or maybe even just a sulfate shampoo is in order to get rid of any residue from your sealants. I would clarify and do a very moisturizing DC. And since it's cooler weather, I'd add some honey and EVOO to it to kick up the moisture a bit. DC with a plastic cap or grocery bag, with heat for sure! Yes, in the braids! Please don't take them down to do that.

Do you wet your hair daily? How often do you cowash? My rule is that my hair gets wet everyday! I've been using the same old school hair board tips that I learned back in '09. I M&S morning and night. I have never gone without a spray bottle filled with water, condish and a squirt of carrier oil. If my hair isn't wet in the shower, I use that to moisturize and then seal it in w an EVOO mix. I do the same at night before bed. Sometimes I just slightly dampen my hair and sometimes, I drench it with the spray bottle, depending on what my hair needs.

And when I'm home, my hair stays under satin/silk. I rock a satin cap and bandana or satin scarf over my hair. It keeps my hands out of it. It protects it from rubbing on stuff and from drying out due to exposure.

Also, back in 2018 or so, I started bun baggying my hair 2-3 nights a week and wow, what a difference! I spray my roots only w my spray bottle. And then just rub in a condish into the length of my braids and seal w my EVOO mix. And then I pull my braids up into a cinnamon bun or bantu knot bun at the top of my head. I cover it with a snack size bag and secure it with a ponytail holder and then cover my whole head with a satin scarf. In the morning, my hair is still moisturized and my braids fall as if they've been curled under.

These past two years, I've been incorporating whole head baggying or GHEing and I've seen some really good results in the moisture levels of my hair as well as (I believe) some extra growth.

These are the tips I could think of at the moment. I hope there's a helpful tidbit in there!

Oh, isn't Hawaiian Silky 14-n-1 a glycerin based product? Do you live where it is humid at this time of year? Otherwise, isn't the humectant pulling moisture FROM your hair into the drier atmosphere instead of pulling moisture from the atmosphere INTO your hair?

 

[snoop]

@MzSwift When you baggy your whole head at night, do you let your hair down in the morning?

I will admit, the daily moisturizing worked well for me (and sometimes twice in winter), but I bought into this "foolishness" that these people out here on socials were pedalling saying that they only moisturize their hair once or twice per week because their hair is so healthy. So while my hair does pretty well now with being moisturized once a week -- the health and moisture retention has improved tremendously -- I think that I need to go back to my old school routine of daily moisturizing. Something tells me my roots and the very ends of my hair would benefit most from this change.