What are kinky twists?
Kinky twists are just one way that extensions can be used to make natural hair into beautiful long twists. Unlike marley twists or Sengalese twists, kinky twists normally have a short braided section at the root, where the extension hair is attached to the natural hair. After this braided section, the hair is twisted smoothly all the way down to make the beautiful kinky twists. Kinky twists are specifically done using marley hair, which is where the name ‘kinky’ comes from – the kinky hair is very different in texture to the silky extensions used for Sengalese twists! The sections in kinky twists also tend to be quite small, about an inch wide, unlike the much thicker Havana twists.
Kinky twists are very popular with a lot of women who prefer to wear their hair naturally, because they produce lovely long hair without the need for any chemicals, and they can last for months. Some of the celebrities who have chosen to style their hair in kinky twists include Chrisette Michele, Brandy, and Solange Knowles.
How to do kinky twists
A lot of people choose to get their kinky twists done by a stylist, but this can get very expensive, and it is actually possible to do them yourself at home! It can be a very time-consuming process, but you’ll save a lot of money and have beautiful natural hair.
The process of putting in kinky twists is actually pretty straightforward. You will need to start with the right kind of hair extensions for your hair type – for kinky twists, it’s best to look for extensions that aren’t too smooth. Make sure that they are long enough for your hair! You will probably need three or four packets of them.
Next, you will need to comb out your hair so that it is nice and smooth, and then section it off. There is no hard and fast rule about how to do this, but sections of about one inch wide will probably give you nice results. If you aren’t quite confident with your braiding and twisting skills, start at the front of your head so that you can see the first few twists in a mirror. At this point, you may also want to add gel to your hair, just to help the twists stay in place for as long as possible.
To attach the pieces of hair, you need to take a section of hair extension and fold it in half. Place the fold at the root of one section of natural hair, so that you have three sections. Braid these three in a standard braid for about an inch, so that the extensions are secured into the hair. If you’d prefer a less obvious join, you can skip this step and divide all of the hair into two, and start twisting right from the root.
In order to create the twist, you need to divide your hair into two sections. Twist each section tightly, and wrap them around each other, twisting all the way down the length of the hair. When you reach the end, use a razor or shears to get rid of excess hair, and to neaten everything up.
Finally, once your twists are in place, you’ll want to seal them. You can use gel on natural hair, or if you have used synthetic extensions, placing the ends in boiling water for a few seconds will help to seal the twist. Be careful with the hot water, and be very gentle when drying the ends with a towel!
Styling kinky twists
Kinky twists are absolutely gorgeous just as they are, but if you plan on having them in place for a few months, you may want to try out some different hairstyles just for variety!
For something simple, flip all of your hair to one side, and secure it with a few bobby pins. This is a great look for a night out – it’s an easy look, but still very glamorous! For something equally easy, use a stretched hair tie to pull back the top part o your hair into a half-up, half-down style.
Try putting your twists up in a high doughnut-shaped bun for a lovely elegant style that gets your hair up off your neck. Put your hair up in a high ponytail, and then use bobby pins to shape a bun. The texture of the twists looks really lovely in a bun! You can also leave it as a ponytail, either high up on your head or at the nape of your neck.
Fancier styles are also possible with kinky twists! It might take a bit of practice, but you can shape them into a really gorgeous French twist, or French braid them along the back of your head. To keep the top of your head neat, you can shape the kinky twists into pin curls. The texture of the twists means that all sorts of different ways of shaping them around the head will look just as beautiful!
For an interesting mix of textures, try braiding your hair in cornrows before starting the kinky twists! You can make all sorts of different styles by combining these. For example, you could cornrow your hair right up until the ‘updo’ part, and then start twisting.
There are so many brilliant ways that kinky twists can be styled. Have a look at lots of different inspiration pictures, and then try out whatever you think would work best for you!
Taking care of your kinky twists
If you’re careful, kinky twists can stay looking beautiful for up to three months, but this kind of long life does require a little bit of maintenance. For a start, you’ll want to sleep in a silk or satin scarf to keep your kinky twists as frizz-free as possible. It’s also very important to keep your hair moisturized, so be sure to use a water-based moisturiser a few times a week! Spray leave-in conditioners are great for this. You should also use a natural oil or butter on your scalp 2-3 times a week.
If you wash your hair, you will probably need to braid the twists into sections before you begin to wash your scalp. Be very careful to only wash the twists in a downward motion, to keep them smooth and non-frizzy! It’s also best to use lightweight shampoo and conditioner, to avoid excess product buildup in the twists. Different people have different opinions on how often you should wash twisted hair, but weekly or biweekly will help you keep your scalp clean without damaging the kinky twists too much.
When it’s time to take your kinky twists out, you will probably need water and conditioner to loosen them enough to carefully untwist all the way up to the braid. Then just undo the braid, and ease the extensions out. Be sure to give your hair a good deep conditioning after removing your kinky twists! For the healthiest possible hair, six weeks to two months is the best length of time to leave your twists in for – any longer can put too much pressure on your natural hair from the weight of the extensions.
As you can see, kinky twists are a beautiful and flexible way to wear your natural hair without resorting to harsh chemicals. They don’t take too much maintenance, and can be worn in all sorts of different styles. Try them out!
