Afro twists

What Afro twists are

Afro twists are rope twists made with soft kinked fibre that blends with natural texture, so the finish looks like stretched natural hair rather than silky extensions. The roots are neat and secure, with the fibre carrying the texture through the lengths.

They sit between two other styles of ours. Two-strand twists use only your own hair. Passion twists use a springier, looser fibre for a boho finish.

How they look and feel

Full and fluffy, close to your own Afro texture, with gentle movement. You can pin them up, wear them down or style them to the side without much daily handling. They fit both work and weekends.

We choose fibre that feels soft to the touch and build volume in layers, so the style feels full without feeling heavy. Length and fullness still add weight.¹

See the look.

These images are illustrations, not photographs of our clients.

Who they suit

Afro twists are a good choice if:

• you love the look of natural textured hair, carefully twisted
• you want a low-handling style that still feels soft and wearable
• your routine allows simple weekly care: light hydrating, scalp oiling and wrapping at night
• you want a style that fits work and weekends and feels true to your natural texture

Wait, or talk to us first, if:

• your hair is very dry or breaking easily, because the fibre grips best on hair with some moisture and strength
• your hair is freshly coloured or heat stretched and feels fragile
• you dislike any care routine at all, because Afro twists need simple care so the fibre does not mat

A scalp or conditioning treatment first can help. See our treatments.

If your scalp is sore, itchy or inflamed, or you had a chemical treatment in the last one to two weeks, wait and talk to us first.² The braid care guide explains how to tell if your scalp is ready.

Length and weight

Sections are sized and twisted to hold securely without overloading delicate areas such as your edges and nape. Longer, fuller twists hang heavier from your hairline.¹ If weight is a worry, ask for a shorter or lighter version.

Your Afro twists install, step by step

The whole appointment takes about 3 to 5 hours, and most clients read, work or watch something.

1. Arrival and chat. We confirm your look, length and hair history. You do not need to wash your hair first, because the wash is included.
2. Assessment. Before any braiding, your stylist checks strand support, density, breakage, your hairline and your scalp.
3. Wash, condition and blow-dry. Your hair is cleansed, conditioned and blow-dried straight, ready to twist.
4. Sectioning. Your look becomes section sizes and a fibre plan for your hair.
5. Twisting. Each section is twisted with the soft kinked fibre, with the ends secured so they hold their shape. Tension is checked as we go.
6. Finishing and home care. We check the twists and the ends. You leave with a finished style and a walk-through of care and warning signs. If anything feels loose in the first days, tell us and we will check it.

As your Afro twists grow out

Looking after Afro twists

Hydrate, do not saturate, and keep your hands off the ends.

• Use a light water-based spray or leave-in on your roots and exposed hair a few times a week. Do not soak the fibre.
• Put a few drops of light oil along the partings. Heavy oils cause build-up and itching.
• Wrap your hair in a satin scarf or bonnet at night. It reduces friction, frizz and lint.¹
• Do not twist or pull on the ends out of habit, which causes frizz and knots. Separate tangles gently with your fingers.
• Cleanse your scalp with diluted shampoo every two to three weeks and let your hair dry fully.²
• Pain, stinging, crusts or tenting mean the style is too tight. Tell us, or take them out early.¹

The seasons in Pretoria, the gym, the pool, sleep and the warning signs are all in the braid care guide.

Taking Afro twists out

Twists are unwound one at a time. After four to six weeks, new growth and frizz make the style feel less fresh and a take-down more time-consuming.

Taking twists out yourself takes more time than people expect. Each twist is unwound one at a time, and shed hair collects inside the twists, so rushing it leads to knots. Many people dread it, put it off and wear the style too long.

Why the take-down matters, and how a careful one goes, is in the braid care guide.

Afro twists against other twists

Words used in this guide

Extension (or fibre): the synthetic or human hair added to your own hair to make a braid longer and fuller.

Parting: the line of scalp that shows between two sections of hair.

Edges: the fine, thin hair along your hairline at the forehead, temples and nape.

Strand support and density: how strong each strand is, and how much hair you have in each section.

Take-down: taking the braids out.

Unplait: to open braids back out into loose hair.

Tenting: the scalp pulled up into little peaks at the base of a braid, a sign the braid is too tight.

Nape: the back of your neck, where your hair meets your skin.

New growth: the hair that grows from your scalp after your braids are installed.

Tension: the pull a braid puts on your hair and scalp.

Loc: a rope-like strand of hair.

Wrapping: winding extension hair around a braid to build a loc.

Two-strand twist: a twist made by splitting a section of hair in two and winding the strands around each other.

Twist out: a style made by unravelling twists to leave defined waves or curls.

Kinked fibre: extension hair with a tight, coily texture, like natural Afro hair.

Sources

1. American Academy of Dermatology, Hairstyles that pull can lead to hair loss. Updated 6 November 2024.
2. Diane C. Bailey, Milady Standard Natural Hair Care and Braiding, Cengage Learning, 2014.

Keep reading

If something here gave you pause, one of these may suit you better: the passion twists guide, the two-strand twists guide, or the braid care guide.