Passion twists

What passion twists are

Passion twists were created by Miami hairstylist Kailyn Rogers, known online as the Boho Babe, and became popular after 2018.¹ They borrow from Senegalese twists and goddess locs, and give a soft, bohemian look.¹

The soft finish comes mostly from the fibre. Ours is a lightweight, springy fibre that twists around your hair to make a plush, cloud-like texture rather than a stiff rope twist. Section size, the amount of fibre and tension are checked as we go.

Passion twists are not the same as spring twists. Spring twists are bouncier, and passion twists are looser and frizzier.¹

How they look and feel

Soft, full and boho, with a little frizz that is part of the look. You can wear them down, half up, or in a low ponytail without them feeling heavy.

Passion twists are lighter than loc styles and lighter than most braids, because the fibre is light and the twist holds it without a knot at the root.¹ The hairline still needs loose twists, and length and fullness still add weight.²¹

Who they suit

Passion twists are a good choice if:

• you like a soft, boho, slightly textured finish rather than a sleek twist
• you want a style that moves and still feels light
• your routine allows simple weekly care: misting, wrapping at night and separating twists gently
• you want a protective style that tucks your ends away and feels soft to the touch

Wait, or talk to us first, if:

• your hair is very dry, thin or breaking easily, because twisting fibre around strands adds friction
• your hair is freshly coloured or often heat styled and feels fragile
• you are prone to neck tension or headaches and want a long, full version, because length and fullness add weight
• you want a style that stays crisp at week six, because passion twists are meant to soften as they age¹
• you swim often, because they may not hold up well after frequent swims¹

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.³ The braid care guide explains how to tell if your scalp is ready.

Length and weight

How heavy twists feel comes down to length and fullness. The longer and fuller they are, the heavier they hang from your hairline.²

If the weight worries you, ask for a shorter or lighter version. Your stylist helps you choose at the assessment.

Your passion twists install, step by step

The whole appointment takes about 5 to 7 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 of your hair is twisted together with the textured fibre. We watch section size, the amount of fibre and tension, especially on fine or coloured hair.
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.

As your passion twists grow out

Looking after passion twists

Mist, do not drench. Heavy creams and oils weigh the twists down and make them clump.

• Use a light leave-in or curl refresher on the mid lengths.
• If two twists cling together, separate them gently with your fingers rather than pulling them apart.
• Wrap your roots with a satin scarf at night, and gather the twists into a bonnet or loose ponytail so they do not rub on your pillow.²
• Cleanse between the partings every two to three weeks with diluted shampoo, and let the roots and twists dry fully.³
• If you swim, rinse your scalp afterwards and dry thoroughly.
• Pain, stinging, crusts or tenting mean the style is too tight. Tell us, or take them out early.²

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

Taking passion twists out

Twists unwind faster than braids come apart, but textured fibre tangles with your shed hair, so we work oil through the twists as we go.¹

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.

Passion 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.

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.

Protective style: a style that keeps your hair tucked away and handled less.

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.

Sources

1. Kenneth Byrd, Passion Twists Hairstyles: How to Do Passion Twist Styles, Curl Centric, updated 25 September 2026.
2. American Academy of Dermatology, Hairstyles that pull can lead to hair loss. Updated 6 November 2024.
3. 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 afro twists guide, the two-strand twists guide, or the braid care guide.