How to Curl Hair by Twisting It

Co-authored by Shun Pittman

Last Updated: October 25, 2022 References

Loosely curled hair is extremely popular right now. Whether you call them “beachy waves” or “soft curls,” they’re all the rage. If you weren’t born with perfectly natural wavy hair, you’re stuck trying to figure out the easiest way to achieve this look. Before you reach for the curling iron or hot rollers, try a simpler method. You can save time and prevent damage to your hair by curling your hair by twisting it.

Things You Should Know

Start with damp (but not soaked) hair. Curls hold better in damp hair.
Twist your hair in sections. The more hair in each section, the looser your curls will be.
Use a texturizing product, like curling mousse or sea salt spray, for better results.

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

Prep Your Hair

1
Get your hair damp. For fine to medium hair textures, it's important that you do this on damp hair, rather than wet hair. You can do this technique after a shower, once your hair has air dried about halfway. If you don’t want or need to take a shower, you can simply dampen your hair with a spray bottle. The curls will hold best if done on damp hair.^{[1]
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Expert Source

Shun Pittman
Master Cosmetologist, Global Salon Educator & Author
Expert Interview. 14 April 2021.}
- For medium to coarse textures and wavy to curlier hair type, it's best to blow dry the hair completely and twist your hair while it's still warm.
2
Comb your hair. Before you start twisting it, it’s best to get rid of any tangles. Comb gently with a wide-tooth comb in order to prevent breakage.^{[2]
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Research source} If you like having a particular part, use your comb to create it now. You will twist your hair around the part.

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3
Add a texturizing product. By adding a product before you begin your twists, you’ll give your curls extra hold. If your hair is fine to medium textured and straight to wavy, use curling mousse, holding spray, or texturizing sea salt spray. Anything that adds texture or hold to your hair will work great for this hairstyle. Run your hands through your hair to ensure the product is distributed evenly.^{[3]
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- If you have medium to coarse and wavy to curly hair, use something heavier, like a curl cream, pomade, or hair oil (coconut, jojoba, or olive fruit).^{[4]
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Part 2

Part 2 of 3:

Creating Your Twists

1
Section out your hair. The number of sections you’ll need to create depends on two things: how much hair you have, and how tight or loose you want your curls. The more hair that you use in each twist, the looser the curls will be. In other words, a thick twist using two big chunks of hair will create looser curls than a skinny twist with two small pieces of hair.
- If you have thin hair and you want loose curls, you may only need to twist two sections. If you have very thick hair and want tight curls, you’ll need much more.
- When it comes to this hairstyle, this is the step that you’ll want to experiment with a bit. It will take a little bit of practice to determine which kinds of twists create your favorite kinds of curls.
2
Twist each section. Separate a section into two pieces, and then begin to twist them around each other, away from your face. The more tightly you twist, the tighter your curl, and vice versa. Twist as far as you can down the hair, and secure the end with a small elastic band. Pull your twist up and pin to the top of your head, so that it stays tightly twisted and secure.^{[5]
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- For highly textured hair, coat each section in a moisturizer or oil as you work through your hair. It is also helpful to coat your hands in this as well.^{[6]
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  Research source} If you
- If you want to avoid the little indentation left in your hair by hair ties, you can first put a small cotton swab or piece of paper towel around your hair, and tie the hair tie over it.
- Repeat this step until all of your hair is twisted.
3
Sleep with your twists in. If you worked with damp hair, it’s important to let your hair dry completely before taking out your twists.^{[7]
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Research source} If you created your twists on dry hair with product, just make sure to let them sit at least five hours before untwisting them.
- You don’t have to do your twists before bed. You can create your twists whenever you have enough time to let them dry.
- Protect your twists against breakage and frizz by sleeping on a silk pillowcase, or covering your head with a silk headscarf.^{[8]
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Part 3

Part 3 of 3:

Styling Your Curls

1
Unravel your twists. Before you remove your hair ties, gently press each twist with your fingertips to ensure they are completely dry. If they are, you can begin untwisting them. Take out your hair tie and use your fingers to gently unravel the twist.^{[9]
X
Expert Source

Shun Pittman
Master Cosmetologist, Global Salon Educator & Author
Expert Interview. 14 April 2021.} Do not brush your hair, as it will create extreme frizziness.
- For highly textured hair, make sure to apply moisturizer or oil to your hands before unraveling your twists. This will help to minimize frizz.^{[10]
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  Research source}If your hair is finer, use a pea-sized amount of shine serum on your hands before you unravel the twists.^{[11]
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  Expert Source
  
  Shun Pittman
  Master Cosmetologist, Global Salon Educator & Author
  Expert Interview. 2 December 2021.}
2
Tussle your hair with your fingers. Once you’ve undone all of your twists, run your fingers through your hair. This will help blend the sections back together, and work out any knots. Sometimes you’ll have a few wild pieces of hair, so use your hands to tame everything and mold your hair into the style you like.
- Flip your head upside down and shake your hair to soften all of your curls up easily.^{[12]
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3
Style and spray your curls. You want to make sure your curls don’t deflate as the day progresses, so apply some holding spray to make them last. You can leave your curls down, or throw them up in a ponytail or a half up style. Your new curls will add volume to whichever style you choose.^{[13]
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Expert Source

Shun Pittman
Master Cosmetologist, Global Salon Educator & Author
Expert Interview. 14 April 2021.}

Community Q&A

Question

Could I do these twists the night before school?

Community Answer

Yes, you may do this the night before.
Question

Can you sleep in it?

Community Answer

Yes! You can do these twists on your hair before bed, and then unravel them in the morning for beautiful curls.
Question

How long will the curls stay?

Community Answer

Almost the whole day. When you wash or get water on your hair, the curls fade away.