How to Create Mini Twists and Braids at Home (2024)

Start With Freshly Washed Hair

You can create the style on freshly washed hair or on stretched, dry hair (which might be best for hair types that easily tangle or that have the potential to loc up).

Section The Hair

Depending on the length and thickness of your hair, section your coils into four to six sections. Next, secure your hair with a clip after applying your leave-in conditioner.

Start at the Back of Your Head

You may need a handheld mirror if your goal is to create perfect parts. Part each section into squares, and apply your cream to each section of hair before twisting.

Many people use the loc method to apply products to their twists, using ashea butter-based creamas their foundation hair product. Making your own mixture at home is an option, but if you want a product that is all ready to go, Melanin Haircare hasa twist-elongating style creammade with shea butter, mango butter, cocoa butter, kokum butter, and cupuacu butter, as well as aloe to keep the hair hydrated.

Let Your Hair Be Your Guide

In White's mini twist video, she advises, "It's important that you don't get lazy with your twisting," noting that it makes a difference in how long twists last and whether or not they'll prematurely unravel.To make a "strong twist," White has one more piece of advice: "Instead of twisting and moving your hands down, you're going to twist it in place. Once you can't twist [the hair] in one spot, then you're going to move your hands down."

Don't Be Afraid to Cleanse and Deep Condition

Mini twists can be washed, but because they're so tiny, you want to ensure your hair doesn't get matted in the process and loc. Many people that wear mini twists and braids go about a month without washing their hair, but if you want to cleanse your scalp without disrupting your style, we recommend TXTR by Cantu's Apple Cider Vinegar + Tea Tree Soothing Shampoo for two important reasons: The bottle has a nozzle that helps get the shampoo to the scalp, and the product soothes and cleanses without stripping the hair.

Deep conditioning is an essential step to help your hair stay hydrated, and the conditioning process shouldn't disrupt your twists or braids as long as you use your palms in the "praying hands" motion to apply the conditioner gently. If your hair is feeling dry, leave a little conditioner on as you rinse it. (I learned this tip from a DevaCurl pro).

Make Sure You Refresh

Aloe is one of the best products I've used on my hair. It's light, relatively inexpensive, and hydrates well. I keep my recipe simple with a half-water, half-aloe veramixture in a continuous spray bottle. Don't be afraid to experiment with essential oils in your recipe. Tea tree, peppermint, lavender, and eucalyptus oil are ideal because they each have antibacterial properties that can soothe the scalp.

You can also take your favorite leave-in and mix it with water as well. I keep two spray bottles filled in my bathroom and interchange them as my hair needs them.

The Takedown

Now for one of the least ideal moments of this mini style: Removing them can take a few hours or a couple of days. A good practice is to section the hair into four to six parts, spray each section with water, and use a product with a slip to remove each twist or braid so that you don't damage your hair while taking them down. I personally would use oil here.