Senegalese Twist Hairstyles You’ll Adore

By NHM Contributor on August 25, 2015

Written By Venus L

A great way to simultaneously protect and style your natural hair, Senegalese twist hairstyles are a great option for Naturalistas seeking a chic way to switch up their natural hair. A versatile and long lasting style, Senegalese twists have become a go-to style for natural sisters on the go. While many believe this style to be difficult to achieve and maintain, luckily, this is just another natural hair myth. That being said, the following in an overview of how to install, style, and maintain your Senegalese twists.

Basic Installation

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First off, there are a few ways to go about installing your Senegalese twists. It is best to begin on clean, dry hair and even better if your hair is kinky rather than straight as twists are much harder to install on straighter hair (but by no means impossible). The most commonly used type of hair for Senegalese twist is kanekalon hair. This gives the braids their sleek and polished appearance. However, if you are in the early stages of learning and perfecting your technique, it is much better to go with either Marley twist hair or Havana twist hair as these types of hair are less silky and thus, easier to install.

Next, you simply part your hair into sections, securing all areas not being worked on with hair ties. After that, you neatly part the into smaller sections and install the extensions by twisting them around your natural hair from the root of your head and continue until the twist is completed. What’s more, given that twists tend to unravel easily, while you are perfecting the technique, it is best to dip your twists into boiling water (making sure to stop short of your own natural hair) in order to secure the ends.
Furthermore, there is also the option of crocheting in your twists. This can be done in a couple of ways. The first method involves cornrowing your own hair, crocheting in the extension, and then twisting them the rest of the way. The second method involves using pre-twisted hair and crocheting the hair in at the root. For a more in-depth tutorial on installing your Senegalese twists, click here!

Styles to Try
Now that we’ve covered the basics, let’s look at some awesome Senegalese twist styles!

Lay it Down

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The first and most obvious way to wear your Senegalese is straight down. Low maintenance and sleek, this style works best when there is a part in the middle or on either side. However, to keep overnight it’s best to loosely swoop them into a bun and tie them down with a scarf.

Go Jumbo!

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Next, a small change that creates a substantial distinction, making your Senegalese twists larger will make a world of difference. Big, bold, and beautiful, these thick twists will have heads turning left and right. Nevertheless, the bigger they are, the quicker they fall. Jumbo twists often last for a shorter time span than their smaller counterparts.

Jumbo Twist Bun

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Created by wrapping your jumbo twists around the head and securing them with bobby pins or simply smoothing your twists to the back of the head and rolling them into a bun, this super chic style is great for everywhere from the club to the boardroom. However, sleeping on this style can be difficult, therefore, it might be best to take this style out each night, tie it down, and redo it every morning. On the bright side, it shouldn’t take more than 5-10 minutes to undo and redo. For more information on how to achieve a jumbo twist bun, click here!

Color Blocks!

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Another great way to style your Senegalese twists is by adding some color! This can be done in a number of ways. You can dye your own natural hair in order to blend it with a particular color of extensions, you can leave your hair as is and do it all in a different color, you could use mostly black or brown hair and add colorful twists here and there as accents, or you could do your entire head in a mixture of colors. Fun and vibrant, these styles tend to pop so don’t wear them if you’re uncomfortable getting a little extra attention. For more information on dying your own natural hair, click here!

Curl it Up!

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A great way to switch up your Senegalese style, curling your twists is a youthful style that looks great on Naturalistas of all ages. Achieved by dipping the hair in hot water and using your choice of rolling apparatuses, you can curl your entire head or just the ends. For more information on maintenance and curling your Senegalese twists, click here!

Flat Twists

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Another great method of styling your Senegalese twists is to simply install them as flat twists instead of singles. Different from single twist installation, flat twist styles involve twisting the extensions in the same manner as you would if you were cornrowing your extensions in. Only for twist styles, you use two strands, instead of three. Perfect for any style, texture, or size twist, the level of versatility with flat twists is massive. For more flat twist style ideas, click here!

Senegalese Twist-Hawk

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For a uniquely edgy Senegalese style choice, try a twist-hawk. The Naturalista’s answer to the Mohawk, twist hawks add edginess without necessarily causing you to cut your hair to do it. For more info on twist hawks, click here!

Mix it Up!

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Lastly. a great way to add some versatility to your Senegalese twists is by doing both flat and single twists. A cute, fun option for anyone, these styles are great as they are typically sleek and enduring. Nevertheless, be sure that you are a fan of the style before committing to it as although there is still some room to switch it up, adding in the flat twists does limit this ability to some degree.