Twist braids

What you need

What twist braids cost in South Africa, and how long they take

Variations

Senegalese twists

Smooth rope twists. Curl Centric gives 5 to 8 packs for mid-back, 4 to 6 hours to install, 4 to 8 weeks of wear and 2 to 4 hours to take out.

Marley twists

Coarse Marley hair twisted in rather than tied on at the root, which Curl Centric says reduces tension compared with heavier extension styles. It gives 5 to 6 packs, 3 to 6 hours to install and 1 to 3 hours to take out.

Spring twists

A variation of Senegalese twists made with pre-coiled crochet hair. Curl Centric says at least 3 packs, with 5 to 8 typical for a full head, and 4 to 6 hours to install.

Passion twists

Made with water wave crochet hair, by a technique credited to Miami stylist Kailyn Rogers. Curl Centric says 6 to 8 packs of water wave hair, 4 to 6 hours and 6 to 8 weeks of wear.

Twists on your own hair

Two-strand twists use only your natural hair. Curl Centric says they hang away from the scalp and add no extension weight, which makes them a low-tension option.

How long they last, and care

1. 1
   Tie it down at night
   Curl Centric says to tie your hair down at night and use a light scalp oil only if your scalp needs it.
2. 2
   Redo the hairline
   The twists around the hairline loosen first, so Curl Centric suggests redoing those between wash days. Weekly upkeep takes about 10 to 15 minutes.
3. 3
   Plan the take-down
   Curl Centric says Senegalese and Marley twists last 4 to 8 weeks and suggests removing them at around 6. Allow 2 to 4 hours for Senegalese and 1 to 3 hours for Marley twists.
4. 4
   Rest your hair
   Leave at least 1 to 2 weeks between installs, starting with a full wash and deep conditioning.

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Twist braids, explained

What twist braids are

Twist braids are made by twisting two strands of hair together, either your own hair or your hair with extension hair added. The name covers several styles that look different and use different hair. Curl Centric describes spring twists as a variation of Senegalese twists with a springy quality, made with pre-coiled hair, Marley twists as made with coarse Marley hair, and passion twists as a boho look made with water wave crochet hair.

Twists can also be done on your own hair alone. Curl Centric says two-strand twists use only your natural hair and lists them among its low-tension protective styles. If you are searching for natural hair twist braids or twist hairstyles for natural hair, ask your braider whether they twist your own hair or add extensions, because the price and the time differ.

How many packs of hair you need

The answer depends on the twist type and on what the pack contains. For mid-back length, Curl Centric gives 5 to 8 packs for Senegalese twists, 5 to 6 for Marley twists, 6 to 8 for passion twists and 5 to 8 for spring twists, with at least 3 as the minimum. Number 1 Beauty Supply says twists usually take 6 to 8 packs for a full head at medium thickness, and Gyal Braids says 6 to 8 individual packs for medium passion twists. Un-ruly is lower, at 3 to 4 packs of crochet hair for passion twists.

Ywigs shows why counts differ: it counts pre-twisted pieces. A shoulder-length head needs about 60 to 80 twists, which is 3 packs of 25 twists or 2 packs of 40, plus a spare. A fuller mid-back head needs 100 to 120 twists, which is 4 to 5 packs of 25 or 3 packs of 40, plus a spare.

Retailer labels vary too. Cosmetic Connection says its Soft Twist 70 inch, 120 g crochet braid needs 4 packs per head and its Marley Kinky Braid 14 inch needs 3 (checked 6 Oct 2026). Twist hair in the stores we checked ran from R60.90 to R145 a pack, and the price table above shows each row with the store and the date. Our calculator uses a range of 5 to 8 packs at mid-back and steps down or up for length.

What it costs to have it done in South Africa

We read the prices SA salons publish on Fresha. 38 listings across 20 salons in 10 towns and suburbs were for twist braids, Afro kinky twists, Senegalese, Marley, passion, spring or similar twists, with salons that specialise in children's hair left out. The middle half costs R600 to R1,000, with a median of R850, and takes 3.3 to 4 hours, with a median of 3.5. The 6 listings for long or waist-length twists run higher, at R750 to R1,100.

Guides abroad quote longer times, 4 to 6 hours for Senegalese twists, so allow for that if your twists are small or long. Many listings do not say whether the hair is included. Ask before you book, and ask which twist type the price is for, since the hair for a passion twist costs more than plain braiding hair.

How long they last and how to take them out

Curl Centric says Senegalese twists last 4 to 8 weeks and suggests removing them at 6. For Marley twists it also says 4 to 8 weeks, with 6 ideal, and for passion twists 6 to 8 weeks, although Gyal Braids says 4 to 6 weeks and about 8 at most with good care. Plan to take them out between week 6 and 8 at the latest.

Take your time on the take-down. Curl Centric gives 2 to 4 hours for Senegalese twists and 1 to 3 hours for Marley twists. Shed hair collects inside braids and twists, which is why Curl Centric tells you to separate shed hair as you take a style down. The American Academy of Dermatology says it is normal to shed between 50 and 100 hairs a day, so a take-down can look worse than it is. Rest your hair for 1 to 2 weeks afterwards.

Protecting your hairline and scalp

Twists with extensions add weight at your roots. Curl Centric says shorter lengths carry less weight, and that small twists put the extension weight on less hair. The British Association of Dermatologists lists tight braids, weaves and extensions, and excessively long hair because of its weight, among causes of traction alopecia, and says the first step is to stop tight hairstyles. The American Academy of Dermatology says that pain means a style is too tight.

Curl Centric says Marley hair is twisted in rather than tied on at the root, which reduces tension compared with heavier extension styles. Ask for larger twists, keep the hairline twists loose and skip heavy decoration.

Twist braids: questions