One of my goals for this year for my natural hair journey is to retain length.  Although I have been on this natural hair journey for a few years, I have not been retaining length.  I decided to try a new protective hairstyle for increased hair growth.  Thanks to TikTok and Pinterest, I attempted installing mini twists with extensions.  I was apprehensive going in but I am pleased with the results!

Mini Twists: A New Cute Protective Hairstyle for Hair Growth

One night while scrolling in Tiktok,, I came across a post about mini twist.  Even though I immediately adored the style, I realized that my hair wasn’t thick or long enough for it. That’s when I discovered mini twists with extensions. Having braided my hair for years, I decided to give it a shot.

Prepping Hair for Protective Style

For a protective style to offer the most benefits, the hair needs to be healthy and moisturized before styling. To prepare for several months in a protective style, I washed, deep conditioned, and trimmed my hair. Additionally, I straightened my hair before trimming it. However, when attempting this style again, skipping the straightening step is what I would opt for, as it resulted in bone-straight ends and flyaways.

Installation and Materials

I began working on my hair quite late in the day. On the first day, I braided from 2 pm until just after 8 pm. Then, I continued braiding for a few hours on the following two days. Note: I had some commitments that caused delays in the installation process for me. Next time, it will be quicker.

TikTok told me I only needed one pack of Springy Afro Twist.  I purchased 2 packs of 12-inch and 2 packs of 16-inch.  In the end, I used a pack and a half of each.

Materials (Click the image for additional details)

Results

When I finally finished, I only had two regrets in this process.  For one, I regret starting with straight hair because it made it more difficult to blend the hair.  Secondly, after using less hair in a few twists I decided I liked the smaller twists better.  I wish I had used smaller twists all over.  

Overall, I would say my first attempt at installing mini twists with extensions was a success.  I will be giving my hair lots of TLC while in twists and hopefully, this is a protective style that can encourage growth and length retention for me.  I will be checking back in with my results.

Thank you so much for reading!  Until next time!

Ton