Those who rock natural hair know that there are two main ways to accentuate and define their curls: the twist out and the braid out.
These hairstyles are achieved by either twisting or braiding the hair and allowing it to dry, then unraveling it to reveal beautiful bouncy curls. These hairstyles can last for days and give your hair a nice put-together look without compromising your natural texture.
Despite the popularity of both methods, people definitely prefer one over the other. This is because there are a few key differences between the twist out and the braid out that affect how your hair looks, and sometimes one method works better for some people than the other.
So what’s the difference between the twist out and the braid out? The main difference is that the twist out results in tighter and bouncier curls, while the braid out results in more elongated wave-like curls. There are a few other differences that we will cover, but those are the main ones.
Depending on your hair length, texture, and personal preferences, you might prefer one over the other. If you’re wondering which method works best on your hair, keep reading!
The Twist Out
What exactly is a twist out? It’s a hairstyle that is done on natural hair while it’s slightly damp and moisturized hair. To do a twist out, you take two small stands of hair and twist them around each other tightly.
You will repeat the process until all of your hair is in twists.
You can go out with your hair twisted like that or you can allow it to dry and unravel the twists. Once your hair unravels, it will look extra bouncy and curly, giving you tons of volume and helping define your curls.
How To Do A Twist Out
- Start with slightly damp hair or spritz your hair with a little bit of water to dampen it.
- Take a small section of your hair – about ½ inch wide and smooth it out in your hands.
- Put a small amount of product over the hair – this can be oil, a leave-in conditioner, or detangling cream. Run the product through your chosen section of hair to ensure it’s detangled and well-moisturized.
- Separate the section of hair into two even-sized sections.
- Twist the strands together tightly until you get to the ends.
- Secure the twist using a small rubber band.
- Repeat the process on the rest of your hair and try to keep the sections of hair similar in size. You will end up with 30-40 twists total.
- Allow the twists to stay in your hair overnight to give the hair plenty of time to dry in the twisted position. Wrap a silk scarf around the hair while you sleep to keep it from getting frizzy.
- In the morning, carefully unravel the twists. You can put a small amount of hair oil on your fingertips as you unravel to keep your curls shiny and frizz-free.
- Pick out your roots to add some lift and volume near the scalp.
- That’s it! You can wear your hair as-is or brush through the curls to add a whole lot of volume.
Benefits Of A Twist Out
There are some great benefits to a twist out:
- It gives your hair bounce and definition.
- The style can last up to 2 weeks with minimal maintenance.
- It’s easy to do compared to a braid out.
- You can wear your twisted-out hair in public while it dries because it looks like an intentional hairstyle.
Disadvantages Of A Twist Out
Twist outs have some cons:
- Twist outs “shrink” the hair and make it appear shorter.
- Not recommended for short hair and look best on longer hair.
- They can create more frizziness than braid outs.
The Braid Out
The braid out is similar to a twist out, but instead of twisting two sections of hair around each other, you take 3 small sections of hair and tightly braid them.
This process is repeated until all of the hair is in little braids.
When the hair dries, you can unravel it to reveal well-defined wave-like curls. This style can last several days in your hair and looks great on long hair as well as short hair due to less shrinkage.
How To Do A Braid Out
- Start with slightly damp hair and use a moisturizing leave-in conditioner or oil to moisturize the hair.
- Take a small section of the hair – about 1-2 inches wide – and comb it out.
- Separate your section into 3 parts and begin braiding the hair tightly. To braid, pull the left section over the center section, then pull the right section over the (new) center section. Continue braiding down to the tips of the hair and secure with a small elastic at the bottom.
- Repeat this process on the remaining hair and try to keep each braid the same size as the other ones. You should end up with 7-10 braids, depending on the thickness of the braids.
- Allow the braids to dry overnight. You can wrap a silk scarf around your head while you sleep to prevent the hair from getting frizzy.
- In the morning, remove the elastic bands. Put a little bit of hair oil on your fingers as you gently unravel each braid.
- Pick out the roots to add some lift and volume near your scalp.
- That’s it! You can wear your hair as is or run a brush through it to get more volume.
Benefits Of A Braid Out
The main benefits of a braid out are:
- Elongation rather than shrinkage of the hair
- Wave-like curls
- Less frizz than with a twist out
- Works on short hair and long hair
Disadvantages Of A Braid Out
Here are some of the disadvantages of braid-outs:
- The process of braiding all that hair is longer and more complicated.
- The style only lasts a week, max.
Twist Out Vs Braid Out: Which Is Best?
As you can see, each hairstyle comes with its own set of advantages and disadvantages, but both are valid and effective ways to make your natural curls shine.
So which one should you do? Of course, our first recommendation is to try both and see which one you prefer more. But if you’d like a little more guidance before you make your decision, here are some things to consider for each hairstyle:
How It Looks
It’s no secret that the main thing that matters in any hairstyle is how it looks. The results of twist-outs and braid-outs are slightly different.
With a twist out, your hair undergoes a little bit of shrinkage. This doesn’t mean your hair actually gets shorter. But because your hair is twisted so tightly around itself, the curls become shorter and this leads to a tighter texture and shorter-looking locks.
With a braid out, you get the opposite effect. Braiding three sections of hair helps relax your curls a little and elongates them. As a result, your hair looks a bit longer overall and your curls look more like waves rather than tight spirals.
So depending on what look you prefer, you might already know which style will suit you better.
Simplicity
Another important factor to consider is how easy or difficult each hairstyle is. Both hairstyles will require you to spend some time working on your hair.
But twist-outs are definitely easier and quicker to do. You’re only working with two sections of hair at a time and you’re twisting them around each other. You could probably do this with your eyes closed!
A braid-out takes more time and requires a little more skill. This means the first few times you try it, you might have a hard time. Braid-outs always take longer and your arms may become fatigued from working over your head for so long.
And if you’re in a hurry, twist-outs are definitely the better option. Just consider how much time you have and how much effort you’re willing to commit to your hairstyle before you pick which one you’re going to do.
Longevity
If you’re looking for the hairstyle that lasts the longest, twist out is for you. A well-done twist-out can keep your hair looking chic for 1-2 weeks.
All you have to do is moisturize the ends with a little bit of hair oil to keep it looking fresh. A braid out only lasts 5-7 days before the hair begins to lose its shape. Because the braids aren’t as tight as a twist, the style has less holding power.
If you don’t mind re-styling your hair more often, this isn’t really a deciding factor for you. But if you need your hair to last all week (or more) you should probably stick with twist-outs.
Damage
If you’re anything like us, you want to inflict the least amount of damage to your hair! The fact that you’re not using chemical relaxers or perms already means you’re treating yourself well.
But can twist-outs and braid-outs still cause damage to your hair?
Although the damage is minimal, there is some potential for breakage. The tighter you style your hair, the more likely it is to get pulled on, which leads to breakage and frizz.
Out of these two hairstyles, a twist out causes more tension on each strand and therefore has a higher potential for damage, while a braid out is a little safer for the hair.
Keep in mind that both activities are far less damaging than the alternative, and remember that keeping your hair well-hydrated is the best way to prevent it from breaking.
Products And Tools
Is there a difference in the type of products and tools you need for each hairstyle? Both hairstyles require you to use a moisturizing product (such as a leave-in conditioner like this awesome one from Moroccanoil or a hair oil), hair ties, and a silk scarf.
You can also choose to use additional tools like a brush, a hair pick, or a special twisting cream, which can be used for twist-outs and braid-outs.
There is no difference between the types of tools you need, and each of these hairstyles can be achieved with minimal equipment.
That being said, you’ll need a few more hair ties for a twist out than you would for a braid out. This is because twist-outs are usually smaller and you have more of them on your head, so you need more hair ties to keep them secure.
Should Your Hair Be Wet?
A common question we hear about twist-outs and braid-outs alike is how wet does your hair need to be to achieve the right look?
Despite popular belief, you do not need to have wet hair to do a twist out or a braid out. In fact, if your hair is soaking wet, you will not get the look you want and will likely wake up with your hair still wet, resulting in poorly defined curls and overwhelming frizz.
Your hair should be a little bit damp. If you are starting with dry hair, simply spray it with a little bit of water. If you’re starting with wet hair fresh out of the shower, give it a chance to air dry until it’s just a little bit damp.
The addition of moisturizing products like leave-in conditioner or twisting cream helps dampen your hair a little as well. With slightly damp hair, you’ll get the best curls that hold their shape for longer while minimizing frizz.
How Long Should Twist Out & Braid Out Dry?
Twist-outs and braid-outs need to be fully dried before you unravel them. For many people, this means your twists and braids need to stay in your hair for at least 5-6 hours.
It depends on how damp your hair is when you start, as well as how thick your hair is and how tightly you’ve twisted or braided your hair.
Overall, twists take a little longer to dry compared to braids. This is because with twists, your hair is more tightly wound and there is less airflow between the strands.
Even a braid out needs several hours to dry though. We recommend doing it overnight because it’s easier to just sleep on it than keep waiting for it to dry.
Don’t hesitate to wrap your hair up with a silk scarf. Silk is very smooth and doesn’t get stuck to your hair, so your twists and braids will remain neat and frizz-free while you sleep.
The scarf also protects the hair from unraveling or getting moved around while you’re tossing and turning.
How To Avoid Frizzy Ends With A Twist Out & Braid Out
A common problem with twist-outs and braid-outs is that the ends of your hair sometimes come out looking frizzy in the morning.
One way to avoid that is to try and twist or braid your hair all the way down, so that there is almost no hair left untwisted or unbraided.
If you are unable to do that, you can leave some hair out at the end (about an inch) and roll it around a small perm rod. You’ll need a separate perm rod for each twist or braid.
The perm rod keeps your ends from drying in weird ways and keeps them curly and defined like the rest of your hair.
Final Thoughts
As you can see, both twist-outs and braid-outs have their own pros and cons. Ultimately, though, the main difference is the look.
Twists result in tighter curls, while braids result in looser wave-like curls. Decide which look you prefer more and go with that.
At the end of the day, the two hairstyles aren’t that different. Consider your hair length, how much time you have, and what kind of look you want to choose the right hairstyle for you!
Anastasia
Those who rock natural hair know that there are two main ways to accentuate and define their curls: the twist out and the braid out.
These hairstyles are achieved by either twisting or braiding the hair and allowing it to dry, then unraveling it to reveal beautiful bouncy curls. These hairstyles can last for days and give your hair a nice put-together look without compromising your natural texture.
Despite the popularity of both methods, people definitely prefer one over the other. This is because there are a few key differences between the twist out and the braid out that affect how your hair looks, and sometimes one method works better for some people than the other.
So what’s the difference between the twist out and the braid out? The main difference is that the twist out results in tighter and bouncier curls, while the braid out results in more elongated wave-like curls. There are a few other differences that we will cover, but those are the main ones.
Depending on your hair length, texture, and personal preferences, you might prefer one over the other. If you’re wondering which method works best on your hair, keep reading!
The Twist Out
What exactly is a twist out? It’s a hairstyle that is done on natural hair while it’s slightly damp and moisturized hair. To do a twist out, you take two small stands of hair and twist them around each other tightly.
You will repeat the process until all of your hair is in twists.
You can go out with your hair twisted like that or you can allow it to dry and unravel the twists. Once your hair unravels, it will look extra bouncy and curly, giving you tons of volume and helping define your curls.
How To Do A Twist Out
- Start with slightly damp hair or spritz your hair with a little bit of water to dampen it.
- Take a small section of your hair – about ½ inch wide and smooth it out in your hands.
- Put a small amount of product over the hair – this can be oil, a leave-in conditioner, or detangling cream. Run the product through your chosen section of hair to ensure it’s detangled and well-moisturized.
- Separate the section of hair into two even-sized sections.
- Twist the strands together tightly until you get to the ends.
- Secure the twist using a small rubber band.
- Repeat the process on the rest of your hair and try to keep the sections of hair similar in size. You will end up with 30-40 twists total.
- Allow the twists to stay in your hair overnight to give the hair plenty of time to dry in the twisted position. Wrap a silk scarf around the hair while you sleep to keep it from getting frizzy.
- In the morning, carefully unravel the twists. You can put a small amount of hair oil on your fingertips as you unravel to keep your curls shiny and frizz-free.
- Pick out your roots to add some lift and volume near the scalp.
- That’s it! You can wear your hair as-is or brush through the curls to add a whole lot of volume.
Benefits Of A Twist Out
There are some great benefits to a twist out:
- It gives your hair bounce and definition.
- The style can last up to 2 weeks with minimal maintenance.
- It’s easy to do compared to a braid out.
- You can wear your twisted-out hair in public while it dries because it looks like an intentional hairstyle.
Disadvantages Of A Twist Out
Twist outs have some cons:
- Twist outs “shrink” the hair and make it appear shorter.
- Not recommended for short hair and look best on longer hair.
- They can create more frizziness than braid outs.
The Braid Out
The braid out is similar to a twist out, but instead of twisting two sections of hair around each other, you take 3 small sections of hair and tightly braid them.
This process is repeated until all of the hair is in little braids.
When the hair dries, you can unravel it to reveal well-defined wave-like curls. This style can last several days in your hair and looks great on long hair as well as short hair due to less shrinkage.
How To Do A Braid Out
- Start with slightly damp hair and use a moisturizing leave-in conditioner or oil to moisturize the hair.
- Take a small section of the hair – about 1-2 inches wide – and comb it out.
- Separate your section into 3 parts and begin braiding the hair tightly. To braid, pull the left section over the center section, then pull the right section over the (new) center section. Continue braiding down to the tips of the hair and secure with a small elastic at the bottom.
- Repeat this process on the remaining hair and try to keep each braid the same size as the other ones. You should end up with 7-10 braids, depending on the thickness of the braids.
- Allow the braids to dry overnight. You can wrap a silk scarf around your head while you sleep to prevent the hair from getting frizzy.
- In the morning, remove the elastic bands. Put a little bit of hair oil on your fingers as you gently unravel each braid.
- Pick out the roots to add some lift and volume near your scalp.
- That’s it! You can wear your hair as is or run a brush through it to get more volume.
Benefits Of A Braid Out
The main benefits of a braid out are:
- Elongation rather than shrinkage of the hair
- Wave-like curls
- Less frizz than with a twist out
- Works on short hair and long hair
Disadvantages Of A Braid Out
Here are some of the disadvantages of braid-outs:
- The process of braiding all that hair is longer and more complicated.
- The style only lasts a week, max.
Twist Out Vs Braid Out: Which Is Best?
As you can see, each hairstyle comes with its own set of advantages and disadvantages, but both are valid and effective ways to make your natural curls shine.
So which one should you do? Obviously, our first recommendation is to try both and see which one you prefer more.
But if you’d like a little more guidance before you make your decision, here are some things to consider for each hairstyle:
How It Looks
It’s no secret that the main thing that matters in any hairstyle is how it looks. The results of twist-outs and braid-outs are slightly different.
With a twist out, your hair undergoes a little bit of shrinkage. This doesn’t mean your hair actually gets shorter.
But because your hair is twisted so tightly around itself, the curls become shorter, and this leads to a tighter texture and shorter-looking locks.
With a braid out, you get the opposite effect. Braiding three sections of hair helps relax your curls a little and elongates them. As a result, your hair looks a bit longer overall and your curls look more like waves rather than tight spirals.
So depending on what look you prefer, you might already know which style will suit you better.
Simplicity
Another important factor to consider is how easy or difficult each hairstyle is. Both hairstyles will require you to spend some time working on your hair.
But twist-outs are definitely easier and quicker to do. You’re only working with two sections of hair at a time and you’re twisting them around each other. You could probably do this with your eyes closed!
A braid-out takes more time and requires a little more skill. This means the first few times you try it, you might have a hard time. Braid-outs always take longer and your arms may become fatigued from working over your head for so long.
And if you’re in a hurry, twist-outs are definitely the better option. Just consider how much time you have and how much effort you’re willing to commit to your hairstyle before you pick which one you’re going to do.
Longevity
If you’re looking for the hairstyle that lasts the longest, twist out is for you. A well-done twist-out can keep your hair looking chic for 1-2 weeks.
All you have to do is moisturize the ends with a little bit of hair oil to keep it looking fresh. A braid out only lasts 5-7 days before the hair begins to lose its shape. Because the braids aren’t as tight as a twist, the style has less holding power.
If you don’t mind re-styling your hair more often, this isn’t really a deciding factor for you. But if you need your hair to last all week (or more) you should probably stick with twist-outs.
Damage
If you’re anything like us, you want to inflict the least amount of damage to your hair! The fact that you’re not using chemical relaxers or perms already means you’re treating yourself well.
But can twist-outs and braid-outs still cause damage to your hair?
Although the damage is minimal, there is some potential for breakage. The tighter you style your hair, the more likely it is to get pulled on, which leads to breakage and frizz.
Out of these two hairstyles, a twist out causes more tension on each strand and therefore has a higher potential for damage, while a braid out is a little safer for the hair.
Keep in mind that both activities are far less damaging than the alternative, and remember that keeping your hair well-hydrated is the best way to prevent it from breaking.
Products And Tools
Is there a difference in the type of products and tools you need for each hairstyle? Both hairstyles require you to use a moisturizing product (such as a leave-in conditioner or a hair oil), hair ties, and a silk scarf.
You can also choose to use additional tools like a brush, a hair pick, or a special twisting cream, which can be used for twist-outs and braid-outs.
There is no difference between the types of tools you need, and each of these hairstyles can be achieved with minimal equipment.
That being said, you’ll need a few more hair ties for a twist out than you would for a braid out. This is because twist-outs are usually smaller and you have more of them on your head, so you need more hair ties to keep them secure.
Should Your Hair Be Wet?
A common question we hear about twist-outs and braid-outs alike is how wet does your hair need to be to achieve the right look?
Despite popular belief, you do not need to have wet hair to do a twist out or a braid out. In fact, if your hair is soaking wet, you will not get the look you want and will likely wake up with your hair still wet, resulting in poorly-defined curls and overwhelming frizz.
Your hair should be a little bit damp. If you are starting with dry hair, simply spray it with a little bit of water. If you’re starting with wet hair fresh out of the shower, give it a chance to air dry until it’s just a little bit damp.
The addition of moisturizing products like leave-in conditioner or twisting cream helps dampen your hair a little as well. With slightly damp hair, you’ll get the best curls that hold their shape for longer while minimizing frizz.
How Long Should Twist Out & Braid Out Dry?
Twist-outs and braid-outs need to be fully dried before you unravel them. For many people, this means your twists and braids need to stay in your hair for at least 5-6 hours.
It depends on how damp your hair is when you start, as well as how thick your hair is and how tightly you’ve twisted or braided your hair.
Overall, twists take a little longer to dry compared to braids. This is because with twists, your hair is more tightly wound and there is less airflow between the strands.
Even a braid out needs several hours to dry though. We recommend doing it overnight because it’s easier to just sleep on it than keep waiting for it to dry.
Don’t hesitate to wrap your hair up with a silk scarf. Silk is very smooth and doesn’t get stuck to your hair, so your twists and braids will remain neat and frizz-free while you sleep.
The scarf also protects the hair from unraveling or getting moved around while you’re tossing and turning.
How To Avoid Frizzy Ends With A Twist Out & Braid Out
A common problem with twist-outs and braid-outs is that the ends of your hair sometimes come out looking frizzy in the morning.
One way to avoid that is to try and twist or braid your hair all the way down, so that there is almost no hair left untwisted or unbraided.
If you are unable to do that, you can leave some hair out at the end (about an inch) and roll it around a small perm rod. You’ll need a separate perm rod for each twist or braid.
The perm rod keeps your ends from drying in weird ways and keeps them curly and defined like the rest of your hair.
Final Thoughts
As you can see, both twist-outs and braid-outs have their own pros and cons. Ultimately, though, the main difference is the look.
Twists result in tighter curls, while braids result in looser wave-like curls. Decide which look you prefer more and go with that.
At the end of the day, the two hairstyles aren’t that different. Consider your hair length, how much time you have, and what kind of look you want to choose the right hairstyle for you!
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