12 Easy Back-to-School Mini Twists Hairstyles for Natural Hair
Last updated on August 1st, 2024 at 09:35 am
If you have fine natural hair and do your twists too small, twist hairstyles will be the least of your worries. The takedown can be a nightmare – hair breakage being the biggest culprit.
If you want some twisting tips for natural hair (visit that link). You’ll discover how to make your two-strand twists look their absolute best.
Related: How to Make Your Twists Last Longer
Back to School Twist Hairstyles
The following twist hairstyles can be done at any time but the reason they are great back to school hairstyles is the very nature of why we do twists in the first place.
Twists by nature are very low maintenance. Yes, there’s a time investment upfront but once those twists are in, they are set. When done properly, they can last for a month or longer.
if you want easy back to school hairstyles done with mini twists (or small twists), check out the styles below. You can even do these with large twists if you choose.
Click the individual images at the bottom of each style’s section for a larger view on how to “set” the style.
Roll & Tuck Twist Back
This first style, you’ve likely seen before. There’s a good reason for that. It’s an easy way to style your twists that quickly turns it into a protective style.
The best part is when you pin this protective hairstyle correctly and tie your hair down for bed, you can easily rock the style the next day without having to re-pin it.
Mini Twist Center Updo with Side Accents
Twists are the most versatile of natural hairstyles. This pretty way to style mini twists is great as a back to school hairstyle.
All you need is a Puff Cuff (or banana clip). I prefer the Puff Cuff) to secure twists.
Side Swoop Mini Twist Ponytail
If you want to pull your hair up off your shoulders but still show a bit of length in the front, this side swoop mini-twist ponytail is an easy choice.
High Twist Bun
This is one of my favorite back to school twist hairstyles shared. It’s a full-on protective style that looks more elegant than it is. If you or your child plays sports in school, this is the best way to style mini twists without worrying about the twists coming down or out.
Twist Bun and Ponytail Combo
A super easy style that almost any length of hair can achieve, is mini twists pulled up in the front into a bun and left down in a ponytail. You can also leave the back down.
Lastly, pull the ponytail up into a bun if you want this to be a full protective style.
French Roll with Rolled Bangs
This style is super cute! It’s not as easy as the others and I had to save the best for later. You definitely need hair that’s a little longer because you have to swoop the back of your hair up and cross one side over the other.
The front is sectioned out and rolled forward. Then, the twists are pinned so they are secure. It took me a few extra pins because my twists are pretty long. Lastly, I left a few stray twists out for dramatic effect: One in the back and a few on the sides of my face.
This style was inspired by BeautyWithTy on Youtube. I did mine a bit differently than she did. For example, I did not put mine in a ponytail at the top. I just rolled and pinned in place. Both styles are cute though, right?
Here’s a video where she shares 11 ways to style mini twists. The tutorial for this hairstyle is at the 1 minute 18 second mark:
Basic Ponytail Twists
Nothing special about this style but the ponytail is classic so I had to include it. It’s appropriate to do twist hairstyles for back to school or lounging on the couch!
The Puffed-Up Bun
A play on the classic bun done with twists, this hairstyle just requires you to loosely pull your twists up, secure them, and pin them in place. The key is to pin just the ends of the twists so they don’t loosen and the bun looks puffed up. I used a banana clip for this style because it holds more securely.
Twists Secured with Headband
To cover the top of your head and pull the twists away from your face, use a decorative headband. I also left a section of the twists hanging a little closer to the face while still keeping them back. This is one of my favorite styles for when you don’t have time to actually “style” your twists but still want to look stylish.
Claw Clipped Twists
On days when you don’t want to worry about styling the twists too much before school, you can just pull them up and clip them with a large claw clip.
I have tons of these clips and while neither I or my kids are in school anymore, this is a great “style” for when you’re in a pinch. It’s fast and easy just like the twists secured with the headband.
Alternatively, you can leave the front section down to make it a little more “fancy.”
Center Braided Twists
This twist hairstyle takes a bit of braiding skill. Section out the front center and start braiding those twists back – like a cornrow. Alternatively, you can flat twist it. The braid is just more visually interesting.
When you’re done, use hair clamps to decorate the braided twists and other surrounding twists. You can change how this style looks in many ways including:
- Position of the braided twists
- Braiding more or less twists
​The possibilities are numerous.
​Smooth your edges with some edge control and be on your way. Class awaits!
Cocooned Twists with Bun
This style looks way more difficult than it is. Every time I do it, it comes out differently. That’s the beauty of it.
If you are rocking mini twists, small twists, or large twists, you can do this style if you have the length of medium hair or long hair.
Section the twists in the middle. Pull the back up into a high-ish ponytail. Secure all the twists into a bun. You can use a satin scrunchie for this. Then, wrap the front twists around in a way that it looks like a Cinnabon. Pin in place and voila. You’re done.
This doesn’t have to be perfect. It just needs to lay flat in the front.
If you want your daughter to rock twists throughout the school year, this makes a great hairstyle with twists on picture day. Or, maybe you want to save this one for yourself to go to work. I won’t tell!
This is definitely one of those mom hairstyles black women can rock effortlessly.
My Best Tips for The Two-Strand Twist Hairstyles
Let’s wrap this up with some of my best tips for twisting natural curls. Before twisting your hair, below are a few tips to keep in mind. I’ve separated them based on technique or product.
Twisting Technique
- Start twisting on dry hair, not wet hair. Damp hair is OK but not the best way to twist because you want to keep your hair, stretched, especially if you have a tight curl pattern.
- As you are twisting, you’ll dampen your hair with a go-to product which is why you don’t want to start on damp hair
- Section off the front half of your hair and start braiding from the nape area.
- Start the individual twists with a braid. it’s like you’re doing box braids but the section of hair that you braided turns into regular twists after braiding down about 5 links
- if this is your first time twisting your hair make sure you start with smaller sections (not too small) and keep the sizes uniform
- Section your hair so that you have a middle part and a side part on each side of your head. Start the side parts in line with the center of your eyebrow on each side. This will allow for greater flexibility to do different styles
Twisting Products
- Keep a spray bottle handy to mist your ends because they will start looking bushy as you’re twisting!
- Use a pomade-based braid and twist gel. This one by Aunt Jackie’s is my go-to product for doing smaller twists. It helps cut back on frizz.
- Use a thick and heavy butter on the ends of your twists. This keeps them smooth and tangle-free. Re-apply every 2-3 days
​End Result Twist Out
When it’s all said and done for styling mini twists for back to school (or whenever), a great way to get more out of the style is to carefully take the twists down for a twist out.
Your hair at this point should be pretty defined.
​You will have some shed hair but if you were refreshing and retwisting some of the old twists that got frizzy, it shouldn’t be too much. A 1 or 2 day twist out should be nice.
Note: These styles can also be done on loose twists. Different effect but cute is still in your future!
I pray you got some ideas for how to style twists on natural hair from what was shared <3
