You ever notice how long loc'ed hair gets--and how quickly? I think the same growth/length maintenance rules apply to two strand twists. This "low manipulation" styling is the perfect storm for length retention. Lets establish that your hair is growing. It was easy to see all of that "new growth" when your hair was relaxed! But why isn't the hair length going down my back? Mostly because of the hair ends. The hair ends have been on the head for the longest time as compared to the rest of the hair. It's been subjected to the environment (sun, wind, clothing, etc). It snags easily with each comb/brush friction. It's pretty much being beat down daily. BUT two strand twists require that your ends are twisted together (forming a thicker bond).
With this thicker bond, your ends are better equipped to sustain the environmental abuse. Also, when you wear two strand twists, you don't comb through or brush through at all during that time. If you keep the twists moisturized, alternate with protective styles, then you can pretty much be assured of seeing growth over a two month period of time. A few challenges are:
- Keeping them moisturized
- Having the patience to take down all of the twists safely
- Re-doing the twists again in another 2-3 weeks.
The longest I've ever kept my two strand twists in for is about 3 weeks. I co wash my hair approximately 2 times a week while I have my twists in. Once your twists are wet, they are suseptible to "loc'ing". Many people who are beginning dreadlocs often begin with two strand twists! So be watchful of your twists during the time you wear them. Watch the roots for tangling. Some two strand twist wearers "refresh" their twists on a daily basis by re-doing a section at a time. Do whatever works best for your hair.
