Hair Tutorials: The French Twist
Mar 21, 2012
The French Twist is as refined an updo as you will ever see. It is the epitome of sophistication, and can be worn by any woman at any age. I’ve been trying to master this style for years, and I could never figure out what I was doing wrong, until I spotted this tutorial from Lilith Moon.
The tutorial takes the guess work out of pinning it properly, securing the ends and building volume at the crown (tease thin sections, not thick ones). It also helped me realize the mistake I was making. I was using the wrong kind of bobby pins.
Instead of the traditional flat bobby pin, you need to use the wider hair pins. This will keep your twist from being flattened and give you a more secure hold. Very important.
Lilith Moon also has great tutorials for both short and long hair, including this twisted updo and this vintage bun tutorial. A word of caution though, her accent is a bit heavy, so it can be tough to understand her. You may need to watch the video a few times before you fully understand what she is saying.
Hey, Belle. This is sort of related, but do you know anything about color glossing treatments? Have you ever gotten one, or do you know anyone who has? I am fine with my hair color but have been wanting something different recently, just to spice it up. So I got highlights, but I just don't think I'm ready to spend that much money and go to the salon that often, when I'm really okay with my hair color. So I thought this might be a good compromise. Thoughts?
I'm not really sure what you mean by color glossing, but I get toner from time to time. It's like a semi-perm, color wash. It's mostly to combat the bleaching my hair gets in the summer from the sun. I like them, they're cheap and they pump things up a little.
Maybe this is me having bought the wrong pins again and again, but I simply can't get the wide bobby pins to hold my hair. They just bend open when I put them in or fall down right away, I can't even get them to hold at all in order to put more in (I have a lot of hair and it's quite heavy). Any idea what I'm doing wrong?
B-Maybe try a Goody French Twist pin? https://www.collegefashion.net/beauty-and-hair/i-tried-it-goody-simple-styles-collection/
b23- I've gotten glosses before. The easiest thing to think of them is as a dye job without the dye. they kinda seal your hair and add a thin coat to it. I love them. I have super straight fine thin shoulder length mouse brown hair, and it brings out the natural highlights I have and adds tons of gloss to my hair. I always get stopped and people want to know what I use to make my hair so shiny
I feel like doing hairstyles like this is easy if you have hair like the woman in the video. My hair on the other hand is thick, slippery, and not very pliable — not bendy and easily shaped like her hair. Sigh!
B: If you have a lot of hair and it's heavy, you might have to use the big, tight pins (although they make big, open ones too…usually 4-5 inches long instead of 2). I have a lot of hair too, and little pins do almost nothing for me. On the bright side, because you have a lot of hair tight pins shouldn't flatten your twist too much (or as much as they would for someone with less hair)! Another key for you might be “scalp hair,” as Lilith Moon put it. You have to get that in the pin if you want your hair to hold. If you have long, thick hair the short pins won't always grab the hair closest to your hair well…at least that's my experience. I generally use a couple of big pins to set a strong foundation (I generally pin the bottom of the twist to my head at the beginning just to help everything hold; I think she just did the top at that point) and then use some little ones to shape and capture wispies. I hope this is helpful! I really got into a french twist groove last month…I wore one practically every day and it was a little bit amazing!
Belle, that's about the best french twist tutorial I've ever seen! Thank you for introducing me to Lillth Moon…I'm off to practice in front of the mirror now 🙂
Excellent French Twist tutorial, finally! I have shoulder length straight heavy hair and need to use longer pins. Not only elegant with everything from jeans to suits but amazing with a silk sari and long earrings! Thank you Belle!