Differences Between Senegalese Twists and Passion Twists

Senegalese twists and passion twists are two of the most common protective hairstyles to consider if you’re specifically going for twists. If you’re having a hard time choosing between the both, you may want to see the differences to know which is which. But what’s the difference between Senegalese twists and passion twists?

Both passion twists and Senegalese twists involve using straight hair extensions to create two-strand twists, but the result looks very different. While passion twists tend to look curly, Senegalese twists keep a straight look, making that the primary difference between the two hairstyles.

In this article, we’ll dive deeper into the differences between these two kinds of twists. You’ll learn the pros and cons of either, and which is the better of the two if one is truly better. Without further ado, let’s jump in.

What are Senegalese Twists?

Senegalese twists, alternatively known as rope twists, refer to a protective hairstyle common among women with Afro-textured hair. This hairstyle is very similar to box braids since it’s done with straight braiding hair, but instead of braiding with three strands, Senegalese twists require only two.

Just as you might have guessed already, the hairstyle originated from Senegal in West Africa, hence the name. While it has been a thing since the early 2000s, it didn’t become popular until around 2015, and the hairstyle’s popularity has been growing in leaps and bounds ever since.

The hairstyle is one of the more complex twists, and it’s pretty expensive to install. You’ll also have to sit for a bit longer than normal for the installation, but as soon as you’re done with it, you can start enjoying its benefits, one of which is that it lasts very long.

What are Passion Twists?

The passion twists hairstyle is a lookalike of the Senegalese twist, only that it requires you to add hair extensions. There are specific extensions that work with passion twists since you need a curly look to complete the style.

Compared to something like Senegalese twists, passion twists is a pretty recent hairstyle. It only became a thing after 2018, when Miami hairstylist Kailyn Rogers posted the first of its kind of Instagram. The hairstyle gained massive popularity in no time, even if it’s still not as popular as Senegalese twists.

Passion twists don’t last nearly as long as Senegalese twists, but they also don’t take as much time to make. Like with Senegalese twists, passion twists has its set of pros and cons, and we’ll have an entire section to discuss that.

Pros and Cons of Senegalese Twists?

The popularity of Senegalese twists can be attributed to the fact that it has so many advantages, but that doesn’t rule out some minor drawbacks of the hairstyle. This section will look at some of the benefits and drawbacks of installing the Senegalese twists hairstyle.

Pros

Being a protective hairstyle, you should naturally expect Senegalese twists to have some benefits like low maintenance and protection. In addition to that, however, it’s a style with not so much tension, making it better for your scalp than most alternatives.

In addition to that, they don’t look terrible as they age, as is typically expected of twists generally. As your Senegalese twists grow older, they look better, which is a huge plus, especially if you like your hair to last very long.

Cons

Most of the disadvantages of Senegalese twists only apply when you install the hairstyle improperly. The most common one is the tension it causes to your hair since it’s easy to pull too hard, making the style too tight. When you (or your hairstylist) do that, you’ll be left with a painful hairstyle that’s very prone to breakage.

Pros and Cons of Passion Twists?

Passion twists are similar to Senegalese twists in looks, but the presence of hair extensions changes everything. As this section will demonstrate, there’s an entire collection of pros and cons you get from installing passion twists that are unavailable from Senegalese twists. Here you go.

Pros

Passion twists have the signature curly look of the average protective style, and it also comes with the full package of benefits associated with them. All the basics apply, including length retention, protection, and growth enhancement.

In addition to those basic benefits, passion twists also look great and tend to last for a pretty long time, at least, if you’re not comparing it to a super-long-lasting protective hairstyle like Senegalese twists. If you can learn to install the style yourself, passion twists can be very cheap also.

Cons

One of the first things to note before installing passion twists is that they’re somewhat costly if you’re using a professional hairstylist. The hair used for the extensions is also very silky and not waterproof, so if you’re planning to swim, it would be wise to start shelving that plan.

What’s the difference between Senegalese Twists and Passion Twists?

While both hairstyles fit comfortably under the protective twists category, there are a host of differences between passion twists and Senegalese twists. So, what are these differences to help you decide what’s better between the two protective hairstyles?

The biggest and most noticeable difference between the two hairstyles would be their longevity. Senegalese twists tend to last longer than passion twists, without looking noticeably worse. If you’re willing to endure through the time it takes to install the former, you’ll reap its fruits.

In terms of the look and feel of the hair itself, the texture of the hair extensions you use for passion and Senegalese twists is probably the biggest difference between the hairstyles. While passion twists tend to have curly look to them, Senegalese twists typically look straight, which should be a defining factor in which you eventually choose to install.

Conclusion

When trying to choose between Senegalese twists and passion twists, it’s crucial to determine if you want straight or curly hair. If curly hair seems more like your style, Senegalese twists are the better option, while passion twists seem like a better choice if the reverse is the case.