Hairstyles & Beauty · Locs & Twists

Passion Twists: Hair, Install, Care & Boho Curls

Passion twists explained: the hair you need, crochet vs. individual installs, time, cost and longevity, plus how to get boho passion twists with curls.

October 2, 202610 min read

Smiling woman with long boho passion twists in a dark-root-to-caramel blend with curly strands throughout, seated in front of a sage plaster wall and a potted palm.

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Passion twists are two-strand twists made with synthetic water-wave hair, the soft, crimped extension hair now sold as “passion twist hair.” The fiber gives each twist a rope-like shape with a slightly fuzzy, lived-in texture, so a fresh set already looks a few days old in the best way. Stylist Kailyn Rogers is widely credited with popularizing the style in the late 2010s, and it has stayed one of the most-requested twist styles since, partly because it installs faster than braids and partly because it takes a boho finish so easily.

This guide covers what passion twists are made of, how much hair to buy, crochet versus individual installs, realistic times and costs, how to turn them into boho passion twists with loose curls, and how to look after them and take them down without losing hair.

What Are Passion Twists?

A passion twist is a two-strand twist: your natural hair is combined with extension hair, and the two halves are wound around each other to the ends. The water-wave hair is what makes it a passion twist rather than a Senegalese or Marley twist. The crimped wave pattern packs into a twist that looks fuller than its weight, holds its shape, and has a soft halo of fuzz instead of a sleek finish.

Macro of one dark brown passion twist held against a blurred terracotta wall, showing its rope-like two-strand wind and fine flyaway fibers. — A passion twist is a tight, rope-like two-strand wind of soft water-wave fiber, and a few flyaways along the length are part of the look.

Passion twists are one branch of the wider boho twists family. The closest relative is the island twist, which uses curly human hair wound more loosely. If you want the most natural-looking finish and don’t mind more upkeep, our island twists guide covers that style. Passion twists are the quicker, lower-maintenance, budget-friendly option.

What Hair You Need for Passion Twists

Look for packs labeled “passion twist” or “water wave” bulk hair, usually 18-24 inches. Two things decide how many packs you need: length and install method.

Individual passion twists: typically 4-6 packs for shoulder to mid-back, around 6-8 for waist length or a very full set.
Crochet passion twists: usually 6-8 packs of pre-twisted hair, which comes already twisted and looped at the top for latching.
Boho curly pieces: 2-3 packs or bundles of curly hair. Human-hair curls cost more but tangle less and can be revived with water; synthetic curls are cheaper but tend to mat by week three or four.

Flat-lay of a pack of pre-twisted crochet passion twists with curly ends, a pile of loose curly hair, wood beads, cowrie shells, gold cuffs, a wooden comb and a spray bottle on terracotta linen. — Everything a boho passion twist install needs, including the separate curly hair that gets pulled through for the bohemian finish.

Buy one extra pack. Running short halfway through an install is common, and dye lots can vary between batches of the same color.

Individual vs. Crochet Passion Twists

There are two ways to install passion twists, and the choice affects almost everything else: time, cost, how natural the root looks and how you can wear the style.

With the individual method, your stylist parts a grid, adds water-wave hair to each section and twists it down to the end. Many start each section with a short braid at the root for grip before switching to the twist. It’s the slower route, but the twists part anywhere and look the most natural at the scalp.

Stylist's hands twisting brown-and-copper passion twist hair onto a client's natural hair, with finished rows below and a tray holding clips, a rat-tail comb and a coil of extension hair. — The individual method: each passion twist is built on your own hair, section by section, which takes longer but gives the most natural-looking root.

With the crochet method, your natural hair is cornrowed flat, then pre-twisted passion twists are looped onto the cornrows with a latch hook. It’s the faster route, and many people do it themselves at home.

Hands using a latch-hook needle to loop a pre-twisted crochet passion twist onto a cornrow base. — The crochet route: pre-twisted passion twists latched onto cornrows. It's often done in two to three hours, and the trade-off is a less natural-looking root.

The ranges below are typical for a full head at roughly shoulder to mid-back length. Twist size, density, your area and your stylist’s speed all move them.

	Individual passion twists	Crochet passion twists
How it’s done	Water-wave hair twisted onto each section of natural hair	Pre-twisted hair latched onto a cornrow base
Install time	3-5 hours (more for small or waist-length)	2-3 hours
Typical salon cost	$150-$300	$80-$180
Hair	4-6 packs of passion twist hair	6-8 packs of pre-twisted hair
How long it lasts	4-6 weeks	4-6 weeks
Root and parting	Natural root, part anywhere	Cornrow base visible up close, limited parts
Takedown	2-4 hours, unravel by hand	1-2 hours, cut loose and unbraid cornrows
Best for	The most natural look and the most styling options	Speed, budget and DIY installs

Whichever method you choose, the parting decides how clean the finished set looks. Square parts are the most common; triangle or brick-lay parts help the twists overlap and hide the scalp a little more.

Overhead view of a bowed head showing a grid of square parts at the roots of shoulder-length passion twists with curly ends spilling forward. — Clean square parts with a twist rooted firmly in each: this is what a neat individual passion twist install looks like from above.

Length changes both time and comfort. Shoulder-length passion twists are light and quick to install. Bra-strap to waist length is the bigger boho statement, but every extra inch adds install time and weight on your roots.

Two-panel comparison of the same woman with shoulder-length passion twists on top and longer chest-length passion twists with curly ends below, against a cream backdrop. — The same twist at two lengths: shoulder-length is lighter and quicker to install, and longer sets are the full boho statement (and the heavier one).

Boho Passion Twists: Adding Bohemian Curls

Boho passion twists, sometimes searched as bohemian twists with curls, are standard passion twists with loose curly hair left out along the length. The curls are a separate step: as each twist is made, the stylist adds a few strands of curly hair that are left hanging instead of being twisted in, or pulls curly pieces through finished twists with a small latch hook.

Close-up of passion twists with honey-brown highlights and loose curly strands between them, one curl resting on the collarbone above a cream knit top. — The bohemian curls are added separately. A few loose strands pulled through each section is what turns standard passion twists into boho ones.

Ask for curls concentrated around the face and crown, where they’re seen, rather than spread evenly through the back. That keeps the look full while cutting down on the tangling that comes with lots of loose hair. Finish with a few accents placed near the face: two or three gold cuffs or a single wood bead on the front twists.

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Put accessories near the face where they'll be seen. Three gold cuffs on the front twists do more than twenty scattered through the back.

Styling Passion Twists

Passion twists are light enough for updos from the first day, though it’s worth keeping anything tight off your edges for the first week. A high bun is the signature look. Gather the twists loosely, wrap them into a full bun, and leave a few curly pieces out at the temples. Half-up knots, low buns at the nape and a scarf tied as a headband are the other everyday options.

Woman with passion twists gathered in a high bun, curly face-framing twists left out, wearing a terracotta wrap top and gold drop earrings in an ivy-covered doorway. — A high bun is where passion twists show off their volume, and leaving out a few front pieces keeps it soft rather than severe.

Color is the other big lever. Off-black and dark brown are the easiest to wear daily; a dark root blended into caramel or honey adds dimension; copper and auburn are the warmest, most boho shades and look especially good outdoors.

Woman with copper-auburn passion twists and loose curls, backlit in a dry grass field at golden hour, wearing a cream crochet top. — Copper is the passion twist color that photographs warmest, and it sits right in the boho palette next to rust and terracotta.

How to Care for Passion Twists

The fuzz is part of the style, so the goal of passion twist care isn’t to make them sleek. It’s to keep the scalp clean and the frizz even.

Scalp: a light oil at the roots every 2-3 days and a diluted-shampoo scalp rinse every 1-2 weeks, focusing on the parts rather than soaking the lengths.
Nights: a satin bonnet or scarf from night one. Friction against cotton is what turns soft fuzz into matted fuzz.
Weekly refresh: smooth a little foam mousse down each twist and scrunch it into the ends to calm flyaways and re-define the curls.
Curly pieces: mist them with water and a little leave-in, then scrunch. Finger-detangle curls that wrap around neighboring twists before they knot.

Hands working white foam through the curly ends of several passion twists beside a bright bathroom window. — A palmful of mousse, smoothed down and scrunched into the ends, is the weekly refresh that keeps passion twists looking fresh past week three.

Avoid heavy butters and gels on the lengths. Synthetic fiber doesn’t absorb them, so they sit on the surface and attract lint.

How to Take Down Passion Twists

Plan the takedown as carefully as the install. That’s where most breakage happens.

Snip the ends. Cut each twist a few inches below where your own hair ends. This removes the curly synthetic tail so there’s less to unravel.
Unravel from the bottom up. Work each twist loose in the opposite direction to how it was wound, then unbraid the root section if your stylist started with a braid. For crochet sets, cut the loops at the cornrow and unbraid the rows.
Detangle at the root. A small amount of shed hair is normal after 4-6 weeks, because you shed daily and that hair has been held in the twist. Work it out with conditioner and your fingers before you reach for a comb.
Rest before the next set. Give your scalp a few days, a week if your edges feel tender, before going back into twists or braids.

Woman with long passion twists walking through a farmers market in a mustard tiered midi dress and tan sandals, carrying a woven basket of wildflowers. — Passion twists match the rest of a boho wardrobe: soft texture, warm color, and movement that photographs well.

If you’re choosing your next protective style, compare passion twists with the wrapped, longer-lasting option in our boho locs guide. And when it’s time to build an outfit around a fresh set, our boho outfit ideas pair the same warm colors and soft textures.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long do passion twists last?

Most sets look neat for 4-6 weeks. The synthetic water-wave hair holds its texture well, so new growth and frizz at the root usually decide when it's time, not the twists themselves. Crochet sets last about as long, with the cornrow base often the first thing to look worn.

How many packs of hair do I need for passion twists?

For individual passion twists, plan on 4-6 packs of water-wave passion twist hair for shoulder to mid-back length and around 6-8 for waist length. Crochet installs usually take 6-8 packs of pre-twisted hair. For boho passion twists, add 2-3 packs or bundles of curly hair for the loose pieces.

Are crochet passion twists better than individual passion twists?

Neither is better; they trade time for a natural root. Crochet passion twists go in over cornrows in about 2-3 hours and cost less, but the base is visible up close and the part options are limited. Individual twists take 3-5 hours and cost more, but they part anywhere, look more natural at the root and move more freely.

What is the difference between passion twists and island twists?

Passion twists use synthetic water-wave hair twisted into a tight, rope-like twist with a soft fuzz. Island twists use curly or wavy human or human-blend hair, wound looser so the curls open up at the ends. Island twists look more like real hair but cost more and tangle faster; passion twists are quicker, cheaper and lower-maintenance.

Island Twists: Hair, Cost, Care & Boho Styling Guide →

What are boho passion twists?

Boho passion twists are standard passion twists with loose curly hair left out between and along the twists, usually finished with curly ends and a few gold cuffs or shells. The curly pieces are added as a separate step, often with human hair so they tangle less. It's the same finish that defines every boho twist style.

Boho Twists: Types, Styles & How to Get the Look →

Should I get passion twists or knotless braids?

Get passion twists if you want a faster install, a soft, rounded texture and an easy takedown. Get knotless braids if you want a flatter, more defined look and slightly longer wear, often 5-7 weeks to the twists' 4-6. Both take the same boho curly finish.

Boho Knotless Braids: Styles, Sizes & Length Chart →

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