You love dreadlocks but at the same time want that flexibility with your hair styling. I have just the thing for you! Faux locs allows you to have the same experience as dreads except without the long-term commitment. It requires far less time to get done, and you could take it out in seconds.
What are Faux Locs?
Faux locs are simply fake locs; They are hair extensions looking like dreadlocks except they can happen overnight and these locs can be washed or retouched.
Faux locs can be styled differently giving rise to various chic hairstyles. Goddess locs, soft faux locs, butterfly faux locs, distressed faux locs, and crochet faux locs are among the varieties; the distinction is in the way they are applied.
Because natural hair strands are tucked into the locs, faux locs are a protective hairstyle that defends against environmental factors that could cause hair breakage. Going for that look that says a little bit eccentric, gorgeous, and smart, you might want to try out faux locs.
Pros and Cons of Wearing Faux locs as a Protective Hairstyle
- It is relatively light, though it could become slightly heavier above 20 inches.
- It is cost-effective and could stay on for up to 6-8 weeks.
- It gets even more beautiful as it ages.
Cons
- Wearing certain styles can put tension on your nape, edges, or sides. Be sure to avoid over-styling.
- Showering and sleeping are made difficult by the weight of the hair.
- The wrapping hair could snap on your jewelry.
- If the locs are not put in properly, you may have trouble getting them out, which could be damaging to your hair.
It can be difficult to distinguish between the many loc types, but not too worry—I’ll discuss the faux locs that are frequently mentioned and how to install them.
Types of Faux Locs
Soft locs are a type of faux locs that gives you a soft, natural look that resembles dread, hence the name “soft loc”
By either forming a loop on the locs like a butterfly or a naturally distressed look, these forms of loc installation create a little bit messy yet beautiful appearance.
As the name implies, it doesn’t take much effort and merely has to be crotched in and by far takes the least amount of time to complete.
it’s similar to the other locs, except it follows an installation technique that leaves curls at the end or in the loc. The name is duly deserved because after installing this loc you look and feel like a goddess!
Preparatory Steps to Take Before Installing Faux Locs
Because it will be nestled inside the faux locs, you want to ensure your hair is clean and free of product buildup before installing. You also want it to keep hydrated and moisturized.
Start by washing your hair with a sulfate-free shampoo
Sulfate in shampoos helps in removing product buildup and dirt from the hair. The only drawback is that they do their work so well that they remove all the moisture and hair oils that the hair needs to keep healthy.
Using a sulfate-free shampoo allows your hair to stay moisturized.
Deep Conditioning Treatment
Your hair needs to be hydrated, and a deep conditioner is a sure way to do that!
Deep conditioners penetrate the hair cuticle’s inner cortex and work their magic from the inside out, unlike regular conditioners, which are made for everyday use and can only penetrate the hair cuticle’s outside layer.
After shampooing, apply your deep conditioner to your hair shaft and work your way up from tips to roots. Because the hair scalp doesn’t necessarily lack moisture, conditioners shouldn’t be used at the roots. But always make sure to concentrate on the roots when shampooing.
Next, using your fingers spread the conditioner evenly throughout the hair ends.
Detangle Thoroughly
Use a brush, fingers, wide-tooth comb, or anything to delicately detangle conditioned hair and smooth out the knots without causing hair breakage.
How to Install Faux Locs
Now that the washing process has been taken care of, start by sectioning your hair.
Sectioning is when you square off your head into a chess board arrangement. After you do that, it’s time for the installation process. There are two locking techniques: the crochet method and the braid and wrap method.
Braid and Wrap Technique
After properly dividing your hair into sections, take one fraction and braid it halfway, do it for all sections. Spray hair oils on the scalp once the braiding process is complete to keep it hydrated.
Depending on the length you want and the thickness of your hair, you’d need between 4- 8 packs of loc extensions. Open the loop on the loc, attach it to the third strand of the braid, draw it in, and go on braiding with the loc. When you’re finished, you’ll see that the braid and loc are separate.
Using a crochet needle, pass your wrapping hair through the braids’ roots. To achieve that knot-free, natural look, pull so that one part appears longer than the other and wrap tightly twice at the roots. Then, as you work your way downward, wrap loosely. It is up to you whether you wrap left or right.
After wrapping hair around the locs, make sure to palm roll each locs.
Crocheting Technique
Your locs quality will depend on how well your section is. Decide how you want to part and how your section should be organized before beginning the process.
This method is quicker, lightweight, doesn’t involve wrapping or clips, and produces lovely results. Start by dividing your hair into sections, then make individual pieces for your ears, sides, and back. You can pretty much braid the rest of the hair back. These individual pieces give it a more natural appearance.
To begin crocheting, open the locs loop, fasten it to a crochet hook, then thread the hook through the braid roots to start crocheting. Once you realize the braid and loc are separate, you take a crochet hook, insert it into the loc, open the hook, and attach the braid, pulling it into the loc.
The length of your braids will determine how frequently you repeat this step until your braid is completely covered. After the individual pieces are done, crochet in the locs to the braids and that’s it!
Keep in mind the following when installing the faux locs:
- After you’ve inserted the locs, feel them by lightly pushing them in various directions to check for tightness.
- To make the locs seem nicer and ease tension in particular regions, use smaller pieces just around the ears, sides, or temples.
- Any hair poking out from the locs should be trimmed with scissors.
Are faux locs washable? Yes! It’s not as challenging as it seems. The best way to wash these locs is to keep your fingertips on the scalp only, allowing the shampoo to wash down the locs. This will prevent you from applying too much friction, which will eventually cause the locs to loosen and fall out.
Faux Locs Hairstyle Maintenance Tips
- If you plan to keep your locs in for more than four weeks, wash your hair as usual.
- If you don’t intend to wash your hair, use a dry shampoo or an apple cider vinegar hair rinse to get rid of dirt and product buildup on the scalp.
- Oils and leave-in conditioners work hand in hand with protective styles.
- Apply mousse to your locs to tame flyaways and occasionally add shine.
- Focus on the health of your scalp by misting hair oils to seal in moisture, encourage healthy hair growth, and combat frizz.
- Be careful when wearing hair accessories on your faux locs. Headbands and hair ties can pull at faux locs, creating tension on the roots and the delicate edges.
- As cotton or other fabrics wick away moisture, wear a silk cap or scarf while you sleep to keep the faux locs appearing fresh.
How to Remove Faux Locs
Worrying about the removal process damaging your hair is unnecessary if the installation was done correctly.
But you must be careful when taking out the locs to avoid breaking your hair. Before gently separating the wrapped hair, cut the locs at their base.
In the case of crochet locs, you might need first to retrieve the braid and pull out the loc. This is a simple procedure. The next step is to undo the braids below. To avoid hair loss due to product buildup, I advise massaging the braid roots with oil or water.
Conclusion
The basic line is that faux locs should be treated properly because they are not dreads. You should do the necessary research and see a loctician or hair stylist for the installation because they are better qualified on how to style and what products to use for the process.