Faux Locs
Temporary / Faux Loc Family
Illustration -- About our illustrations
Faux locs are a temporary loc look made by braiding or twisting your natural hair and then wrapping extension hair tightly around it to form a loc-shaped cylinder. They imitate the look of mature locs for weeks rather than years, and come out without cutting your hair.
Distinguishing characteristics
A braided or twisted base is wrapped from root to tip with extension hair, giving a smooth, uniform loc. Pre-made locs can also be crocheted onto cornrows for a faster install. Faux locs is the umbrella term; soft locs, butterfly locs and goddess locs are faux-loc variations with different wraps and finishes.
Advantages
The look of locs without permanence. Long wear and very little daily styling.
Considerations
Long installs, and wrapped locs can feel heavy and stiff at first. Removal takes time.
Warning signs
Pain, headaches, bumps or thinning at the hairline mean the locs are too heavy or tight.
Preparation
Start with clean, conditioned, stretched hair. Decide between individually wrapped locs (longer install, more natural movement) and crochet locs (faster). Confirm the length, thickness and end finish.
Daily Care
Moisturise the scalp and roots lightly. The wrapped locs need little product.
Night Care
Wear a large satin bonnet or wrap the locs loosely to reduce frizz.
Washing
Wash carefully with diluted shampoo on the scalp. Wrapped locs absorb water and are heavy when wet, so squeeze them out and dry them fully.
Scalp Care
Locs add weight; watch the hairline and nape for tenderness and keep the scalp clean.
Refreshing
Re-wrap frizzy roots, or ask a stylist to redo the front locs.
Removal
Unwrap the extension (or cut it below your natural ends and unwrap), then take down the base braid or twist and detangle carefully.
Styling tips
Curly ends, blonde and other colours, twisted-base versions and updos such as high buns are popular.
At a glance
- Estimated price
- $100–$300
Planning estimate, not a validated market benchmark -- local salon pricing varies and this figure should not be treated as a typical or standard price. - Chair time
- 4–9 hrs
- Sizes
- Medium
- Lengths
- Shoulder Length, Bra-Strap Length, Mid-Back Length
- Looks
- 5 looks
- Occasions
- Work / Office: Well suited
- Climate & activity
- Rainy / High-Moisture Season: Suited with tradeoffs
Looks
- Crochet Faux Locs
- Medium Faux Locs -- Medium, Shoulder Length, Natural Black
- Faux Locs with Curly Ends -- Medium, Bra-Strap Length, Dark Brown
- Blonde Faux Locs -- Medium, Mid-Back Length, Blonde
- Twisted-Base Faux Locs -- Medium, Shoulder Length, Natural Black
Price & time
- Estimated price: $100–$300
- Estimated time: 4–9 hrs
- Confidence: High
Planning estimate, not a validated market benchmark -- local salon pricing varies and this figure should not be treated as a typical or standard price.
US national estimate.
Occasion & climate fit
Work / Office
Occasion · Well suited
Rainy / High-Moisture Season
Climate & activity · Suited with tradeoffs
Culture & history
Faux Locs as a Wrapped-Extension Loc Style
Faux locs wrap synthetic braiding hair smoothly and uniformly around a braided or twisted natural-hair base to imitate the look of grown locs without the months-to-years natural loc-forming process. This is the foundation construction for the temporary-loc family in this catalog: Butterfly Locs, Soft Locs, and Goddess Locs all share this same wrap-around-a-base technique and differ mainly in wrap tightness and finishing hair type, not in construction.