Like all protective styles, faux locs can look amazing on their own. That doesn’t mean you won’t want to change your look up occasionally, however.
No idea what to do with your locs? No problem. We’ve rounded up some of the most whimsical, elegant, and simple styles for you to try. The hardest thing you’ll have to do is decide which one to try first.
What are faux locs?
Faux locs are a semi-permanent style in which yarn, synthetic or human hair is wrapped around your natural hair to give the appearance of locs. As with most hair installations, faux locs can last anywhere from six to 12 weeks with proper care.Faux locs are often considered a protective style because they allow your hair to remain natural and untouched beneath the added hair. Not all protective styles are created equal, however. If your locs are installed too tightly or with too much weighty hair, they can pull out your strands. Don’t hesitate to speak up if you feel like your stylist is pulling just a little too tightly or adding more hair than necessary.
How To Care For Faux Locs
Faux locs are perfect for anyone who’s always loved the look of the style but isn’t ready to make a longterm commitment. While faux locs won’t stay installed in your hair as long as traditional locs, six to 12 weeks is still a considerable amount of time. However, just because you’re wearing one hairstyle for weeks doesn’t mean you can slack off on your haircare routine.Your hair and scalp need just as much (if not more!) attention to stay as healthy as possible.
If you’re keeping your faux locs in for longer than a week, you’ll need to wash your hair while they’re still installed. Shampoo your hair like you usually would, making sure to be gentle so as not to disturb your style too much. Follow your shampoo with a hydrating conditioner to ensure your hair looks and feels moisturized. We recommend Mizani’s Moisture Fusion Moisture Rich Shampoo and Conditioner.
Once you’ve washed and conditioned your hair, you’ll need to make sure it is completely dry before styling. Because faux locs require you to add extra hair to your style, you may want to use a blow dryer or hooded dryer to make sure your mane is 100 percent dry. If you leave your hair damp (particularly near the scalp) you run the risk of developing dandruff, fungus, or even mildew.
If you don’t have time to wash and condition your hair regularly completely, invest in a good astringent—we recommend witch hazel. It can help remove dirt and buildup, keeping your scalp healthy between washes. Apply the astringent with cotton swabs to ensure you clean every nook and cranny of your scalp is left feeling clean.
Ballerina Bun
Round up some bobby pins and a couple of hair elastics. Gather all your locs on the top of your head and use an elastic to fasten a ponytail. If your locs are very thick, you may want to consider using a shoelace in lieu of an elastic to prevent the band from snapping. If you’re having a bit of trouble holding up your mane while preparing to tie your pony, flip your head over and let gravity do the work for you. Once you’ve positioned your ponytail, begin to wrap your locs around themselves to form a bun. As you wrap your locs into your desired shape, use bobby pins to hold your style in place. Once you’ve pinned the entire bun, use another elastic to ensure no stray locs escape your elegant style.Ponytail
Even if you’re always losing your hair elastics, you’re in luck. For this look, you only need one. First, decide if you want a low or high ponytail. If you’re going with a low pony, gather your faux locs at the nape of your neck and secure them with an elastic. If you’ve decided on a sky-high pony, bundle your locs at the top of your head and secure them with an elastic or shoelace. Using the same trick you tried for the ballerina bun, feel free to flip your head over and use gravity to your advantage. ? Using an elastic or shoelace, secure your ponytail while your head is turned over. Simply flip your head back over to get a look at the result.
Half Up, Half Down
For this look, all you’ll need is a hair elastic. Gather hair from the top half of your head and tie your locs into a ponytail. If you’re looking for something a little extra, jazz up your ‘do by styling the locs in your ponytail into a bun or a classic braid.
Low Bun
For this look, you’ll need bobby pins and a few hair elastics. Gather all your hair at the nape of your neck and secure a low ponytail with an elastic. Once you’ve tied your ponytail, wrap your locs around themselves to form a bun. Use bobby pins to keep the bun in place.
Once you’ve placed several bobby pins into your bun, wrap another elastic around the finished bun to ensure no stray locs make their way out of your flawless style.
Side Swept Braid
For this look, all you’ll need is a hair elastic. Gather all your hair to one side of your head, allowing your locs to rest on one shoulder. Then, separate your hair into three equal sections and proceed to construct a basic braid. Once you’ve completed your braid, tie off the end with an elastic.
Space Buns
For this look, all you’ll need is several hair elastics. Part your hair down the middle, tying off two sections of hair using the locs in the front half of your head. Gather the locs from one section and use an elastic to tie a pigtail. Wrap the bundled locks them into a bun shape, using another elastic to secure the style.
Repeat on the other side.Halo Crown Twist
Grab a handful of jumbo bobby pins. To begin, part your locs on the far right or left side of your head. Using two handfuls of locs near your hairline, twist one section of hair over the next. Be sure to hold both sections close to the scalp. Continue this twisting motion, gathering more hair as you go until you reach the nape of your neck. Secure the updo with bobby pins. Go back over the twist and place bobby pins wherever you need extra support. Repeat the process on the other side.Once you’ve twisted both sides, you can gather the remaining hair in a bun or ponytail, or continue to twist your locs and pin the hair for a full crown look.
Loose Curls
This is the perfect time to dust off the hot rollers that have been collecting dust in the back of your closet. If you don’t have hot rollers, regular rollers or flexi rods will do the trick. Starting at the front of your head, grab three to four locs at a time. Wrap them around the hot rollers, securing the locs using the provided clip.
If you use rollers or flexi rods that aren’t heated, saturate your locs with water from a spray bottle before wrapping them. Wetting your locs and allowing them to dry while in the rollers will ensure your curls last even longer. Continue wrapping your locs around the rollers until you’ve completed your whole head.
If you went with hot rollers, keep the rollers in your hair until they’ve completely cooled (plus an extra 15 minutes to allow them to set completely). If you used regular rollers or flexi rods, keep them in your hair until your hair has completely dried—feel free to use a hooded dryer or blow dryer to speed up the process.
Finally, remove all the rollers and rake your fingers through your locs to loosen your curls. Finish off your look with shine spray for an extra glam look.
Interested in a faux locs for your next big event? Use our salon locator to book an appointment with a stylist near you.
