Faux Loc Review

Faux locs are a killer trend that if you haven't already had/have them in you are probably thinking about it. When I put them in I couldn't wait to sway them in slow motion like they do in the reggae music videos plus I always wondered how I would look in locs. Well, it is a beautiful hairstyle but just like any other hairstyle it does have pros and cons so this post is a review based on my experience.

Installation
 
You will need about 6-8 packs of afro-textured braiding hair and 3 braids of kanekalon hair (this is optional because it will be determined by the installation technique). The number of braiding hair will  depend on the length and thickness that you choose. A lighter or candle depending with what you are comfortable using to seal the ends. A jar of grease to smooth the braids and reduce friction when wrapping the hair. A rat-tail comb to section the hair and hair clips to help in sectioning of the hair.

Start with washed, detangled, deep conditioned and well moisturized hair. In this hairstyle, you hair will stay a while without getting any moisture so I would advice to give it some TLC before it goes in the locs.

Get ready for long hours of installation. If you are getting it done in a salon or a freelance hairstylist then you are in luck because it will cut the time in half  as opposed to if you were to DIY. I did mine myself so it took me around 3 days because I decided to cut down the long hours into a couple of hours in a day.

You have the option of braiding your hair first then holding the kanekalon  hair against your natural hair and begin to wrap or braid your hair like you would box braids and stop where your hair ends (ideal for short hair) or just hold your hair against kanekalon hair and twist. The reason kanekalon hair is held against your natural hair is to allow you to play around with the length you so desire plus there will be some burning at the end and that extra length is so needed. The option of braiding like you would box braids is my least favorite especially if your hair is long because wrapping around the braid makes the loc stiff and styling a headache.. Literally. For the hairline, make them slightly bigger that the back portions and don't have them in too tight. Better sacrifice a neatness for a protected hairline and you can always lay down your edges with gel or edge control.

Do not use Kanekalon hair to install this locs. I used them and it was a pain in the 'you know where' to wrap them up because they kept on unraveling and increasing installation time because of re-doing some locs. I used them because I had alot of Abuja braids laying around the house and I wanted to finish up all the braids I had before I went out to buy new ones. I was also testing out the hairstyle so I didn't want to invest much incase I wouldn't like the style.

I actually ended up loving them and I would install them again but what I would do differently is use an afro textured hair which is not marley braids because marley braids are expensive for this style and they can be re-used so I wouldn't want to ruin them with this style that require burning the ends. 

Pros

1. It is a true protective style that ensures all you hair strands are tucked away from the elements, split ends and fairy knots making this style perfect for length retention.
2. It is a long wear style that means it can be kept in for 2-3 months. Some say you can have it in upto 6months but I wouldn't advice it.
3. Looks great the older it gets making it possible to wear it for that long without fear of having bad hair days
4. Styling is pretty exciting, it keeps one interested in keeping them in for long. One does not require bobby pins when styling because the burnt ends stick on each other. When using hair bands, use medium to large size ones because the slim ones will tag the locs.
5. It is a cool test run if you were considering installing permanent locs.

Cons

1. I takes a long long time to install.
2. It is an expensive hairstyle because it does require quiet a number of braids and these braids are not cheap especially marley braids. If you don't do it yourself and hire a service of a hairstylist, that factors in to the cost as well.
3. It does have the potential to not be a protective style if done too tight especially around the hairline/edges.
4. Depending on the brand of braiding hair, length and thickness, the faux locs can have some weight/ tag to it. You may eventually get used to it or not.
5. The annoying thing about the burnt ends is that they pick up lint from clothes and the rough ends can actually ruined some of my clothes. What I did to combat this is by wearing clothes that won't get roughed up when the locs are down and wear a bun then wearing woolen or sensitive clothing (Talk about my hair dictating my wardrobe choices..LOL).

Maintenance

1. Soak a face cloth in water mixed with conditioner then squeeze out the water and use the damp cloth to clean your scalp. If you can get your hands on a dry shampoo then that would be great as well. Wrap the damp cloth around the locs and squeeze and you move down towards the ends to clean them. Some people go all in and wash their faux locs but I will leave that up to you to take as an option. Allow for them to dry then follow up with light penetrative oil (not heavy oil that will cause build up) for the scalp and hairspray for the locs to keep them smelling good and looking moisturized.
 

2. Taking a shower and the night time routine are the hardest things to do when it comes to this hairstyle especially if they are long. It requires getting used to having them in. Tie your faux locs up in a high bun at night and tie a huge satin scarf. A high bun is better that a low bun because it allows one to shower with ease without getting the locs wet.
 

3. Spritz your hair daily or every other day at the roots using a green tea based spritz to keep the shedding at bay. The white bulbs that stick out at the roots with a strand of hair stuck on them is shed hair. Green tea moisturizing products can also work well but make sure you are putting in something to reduce shedding especially if you want to have your hair in for a long time.

Take Down

The take down is by far the easiest part of having in this hairstyle. Depending on which method you chose during installation the take down will be a breeze. Just cut the burnt ends and unwrap. Do not use shears meant for trimming your hair because you need your shears sharp during trimming season. Instead buy some a pair scissors and snip away.

 


If you do decide to get this style done, prepare yourself for all the reggae statements, names and phrases that you never thought they will ever be directed to you. I was called dread loc queen and I sure didn't mind.

Do you have any pro or con and tips to add? Feel free to share your experiences in the comment box below.

Later Loves
XOXO