Faux locs review

Here's my list of scores and strikes, or pros and cons, when it comes to medium-size, 12 inch faux locs. Below, I've provided a clear cut infographic for a quick read. Check out the expanded information below the infographic for further details. ​

scores

Budget Friendly
This style is kind to the budget because it requires few packs of hair. I originally only needed 1 pack of X-Pression hair and 4 packs of Marley hair, but once some locs unraveled, I had to use another pack.  That's why I recommend 5 packs of Marley hair for this style. My favorite extension hairstyle is medium-size, waste length Marley twists, which require 7-9 packs of hair. I was relieved to find out that this particular style of faux locs costs me under $40 in hair extensions. Tell your bank account that I said, "you're welcome".  

Timely
My locs were 12 inches long and parted in medium-size sections. Therefore, it only took 6 hours to install. Normally, I block out an entire Saturday to get my hair braided/twisted, but I got this style done one evening after work. The six hours does not include hair prep. It's solely the time it took to install the locs, but compared to my usual 9-hour marely twists, it was a breeze!  

Ages Fine like Wine​
This is one of those styles that looks better the longer that it's maintained. Once the locs start to become more nappy, they look more natural and it helps them become less stiff. 

Protective Style
My hair stylist braided my hair into the x-expression hair and then wrapped the braid with the Marley hair. My favorite benefit of faux locs is that they truly protect your hair. With Marley twists, my hair would eventually work its way outside of the twists, which would defeat the purpose of a protective style. Even after I washed my faux locs, my hair was still securely tucked inside of the locs. 

Light-Weight
While long hair extensions make you feel glamorous, the downside is that they become very heavy as your hair grows out. This is a problem of the past when it comes to 12 inch faux locs. As my hair grew, I felt little tension at the root of my hair. ​

strikes

Locs Unravel
You block out an entire day on your calendar to get your hair done. You sit there for hours, reminding yourself that the sacrifice of time and money is worth it in exchange for 1 month+ of easy hair care. Once they're complete, you're in pure bliss and ecstatic to pay your hair stylist. You leave in glee and a little bit of pain as you await for the locs to loosen. You go on about your life and compliments are flying your way. People love them, they want to know how long it took, and if you'd recommend your hair stylist. Then, one day, you notice a few twists begin to unravel. You're........... frustrated. Trust me, it's annoying and the ultimate downside of faux locs.

I bought a lighter so that I could further seal my ends whenever they became lose. This prevented me from making multiple trips to see my hairstylist. However, when the entire length of the loc becomes loose and unravels, there's no saving it with the lighter. 

Stiff Locs & Styling
My hair was extremely stiff for the first week. Since my locs were only 12 inches long, it wasn't enough weight to make the locs toward the top and center of my head lay flat. They stuck out awkwardly, so I had to style my hair. Styling the hair helps the locs loosen and look more natural. I loved wearing my locs half up in a bun and half down. However, maneuvering the locs often caused them to unravel. 

Locs Tangle
Faux locs can become pretty tangled throughout the day, so it's important to do a few hair flips and run your fingers through them every once in a while. They also collect lent where the hair is burned at the tip. Expect to remove lent from your locs once or twice daily.

Water Sensitive
I like to keep my scalp squeaky clean while I rock my braided/twisted extensions, so I shampoo  my scalp whenever necessary. With faux locs, I found it challenging to wash my hair becuase I didn't want my locs to unravel from being weighed down by water. I had to make sure that the water pressure wasn't too harsh and that I focused on the water hitting my head rather than my hair.  ​

Don't let me sway you

I recommend using this score and strike list as an informative resource rather than a deciding factor on whether or not you should try this style. This is just to keep you from having any negative surprises. Please feel free to leave your tips and tricks in the comments below on how you maintain for your faux locs. Until next time, beYOUtiful, keep life sweet, and never stop feeding your soul. -xo