Crochet Faux Locs: What to Buy

Wrapping faux locs by hand is one of the longest installs there is, often eight hours or more. Crochet faux locs replace that entirely: the locs come already formed and pre-looped, and you hook them into a cornrow base. Two to three hours is normal for a full head, and the finished look is close enough that most people cannot tell from a distance.

Weight is the thing to watch

Formed locs are dense. They are heavier per piece than twists, braids or curly crochet hair, and a full head of long crochet locs is a real load on the scalp. Shorter lengths weigh substantially less and are the sensible starting point if you have not worn locs before. If your hairline is fine or already thinning, this is a style to approach carefully or skip, and the shorter distressed versions are the gentler option.

How many packs

Loc counts per pack vary more than in almost any other crochet product, from a handful of thick locs to twenty or more thin ones. Six to eight packs is a common full-head figure, but check the count on the pack you are buying rather than the category average. Buy them all at once: loc thickness and the distressed texture differ noticeably between batches, and a mismatched pack near the crown is obvious.

Base pattern

Straight-back rows work for hanging locs. Keep the rows a little wider apart than you would for lighter crochet hair, because each loc is heavier and you do not want too many anchored to one row. Braid the base firmly, since a loose cornrow under a heavy style slips and the locs start to hang unevenly within a week.

Wear time and take-down

Four to eight weeks, and the lower end of that if the locs are long. Take-down is quick compared with wrapped locs, which have to be unwrapped inch by inch. Wash and deep condition afterward, and pay attention to how your hairline looks. If it has moved back at all, the next style should be lighter.