Faux Locs with Crochet Hair: Styles, What to Buy, and Care
Faux locs with crochet hair are loc-style extensions made from ready-formed pieces that are looped through a braided base. You get the look of locs — including length, fullness, and a clean silhouette — without locking, cutting, or permanently changing your natural hair. Because the pieces attach to braids instead of being wrapped strand by strand, crochet faux locs install faster than hand-wrapped locs, and the style can be removed when you are ready for a change.
The first decision is the loc silhouette, because the product you buy carries the finish: smooth, goddess, butterfly, or boho. The sections below compare those finishes, explain the crochet install, and cover the weight, care, and take-down that decide whether the style works for you.
What “Faux Locs” Means with Crochet Hair
“Faux locs” describes any loc-style look made with extensions rather than locked natural hair. With the crochet method, the extensions are sold as pre-formed loc pieces. The installer braids the natural hair into a base — cornrows for a uniform fall, or individual braids for more movement — then uses a hook to pull each piece through the base so it locks in place. Nothing is done to your own hair beyond the braided base, which is why the style is considered non-committal and can work as a protective style when tension is kept moderate.
People choose faux locs for the same reasons they choose other long protective styles: they add length and volume, reduce daily styling time, and let the natural hair rest underneath. The trade-offs are honest ones — a full set adds weight, take-down takes patience, and the braided base still needs care. Going in with that expectation makes the style easier to maintain and easier to remove when the time comes.
The word “faux” does not describe one finish. Ready-made loc products differ in how the body and ends look, so the first decision is which silhouette matches your reference photo.
| Loc-style finish | What it looks like | Best when |
|---|---|---|
| Smooth basic locs | Even, uniform loc body with clean ends | Classic, tidy, low-maintenance looks |
| Goddess locs | Locs with loose curls along or beyond the body | Soft, romantic, voluminous styling |
| Butterfly locs | Locs with distressed, fuzzy ends | Textured boho and statement looks |
| Boho locs | Locs finished with visible curly ends | Curly boho silhouettes with movement |
Ywigs sells pre-looped loc products by their finished look, so check the product photos and match them to your reference rather than assuming every loc product behaves the same. The goddess braids vs. goddess locs guide explains how curl placement changes the style.
Which Hair to Buy for Crochet Faux Locs
Pre-looped loc pieces are the easiest format for a crochet faux locs install because each piece is already formed and has a loop ready to hook. Compare the four things that decide the result:
- Finish. Choose the product whose ends match your reference: smooth, goddess curls, butterfly ends, or boho curls. The pre-looped goddess locs, butterfly locs, and boho locs with curly ends are the ready-made options.
- Material. Confirm the listing says human hair, and note any processing words, because behavior and reuse depend on the product.
- Color and length. Match the shade to your roots in daylight and choose the length by the finished fall you want. The color number guide explains how braiding color numbers work.
- Piece count and weight. Locs are sold by the number of pieces or bundles, and densities differ, so compare the listing’s own count and gram weight before ordering.
Color deserves its own check. Natural black, 1B, and medium brown shades stay low-contrast against most roots, while honey and auburn tones create a two-tone effect that shows more at the part and with regrowth. If you are choosing a shade for the first time, compare the listing’s color chart in daylight rather than relying on screen colors, and ask whether the seller offers a sample before committing to a full set. Length works the same way: choose by the finished point you want on your body, not by the number alone, because the loc product’s length is measured as sold and the final fall depends on your head size and part.
The crochet quantity guide helps you estimate bundles by length and fullness, and the human hair crochet collection groups the formats for comparison. Confirm your final count with your braider before checkout.
How Faux Locs Compare with Braids and Real Locs
Faux locs sit between braids and real locs on the commitment scale. Unlike box braids or knotless braids, they keep a loc silhouette, which changes how the style parts, falls, and is refreshed. Unlike real locs, they do not lock your own hair, so removal returns you to your natural state instead of starting a loc journey. That makes the decision less about “which is better” and more about whether you want a loc-shaped style you can remove.
The comparison also affects what you buy. A loc-style crochet product needs enough body to read as a loc, so weight and fullness matter more than they do for a wavy crochet set. If your reference photo shows thin, uniform locs, choose smaller pieces and lighter density; if it shows thick locs, plan more pieces per row and check the product’s width in the listing photos.
How Crochet Faux Locs Are Installed
- Prepare the base. Clean, fully dry natural hair braided into cornrows or individual braids. Keep the hairline rows light and comfortable.
- Plan the pattern and part. Decide the part and row direction before installing, because the base cannot be redone without restarting.
- Hook each piece. Slide the hook under a braid, pull the loop partway through, pass the ends through the loop, and pull snug so the loc sits against the base.
- Keep spacing even. Work from the nape upward and keep the same number of pieces per row so the density looks even.
- Finish and check. Shape the front, check the part in natural light, and confirm no piece is pulling the scalp.
Tension is the main safety factor. The American Academy of Dermatology links hairstyles that pull on the hair with hair loss, so if the hairline aches or the base feels tight, adjust or remove the piece rather than wearing through it. The step-by-step installation guide covers base patterns and hook mechanics in detail.
Care, Wear Time, and Removal
Faux locs are relatively low-maintenance, but the base still needs attention. Wash the scalp according to your scalp condition, activity level, and the product’s care instructions, and dry the roots completely so moisture does not sit under the style. Protect the locs with satin at night, and refresh any curls with water or a light leave-in rather than heavy oils, which can build up on the loc body.
For workouts and swimming, keep the routine short: rinse the scalp after heavy sweating, dry the roots, and re-protect with satin once the hair is dry. Chlorine and salt water can dry human hair, so rinse the locs with clean water before and after swimming when you can. If a loc begins to fuzz or shed at the end, that is normal wear — clip only clearly loose ends and leave the body intact so the piece stays reusable.
Remove the style when the roots feel loose, the hairline feels tender, or the product has matted beyond a refresh — comfort and hair condition set the timeline, not a fixed number of weeks. To take the style down, unloop each piece from the bottom upward, sort the pieces by length, and wash and store them in sections if you plan to reuse the hair. Reuse is only possible when the product is designed for it, the pieces were not cut, and removal was gentle.
Faux Locs with Crochet Hair FAQ
Do faux locs damage natural hair? The risk comes from the braided base and tension, not the locs themselves. When the base is secure without pulling and the hairline stays comfortable, faux locs can be a protective style; when the style aches, that is a sign to adjust or remove it.
Can you reuse crochet faux locs? Sometimes. Human-hair loc pieces can be reused when they were removed carefully, were not cut, and are washed and stored properly. Do not assume reuse — plan the take-down before you install.
How long do faux locs with crochet hair last? The braided base and the product set the window. Wear the style until the roots loosen or the hairline feels tender, then remove it rather than waiting for a fixed date.
