Loc Extensions: A Buying Guide for Temporary Loc Styles
Loc extensions give you a loc silhouette without locking your natural hair — the pieces are installed on a braided base and removed when you choose. The buying decision has four parts: the finish (smooth, goddess, butterfly, or boho), the format (pre-looped locs versus crochet pieces), the material and weight, and the quantity. Naming varies by brand, so the product photos and the finish description matter more than the label.
Buying loc extensions is choosing a finished silhouette: smooth, goddess, butterfly, or boho pieces carry the look, and the base plan decides how many you need. The guide covers the finish differences, pack math, and the care and removal that protect the pieces for reuse.
Choose the Finish First
The finish sets the silhouette. Smooth basic locs give a clean, uniform line; goddess locs add curls along or beyond the body; butterfly locs have distressed, fuzzy ends; boho locs finish with curly ends. Ywigs sells pre-looped loc products by finish — the pre-looped goddess locs, butterfly locs, and boho locs with curly ends cover the main families. Match the finish to your reference photo before comparing anything else — the silhouette is the style.
Read the product gallery like a stylist: look at the ends, the body texture, and how the locs fall in the side-angle photos. “Goddess” and “boho” both use curls, but placement differs — goddess curls run along the loc, boho curls finish the ends, and butterfly ends are distressed rather than curled. If the gallery does not show the finish clearly, ask the seller or your braider before ordering a full set. The finish is the one detail that cannot be changed after installation.
Format: Pre-Looped vs. Pre-Separated
Pre-looped loc pieces arrive with a loop ready to hook, which makes installation faster and is the easier choice for a first set. Pre-separated pieces give the installer more control over placement but add a step per piece. Both formats are human hair and install on the same braided base; choose by who is installing and how much control the pattern needs. If a braider is doing the install, ask which format they prefer before ordering.
Length and loc thickness shape the format choice too. Thinner locs need more pieces and benefit from pre-looped consistency; thicker locs give the installer more room to adjust, so pre-separated works. If you plan to reuse the hair, pre-looped pieces stay organized more easily because each loc keeps its loop and anchor through removal and washing. Decide the reuse goal before you choose the format, because it changes how you will store and reinstall the set.
Material, Weight, and Quantity
Confirm the material line says human hair, and compare the listing’s piece count and gram weight rather than the price. Locs carry more weight per piece than loose crochet, so length and density decisions matter: bob-to-shoulder sets are lighter and safer for most wearers, and the hairline rows should stay light in any loc style. The quantity guide helps you estimate bundles, and your braider should confirm the count before checkout. Ordering a little extra is safer than running short, because matching a second batch of the same finish can be difficult.
Color planning follows the same rules as other styles: natural black and brown shades keep the part low-contrast, lighter shades read bolder and show regrowth, and salt-and-pepper or ombre options add dimension. Compare the shade against your roots in daylight and order the color you plan to wear — locs are harder to recolor safely than loose strands, so the decision should be made before the order. The color number guide explains the numbering for the full set.
Weight is the loc-specific risk. A full head of locs at waist length can strain the hairline in a way the same length of loose crochet does not, because each loc is a solid column. If your hairline is sensitive or your hair is fine, choose bob-to-shoulder length and moderate density for the first set, and let your scalp approve the length before you go longer. The American Academy of Dermatology links hairstyles that pull on the hair with hair loss, and loc weight is exactly the kind of tension to plan around.
Care and Removal
Loc extensions need the same scalp-first care as other protective styles: wash on schedule, dry the roots completely, refresh curls or textured ends with water, and protect with satin at night. Remove the style when the roots loosen or the hairline feels tender — comfort sets the timeline, not a fixed date. To reuse the pieces, unloop them carefully, wash them in sections, and store them by finish and length.
Plan the install and removal before you order: locs take longer to install than loose crochet, and the take-down should be scheduled with the same care. If you are installing for an event or a season, book both appointments at the start so removal does not get postponed past comfort. A loc style that ends on schedule protects the hairline for the next cycle, which matters more than the extra wear days a delayed removal would add.
Loc Buying FAQ
Are loc extensions the same as faux locs? In practice the terms overlap — both are temporary loc-style extensions on a braided base. The finish (smooth, goddess, butterfly, boho) is what separates the products.
How many locs do I need? The count depends on head size, loc thickness, and density — your braider should confirm it from the product’s piece count and your plan. Do not guess from another person’s set.
Can loc extensions damage natural hair? Not when the base is healthy, the weight is moderate, and the style is removed on schedule. Heavy, long locs and tight front rows are the risks to plan around.
What should I tell my braider before ordering locs? Send the product link, your head size, the finish reference photo, and your planned wear window. The braider needs all four to confirm the piece count and base pattern before you spend on the order.
Can I switch between loc finishes each cycle? Yes — goddess, butterfly, and boho locs all install on the same type of base, so changing the finish is a product decision between cycles, not a technique change.
