Faux locs look gorgeous but can be hard to maintain. Here are my tips on how to make faux locs less frizzy, more natural and how to maintain your crochet locs better.
If you are someone who always wanted dreads because of how cool they look, but do not want to commit to getting them, read this.
Also if you aren’t quite sure whether they will suit you or whether you are ready to keep them in for a long time, well then these faux locs are the perfect ones for you since they are super trendy and fashionable and require no commitment!
But yes, once you get them on, there could be chances of the faux locs getting frizzy. So how do you make them look less frizzy?
Check out this article to find out everything you need to know about faux locs and how to maintain them!
Related: Best Locking Gel For Dreads
Related: Best Shampoos For Dreadlocks
What are faux locs?
The word “faux” literally means “false” or “fake”. Yes, these faux locs are actually fake or imitation dreadlocks and are one of the best and commitment-free ways to have dreads.
These faux locs are made in such a way that they resemble natural dreadlocks perfectly. They are fixed onto the hair by twisting or braiding one’s natural hair and using hair extensions to wrap around the twisted hair or braid.
Most often people use Marley hair or Kanekalon hair (different types of synthetic hair) to wrap around the hair braids or twists as the base layer before the faux dreads are fixed.
If you do not wish to use synthetic hair, you can also choose to use human hair for your faux locs. But more often than not human hair tends to succumb to hair problems like hair dryness and frizziness.
When the frizziness starts to show and if it isn’t maintained at the right time, it will begin to look messy. This is when you will require to use various methods to get rid of the frizziness.
How to Make Faux Locs Less Frizzy
1. Satin wrap your hair before you sleep
Satin wrapping your locs is one of the best ways to help reduce frizz.
We often do not realize how much we toss and turn in our sleep, but each time our head moves, there is friction created between the hair strands (in this case, the locs) and this can make it look frizzy.
When the locs succumb to friction, the outer layer wears off and this is what makes it frizzy.
So one of the best ways to avoid this frizziness is by wrapping your locs in a satin bonnet or satin head scarf before you sleep.
In case you do not have satin, you can also choose to use silk bonnets or silk scarves to wrap your locs in.
If you find that you are uncomfortable sleeping with your head covered, then sleep on a pillow cover that is made of satin or silk, but not of cotton.
Using a satin wrap will also help keep the hair hydrated, as cotton pillow covers will suck out the moisture from the locs, making it dry and more prone to frizz, while satin or silk will keep the moisture contained within the locs.
2. Soften your locs using hot water
When you just install the faux locs into your hair, they can be quite stiff. So one of the best ways to “soften” these faux locs is by using warm (or even hot water).
Well, it is no secret that using hot water on your hair is a big no-no, so make sure that you do not use extremely hot water on the scalp and let the hot water flow only on your faux locs along the length of your hair to soften them up.
You can follow this practice for the first few times you wash your faux locs to help get rid of the stiffness.
3. Make sure your locs are kept clean
When faux locs are fitted in, they become like your own natural hair and therefore they need to be kept clean.
So just how you would wash your natural hair without the faux locs on, you can wash your hair and scalp with a mild shampoo and gently massage it in, until the shampoo starts to lather.
Do not exert too much pressure when washing your hair, as it can cause hair breakage and also cause your faux locs to frizz up.
Once you have finished washing your locs, condition your locs just like you would condition your natural hair. This way, the moisture will get trapped in your faux locs reducing dryness and the appearance of frizz.
4. Use the right hair products
Whenever you are looking for products to buy for hair moisturization, search for products that contain shea butter, natural oils and fatty acids like oleic acid, linoleic acid etc.
Avoid buying any hair moisturizers that can contain alcohol, like hair mousses, as they can severely dry the hair out and make it frizzy.
Also, make sure to avoid using shampoos that contain sulfates and parabens as they can strip your locs of all its moisture and dry the hair out to a considerable extent, which will make it turn frizzy over time.
Conditioners containing silicones will lock in moisture, but can weigh down your locs to a great extent and make them stand weighed down and flat.
Therefore, using sulfate and paraben free shampoos or all-natural shampoos and silicone-free conditioners can be the best way out.
The best thing you can do is invest in products like natural and organic moisturizers, shampoos, conditioners and other hair hydrating hair products.
5. Use a lot of leave-in conditioner
A lot of people do not bother to use moisturizing products on their faux locs because they are not “natural locs”, which is one of the main reasons they become frizzy.
Moisture is the key to getting rid of frizz because hair that isn’t moisturized is dry and dry hair leads to frizziness.
Using hair oils, moisturizing creams and other hair hydrating products can help lock in sufficient moisture in your faux locs and keep them looking nourished.
You can also use leave-in conditioners, as they are also another great way of getting your locs to stay hydrated and away from dryness.
Apart from just using moisturizing creams for your faux locs, you can also use warm hair oil at least once to two times a week to hydrate your locs and keep frizz at bay.
For oiling of the hair, make sure to only use lightweight hair oils, as any heavyweight hair oils will weigh down your faux locs and make them stand limp and dull.
6. Try the method of faux locs refreshing
You can choose the option of refreshing your faux locs before deciding to completely redo them. Refreshing of the faux locs will involve rewrapping them, without the necessity of taking them off completely.
But before you get your locs refreshed, it would be ideal if you separated your faux locs and tried getting rid of at least some of the frizz.
7. Get your faux locs redone
Well, this should obviously be your last resort if you have tried out all the possible methods but weren’t able to reduce the frizziness of your faux locs.
Then the best and only way out is by getting your faux locs completely removed and getting them redone once again from scratch (but this time make sure to follow the right faux locs care methods to prevent the frizz from forming in the first place).
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about faux locs
1. How long do faux locs last once I fix them?
Most often faux locs last for 1 to 2 months once they are fixed. If you maintain your faux locs well, they could even last around 3 months.
2. Do faux locs cause hair loss?
If your faux locs are fixed the right way and are light in weight, thereby not tugging on the roots, then the chances are lesser of loss of hair.
But if your faux locs are heavy in weight and tug at the roots, over time the roots will get weaker and there are chances that the hair strands can break and fall out.
3. Can I swim once I get my faux locs fixed?
Yes, swimming with faux locs on is totally normal, but one of the biggest disadvantages is that wet faux locs not only become heavier on the head but can also take a very long time to dry up. So when you go for a swim with faux locs on, it is recommended that you wear your locs in a bun and cover your head with a swim cap to avoid your locs getting too soaked.
4. What do I do if my faux locs unravel?
This is a normal problem many people with faux locs face. The ends of the faux locs can end up unraveling over time. So one of the best ways to fix this problem is by either visiting your hair stylist to get a touch up done or doing it yourself at home by applying some gel on the ends and re-twisting them. Then let it dry completely.
The final takeaway
Maintaining faux locs may seem like a hard task, but in fact it isn’t actually.
In my opinion, it could be initially, but you will just get used to it after some time of having your faux locs on.
Just make sure to follow the right faux locs hair care methods and I’m sure you will not have too much trouble thereafter
Experiencing faux locs frizziness is normal. So while you should use all the possible methods to avoid the frizz, if the frizz does show up, then use these simple methods to help reduce and get rid of the frizz.
Also Read:
Best Styling Gel for Black Women’s Hair
To Summarize