The short answer
Faux locs are a temporary protective hairstyle that gives the look of real locs without committing to the years-long process of growing them. The word 'faux' means 'false', and that is the idea: your natural hair is braided or twisted and then wrapped, or has loc-like extensions attached, to create the appearance of locs that can be taken out after a few weeks. They come in many lengths, thicknesses and finishes, from sleek and neat to soft and bohemian, often called 'goddess locs' when left partly loose and curly. Because the natural hair is tucked away, faux locs are a protective style, giving the hair a rest from daily manipulation. They are installed by a professional stylist and are popular across the UK.
What to remember
- They are installed by a professional stylist and, with good care, last several weeks.
- Because the natural hair is tucked away, they are a protective style that rests the hair.
- They come in many lengths and finishes, including soft, bohemian goddess locs left partly loose and curly.
- The natural hair is braided or twisted, then wrapped or given loc-like extensions, and can be taken out after a few weeks.
- Faux locs are a temporary protective style that mimics the look of real locs using added hair.
For many Black women in Britain, faux locs offer the beauty and meaning of locs with the freedom to change. There is something special about wearing locs, a style with deep roots in African and Caribbean identity and culture, and faux locs let people connect with that look and feeling for a while without the lifelong commitment, whether as a style in its own right or as a way to test the waters before starting real locs. They carry all the warmth of the hours in the stylist's chair and the pride of stepping out with a striking, meaningful style.
There is real self-expression in that. Locs have long been a symbol of identity, heritage and natural-hair pride across the diaspora, and faux locs make that expression accessible and flexible. Finding a stylist who understands the hair and can create the exact finish you want, and wearing a style that both looks beautiful and protects the hair underneath, is a small celebration of culture and self. That blend of beauty, heritage and freedom is the quiet gift of faux locs.
What are Faux Locs?
Faux locs are a way to enjoy the look of locs temporarily. Real locs, sometimes called dreadlocks, are formed when the hair is allowed to mat and lock together permanently over months and years, and they are a long-term commitment. Faux locs give a very similar look without that commitment: the stylist takes your natural hair, braids or twists it as a base, and then either wraps hair around that base or attaches ready-made loc extensions, building up individual locs that look like the real thing but can simply be taken down after a few weeks.
Because they are created with added hair, faux locs can be any length, thickness and colour you like, and they come in a range of finishes. Some are sleek and uniform, others are deliberately soft, textured and bohemian, with curly ends left loose, a version widely known as goddess locs. This flexibility is a big part of their appeal, letting people try the loc look, change it up, or wear it for a season without altering their own hair permanently. They sit within the wider world of protective styling, alongside our guides to locs, box braids and knotless braids.
Faux Locs versus Real Locs
The key difference between faux locs and real locs is permanence, and it is worth being clear about. Real locs are your own hair, locked together over a long time, and they are effectively permanent, growing and maturing over years and usually only removed by cutting. Faux locs are temporary, created with added hair over a braided or twisted base, and designed to be taken out after a few weeks, leaving your natural hair as it was underneath. One is a long-term commitment and a lifestyle, the other is a style you can wear and remove.
This makes faux locs a popular choice for people who love the look of locs but are not ready to commit, or who simply want to enjoy locs among a rotation of other styles. It is also a way to see whether you like the look before starting the real, permanent journey. Neither is better, they serve different intentions, and if you are interested in the permanent version, our guide to locs covers how real locs are started and cared for.
How to care for Faux Locs
Faux locs are cared for much like other added-hair protective styles, with attention to the scalp underneath and the locs themselves. The scalp should be kept clean and moisturised, using gentle cleansing and a light oil or moisturising spray to prevent dryness and itching, and wrapping the locs in a satin or silk scarf at night or using a satin pillowcase helps reduce frizz and keeps them looking neat. Because faux locs can be heavier than some styles, especially when long, it is worth being gentle with them to avoid tension on the roots.
Tension is the main thing to watch. Locs installed too tightly, or that are very long and heavy, can pull on the hairline and edges, so it is worth asking your stylist to keep the base comfortable and not to leave the style in too long. Most stylists suggest taking faux locs out after a number of weeks rather than months, since leaving them in too long can stress the hair and cause matting where the base meets new growth. When it is time, they should be taken down gently and patiently, with plenty of moisture, to protect the natural hair. Looked after this way, faux locs protect the hair while giving it a rest, in the same spirit as the care in our guide to 4c hair.
Where can I get Faux Locs in UK?
Faux locs are offered by professional stylists and braiders across Britain, in hair salons and from home, and they are a popular request wherever there are African and Caribbean communities. Because a good set of faux locs takes skill and time to install, and because the finish varies so much between sleek and bohemian styles, it is worth finding a stylist experienced in faux locs specifically and looking at photos of their previous work, so you can see whether their style matches the look you want.
You can find African hair salons near you to book a stylist, and for the loc extensions or wrapping hair, edge control, scarves and moisturising products that keep the style looking good, an Afro hair and beauty shop near you will have what you need. Bringing a reference photo of the length, thickness and finish you want, and asking that the style not be installed too tightly, helps you and your stylist agree on a look that is both beautiful and kind to your hair.
Frequently asked questions
What are faux locs?
Faux locs are a temporary protective style that gives the look of real locs using added hair. Your natural hair is braided or twisted as a base, then wrapped or given loc-like extensions to create locs that can be taken out after a few weeks. They come in many lengths and finishes, including soft, bohemian goddess locs.
What is the difference between faux locs and real locs?
Real locs are your own hair locked together permanently over months and years, effectively a long-term commitment usually removed only by cutting. Faux locs are temporary, made with added hair over a braided or twisted base and designed to be taken out after a few weeks, leaving your natural hair as it was underneath.
How long do faux locs last?
Usually several weeks. Most stylists recommend taking them out after a number of weeks rather than leaving them in for months, because leaving them too long can stress the hair and cause matting where the base meets new growth. Good scalp care and night-time protection help them last and stay neat.
How do you care for faux locs?
Keep the scalp clean and moisturised with gentle cleansing and a light oil or spray, and wrap the locs in a satin scarf at night, or use a satin pillowcase, to reduce frizz. Be gentle to avoid tension on the roots, especially with longer locs, and take them down gently with plenty of moisture when the time comes.
Where can I get faux locs in the UK?
Professional stylists and braiders offer faux locs in salons and from home across the UK, with the most choice in areas with African and Caribbean communities. Look for a stylist experienced in faux locs, check photos of their work, bring a reference photo of the finish you want, and ask that the style not be installed too tightly.
