Faux Locs are a great way to get great, natural-looking hair without the permanence of dreadlocks and have become an incredibly popular choice for anyone looking to try something new with their hair. And many people struggle to choose between using Kanekalon or Marley Hair for their new faux locs. Let’s take a look at the difference between Kanekalon Hair and Marley Hair.
Faux locs are often created using human hair, but synthetic braiding hair options are more popular, with Kanekalon hair, Marley hair being the most prevalent. Kanekalon hair. Both synthetics are revered for creating natural-looking hair and their lightweight features.
Faux Locs have become trendy among women for their impermanent, natural-looking style that has been popularized by celebrities such as Rhianna. They are also a protective style that can last a long time but is also easy to remove.
But, if you’re going to follow the trends and put faux locs into your hair, you’re going to need to know more about them.
What are Faux Locs?
Faux locks have existed in our cultures for thousands of years, first being spotted on India’s Vedic sculptures, indicating that the first instances of faux locs are found as far back as 2500BCE. Egyptian mummies also sported faux locs and there is even evidence of faux locs in the Old Testament of the Bible!
The faux locs hairstyle is not only protective, but the braids will completely cover your natural hair for undisturbed growth, which is especially great for women who aren’t ready to commit to more permanent styles like dreadlocks. Faux locs are also versatile, and you can opt for relaxed, casual, elegant, and chic styles.
There are countless ways to wear faux locs, from updos to braids. You can also opt for different lengths (most commonly, they fall between 12 and 16 inches long, but you can choose any size you desire). Longer faux hair can be challenging to maintain, which is why the more convenient (but still gorgeous) short faux locs are frequently worn by women that want hair that’s always looking crisp and ready-to-go.
You can do faux locks in two distinct ways, wapping or crochet. Wrapping is a method that twists and braids your hair into sections and wrapping the base of the loc around your natural hair for beautiful results.
Crochet faux locs will crochet individual braids or twists. You can also do this on cornrows. However, the results may not look as natural as the wrapping technique.
Faux locs can be made with human hair, but synthetic hair is far more affordable and widespread. The most popular synthetics used in faux locs are
What is Marley Hair?
Marley hair is a store-bought hair that is used to make popular styles such as Marley Twists. It is used to braid hair from extensions and wigs. It can come in various colors like blonde, brown, black, and more.
Marley hair is used for crocheted styles, Marley braids, and tree braids. Marley hair looks natural, doesn’t tangle easily, is comfortable to wear, easy to install, and lightweight. Not to mention, it’s odor-free and doesn’t pick up bad smells, which might force you to redo your hair again wholly.
One of the only drawbacks for Marley hair is that it can be very itchy on the scalp for some. And, unfortunately, Marley hair tends to age relatively quickly.
What is Kanekalon Hair?
Kanekalon hair has a natural finish due to the superior quality synthetic fibers that it boasts. Kanekalon hair is bouncy, soft, lightweight, and gentle on the skin making for a healthy look. It comes in a wide range of colors, and at any length you desire.
Many prefer it to Marley hair simply because of how soft it is to touch and its longevity. It is easy to manage and lightweight. However, Kanekalon hair can smell like chemicals when left unwashed, which puts some people off.
What are Goddess, Yarn, Gypsy & Mermaid Locs?
Goddess locs are another kind of faux locs that you’ve probably heard of are goddess locs, which are the most expensive and luxurious version of faux locs, which uses silkier hair with loose, curly waves. They are the most natural and lightweight faux locs that you can find.
Yarn locs, on the other hand, are an affordable option for faux locs and are incredibly cool if you’re looking to restyle your faux locs with different colors. Relatively lightweight and easy to maintain, yarn locs do attract a lot of lint and will have to dry for an extended period after washing.
Bohemian faux locs look like goddess locks but aren’t the same because they are rougher, have more flow, and are far more casual. It is the most popular choice among people that like messy hairstyles.
Gypsy faux locs are similar to goddess faux locs and they have curly waves with lots of texture. But they have a messier look, with lots of volumes. They look natural enough for people to believe that it’s your own hair.
Mermaid faux locs are like a goddess and bohemian locs, but they are crocheted rather than wrapped, giving them lots of volume and texture.
How Long Do Faux Locs Last & How To Maintain Them
Even though they’re seen as a less permanent version of dreadlocks, faux hair can last for a very, very long time. However, because they are installed on your natural hair, you should replace them every six to eight weeks to avoid damage to your natural hair. You can get loc extensions to swap your faux locs out for if you’d prefer a more permanent style.
Faux locs are fairly low maintenance, but they require a special effort when you do get to it. When washing your faux locs, try to avoid using excess water and only shampoo at your roots to protect the synthetics from chemicals that could ruin them.
Hydration is also critical, and you should moisturize your natural hair as much as possible to keep your hair feeling as fresh as it looks. Frizz is an inevitable consequence of living with faux locs but can be taken out by holding a lighter up to your crocheted locs and burning it off.
Finally, avoid wearing your faux locs for too long.
Conclusion
So, now that you’re aware of the various intricacies of faux locs, how they’re styled, the materials used, and how to maintain them, you’re ready to go out into the world and find the perfect set of faux locs for you! You will be able to try out new looks without any permanence, but still enjoying the fruits of natural-looking, lightweight hair that looks like you grew it yourself!
It is important to note that it can be a fairly sizeable investment, depending on which type of faux locs you opt for. And it can take hours on end to install. But once your hair is in and you take a look into the mirror for the first time, it certainly will feel like it was all worth it.
So, the only question left is, which style of faux locs are you going to get?
Sources:
Faux Locs In-Depth Guide | Belletag
Faux Locs with Kanekalon Hair vs. Marley Hair | Hairsaffairs
Here is The Difference between Marley and Kanekalon Hair | JJBraids
Marley Hair Vs. Yarn Dreads When Doing Faux Locs | Black Hair Information
Marley Braid Hair: What It REALLY Is, Plus How to Style It | All Things Hair