Faux Locs have been trending since 2015. They became popular when installed on Meagan Good. Since then, hairstylists from all over have come up with different ways of doing Faux Locs. Then 2020 came in and introduced the new soft (Faux) Locs that everyone is raving about! A strategic care routine goes a long way in helping your natural hair grow, stay healthy, and be moisturized while wearing Faux Locs. Below are some helpful tips on how to wash and maintain your Faux Locs, including how to take care of your natural hair underneath.

Can You Wash Your Hair When You Have Faux Locs?

butt length ombre boxed braids

Client wearing Premium Locs in color 99j/33 blend

The short answer is YES. Faux Locs are a protective style that guards your hair against potential damage caused by a lack of consistent hair care. When you have Faux Locs installed, your natural hair is wrapped underneath. I recommend wearing your Faux Locs for a maximum of 3 – 4 months unless you are wearing 100% human hair Locs. With this protective style, your roots and edges are the only areas of your hair that need attention, especially when it comes to washing and moisturizing. I advise washing your Faux Locs 3 to 4 weeks after installation. This gives your roots a chance to grow out, however, if your hair grows out fast, feel free to wash it sooner.

Here are some things you will need when prepping for the wash:


Spray bottle

7 Easy Steps on How to Wash Your Faux Locs

  1. Pour 20 ML of shampoo into the Root Comb Applicator bottle.
  2. Fill the spray bottle halfway with warm water and spray the roots of your hair. Try not to drench your roots with water.
  3. Squeeze out the shampoo from the applicator bottle onto your scalp and then use the comb tip at the end of the bottle to gently massage the shampoo onto your scalp. *If you do not have the applicator bottle, skip step one and apply a dime size of shampoo onto your fingertips. Then massage the shampoo onto your scalp.* Massage for 30 to 45 seconds when using either method.
  4. Head over to your sink to rinse using warm water. Be careful not to drench Faux Locs with water, otherwise, the water will add excess weight to Faux Locs until they dry out. Focus on getting the shampoo off the roots/scalp of your hair.
  5. Repeat steps 1 and 3 for the conditioning. Apply only to the roots of your hair. Leave the conditioner on the roots of your hair for 20 minutes. Rinse with warm water.
  6. After rinsing, blot out excess water with a microfiber towel. Apply a quarter size of leave-in conditioner onto the tips of your fingers and massage the product onto the roots/scalp of your hair.
  7. Put 1 tablespoon of hair oil and 1 to 2 teaspoons of peppermint or tea tree oil into a spray bottle or root comb applicator bottle. Shake together before applying to the scalp. Massage mixed oils into your scalp after application. *Disclaimer: When using the Root Comb Applicator Bottle, you must rinse out one product before proceeding to use a different kind of product. *

It is advised to wash once every two to three weeks when you have Faux Locs installed. You want to focus most of your time on maintaining your Faux Locs and caring for your hair underneath. I have added another section here on the daily maintenance and care of Faux Locs.

Taking Care of Your Hair Underneath Faux Locs

I have found myself in many situations where I would have Faux Locs installed and never oil my scalp or cover my hair at night. It has always led to disasters and seeing balls of excess shed hair when taking down my Faux Locs. This is why I urge you to take this section seriously! Faux Locs are a protective style, yes, but you are encouraged to do your part so that you will maintain hair growth and length retention. When taking care of my hair underneath Faux Locs, I like to create a mixture each week. My mixtures typically last me a week and I use them every 1 to 3 days depending on if my roots need hydration. If I have some products left at the end of the week, I keep using them till it runs out and store the mixture in a cool, dark space, like a cabinet.

The mixture is created by mixing water-based leave-in conditioner, aloe vera juice (make sure it is organic), any carrier oil, and an anti-bacterial oil (tea tree or peppermint). For this mixture, you can grab your spray bottle and insert 3/4 cup of everything, except the anti-bacterial oil. You only need between 1 to 2 teaspoons of your essential oil in the spray bottle. I like to keep my mixtures warm or at room temperature to open up my hair cuticles so that moisture can set in. In order to achieve this, I place the spray bottle full of mixture into hot water to warm it up for about 1 minute before spraying the contents onto my scalp. The aloe vera juice will help block moisture from escaping over a long period of time and the oils altogether add shine, remove bacteria from your scalp, and help reduce itchiness. You can store your mixture by putting it into a fridge, but if it is not empty by the time your week is over, store in a cool dry place and keep using it until finished before refilling.

Use Silk Bonnets or Silk Pillows for Your Protective Styles at Night

Before going to sleep, I like to slap on my hair bonnet. Depending on the length and size of Faux Locs, you might need an extra large-sized bonnet or a regular-sized one. Silk is highly recommended because it retains hair moisture, prevents frizz on your Faux Locs, and helps prevent breakouts as a bonus! Silk pillowcases are also great for my ladies with busy schedules. With a Silk pillowcase, no need for scarves and bonnets. You can simply just lax down and sleep off. Although silk is steep in price, it has its many benefits but, you can opt for satin scarves or satin bonnets as alternatives.

Here is a video below demonstrating how I moisturize my hair underneath Faux Locs. I did not use any of the carrier oils I mentioned because I had a wild growth oil, which is essentially a mixture of essential and carrier oils for the promotion of hair growth. Hope you found this information insightful and helpful.