Remember those wiggle-like crotchet Locs? They would be shiny in appearance and look like little snakes lined up against each other?at least to me. Here is a photo below to juggle your memory a bit:
(I mention the terms "Crotchet Locs", "Regular Crotchet Locs", and "Locs". Please note that I am referring to the umberella term, ?Faux Locs?. ).
If you ever had this kind of locs, think back on how the texture felt and the weight of the locs. Try to remember the common way most people would install them. When crotchet locs were first introduced, people would have them installed in the most unnatural way. By this I mean they would first have their natural hair cornrowed and then loop the crotchet loc into the braid row by row until everything was installed to reach the desired fullness. This way of installation made the crotchet knot at the roots of the hair rather bulky looking, especially if you had type 4 hair. Having natural hair more than likely led to a visible difference between how your edges looked versus how the actual Locs looked after a week or so?again, unnatural! The same wiggle-like crotchet locs style has been redefined over the past few years. Today, there is more than one way to install and style crotchet locs.
Transitioning from Crotchet Locs Installation to Soft Locs
As various crotchet techniques progressed, hairstylists came up with variations on how to install Crotchet Faux Locs. The method most people became accustomed to was?and still is?the individual crotchet method. This is the method where the natural hair is parted into small boxed braids and the Faux Locs are crocheted individually into one braid. This was a step towards achieving a more natural look. Depending on what stylist you went to, the knot at the root may or may not have been obvious to the natural eye. Here is a photo of individual crotchet Locs:
If you notice closely, the roots have a knot. It?s okay if you don?t immediately notice the knot?that just means it was not as obvious to you. I actually think the Black Crotchet Locs are not too bad, but there are cases where the knots are just super large and screaming at you! On a fine day, someone figured it out. He or she kept playing around with different Crotchet Faux Locs and landed on trying out a seamless look using nu-Locs.
Nu Locs Are Used For Soft Locs
Nu Locs are a type of pre-made Crotchet Faux Locs sold by the Bobbi Boss brand. In fact, the moment one person figured out how to make Crotchet Faux Locs look like they were coming out the scalp, it was over. Nu-Locs has become the go-to for Soft Locs. I believe once Bobbi Boss figured out that people knew how to create an extended version of their 18-inch Nu-Locs, they started to manufacture extended lengths of 36 inches. Below is a photo of a client that booked 36 inches Soft Locs in color 1B or Black.
Soft Locs is the refined version of how to crotchet Locs were known to be styled. Regular crotchet Locs typically lack texture and have an unrealistic shine to it. What sets Soft Locs apart is the fact that they are super soft, light-weight, and bouncy from the day you leave your stylist?s chair! I was one of those people that refused to be taken over by the trend of Soft Locs, but after seeing the different colors and styles people were pulling off, I was sold.
What Exactly Are Soft Locs
Soft Locs are pre-made crotchet Faux Locs. They were first recognized by a company, Bobbi Boss, that brands them as ?nu-Locs?. These Locs are loved by many and are a preferred protective style for natural, relaxed, or transitioning hair. Because of their popularity, many other brands and hair vendors have produced their versions of the nu Locs. The market continues to expand. Many beauty supply stores are almost always out of stock when it comes to the nu-Locs. I have been able to bring satisfaction to my client when I styled her Soft Locs in 36. Travel styling is now available for booking, however, you can select the link to book your very own Soft Locs if you reside in the Philadelphia area.