How To Do Dread Extensions With Human Hair

A beautiful African American women with dreadlock extensions, also referred to as loc extensions. She wearing a plaid shirt and black beaded necklace.

Take y'all been dreaming of getting locs but would rather forego the locking process? Well, loc extensions may be precisely what you need.

Dreadlock extensions are non the easiest style to exercise on your hair, as they take patience and knowledge to create.

Although at that place'due south no need to worry, this article will teach you step-by-step how to practise loc extensions. Nosotros'll also requite yous helpful tips and tricks to make your loc extension installation feel every bit easygoing as possible.

Table of Contents

1 What Are Loc Extensions?
2 Loc Extensions: Step by Step Instructions
- ii.1 Purchase or Make Your Own Loc Extensions
- two.2 Set up Your Natural Hair for Loc Extensions
3 Loc Extension Maintenance
4 Pros and Cons of Loc Extensions
- iv.one Pros
- four.2 Cons
five Dos and Don'ts of Loc Extensions
- 5.1 Dos
- 5.2 Don'ts
- 5.3 Related Articles

What Are Loc Extensions?

African American woman isolated on grass wearing loc extensions.

Many become dislocated when differentiating between faux locs and loc extensions. And then, before we get into the instructions for doing dreadlock extensions, nosotros'll take a second to clarify.

False locs are a protective style that utilizes either synthetic or human hair to manipulate the look of dreadlocks. They are non meant to exist left in your hair permanently and should be taken downwards within a few months of installation.

On the other paw, loc extensions are human being pilus woven together to create permanent dreadlocks.

These locs wait very much like natural dreadlocks, unlike faux locs, which may expect artificial. As your hair grows, the new growth is either retwisted or interlocked.

At present that you lot sympathise the divergence between dreadlock extensions and false locs, you lot can brand an informed decision regarding whether loc extensions are what you desire.

Loc Extensions: Stride past Step Instructions

Young African American female with a green and white plaid shirt, with a white collard undershirt and black beaded necklace looking directly into the camera.

Let united states of america tell you beforehand that doing loc extensions is no small undertaking.

However, if y'all follow our instructions, you'll exist able to prepare your natural hair, make your own dreadlock extensions, and install them yourself.

Let's jump correct into it!

Buy or Brand Your Own Loc Extensions

To practice dreadlock extensions, you first demand to obtain the loc extensions. Loc extensions are made of loose human hair using a crochet tool.

In this section, we'll tell you how to get pre-fabricated human hair loc extensions or how to make your own loc extensions.

Purchase Handmade Loc Extensions

If the thought of making loc extensions makes yous cringe, don't worry. In this department, we'll tell you where to get high-quality loc extensions.

Some of the best handmade loc extensions are on Etsy.com. Yous can observe them in diverse lengths, colors, and price points. Etsy seller, Locsanity, offers an extensive array of loc extensions.

Choose from the following loc extension types:

8-inch loc extensions
Loose ended goddess loc extensions
10-inch colorful loc extensions

You tin also observe quality loc extensions at FashionDreads.com. This online shop has them in just about every color you can imagine.

Cull your length and size, and they'll ship your locs to your home.

Here are some options to consider:

Natural black loc extensions
Pale blonde loc extensions
Caramel blonde loc extensions

We do not recommend buying your loc extensions from just whatsoever online store, as loc extension quality tin can vary. Choose a loc extension shop that has stellar reviews and is transparent about its prices and loc options.

No thing where yous shop, yous volition need to pay anywhere from $300 to $1,000 for a total head of handmade loc extensions. The price varies based on the color, length, and size of the locs.

Make Your Ain Loc Extensions

Young woman laughing after installing loc extensions in her 4c naturally curly hair.

If you'd rather not pay for handmade loc extensions, yous tin relieve some money and make your own.

With some practice and dedication, you lot can become a loc-making motorcar! Read the department below for detailed instructions.

Gather Your Supplies

To make loc extensions, you volition need 100% Afro kinky bulk human pilus (iii – 4 packs for a full head of locs) and a dreadlock crochet claw.

The size hook you will need depends on your desired loc size. Frequently, a 0.5mm or 0.75mm will work perfectly.

You tin can use a single, double, or triple hook tool, depending on your personal preference.

Make the Locs

How to Make Handmade Locs Using 100% Man Hair

Follow the beneath steps to turn the loose man pilus into locs.

Dissever a section of the human pilus. The larger the department of pilus, the thicker your loc will be. Your locs should be proportional to the size of your future natural locs.
Stretch out the section of hair. Pull the hair vertically from both ends to stretch it out a scrap. This volition ready the hair for the next step.
Insert your crochet hook. Starting midway downward the section of hair, insert your claw into the section of hair.
Begin crocheting. Concur the hair with your forefinger, middle finger, and thumb. Push button the hook in and pull information technology out repeatedly a few times. Stop crocheting, turn the hair, and insert the needle at a different bending. Go on crocheting. Soon, you'll notice that the hair is offset to lock.
Repeat the previous footstep, up and downwardly the loc, without going all the way downwardly to either end. Exit at to the lowest degree iii inches of pilus unlocked at both ends.
Blunt the end. On one end of the loc, twist the hair between your fingers and fold information technology down. Crochet the terminate of the loc from several angles to create a blunted end.
Repeat all of the to a higher place steps for each loc.

Fix Your Natural Hair for Loc Extensions

A beautiful African American with candid smile sitting in the yard of a huge lawn.

To get the best possible results, you'll demand to set your natural hair. In the following sections, we will go over each step yous should take.

Go Your Materials

Salvage yourself some fourth dimension and frustration and gather your materials beforehand. Y'all'll need the following supplies:

Shampoo
Conditioner
Scissors
Rat tail comb
Broad toothed comb
Clips or ponytail holders
Oil
Locking cream (optional)

Cleanse Your Hair Thoroughly

Before installing loc extensions, ensure that your hair is clean. Use a clarifying shampoo to get rid of any buildup or debris in your pilus.

Keep in mind that any buildup in your hair volition eventually end up in your locs, and so starting with make clean hair is a must.

Condition Your Pilus

Attractive black black with a pretty smile looking upward into the distance with curly 4c hair.

Condition your pilus with a moisturizing conditioner to bring back moisture lost from your shampooing session. Cull a conditioner that has moisturizing properties and promotes hair health.

Take this fourth dimension to detangle your hair to minimize hurting during the departing procedure. Don't dry your hair after conditioning it, every bit it should exist damp for the next step.

Separate and Twist Your Pilus

A young African American woman having fun sitting outside holding groups of locs in both hands.

To ready your hair for loc attachment, y'all'll need to section and twist your natural hair. This way, you tin program out your loc parting arrangement and keep the parts separate until yous're ready to adhere the loc extensions.

Choose Your Parting System

There are many unlike parting systems to familiarize yourself with. The below sections volition help you choose the right parting organisation for you.

Foursquare parts – The square departing system is the most pop parting method for locs. You only part your hair in the shape of squares.

People love this parting system for simplicity, simply some don't like information technology considering of the amount of scalp that it tends to bear witness.

Crescent parts – Crescent parts are created by making c-shaped parts all over the head. This parting arrangement is preferred past those who want their locs to frame their face. They are too piece of cake to do.

Diamond parts – Diamond parts are a fleck more challenging to achieve, but they are preferred for their intricacy and the fact that they don't show much scalp. Creating diamond parts is complex, and for that reason, it's non recommended for DIYers.

Random parts

You don't accept to choose a specific parting system if you don't want to. You tin part your pilus randomly with your fingers if neatness is non important to yous.

Whichever departing organization yous choose, make certain that you lightly twist your hair later on parting each section. This way, yous won't have to go dorsum and part your pilus a 2d time.

Attach the Loc Extensions

ATTACHING HANDMADE PERMANENT LOCS EXTENSIONS | HOW I Do It (office 2)

Now that your hair has been parted and twisted, you're ready to attach your loc extensions! Step by pace instructions are below to help you through this step:

Identify the loc extension at the base of one of your sections of natural hair.
With a crochet hook, begin to crochet the loose extension pilus to your natural hair.
1. Grip your natural hair and the extension hair with your forefinger, center finger, and thumb.
2. Insert and pull out the crochet hook repeatedly.
3. Every then often, terminate crocheting, turn the pilus, and crochet from a unlike bending.
Stop crocheting when the hair feels locked and secure.
Repeat the above steps to attach the rest of the locs.

Note: Make sure non to crochet too shut to the scalp, as this can cause scalp pain. Exit at to the lowest degree a half-inch of hair unlocked.

Twist the Roots of the Locs

One time you've attached all of the locs, you'll discover that in that location is some frizz at the roots. If yous'd like, y'all tin twist the roots of your hair to make them wait neater.

The below steps will go you through the twisting process:

Spray the roots of your locs with h2o.
Add together oil or a locking gel if you desire.
Twist your locs until they are flat to the scalp. Ensure that all of the locs are twisted in the same direction and not twisted too tightly. This is necessary to avert headaches and hair loss.

If you'd similar to see a visual demonstration of the loc extension attachment procedure, watch the YouTube video above.

Loc Extension Maintenance

The Truth Nearly Loc Extensions | Sentry This Before Getting Your Locs

Loc extensions crave regular maintenance sessions to stay looking their best. Every few weeks, you should do the post-obit:

Wash your locs and scalp.
Retwist the new growth.
Oil your scalp to keep your locs moisturized.

Betwixt maintenance sessions, you may feel the need to oil your scalp or spritz your hair. You tin do these things, merely in a higher place all, you should endeavor to go out your pilus alone and then your new growth can lock.

Pros and Cons of Loc Extensions

I Got PERMANENT Loc Extensions for $g! | Pros and Cons

Loc extensions come up with their share of advantages and disadvantages, just like whatsoever other style. Read the below list to find out all of the loc extension pros and cons.

Pros

Yous can get locs now – Natural dreadlocks take several months to loc, but loc extensions requite yous fully mature locs immediately. You lot can forego the many stages of loc maturation with loc extensions.
No unraveling worries – With natural locs, especially in the beginning, you must exist conscientious with how you deal with your hair. With loc extensions, you lot can wash and style your hair immediately afterward installation without fear of unraveling.

Cons

Loc extensions are expensive – For a full head of loc extensions, you should wait to pay at least a few hundred dollars. This corporeality does not include the cost to get them professionally installed, should you become to a loctician.
Hard to install – At that place is a very steep learning curve when it comes to crocheting locs. Some give upwards on making or installing loc extensions because it takes fourth dimension to become the crocheting technique right.
Forego the locking experience – This con may be a pro to some. Loc extensions cut out all of the locking phases of natural locs, keeping yous from experiencing the "journey" of it all.
Risk of losing locs. If your loc extensions are not attached securely, there'south a chance that the extensions may fall out at unexpected times. You tin can minimize this risk by taking your time during installation and checking your locs for secureness from time to time.

Dos and Don'ts of Loc Extensions

Loc extensions are not the simplest style. This is why nosotros want to share some dos and don'ts to assist keep you on track.

Dos

Shop around for quality loc extensions. Not every loc extension shop produces quality loc extensions.
Give yourself more than fourth dimension than you retrieve you lot need to make and install your loc extensions. It could have you hours to days to complete your loc extensions.
Consult a professional if necessary. Though information technology's great to salvage coin and do things for yourself, loc extensions are a long-term commitment and should be done right the first time.

Don'ts

Don't attach the lock extensions too close to your scalp. This can be painful and go far incommunicable to twist your roots.
Don't adhere thick extensions to minor sections of pilus, as the extension's weight can cause thinning roots.
Keep your lock extensions at a reasonable length. Extremely long extensions can put also much stress on your roots.

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Now you know exactly how to do loc extensions. We hope that this article gives you all the information you need to create gorgeous loc extensions yourself.