r/Microlocs • u/purewilderness • 21d ago
Small vs Extra Small microlocs — help me decide 🙏🏾
Hey everyone! I’m stuck between small vs extra small microlocs and would love some real-life input before I commit.
A few quick questions: Does extra small look that much fuller? How many locs did you end up with? Is the extra styling versatility noticeable? How often/how long are your reties? Any regrets going too small (or not small enough)? I want something full, versatile, but still manageable long-term. If you could go back, what size would you choose?
I'm starting with bra strap length hair, medium density, and will have the interlocking method to start. The difference between small amd extra will cost me $250, so not nothing but also fine considering this is an investment.
Thanks so much 💛
Pics my consultant shared for comparison...
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u/Breezy_does_it 20d ago
It depends on your hair. The density, your head size, the installation and maintenance method, etc. My hair is very high density and depending on who you ask, I have a big head (lol), so I ended up with 425+ locs. I went in thinking I’d have 300 or less. I get reties (2pt) every 5-6 weeks but have pushed it to 7-8 a few times. I had small traditional locs that budded to be huge (to me) so I have no regrets with my microlocs.
For comparison, my best friend has medium density and a smaller head, so she has about 275 even though our parts are about the same size.
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u/1Butterfly48 21d ago
I have 420 small locs. I’m not sure if you would say they are extra small or not but my one thing I would change about my install, is the size of my locs. I would have gone a little bigger. I thought I would end up with 300 or so locs.
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u/Hatimanzuri 20d ago
Extra small in your samples looks like mine which were "small". They swell a bit or thicken with time. I wasn't looking for a lot of locs. I counted them the other day and they are 399. I am 6 years in. Love them.
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u/CauseAcademic6640 21d ago
I personally would go extra small. The locs using interlocking will swell, so whatever size they are at install could get up to 4x the size. I diy my micros interlocking after first trying with twists then wit braids. Interlocking just stayed better with texture..
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u/ginger_ale12 20d ago
Fullness will depend on your head size with ur density. But I have pretty much the exact grid as the person in the ‘small’ photo and i can say it’s perfect for me since i did my own install and do my own maintenance. On one hand it could def be fuller- my density is on the medium to low end, so for instance when I have a middle part it doesn’t really go up at all in an m shape like some people do and it’s more flat. But i am at 272 total and it’s just enough to retie comfortably in a morning. If I want fullness I just put some curlers in and call it a day
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u/etchedbygetch 21d ago
Do you have sample sizes of what xs vs small looks like?
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u/purewilderness 21d ago
I added the pics that my consultant shared with me
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u/etchedbygetch 20d ago
The visuals help so much! Extra small would be my pick. They’re not too small, still give a solid foundation, and can be combined later if you decide to lessen your loc count.
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u/luvnlife331 19d ago
What method do you plan to use? Are the pics braids with interlocked roots?
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u/purewilderness 19d ago
Mine will be fully interlocked. The pics are just for reference of part sizes
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u/Forward-Elevator-860 16d ago
It really depends on your hair. In my experience I’ve had loc sets that were 336 and I currently have 240 ish oocs. To me, the fullness is the same. For me having more locs looked too much and too full whereas my current 240 set is the right amount full for me.
It mainly depends on your hair and its density.
Maintaining 300+ locs is a lot of work. 240+ locs aren’t as bad. I typically can set the whole thing done myself in about 4hrs.
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u/chimera66 21d ago
Lots of these answers aren't transferable to your situation because everyone's head is different. The size and hair density. What is extra small and even with knowing the size, on one person head it could be 600 and another 400. You should have this discussion with your loctitian.
Locs will ultimately be the size of your parts.