Expression (X-Pression) hairpiece colours and prices
Every Expression colour code we found in South African stores on 6 Oct 2026, with what each store charged. Expression is also written X-Pression, Xpression and X-pression, so search all four. The swatches use each store's own pack photo, so the light changes from one swatch to the next. Tap a swatch, then compare that code with Darling and Londie London.
The same code in three brands
Codes are shorthand, not a standard. Two brands' 1B can differ in warmth and shine, so check each pack photo before you buy.
Where to buy, cheapest first
All prices checked 6 Oct 2026Cheapest first. Prices and stock are each store's own, read on 6 Oct 2026, and they change.
Expression braids: lines, packs and where to buy
What Expression is
An Expression hairpiece is a pack of X-Pression braiding or crochet hair, one of the best-known braid names in South African stores. Outre's website lists X-Pression Ultra Braid 82 inch under its braids, and that site carries a Sun Taiyang Co., Ltd. copyright line. In South African stores the name is spelled many ways: Cosmetic Connection and Hair City write X-Pression, Clicks writes X-pression and Xpression, Universal Dealers writes Xpression, and Takealot sellers use all of them plus plain Expression.
On 6 Oct 2026 we found Expression at Cosmetic Connection, Hair City, Clicks, Universal Dealers and Takealot, and PEP listed it but showed every pack out of stock. Clicks lists some X-pression packs with Sensationnel as the brand, so the maker name on a store listing is not always the same one. Some products with Xpression in the name are not braiding hair: wig glue, remover and edge control sold under Natural Xpressions at Clicks and Cosmetic Connection. We left those out.
The lines, and what each is for
Cosmetic Connection lists the most X-Pression lines in our check. Check the line name, the length and the weight before the colour.
- Ultra Braid, 82 inch, 165 g: the main pack, described as 100% Kanekalon fibre and sold as a hot water set. Needs 3 packs per head. R46.90 at Cosmetic Connection and R44.90 at Hair City.
- Hot Water Braid, 52 inch, 82 g: a shorter, lighter pack at R23.90 for colours 1 and 4 and R26.90 for the others at Cosmetic Connection.
- Rich Braid, 82 inch, 230 g: R64.89 to R64.90 at Cosmetic Connection.
- Super Braid, 100 inch, 330 g: needs 2 packs per head, R87.90.
- Candy Braid: listed as pre-stretched, R45.90 at Cosmetic Connection.
- Ceres, 60 inch, 120 g, and Ceres Extra, 60 inch, 180 g: crochet braids at R69.90 and R89.90. Soft Twist, 70 inch, 120 g, is R80.90 and needs 4 packs per head.
Universal Dealers sells Xpression Braid at R49.99 to R59.99 and New Xpression S Braid at R89.99. Clicks has Xpression Hot Water Braid at R35.99 and other X-pression braids at R59.99. Takealot's in-stock listings were R86 to R95 for a single Ultra Braid pack, R134 or R135 for a pack of 2, and R350 for Ceres crochet braid.
Colour codes on Expression packs
Cosmetic Connection's Ultra Braid page lists 18 colours: 1, 2, 4, 27, 30, 33, 35, 99J, 100J, 340, 350, Foxbrown, Light Blonde, Purple, Rosewood, White, Yellow Grey and Taupe. Other Expression listings add 39 and 60. The swatches above show the ones we can name from a source. We could not find a chart that names 340 or 100J, so match those on the pack photo.
Outre's own Ultra Braid colour list includes codes that we did not find as plain Expression packs in South African stores on 6 Oct 2026, such as 1B and 613. Hair City listed 1B/27 and 1B/39 ombres, but showed them out of stock. If the code you want is missing, ask your braider for the closest shade rather than guessing.
FroHub's X-pression guide names 1 Jet Black, 2 Dark Brown, 4 Medium Dark Brown, 27 Strawberry Blonde, 30 Light Auburn, 33 Dark Auburn Chestnut, 350 Copper and 99J Deep Wine Burgundy. PEP's own listing calls 35 Auburn. Those are names from sellers, not a standard, so compare Expression's 27 and 30 with Darling and Londie London above before you buy.
Pack contents and how many to buy
Most stores sell one pack at a time. Cosmetic Connection's Ultra Braid title says 3 packs per head, and its Super Braid says 2. Takealot sells a pack of 2 as well, and listed 4 and 5 packs that were out of stock, so divide by the pack count. A pack of 2 at R135 is R67.50 a pack, against R46.90 at Cosmetic Connection. Your braider may use more or fewer for your length and thickness, so ask before you buy.
Where Expression costs least
On 6 Oct 2026 the cheapest in-stock Expression pack in our check was the 52 inch Hot Water Braid at Cosmetic Connection (R23.90). For the 82 inch Ultra Braid, Hair City was R44.90, Cosmetic Connection R46.90 (the 82 inch, 165 g pack), Universal Dealers R49.99 for its Xpression Braid, Clicks R59.99 and Takealot R86 or more. The other stores' titles do not give the same length and weight, so check them before you compare. Hair City showed only 3 of its 19 variants in stock, and our Clicks data does not say whether its packs were in stock. The price table above is cheapest first and only shows stock.
Care and how long to keep it in
Cosmetic Connection's Ultra Braid page says the fibre can be styled with hot water and warns that you should check for individual sensitivities to synthetic fibres. It does not list wash or care steps, so ask your braider how they set and seal the ends.
The American Academy of Dermatology says pain or a headache means a hairstyle is too tight, and advises wearing weaves and extensions for two or three months at most before giving your hair a break.
Expression colours: questions
Is Expression the same as X-Pression?
Yes, they are the same braid name written different ways. South African stores use X-Pression, Xpression, X-pression and plain Expression. Search all four spellings, and watch for Natural Xpressions, which is a separate range of wig glue and hair care products.
How many packs of Expression Ultra Braid do I need?
Cosmetic Connection's title for the 82 inch Ultra Braid says 3 packs per head, and its 100 inch Super Braid says 2. Your braider may need more or fewer for your length and thickness, so ask before you buy. The pack weight and length in the title also matter: the 82 inch Ultra Braid is 165 g, while the 100 inch Super Braid is 330 g.
How much is Expression Ultra Braid in South Africa?
On 6 Oct 2026 a single Ultra Braid pack was R44.90 at Hair City, R46.90 at Cosmetic Connection (82 inch, 165 g), R49.99 at Universal Dealers and R59.99 at Clicks. Takealot's in-stock single packs were R86 to R95. PEP listed it at R56.99 but showed it out of stock. Pack lengths differ between stores, so check each title.
What does Expression colour 99J look like?
FroHub's X-pression guide calls 99J Deep Wine Burgundy. Cosmetic Connection, Hair City and Universal Dealers list a 99J for Expression. Codes are shorthand and brands vary, so check the pack photo against Londie London's 99J before you buy several packs.
Which Expression colours are sold in South Africa?
Single shades 1, 2, 4, 27, 30, 33, 35, 39, 350, 99J and 60, plus Taupe, Light Blonde and fashion colours such as Purple, Rosewood and White. Cosmetic Connection also lists 100J and 340. Not every colour is in stock at every store.
Is Expression braiding hair pre-stretched?
Only some lines say so. Cosmetic Connection lists Candy Braid as pre-stretched, but its Ultra Braid page does not say. Check the listing for each line and ask your braider whether they want it pre-stretched before they start braiding your hair.
Is Expression 350 the same as Darling 350?
Not necessarily. FroHub calls 350 Copper and another chart calls it red-brown or medium auburn. Both brands list a 350 in South African stores, so use the compare tool above to see the two packs side by side before you buy several.