Whether you’re rocking braids, twists, or locs, there’s no denying how essential protective styles are. Not only do protective styles keep your hair healthy, but they also prevent breakage and even encourage hair to grow. If you’re on the hunt for a new protective style that makes a statement, why not try butterfly locs? The protective style stands out if you’re looking for something both stylish and boho.
Similar to regular locs, butterfly locs differ because they offer a more lived-in version of the signature look and are created using either a crochet method or a braided method. This style has been seen on countless celebrities like Zendaya, Teyana Taylor, and Ciara. Not only are these locs lightweight and affordable to achieve, but they’re incredibly versatile and can be styled a number of different ways.
Celeb natural hairstylists Sandi-Kaye Henry and Antoine McCants give us an expert scoop on how to get the boho look and how to care for it. Read on for everything you need to know about installing, maintaining, and taking out butterfly locs.
Featured Experts
- Sandi-Kaye Henry is a natural hairstylist
- Antoine McCants is a makeup artist and hairstylist
What are Butterfly Locs?
Butterfly locs are a faux loc hairstyle that is also a protective style that has an ‘undone’ look to them. While regular locs are typically straight and smooth, butterfly locs have ‘wave’ to them, and are characterized by looking more distressed and lived-in than traditional locs, giving them a signature boho vibe. Butterfly locs are achieved by either crocheting wave hair into cornrowed hair, or via a braiding method where the natural hair is braided and the wave hair is wrapped around creating a faux loc.
“Butterfly locs have been characterized as a natural style that say ‘neat isn’t the only way to show beauty.’ Natural styles have always been the talk of the industry, but butterfly locs took it by storm due its diversity of styles,” explains McCants. Butterfly locs are more whimsical, and as the name suggests, more playful.
How to Install Butterfly Locs
Butterfly locs are achieved by adding wave hair into natural hair or braids. “It’s always best to have a professional install and remove your style,” explains Henry. If you’re a skilled stylist aiming to create the signature look at home, watch a number of videos before attempting, and ensure your hair is freshly washed and dried before styling. There are two different methods to install butterfly locs—crocheting faux locs into braided hair or braiding hair down and using a wrapping motion to create the signature look. When in doubt, reach out to a stylist who has experience creating faux locs.
How Long Do Butterfly Locs Take?
“Butterfly locs can take four or more hours to do. Different factors contribute to the time. For instance, how fast the stylist/braider is, the size/length you desire, if the stylist has an assistant helping (double team), and if your natural hair is really long and thick. These are only a few factors out of many,” states Henry. The key to minimizing breakage or snapping hair is to go slowly—you don’t want to rush take down.
How to Maintain Butterfly Locs
Although butterfly locs are a protective hairstyle, there are a few things to keep in mind to ensure your hair stays looking its best and the locs look fresh. Using a clarifying shampoo once a week helps to keep the locs looking their best. Wearing a bonnet to bed is essential in reducing any friction and unwanted frizz. “Try not to add a ton of edge tamer/foam to keep build-up to a minimum. Just keep it simple—wake up, remove your bonnet, shake your hair, spray some sheen and go,” says Henry. Although butterfly locs are super versatile, it’s important not to wear styles that create too much tension. “I know we like the tight ponytails but don’t tug on your locs too much when styling. Make sure the styles are comfortable. Please make sure you moisturize your scalp two to three times a week using an oil—it will help keep the scalp from becoming itchy and promotes healthy hair growth”, says McCants.
When Do You Know It’s Time to Take Butterfly Locs Down?
While butterfly locs will typically last four weeks or longer, anytime the scalp becomes irritated, or the style is simply not comfortable, it’s time to take it down. To remove butterfly locs, snip the end of the loc and unravel the hair, being extra careful to remove slowly so as not to pull out the natural strands.
Butterfly Loc Inspiration
