What Are Butterfly Locs? The Textured Loc Style Explained

For many Black women in Britain, butterfly locs offer a soft, on-trend way to wear and protect their natural hair. There is something lovely about the textured, bohemian, effortless look, a loc style that feels relaxed and beautiful at once, and choosing it can be a way of enjoying the meaning and beauty of locs with a soft, temporary, fashionable twist. Along with it comes all the familiar warmth of the stylist's chair, the hours of care and conversation, and the pleasure of stepping out with a fresh, flattering style.

There is heritage in it too. Locs have long carried deep meaning in African and Caribbean culture, and faux and butterfly locs make that look accessible and flexible, letting people connect with it in their own way while giving the hair a rest. Finding a stylist who understands the hair and can create that beautiful distressed finish, and wearing a style that both looks striking and protects the hair underneath, is a small celebration of culture and self. That soft, textured, expressive beauty is the quiet gift of butterfly locs.

What are butterfly locs?

Butterfly locs are a particular, very popular style within the world of faux locs, distinguished by their soft, textured, distressed look. Where a classic faux loc can be smooth and uniform, butterfly locs are deliberately given a bumpy, wavy texture with small loops and gaps along their length, which is where the distinctive look comes from and, some say, the name, evoking a soft, fluttery quality. They are created by taking the natural hair, braiding or twisting it as a base, and then wrapping wavy or curly braiding hair around it in a technique that leaves those characteristic loops and an undone, textured finish.

The effect is bohemian, relaxed and effortless, a loc style that looks soft and lived-in rather than crisp and neat, and that is exactly the appeal. Butterfly locs can be worn in various lengths and thicknesses, and they have become a favourite for people wanting the loc look with a soft, textured, on-trend twist. Like other faux locs, they are temporary and protective. They belong to the wider world of loc and braid styles we cover in our guides to faux locs and locs.

Butterfly locs versus other faux locs

Since butterfly locs are a type of faux loc, it helps to see how they compare to the wider faux loc family, which we cover in our guide to faux locs. All faux locs are temporary loc styles created with added hair over a braided or twisted base, designed to give the look of locs without the permanent commitment. The difference with butterfly locs is all in the texture and finish: they are deliberately distressed, with loops and a soft, bumpy, undone look, whereas smoother faux locs have a cleaner, more uniform surface, and goddess locs are typically left with loose curly ends for a bohemian effect.

So butterfly locs sit within the faux loc family as the distressed, looped, textured version. If you like the idea of faux locs but want a softer, more textured, bohemian finish rather than a sleek one, butterfly locs are the natural choice. The distressed look is created by the specific wrapping technique and the wavy hair used, and a skilled stylist can adjust how textured or loopy the finish is. Knowing where butterfly locs sit helps you choose and describe the exact loc look you want when you book.

How are butterfly locs created?

Understanding roughly how butterfly locs are made helps you appreciate the style and discuss it with your stylist. The natural hair is first prepared and sectioned, and each section is braided or twisted a little way down as a base to anchor the loc and tuck the natural hair away. Then wavy or curly braiding hair is wrapped around the base and the natural hair, and worked down the length in a way that deliberately creates loops and a distressed, bumpy texture rather than a smooth wrap. The wavy texture of the hair used is part of what gives the soft, feathery finish.

This technique is what sets butterfly locs apart, and it takes skill to get the distressed, looped look even and attractive rather than messy. The amount of texture, the size and length of the locs, and how loopy the finish is can all be varied to suit you. Because they use added hair and a wrapping technique, butterfly locs, like other faux locs, are relatively quick to take down compared with real locs, since they are temporary. A good stylist will create the look you want while keeping the base comfortable and not too tight.

How to take of butterfly locs?

Butterfly locs are cared for much like other faux locs and added-hair protective styles. The scalp should be kept clean and moisturised, with gentle cleansing and a light oil or moisturising spray to prevent dryness and itching, and wrapping the locs in a satin or silk scarf at night, or using a satin pillowcase, helps reduce frizz and keeps them looking good. Because the appeal of butterfly locs is their soft, distressed texture, a little natural fuzziness is part of the look, but keeping them from getting too frizzy or matted helps them last.

As with all styles that use added hair, tension matters. Locs installed too tightly, or that are very long and heavy, can stress the hairline and edges, so it is worth asking your stylist to keep the base comfortable, and not to leave the style in too long. Most stylists suggest taking faux locs out after a number of weeks rather than months, since leaving them in too long can stress the hair and cause matting at the roots. When it is time, they should be taken down gently and patiently to protect the natural hair, in the same spirit of care as our guide to 4c hair.

Where to get butterfly locs in the UK

Butterfly locs are offered by professional stylists and braiders across Britain, in hair salons and from home, and they are a very popular request wherever there are African and Caribbean communities. Because the whole look depends on the distressed, looped texture being done well, it is worth finding a stylist experienced in butterfly locs specifically and looking at photos of their previous work, so you can see the kind of texture and finish they achieve before you book.

You can find African hair salons near you to book a stylist, and for the wavy or curly hair used for butterfly locs, edge control, scarves and moisturising products, an Afro hair and beauty shop near you will have what you need. Bringing a reference photo showing the length, thickness and amount of texture you want, and asking that the locs not be installed too tightly, helps you and your stylist agree on a look that is both beautiful and comfortable.