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These unique styles will help spice up your locs
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Locs have been a staple for men who are looking for longer hair styles, and for good reason. They’re diverse, timeless, and promote versatility. They can last for years if you take care of them properly and are a great way to express yourself! There are plenty of ways to style locs for men, and in this article we give you a list of over 50 different styles to choose from.

1

Rope twist locs

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  1. The tight, sleek texture and simple overhang make them a great choice for formal and casual moments. You can wear thick rope twists for a chunkier look or thin rope twists for a lowkey look. Thin rope twists last about two weeks. Thick rope twists, also known as Senegalese twists, last anywhere from eight to 16 weeks depending on how well you take care of them.[1]
    • Briefly wear rope twists to add a curl to your locs once you take them out.
    • Moisturize your roots and wrap your hair in a silk bonnet to preserve your rope twists.
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2

Classic locs

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  1. They are a casual look that sport a lot of length. This protective style is a great way to embrace your culture and practice variety, as you can style them in a bunch of ways. Wear them in a ponytail if you want to move your length back. Wear them in a tall bun to move your locs up to your head.
    • Locs date as far back as 2500 B.C. and have been seen on mummified bodies from Ancient Egypt.[2]
    • With proper maintenance, locs can last for years. To take care of your locs, wash them once a week using a natural shampoo that doesn’t leave residue. Condition from root to tip after washing to keep your locs from becoming brittle.[3]
3

Barrel twists

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  1. It involves wrapping your locs around each other to create large barrels that go down the back of the head. The number of barrels varies depending on how much volume you want and how much tension your hair can handle. Since the hair is twisted, it’s best to take this style out after six weeks. The locs will begin to unravel and tangle around each other if you leave them in for longer.[4]
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5

Jumbo loc braids

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  1. Styling jumbo loc braids involves sectioning your hair into different parts and braiding them into thick loc braids. They look good when left down, but style them in a low ponytail for a back-heavy look that pulls the hair off of your neck.[5]
    • Take this style out after two to eight weeks, depending on how much you want to show each individual loc, as they will start to tangle together once your hair grows.[6]
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6

Basket weave locs

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  1. Basket weave locs are styled by weaving your locs in an chunky, over-under pattern, much like a wicker basket. You can wear basket weave locs if you have mid-length or long locs, as you need enough hair for the basket pattern. For long locs, get your basket weaved into a ponytail or bun to keep them together and off of your neck.[7]
    • The amount of time you can keep basket weave locs in depends on preference.
    • To keep your basket weave locs fresh and healthy, take them out after 4-6 weeks and get a retwist.
7

Wick locs

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  1. These locs are made by crocheting sections of hair together into thick, protruding locs that resemble cylinders. Wick locs cause less damage to your hair than traditional locs and have more of a natural look. They are a permanent type of loc that’s difficult to undo if you decide you don’t like it, so make sure you’re sure before committing to wick locs.[8]
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9

Freeform locs

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  1. To grow freeforms, leave your hair alone and let it knot up. After three to five weeks, your locs will begin to form, though they may take one to two years to fully mature. As your locs freeform, they will sometimes tangle together and create a larger loc. To prevent this, find the base of the two strands that are forming together and slowly pull them apart from the scalp upward.[10]
    • The coarser your hair is, the faster the locs will take shape.
    • Everyone’s freeforms are different from each other’s, as everyone’s hair is different. If you want a look that is unique to you, rock freeform locs.
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10

Freeform afro locs

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  1. This look mixes flowing locs with a voluminous afro, which allows you to get really creative. Use a scrunchy or a scarf to put your locs up into a pineapple look. Growing afro freeforms involves letting your hair naturally loc up. As with regular freeforms, it takes three to five weeks to start seeing locs and 1-2 years for them to mature depending on your hair type and how well you take care of them.[11] [12]
11

Chunky locs

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  1. If your locs are long and mature, you can switch up your look in various ways. Get chunky locs by letting them grow out and not getting a retwist. Or go to the loctician and ask for them to put your locs together for a thicker look. If you want to clean up your look, wait six weeks to get a retwist instead of the standard four to six. When wearing styles with chunky locs, make sure they aren’t restrictive and have minimal tension so that your locs remain healthy.[13]
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12

Locs with a fade

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  1. Pairing a fade with locs creates a strong contrast between the lower half of your head and the upper half, especially if you have long locs. This is great if you’re proud of your fade and want to show it off. To draw extra attention to the fade, wear your locs in a high bun or ponytail.
    • Getting a fade with your locs lets you experiment with the length of your sides, lending versatility to this hairstyle.
14

Skytop locs

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  1. Just like locs with an undercut or fade, skytop locs involve cutting the sides to let the top shine. The key difference is that the sides are usually cut into a high fade that only leaves hair at the top head, with the locs appearing above the crown. Wear skytop locs long to give the appearance of long hair with less layers.
    • Put your skytop locs in a high ponytail for a smooth look that flows upward.
20

Pigtail locs

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  1. To put your hair into pigtails, take two rubber bands or hair ties and section your hair into two tails, one on each side of your head. Then, wrap the two sections with the rubber bands or hair tie. Since they’re just your regular locs in rubber bands, you can wear them for however long you want. Be careful, though, as this can encourage your hair to grow into permanent pigtail sections.
21

Curly locs

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  1. Get curly locs by wearing rollers or perm rods and shaping your locs around them. Once you take them out, they will be curly thanks to being stuck in place for an extended period of time. If you don’t want to wear rollers or perm rods, put your locs into two strand twists and take them out to encourage a curly look.
    • Depending on how tight you curl them, curly locs will last until your next wash.[14]
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27

Top knot locs

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  1. A top knot arranges the hair on top of the head into a tight knot that stands high. Putting your locs into a top knot also gives them a tall, concise look, as they are tightly wrapped together. When wearing your locs in a top knot, be careful not to put them up too tight, as that can cause tension and lead to breakage.[19]
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29

Half-up, half-down locs

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  1. Wearing your locs half up gives you the best of both worlds. You have flexibility when it comes to styling the top and you don’t have to worry about the bottom, which you can let flow freely. If you’re having trouble figuring out what to do up top, try Bantu knots, high space buns, or a top knot.
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30

Faux locs

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  1. Faux locs involve sewing synthetic hair extensions into your real hair and locking the two together to create fast, instant locs. They are a protective style that reduces tension on your natural hair. They last around 12 weeks and start to look better the longer you wear them. To skip the waiting stage for mature locs or make your hair look longer fast, rock faux locs.[21]
    • To style faux locs, put metal hair tubes in to spice up the look. Wear your faux locs in a braid or ponytail for a more standard style.
    EXPERT TIP
    Courtney Foster

    Courtney Foster

    Licensed Cosmetologist
    Courtney Foster is a Licensed Cosmetologist, Certified Hair Loss Practitioner, and Cosmetology Educator based out of New York City. Courtney runs Courtney Foster Beauty, LLC and her work has been featured on The Wendy Williams Show, Good Morning America, The Today Show, The Late Show with David Letterman, and in East/West Magazine. She received her Cosmetology License from the State of New York after training at the Empire Beauty School - Manhattan.
    Courtney Foster
    Courtney Foster
    Licensed Cosmetologist

    Water can soften your synthetic hair. To soften your faux locs, use the hot water method. Mist your hair with warm water, then take very lightweight oil and rub it onto the locs.

35

Wrapped locs

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  1. There are a plethora of accessories you can use to spice up your loc look. Wrap blue yarn around one of your locs to add a pop of color. Wrap red and white pieces of yarn around your locs for an edgy look that is low-maintenance and easy to take out. If yarn isn’t your thing, use gold and metallic hair pieces to add a similar shiny flair.
    • To get color in your hair without committing to the dyeing process, wrap it with colored yarn.
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37

Locs with a front taper

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  1. Locs styles often draw attention to the locs, but a front taper helps balance the attention between your locs and your hairline. Since the front taper is cut low, it gets rid of the bulky look that happens around the hairline as your locs grow out. This creates a great contrast that makes your edges look sharp and crispy, giving you the best of both worlds.
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40

Marley twists

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  1. Marley twists are a protective style that take tension off of your head. To style Marley twists, wrap two strands of your hair around each other. This can be done with natural hair or synthetic extensions, whichever you prefer. They are meant to mimic regular locs and can last for up to two months.
    • Don’t keep your Marley twists in for longer than two months. If you do, you may risk breakage and tension alopecia.
    • Put beads or yarn into your Marley twists to get creative.
42

Colorful locs

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43

Bleach blonde locs

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  1. Blonde locs involve bleaching your hair rather than dyeing it, with the result being a golden brown that draws attention to the locs. Blonde locs have been worn by rappers like Young Thug, Lil Uzi Vert, and Playboi Carti, with fans saying that the locs helped contribute to some of their best eras of music. Whether you’re a rapper or just a guy trying to figure out what style of locs works best, blonde locs are a great choice for a look that fosters confidence.
    • Blonde locs look really good with white clothing!
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46

Ombre locs

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  1. Dye the tips of your locs ombre to give a hint of color and create a contrast with the natural color of your locs. To fully switch your look up, dye certain sections of your hair ombre, or dye all of your locs ombre. The color in your locs will get lower as your natural hair continues to grow.
    • Avoid dying your locs if you’ve had another color in the last six to eight weeks.[25]
48

White locs

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  1. To achieve white locs, you have to bleach your hair. A loctician is the best option to go with for a professional bleaching. If you want to do it at home, rub bleach evenly into each dread. Let the bleach sit for 30 minutes then rinse it with cool water before washing it with a clarifying shampoo. The bleach will make your locs lighter, so repeat the process until they are white.[27]
    • Be careful when bleaching your locs. Bleaching them too often can result in hair damage and breakage.[28]
49

Short locs with a fade and shaved line

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  1. The short locs add some texture to the top and serve as bangs if you’ve got some length. The fade and shaved line add a fun, playful look with a little bit of edge. Rock this look to bring out your eccentric, creative side.
    • Put long locks into a ponytail that flows back to bring more attention to the fade.
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51

Mohawk locs

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  1. To style mohawk locs, rock a fade on the sides and lengthy locs on top. Depending on the type of fade you get, the sides can blend into the locs to create a smooth, accentuating look or fade from the skin into the temple for a dramatic, edgy look. Direct your mohawk locs to the front for on-demand bangs.
    • Pull them back into a braid for a look that calls back to the Viking braid.
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52

Micro locs

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  1. They are about the width of a shoelace and can result in hundreds of locs. Since they house more locs than other loc styles, you have a ton of styling opportunities. To get micro locs, tightly twist small sections of your hair into similar coils. Put your micro locs in four low ponytails for a dynamic, playful look. Put them in a tall ponytail to give the illusion of height.[29]
53

Bantu locs

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  1. Bantu knots originate from the Southwestern African Zulu tribes and have been around for over 100 years. Styling Bantu locs involves sectioning your hair off into different parts, then wrapping your locs around the base of those parts to form a spiral knot. Fully wrap your locs around to create a huge Bantu knot, or partially wrap them for a half-up, half-down look.[30]
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About This Article

Courtney Foster
Co-authored by:
Licensed Cosmetologist
This article was co-authored by Courtney Foster and by wikiHow staff writer, Marcus Pruitt, BS. Courtney Foster is a Licensed Cosmetologist, Certified Hair Loss Practitioner, and Cosmetology Educator based out of New York City. Courtney runs Courtney Foster Beauty, LLC and her work has been featured on The Wendy Williams Show, Good Morning America, The Today Show, The Late Show with David Letterman, and in East/West Magazine. She received her Cosmetology License from the State of New York after training at the Empire Beauty School - Manhattan. This article has been viewed 2,422 times.
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Co-authors: 3
Updated: November 21, 2024
Views: 2,422
Categories: Haircuts
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