Locs are the longest commitment in hair. Starter locs take months to settle and years to mature, and the decision to begin is effectively a decision about the next five years — unless you take the faux route, which gives the same look for a season.
This page shows both paths: real locs at different stages and thicknesses, and the temporary versions — faux locs, goddess locs with curly ends, butterfly locs — that let you live with the look before committing to it.
Locs & Dreadlocks on the blog
Every one of these was rendered on a real photo. Open any of them to try the same style on your own selfie.
The five-year decision
Starting locs is not a haircut, it is a commitment to a process. Comb coils or two-strand twists take a few hours; the locs themselves take 12 to 24 months to mature, passing through a frizzy, unpredictable middle stage that no photo on the internet shows you.
If that timeline gives you pause, start with faux locs instead. Same look, installed in a day, out in eight weeks, and you will know whether you actually want to live with the shape.
| Stage | When | Looks like | Needs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starter | 0-6 months | Coils or twists, neat | Gentle retwists |
| Budding | 6-12 months | Frizzy, unpredictable | Patience |
| Teen | 12-18 months | Locking, uneven lengths | Retwist every 6-8 weeks |
| Mature | 18-24 months | Firm, defined | Washing, occasional retwist |
| Faux locs | Same day | Mature locs | Removal at 4-8 weeks |
Maintenance is retwisting, not washing
Locs need washing — the myth that they do not is how mildew happens. What they also need is retwisting at the root every four to eight weeks, and that is where over-tightening causes thinning. Looser, less frequent retwists keep the roots healthier than a perfect parting does.
Locs & Dreadlocks in 30 seconds
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Styling once they have length
Mature locs behave like any other long hair: buns, updos, half-up styles and ponytails all work, and men’s locs pair well with faded sides. Several of the examples here are exactly that.
Related styles
Questions people ask
How long do starter locs take to mature?
Usually 12 to 24 months, passing through a stage where they frizz and shrink. The examples here show mature locs, which is the destination rather than the first six months.
What are faux locs?
Extensions wrapped to look like locs, installed in a day and worn for four to eight weeks. They are the honest way to test whether you actually want locs before starting your own.
Can locs be styled like other long hair?
Yes — buns, updos, half-up styles and ponytails all work once the locs have length. Several of the examples here are exactly that.
Try any of these on your own photo
Every example on this page was rendered with AI4Hair. Upload a selfie, pick the style, and see it on your own head shape and hairline in a few seconds — before a stylist touches anything.
Get it on Google Play · Download on the App Store · ai4hair.co