Soft locs have earned their place as a go-to protective style because they look like natural locs while feeling far lighter and easier to move. The wrapped texture gives instant fullness, the ends can be left curly or smooth, and the same set can be worn loose one day and swept up the next. This roundup gathers 25 soft locs ideas for 2027, from short bobs and boho curls to long colour blends and polished updos, so there is a version for every length, occasion and comfort level. Our Locs Hairstyles For Black Women rounds up more takes on this exact idea.
1. Half-Up Medium Locs With a Lifted Crown
Photo credit by: hadviser.com
A half-up style is the easiest way to enjoy medium-length soft locs without losing any of their movement. Pulling the top section back opens up the face, while the lower locs fall freely around the shoulders. A little lift at the crown keeps the shape from looking flat, and the parting underneath can stay neat or slightly softened for a more relaxed finish. A companion piece, Strapless Dresses Hairstyles 2027, explores the same palette.
This is a practical everyday option because it keeps hair out of the eyes without the commitment of a full updo. It also works well as a second-day style, when the locs have settled and gained a bit of natural texture. You’ll find the same spirit in Wavy Hair Hairstyles 2027.
2. Boho Locs With Loose, Wavy Strands
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Boho soft locs are all about the in-between texture: structured locs mixed with loose, wavy pieces that refuse to sit in perfect lines. The result looks effortless and full, with curls catching the light as the hair moves. Keeping the waves uneven rather than uniform is what gives this version its relaxed, festival-ready character.
Maintenance is refreshingly simple. A light mist of water or leave-in spray revives the waves, and finger-separating the curls in the morning stops them from clumping together.
3. Neat Bob Locs That Sit Above the Shoulders
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A bob-length set proves that soft locs do not need extreme length to make an impact. Cut around the jaw or just above the shoulders, the locs frame the face and keep the overall shape light and bouncy. A clean centre or side part adds polish, while slightly textured ends stop the outline from looking too severe.
This length is a strong choice for anyone trying soft locs for the first time, or for warmer months when a long set can feel heavy. It dries faster, tangles less, and still offers plenty of styling room.
4. Waist-Length Locs in Two Blended Tones
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Two-tone colour gives very long locs a sense of depth that a single shade cannot match. Here, darker roots melt into lighter lengths, so the colour shifts gradually instead of stopping in a hard line. Worn loose, the blend shows from every angle, and the sheer length turns a simple centre part into a statement.
Long sets like this benefit from regular scalp care and gentle handling at night. A satin bonnet or scarf protects the ends, and tying the locs loosely before bed helps prevent tangling. This pairs naturally with the ideas in Dirty Hair Hairstyles 2027.
5. Long Locs Dressed Up With Hair Rings
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Hair rings are a small detail with a big payoff on long soft locs. A few metallic rings threaded onto individual locs break up the length and add a subtle shine, without changing the style itself. Placing them near the face or scattered through the front sections draws attention exactly where it flatters most.
The best part is how easy they are to change. Rings slide on and off, so the same set of locs can look minimal one week and richly accessorised the next, with no extra salon visit needed.
6. Brown and Blonde Locs With Curly Ends
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Mixing brown and blonde through soft locs creates a sunlit effect that stays soft rather than stark. The lighter strands weave through the darker base, giving the hair dimension even when it is simply worn down. Curly ends finish the look, adding bounce and stopping the lengths from hanging too straight.
To keep the curls defined, a curl cream worked through the ends while they are slightly damp helps, and heavy oils are best avoided on the curly sections so the bounce is not weighed down.
7. Red Locs Worn in a High Ponytail
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Red instantly changes the mood of soft locs, and pulling the set into a high ponytail lets both the colour and the wave pattern take centre stage. The height lifts the whole silhouette, while the wavy lengths falling from the ponytail keep the look soft rather than severe. A few loose pieces around the face stop the style from feeling too pulled-back.
Because red tones tend to fade faster than natural shades, colour-safe washing and limiting heat on the locs will help the shade stay vivid for longer. We break down a similar look in Mullet Hairstyles 2027.
8. Golden Blonde Ombre Locs
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A golden blonde ombre is a gentler route into blonde than a full-head colour. Dark roots anchor the style and make regrowth far less noticeable, while the golden lengths brighten the face. On soft locs, the gradient also highlights the wrapped texture, since each loc catches the light slightly differently.
This colour works across lengths, but it looks especially rich at medium to long lengths, where the fade has room to develop gradually from root to tip.
9. Burgundy Locs With Full, Poufy Curls
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Burgundy sits in a sweet spot between natural and bold: deep enough to read as elegant, rich enough to stand out. Paired with full, poufy curls at the ends, the colour gains extra volume and movement, and the silhouette feels lush rather than heavy. It is a shade that flatters in both daylight and evening light.
As with other red-based tones, expect the colour to soften over time. That gradual shift usually settles into a deeper wine tone, which suits the style just as well.
10. Sculpted Bun Updo in Soft Locs
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A bun updo turns soft locs into a clean, occasion-ready style in minutes. Gathering the locs up and coiling them into a bun shows off the neckline and earrings, and the wrapped texture gives the bun natural grip, so it holds its shape well. Leaving the hairline neat and smooth keeps the whole look intentional.
For extra staying power, a few pins tucked underneath the bun anchor it without showing, and a light edge control smooths any flyaways around the face. See also Thinning Hairstyles 2027 for more variations on this look.
11. Classic High Updo for Soft Locs
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A classic high updo is the formal cousin of the everyday bun: higher on the head, more structured, and built to last through a long event. The height adds elegance, and because soft locs are lightweight, the updo sits comfortably without pulling at the roots the way heavier extensions can.
This is a reliable choice for weddings, dinners and celebrations, and it pairs well with statement earrings since the face and neckline stay completely clear.
12. Short Locs Worn Loose and Easy
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Short soft locs worn loose are proof that a protective style does not need length to look complete. The locs sit around the face with a soft, rounded shape, and the shorter length means the style keeps its freshness with very little daily effort. It is a low-fuss option that still reads as fully styled.
Short sets also make a good starting point for experimenting with colour or accessories, since there is less hair to commit to and the whole look can be refreshed quickly.
13. Extra-Long Locs With a Flowing Finish
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Extra-long soft locs are pure drama: lengths that fall well past the shoulders and move with every step. Because the locs are soft rather than stiff, they drape naturally instead of holding a rigid shape, which keeps even a very long set looking graceful. A middle part gives the style balance and lets the length speak for itself.
The trade-off is upkeep. Longer locs need more time to wash and dry, and protecting the ends at night matters more, but for maximum impact, few styles compete.
14. Long Locs Worn Down With Natural Movement
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Sometimes the simplest styling is the strongest. Long soft locs worn down, with no updo or accessories, show off the texture itself: the gentle waves, the soft wrapped finish, and the way the locs fall differently on each side. It is an easy, confident look that suits both casual days and dressed-up evenings. For a different spin on the same theme, browse Curly Hair Hairstyles 2027.
A light sheen spray or a small amount of oil on the lengths adds a healthy glow without flattening the texture, and finger-separating the locs at the roots adds volume on days when the style feels too flat.
15. Boho Locs With Curls Woven Through
Photo credit by: afrochicbeauty.com
This boho version weaves loose curls directly through the locs, rather than saving them for the ends alone. The curls break up the loc pattern and add fullness throughout, giving the hair a soft, cloud-like outline. It is a carefree style that looks best when it is not over-perfected.
Boho locs do tend to frizz more than smoother sets, so a light mousse or curl refresher helps keep the curls defined, and sleeping with the hair loosely protected preserves the shape overnight.
16. Bright Blonde Soft Locs
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Full blonde soft locs are an instant brightener. The light shade makes the wrapped texture more visible and gives the whole style a summery, radiant feel. Blonde also photographs beautifully, since the locs stand out against darker clothing and backgrounds.
Keeping blonde locs looking fresh means protecting them from brassiness, so a toning wash now and then, plus sun protection on long outdoor days, will help the shade stay clean rather than turning yellow.
17. Coloured Soft Locs in a Bold Shade
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Soft locs are an ideal way to try a bold colour without dyeing natural hair. Because the colour comes from the extensions, the shade can be as vivid as desired and then removed entirely when the set comes down. A single bold shade worn through the whole head makes the strongest statement, especially at longer lengths. For the fuller picture, Hairstyles For Round Face 2027 is worth your time.
Bold colours pair well with simple styling. Wearing the locs loose or in a straightforward ponytail lets the colour do the talking, with no need for extra accessories.
18. Mixed-Shade Soft Locs for a Personal Finish
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Mixing several shades through one set of soft locs creates a custom, one-of-a-kind finish. The colours can be blended evenly for a subtle multi-tonal effect, or placed in larger sections for visible contrast. Either way, the result feels personal in a way a single shade cannot match.
When mixing colours, keeping the tones in a similar family, such as warm browns, blondes and coppers, helps the blend look intentional rather than random.
19. Distressed Locs With a Softly Unravelled Texture
Photo credit by: hairkempt.com
Distressed soft locs are wrapped more loosely than a classic set, so wispy strands escape along each loc and the texture looks intentionally undone. The effect is softer and more organic, with extra volume that makes the hair look fuller without adding weight. It is a good match for anyone who finds very neat locs too uniform.
The loose wrapping also means the style ages gracefully. As the locs settle over a few weeks, the distressed texture simply looks more lived-in, rather than messy.
20. Criss-Cross Locs With a Patterned Front
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A criss-cross front turns the first thing people see into a design feature. Small sections at the hairline are crossed over each other before flowing into locs, creating a woven pattern that frames the face. The rest of the hair can stay loose, so the detail feels special without making the whole style complicated. The same idea, styled another way, appears in Hairstyles To Do 2027.
This detail works best when the front sections are kept neat, so a little edge control at the hairline helps the pattern stay visible for the life of the install.
21. Wavy Ombre Locs With a Gentle Colour Fade
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Pairing a wave pattern with an ombre fade gives soft locs two kinds of movement at once: texture through the lengths and colour that shifts as the eye travels down. The waves keep the locs from looking flat, while the fade adds depth without a harsh colour line. Together, they make a long set feel light and dynamic.
A wave pattern like this holds best when the locs are set while slightly damp and left to dry fully before being separated, which locks in the bend for several days.
22. Warm Copper Locs
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Copper brings warmth to soft locs without going as bright as red or as light as blonde. The reddish-gold tone adds visible richness, especially in sunlight, and it makes the texture of each loc stand out more than a flat dark shade would. It is a striking colour that still feels wearable for everyday life.
Like other warm tones, copper fades gradually, so colour-safe shampoo and cooler wash water will help hold the vibrancy between installs.
23. Braid-Wrapped Ponytail Locs
Photo credit by: boldhairstyles.com
Wrapping a braid around the base of a ponytail is a small finishing trick that makes the whole style look salon-polished. The wrapped section hides the elastic completely and adds a textured detail right where the eye lands first. From there, the locs fall freely, so the ponytail keeps its fullness and swing. For readers who want more, Short Hair Hairstyles 2027 keeps the ideas coming.
This is a useful style for active days, since the ponytail keeps the locs off the face and neck while still showing off their length and texture.
24. Cuffed Ponytail Locs
Photo credit by: boldhairstyles.com
Cuffs give a ponytail the same jewellery effect as hair rings, but concentrated at the base and along a few front locs. Gold or metallic cuffs catch the light and add a luxe touch, while the ponytail itself stays simple and practical. The contrast between the polished cuffs and the soft loc texture is what makes the style work.
Cuffs are easy to reposition, so they can be clustered for a special occasion or spaced out for a subtler everyday look, all on the same set of locs.
25. Side-Part Braided Ponytail Locs
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A side part changes a braided ponytail completely. Instead of symmetrical weight on both sides, the hair sweeps to one side, giving the ponytail an asymmetric, flowing shape. Braided sections near the front add structure, while the remaining locs keep the style soft and full behind them.
This version suits anyone who wants a ponytail with more personality than a standard high pony, and it works well for both casual days and evenings out.
Across all 25 ideas, the appeal of soft locs stays the same: a lightweight protective style that can be worn loose, coloured, curled or swept up, without the weight or stiffness of older faux loc styles. Pick the length and finish that fits your routine, keep the scalp moisturised and the ends protected at night, and the style will carry itself for weeks.
Hi, I’m Zoey Mitchell, the creator of ChicStyle Blog.
I share simple, wearable outfit ideas, hairstyles, nail trends, and beauty tips that feel natural and easy to recreate.
This blog is where I explore everything that makes a woman feel put together and confident every day. I’m not an expert — just a woman who genuinely loves style, mixing looks, and discovering what works.
If you love effortless fashion with a personal touch, you’ll feel at home here.
