Butterfly braids

What you need

What butterfly locs cost in South Africa, and how long they take

Variations

Pre-looped, ready-made locs

Crochet hair sold already looped and distressed, in lengths of 14 to 24 inches in the stores we checked. It is the quickest route, and the packs are priced in the table above.

Made from water wave hair

Curl Centric describes butterfly locs as pre-looped goddess locs made from water wave braiding hair, with six to eight packs for a full head.

Shorter butterfly locs

Universal Dealers sells a 14 inch set at R150 (checked 6 Oct 2026). Curl Centric says shorter lengths carry less weight on your roots.

Ombre and colour

Ombre sets are sold in codes such as 1/27 and T1/30. Codes differ between brands, so check the pack photo and our colour chart.

How long they last, and care

1. 1
   Moisturise and detangle gently
   Curl Centric says regular moisturising and gentle detangling at the roots stops the locs from matting.
2. 2
   Cover at night
   Sleep with your locs gathered loosely in a satin bonnet or scarf. If anything feels tight, loosen it.
3. 3
   Take them out by week 6
   Curl Centric says butterfly locs last 4 to 6 weeks for most people and 8 at the most, and warns against leaving them in beyond 6 weeks.
4. 4
   Rest your hair
   Leave 1 to 2 weeks between protective styles, as Curl Centric advises, with a clarifying wash and deep conditioning.

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Butterfly braids, explained

What butterfly braids are

Butterfly braids are most often called butterfly locs, and that is how South African salons and stores list the style. Curl Centric describes butterfly locs as a temporary protective style that looks like dreadlocks but lasts for a shorter time. The look is distressed, with loops of hair left free along each loc. This page covers butterfly locs. In the salon listings and store products we read, the style is listed as butterfly locs, and one salon writes it as butterfly locks braids.

The hair is the main difference from ordinary braids. Curl Centric says the locs are pre-looped goddess locs made from water wave braiding hair, which the stylist wraps around anchor braids. That is a different product from the straight braiding hair priced on our Fulani and lemonade braids pages, so do not use those pack counts here.

What hair to buy

There are two routes. The first is ready-made locs. Cosmetic Connection sells a 24 inch Butterfly Locs set at R78.90 and labels it as needing 3 packs per head, which is about R237 for a head. Takealot lists 20 and 22 inch butterfly locs crochet sets as a pack of 3 at R237. Universal Dealers lists 14 inch locs at R150 and 20 inch locs at R169.99 without saying how many packs a head takes. All prices were checked on 6 Oct 2026 and the table above shows every row, with the store and the date.

The second route is to make them from water wave braiding hair. Curl Centric says to buy six to eight packs for a full head. That is a different kind of pack, so do not compare it with the 3-pack sets. If you are paying a braider, ask whether they use ready-made locs or make them from braiding hair, because the hair and the time differ.

Colour codes on ready-made sets in the stores we checked include 1, 1/27 and T1/30. Our colour chart explains how codes work, including the T prefix, and codes differ a little between brands.

What it costs to have it done in South Africa

We read what SA salons publish on Fresha and found six butterfly locs listings, from R650 to R1,400. Five take 3 to 3.5 hours and one lists 1.5 hours. One listing, for shoulder length on afro hair, is R950 and 3 hours. One says the fibre is included and costs R1,050 for 3.5 hours. Six listings is a small set, so treat the range as a guide and not as a price.

Ask whether the price covers the hair, and ask for the length in inches. Ask for the take-down price up front too, because Curl Centric notes that maintenance and removal might incur additional charges. Curl Centric gives 3 to 5 hours with a loctician, and 4 to 7 hours at home, longer if it is your first time.

Questions to ask before you book

Butterfly locs are listed under several names and prices, so check what each quote covers.

• Will you use ready-made locs or make them from braiding hair?
• What length will the locs be, in inches?
• Is the hair in the price, and how many packs do you use?
• How long will it take, and what does the take-down cost?

How long they last

Curl Centric says butterfly locs last 4 to 6 weeks for most people and up to 8 at the most, and that the style loosens as your hair grows at the roots. It warns against leaving them in beyond 6 weeks, because the new growth builds up and can damage your hair. While they are in, Curl Centric says to moisturise regularly and detangle gently at the roots, which stops matting. Its protective styling guide suggests washing your scalp every 1 to 2 weeks with diluted shampoo applied to the roots, and sleeping with your hair gathered loosely in a satin bonnet. Plan your take-down for week 6, and book it before you book the next style.

Weight, tension and your scalp

Locs add weight, and the longer they are, the more your roots carry. The British Association of Dermatologists lists excessively long hair because of its weight, tight braids, weaves and extensions among the causes of traction alopecia, which is hair loss from constant pulling. It says the first step is to stop tight hairstyles, and that regrowth may start about 3 months later, although long-standing damage can be permanent.

The American Academy of Dermatology says that pain, stinging, crusts on the scalp, broken hairs around the forehead and a receding hairline are signs that a style is too tight. If your locs hurt while they are being done, ask the stylist to stop. A shorter length, larger sections and a loose base all reduce the strain.

Butterfly braids: questions