So, you have been scrolling through Instagram and Pinterest, and you keep seeing two styles everywhere. Butterfly locs. Boho locs. They both look absolutely stunning, and honestly, you cannot decide which one to go for. Trust me, you are not alone in this confusion I get asked about this almost every single week in my salon.
Before we even get into the comparison, let me tell you something funny. A client walked into my chair last month, showed me a picture and said, “I want these butterfly locs.” I looked at the picture, looked at her, and smiled. Those were boho locs, babe.
However, I installed them anyway, and she was completely obsessed with the result. The point is the confusion is very real, and therefore, this post exists.
Let’s break it all down so that you can walk into any salon knowing exactly what you want.
What Are Butterfly Locs?
Butterfly locs are a protective style that first went viral around 2020, and they have honestly never left the conversation since. They are created using a wrapping technique that gives each loc a distressed, undone, almost dishevelled look.
That messiness, though, is completely intentional and that is exactly what makes them so beautiful and so sought after.
The hair used for butterfly locs is typically water wave or passion twist hair. The stylist wraps the extension hair around a base braid in a looping, loose pattern.
Consequently, the finished locs have this gorgeous, fluffy, almost butterfly-wing-like appearance at each section and that is precisely where the name comes from.
If you are still early in understanding the whole world of locs and wondering whether this journey is even right for you, my post on A Beginner’s Guide to Starting Locs is the perfect starting point before you book any appointment.
How Are Butterfly Locs Installed?
Installation begins with sectioning your natural hair into small to medium parts. Furthermore, your stylist will braid a small base, then wrap the extension hair around it in a figure-eight or looping pattern.
The ends are usually sealed with hot water or left deliberately unravelled for that effortlessly boho effect.
If you are in the early stages of your natural loc journey and wondering what really happens to your hair when it starts to loc, butterfly locs are actually a wonderful protective option while your strands are still finding their form.
They protect your hair without any permanent commitment, and that is a major win for anyone still deciding.
What Do Butterfly Locs Look Like?
Think messy, textured, full, and absolutely gorgeous all at once. They have a rustic, earthy feel that honestly works for both casual days and fully dressed-up evenings.
Additionally, they tend to be thicker and fluffier than boho locs, which gives considerably more volume overall and makes them incredibly camera-friendly.
Boho locs, short for bohemian locs, are a protective style that combines the neat structure of faux locs with loose, curly, or wavy hair peeking out throughout the loc body.
The result is a free-spirited, effortless look that honestly feels like your locs grew naturally and are simply thriving wildly on their own.
I first tried boho locs on a client who was transitioning from relaxed hair to natural. She wanted something that looked soft and lived-in, not stiff or too polished.
The moment I finished her install, she literally teared up looking at her reflection. I still think about that day whenever I start a brand new boho set that reaction never gets old.
How Are Boho Locs Installed?
Boho locs are typically made using faux loc hair as the base, with curly or wavy hair added intentionally throughout.
The curly pieces are either wrapped in as the loc is being built, or they are looped in after the loc is already complete. Consequently, the style has a lived-in, natural quality that feels less manufactured than many other protective styles out there.
The key detail that separates boho locs from regular faux locs is specifically those loose, curly pieces peeking through the style.
Without them, you simply have standard faux locs. Therefore, the magic is entirely in how those curly tendrils are distributed throughout the full style.
If you have been going back and forth about whether to choose a temporary faux style or fully commit to permanent locs, reading about soft locs vs permanent locs will genuinely help you think it all through before your next salon appointment.
What Do Boho Locs Look Like?
Boho locs look romantic, soft, and wildly full of life. They move beautifully because the loose curls catch the breeze and bounce gracefully as you walk.
Additionally, they tend to look more uniformly neat at the root compared to butterfly locs, even though the overall style still reads as effortlessly undone and carefree.
Butterfly Locs vs Boho Locs: The Key Differences
Now that you know what each style is, let’s get into the real side-by-side comparison.
This is the section you have probably been waiting for, and I am going to be completely honest with you the exact same way I am with every single client who sits in my chair.
The Texture and Appearance
This is honestly where the biggest visible difference lives between these two styles. Butterfly locs have that distressed, wrapped, fluffy texture running throughout the entire loc body.
Boho locs, on the other hand, have a smoother loc body with curly or wavy pieces flowing freely outward.
Think of it this way butterfly locs look like your hair has been living its absolute best, carefree life outdoors. Boho locs look like you woke up on a soft, romantic morning and your hair simply decided to cooperate beautifully without any effort.
Both are stunning, just in very distinctly different ways that suit different personalities and aesthetics.
Installation Time
Both styles require serious time in the chair, and I genuinely want you to understand that before you book your appointment.
Butterfly locs usually take between four and eight hours depending on the desired length and thickness.
Boho locs can take anywhere from five to ten hours, especially when your stylist is adding generous curly pieces throughout every individual loc.
If you are working with a genuinely packed schedule and already wondering how you will manage upkeep going forward, my post on How to Maintain Your Locs When You Have a Genuinely Busy Schedule will show you honestly what the time commitment looks like in real everyday life.
The Weight on Your Hair
This is something people rarely bring up during consultations, and it genuinely matters more than most people realise.
Butterfly locs tend to be lighter because the hair is wrapped more loosely and has that airy, fluffy finish. Boho locs can be slightly heavier depending on how much curly hair is added throughout each individual loc.
If you are already experiencing locs thinning at the roots, please factor the weight of your chosen style into your decision carefully.
Too much tension at the root from a heavy protective style can aggravate existing thinning and moreover cause real damage over time if it is not properly managed.
Longevity of Each Style
Here is the completely honest truth about how long each style lasts. Butterfly locs typically last between four and six weeks before they start looking a little too undone even for a style that is already designed to look undone.
Boho locs, because they have a more structured loc base, can last anywhere from six to eight weeks with the right level of consistent care.
If you are not sure yet how long any loc style like faux or permanent actually takes to reach its full potential, my post on how long it actually takes to get fully mature locs gives a really thorough and honest timeline that every loc lover should read before starting out.
Maintenance While the Style Is Installed
Neither style requires a huge amount of daily effort, but they both absolutely need consistent care throughout. You will want to keep your scalp moisturised regularly, avoid excessive manipulation of the locs, and always protect your edges.
For a full, practical guide to keeping your scalp in great condition under any protective style, my post on how to keep your scalp healthy and moisturised with locs covers absolutely everything you need to know.
Additionally, washing is something a lot of people genuinely overthink with these styles. You can absolutely wash butterfly and boho locs while they are still installed, you just need to be gentle, use a diluted shampoo, and avoid completely drenching the roots every single time.
Which Style Works Best for Your Hair Type?
Let’s talk about this specifically, because your hair type genuinely matters when you are choosing between these two styles.
Fine or Low-Density Hair
If your hair is fine or sits on the lower-density side, butterfly locs are most likely your better option overall. The fluffy, voluminous texture of butterfly locs creates a beautiful illusion of thickness and fullness that boho locs, while gorgeous, do not always replicate as effectively on finer strands.
Furthermore, because butterfly locs are typically lighter, they place considerably less stress on fine strands throughout the install period.
If you have been wondering whether your hair type is even suited to starting locs at all, my post on can you really start locs on short hair shares my own honest experience and what actually happened when I tried it.
Thick or High-Density Hair
If you have thick, high-density hair, both styles honestly work beautifully for you.
However, boho locs tend to sit more proportionally on thicker hair because the structured loc base matches the natural volume already present in your strands.
Consequently, the overall result looks more intentional, balanced, and polished on thicker hair types.
Hair That Is Still Early in the Loc Journey
If your natural hair is in the beginning stages of locing and you need a protective style while you wait things out, both styles work well as cover.
However, I would lean toward butterfly locs in this specific case because the installation technique tends to be gentler on newer, more fragile locs that have not yet fully matured.
For anyone who is still very new to this and figuring out those very early stages, my post on what no one tells you about getting starter locs for the first time is a brutally honest and very practical read that will genuinely save you from several avoidable mistakes.
The Cost Breakdown
I am not going to sugarcoat this for you both styles are a real financial investment. However, the exact price you pay depends on several factors: your location, your stylist’s experience level, the length you are going for, and the total amount of hair used during the install.
What Butterfly Locs Typically Cost
On average, butterfly locs can range from $150 to $350 or more at a good salon. The wide price range depends largely on the desired length and overall thickness of the style.
Moreover, longer and thicker sets require significantly more hair and more installation time, and the price always reflects that accordingly.
If you are curious about what actually goes into professional loc pricing more broadly and why certain styles cost what they do, I break it all down honestly in my post about the real cost of getting and maintaining locs professionally.
It will genuinely change the way you think about what you are paying for at every appointment.
What Boho Locs Typically Cost
Boho locs tend to run slightly higher typically somewhere between $200 and $400 or more because of the additional time it takes to incorporate the curly pieces throughout every individual loc.
Furthermore, the curly hair used specifically for the boho effect is often sold separately, which adds to the overall material cost at purchase.
Therefore, if budget is a major consideration in your decision, butterfly locs might honestly be the more financially accessible choice without compromising one bit on the visual impact or overall style.
How to Care for Each Style
Caring for Butterfly Locs
The absolute number one rule with butterfly locs is to resist the urge to over-manipulate them.
Because the wrapping technique is deliberately loose and textured, too much touching and constant restyling can cause the locs to unravel far faster than they naturally should.
Sleep with a satin bonnet or on a satin pillowcase every single night without any exceptions whatsoever.
Learning how to sleep with locs without ruining them is genuinely one of the most underrated and most impactful protective style habits you can build from the very beginning.
Caring for Boho Locs
Boho locs need very similar care to butterfly locs, but you also want to pay special attention to those curly pieces hanging loose throughout the style.
Those curls can dry out considerably faster than the loc body itself does. Therefore, a light curl refresher spray applied every few days can help them stay defined, bouncy, and fresh throughout the full weeks you are wearing the style.
Furthermore, be especially mindful when you are washing. If the locs are heavily drenched and not thoroughly dried afterwards, you risk a musty smell developing at the root area and absolutely nobody wants that experience.
My post on how to wash locs without unravelling them walks through the exact washing method I personally recommend for protective styles like these.
This is a question I get asked surprisingly often, and it is a completely valid concern. When you wear any protective style for several weeks, product residue and natural sebum can begin to accumulate under the style at the scalp.
This is especially true if you are using heavy creams, butters, or thick moisturisers regularly throughout the wear period.
The good news is that buildup is totally manageable when you know what to look for and how to address it.
My post on the truth about loc buildup, what it is and how to get rid of it covers everything in detail, including how to tell the difference between normal buildup and something that actually needs immediate attention before it becomes a bigger problem.
The Ugly Stage (Does It Apply to Faux Styles Too?)
Here is something that surprises a lot of people when they first hear it. Even faux protective styles like butterfly locs and boho locs can go through a phase where they start looking a little rough around the edges usually around weeks three or four.
The newness starts wearing off, some frizz sets in, the roots begin to show, and suddenly the style does not look as fresh as it did on install day.
This is completely normal, and it is honestly not so different from the experience many people have with their permanent locs.
If you have ever hit a point mid-journey where you wanted to give up entirely, my post on the honest truth about the loc ugly stage and how to push through is the pep talk you absolutely need to read right now.
Should You Try Doing Either Style at Home?
I know what some of you are already thinking….can I just do this myself at home? The answer is yes, technically. Both butterfly locs and boho locs can be self-installed with the right supplies, the right tutorials, and a serious amount of patience.
However, I always recommend going to a professional for your first install of either style so you understand what the finished result is supposed to look and feel like before you attempt it solo.
If you are someone who prefers to handle your hair yourself as much as possible, my post on how to loc your hair at home without a loctician gives a very practical breakdown of what that process actually involves and what you genuinely need to succeed.
Final Thoughts
I have installed hundreds of both butterfly and boho loc sets over the years, and I can tell you honestly, the clients who leave the happiest are always the ones who came in knowing what they wanted and why they wanted it.
Not necessarily because they had done endless research, but because they had genuinely checked in with themselves about their lifestyle, their hair needs, and their real maintenance capacity.
A stunning style that you cannot consistently maintain will not stay stunning for very long. Therefore, always factor your actual daily life into your final decision.
And whichever style you choose, walk into that salon with confidence, clear reference photos, and a solid idea of the length and thickness you are going for. Your stylist will genuinely thank you for it, and your hair will thank you even more.
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