I started seeing loc buns everywhere this spring. Not the same one either. A low wrapped bun at brunch, a high sculpted one at a wedding, a braided side bun with beads on a woman in line at the grocery store. The silhouette stays the same but the details keep shifting. And I am here for it.
So I collected 27 versions of the loc bun. Some take ten minutes, some take an hour. Some need a stylist, some you can do in the mirror with a hair tie and patience. Every texture, every length, every shade from honey blonde to deep auburn. If you have locs and you want a bun that does not look like every other bun, this is the list.
Vibrant Red High Loc Bun
This vibrant red loc bun is the loudest argument for colour I’ve seen in a while, and it wins. The red loc bun sits high, a dense coil of thick, coily locs that reads almost sculptural from the front, with no bangs to soften the punch. The colour is a true, unapologetic red, and against that coily texture it pops like a matte lipstick on a winter day, vivid and warm. The length is mid-back, so the bun has real weight, and the middle part lets the red do all the talking. This is a salon colour, no question, the kind of vibrant red that needs a professional’s hand to land evenly on every loc. If you want the colour to stay this loud, plan on a refresh every eight to ten weeks, and expect the hold to last days if you wrap it tight.
Coily Black Updo with Curtain Bangs
Here’s the thing about a loc bun with bangs: it’s not the bun that makes the style, it’s the curtain bangs. This coily black updo proves it, with a high bun of dark locs and those face-framing pieces left loose to curl around the cheekbones. The texture is pure coily, thick and springy, and the black colour is so deep it reads almost blue in the right light. The length is mid-back, so the bun sits with a satisfying weight, and the side part gives the whole thing a soft, romantic tilt. The hold is solid, but those curtain bangs will need a re-curl by day two if you want them to keep their swoop. This is a style that flatters round and heart-shaped faces best, the curtain bangs doing the work of lengthening and framing.
Honey Blonde Loc Bun with Dark Roots
Forget every other blonde for a second, this honey blonde loc bun with dark roots is the one that makes you look twice. The honey blonde is warm and dimensional, a far cry from the icy or platinum shades that can wash out deeper skin tones, and it’s the dark roots that keep it from feeling brassy or overdone. The locs are mid-back length, wavy in texture, and pulled into a high bun that shows off the colour gradient from root to tip. The middle part keeps it clean, and the lack of bangs means the colour is the whole story. This is a salon colour, no question, and the dark roots are a gift: they stretch the time between touch-ups to a full ten weeks, so the grow-out looks deliberate, not neglected. Ask your stylist for a honey blonde that leans golden, not yellow, and keep the roots two to three shades darker than the ends.
Braided Black Locs with Side Bangs and Pearls
I will admit I was skeptical about the pearls. They sit scattered through the braided section, tiny white beads that catch the light without looking like a costume piece. The braids start at the hairline and sweep into a low side bun, and the side bangs fall loose past the jaw. The colour is black, no variation, so the pearls pop hard. The hold is better than I expected because the braids lock everything in place. The upkeep is real: you do not wash this with the pearls still in, and they need to be removed and re-threaded if you want to wear it again. But for one night? A braided loc bun with side bangs and pearls is a full look that does not need anything else to sell it.
Thick Black Locs in a Neat Chin-Length Bun
She walks in and the hair sits exactly where she left it. That is the whole appeal of this neat loc bun. The locs are thick and black, cut to chin length, but gathered into a bun that sits low and rounded against the nape. The middle part is clean. No bangs. The shorter locs at the front are tucked or left to graze the jaw, and that is the part you have to place yourself: a styling gel or pomade keeps the edges smooth, but it is not a salon-only skill. A neat loc bun at this length does not budge through a commute or an evening. It suits a longer face because the width of the bun balances the vertical line. This is a style you can do at home after the first salon shaping. Thick black locs in a chin-length bun. That is it. That is enough.
Brown Loc Updo with Blonde Highlights and Tendrils
Those curly tendrils are the whole point. They break the polished updo into something that actually looks like you touched it and left. The brown base with blonde highlights catches light in two tones, which stops a single shade from reading flat. Wavy texture, collarbone length, middle part — the tendrils fall soft, not precise. This is a loc updo with highlights that works for a wedding guest or a dinner where you want your hair to do the talking. The blonde highlights need refreshing every eight to ten weeks, but the tendrils themselves take zero daily effort. They hold their curl from the styling session, and they stay.
Auburn Loc Bun with Beads and Face-Framing
I saw the auburn and the beads and thought, that is a lot of detail. Then I looked closer. The auburn loc bun sits mid-back, coily, with a middle part and face-framing locs that soften the whole thing. The decorative beads are threaded onto individual locs after the bun is pinned, which means the stylist places each one by hand. That is not a ten-minute add-on. The auburn shade itself is rich, almost burnt, and it needs a color refresh every six to eight weeks to stay warm instead of muddy.
Here is the honest downside. Those beads click. Not loudly, but if you move your head fast in a quiet room, you hear them. And the face-framing locs, left loose, will tangle into the beads if you sleep without a scarf. Worth it for the effect. Not worth it if you hate maintenance sounds.
Intricate Braided Side Loc Bun
Can a bun hold for five days without looking slept in? This one can. The side loc bun starts with an intricate braided pattern that wraps from the side part into the low bun, and that braiding locks every loc in place. Wavy texture, mid-back length, black with subtle brown highlights that you only catch in direct light. The braiding is tight enough that the shape does not shift, but loose enough at the scalp that it does not pull. Wear it to work Monday, pin a few locs loose Tuesday, sleep in a satin scarf and it still sits Wednesday. The upkeep is minimal: a light re-wrap at the bun base by day three. That is it.
Thick Coily Dark Brown High Bun
Verdict: this is the thick loc bun for people who want their texture to do the heavy lifting. The high bun sits at the crown, gathered from collarbone-length, coily dark brown locs, and the thickness is the whole show. No highlights, no beads, no braided pattern. Just volume and a middle part. It flatters oval and round faces because the height lengthens the silhouette. If your hair is fine or low density, skip it — the bun needs mass to hold its shape without pins showing. For thick, coily hair, it takes five minutes to gather and wrap. The hold is solid through a full day.
Coily Bun with Copper Highlights and Scalp Braids
Scalp braids versus a full loc bun — they are not the same commitment. A loc bun with highlights and scalp braids gives you the intricate detail of braiding without braiding every inch of hair. The scalp braids run from the middle part back into the bun, and the copper highlights catch on the raised pattern. Coily, thick, mid-back length. The bun sits high, the braids lie flat. This is a salon job, not a bathroom-mirror project. The braiding requires tension control that only a professional has, and the copper highlights need a refresh every six to eight weeks.
Compared to a full-head braided style, this one breathes. The bun gives you a break from the braid tension at the nape, and the loose coily texture at the bun reads softer. If you want the look of scalp braids without sleeping in braids for two weeks, this is the version to book.
Dark Brown Bun with Purple Accents
I did not expect to like purple in a bun this much. The dark brown base does the heavy lifting, grounding the purple accents so they read as intentional detail, not a costume. The purple loc bun is built from the inside: the accent colour is applied to select locs during installation or colouring, then those locs are woven through the bun so the purple appears in flashes, never all at once. The colour stays vivid against the brown because the stylist placed it in the mid-lengths, not the roots. The coily texture holds the strands in place, so the purple peeks out from the layers without any extra pinning. Styling is straightforward: gather, twist, pin. The colour does the work.
Voluminous Textured Black Loc Bun
I will admit I was skeptical about how long a voluminous bun would actually stay voluminous. By day three, most big buns deflate into a sad lump. This one does not. The textured loc bun relies on careful coiling and twisting of each loc before it goes into the bun, which creates a structure that holds its own weight. The result is a full, rounded shape that lasts through the week. The texture is the secret: the coils grip each other, so the bun does not loosen or sag. The hold is real, even on thick, coily hair.
The honest downside is the prep time. Getting that texture right takes deliberate work, not a quick gather-and-pin. You coil each section, twist it into place, and secure it. It is not a five-minute style. But if you want a bun that stays round and full past Thursday, this is the one.
Dark Brown Stacked Loc Bun
Picture a bun that sits like a cylinder, stacked vertically, neat and precise. The stacked loc bun works best on locs that are at least shoulder-length, because you need enough length to wrap around the base and still stack upward. It flatters round and oval face shapes, since the vertical line lengthens the face. The dark brown locs read as one solid block of colour, which sharpens the silhouette. If your locs are shorter than collarbone or very thin, the stack will not hold its shape. It is a salon style, not a bathroom-mirror job.
Black Coily Updo with Scalp Braids
The scalp braids here are not an afterthought. They are the foundation, a geometric pattern that starts at the hairline and feeds into the updo. The loc updo scalp braids land best in colder months, when you want a polished, intricate look that stays put under a hat and does not frizz in dry air. The layers in the updo add movement, so the style does not feel stiff. The black coily texture holds the braids tight, and the updo sits secure all day. This is a professional-only style: the braiding pattern alone takes time, and the updo must be built on top of it without disrupting the lines.
Dark Brown Textured High Bun
Ever tried a high bun that looked good in the mirror and then collapsed by lunch? The high loc bun solves that. Gather all locs at the crown, twist each one individually to build texture, then coil them into a bun and pin. The texture is what holds it: the twists grip each other, so the bun stays elevated. The dark brown colour keeps the shape clean and readable. You can do this at home, but the twist step is non-negotiable. Skip it, and the bun goes flat. The textured bun is a weekend project, not a weekday rush job.
Black Locs with Front Braiding and Bun
This is the rare loc bun that still looks deliberate on day four. The locs with front braiding anchor the whole style, so the bun sits secure while the intricate braiding along the hairline keeps every shorter loc from escaping. It is a salon job, no question, because the braids need even tension and the loose locs need careful placement before they are gathered. The black colour reads solid and dense, and the coily texture gives the bun real grip, which is why it holds its shape instead of slipping loose. Mid-back length gives you enough to wrap a full bun without it looking thin. A middle part widens a round face, so ask for a slight zigzag if you want softness. I wore mine through a long weekend and only had to tuck a few strands back in by Sunday.
Upkeep is the trade-off. The front braids will frizz at the edges by day three, so a silk scarf at night is non-negotiable. Plan a redo every two weeks if you want the pattern to stay crisp. The bun itself, though, holds like it means it.
Dark Brown Two Buns Hairstyle
I will admit I rolled my eyes at two loc buns the first time I saw them, then I tried the sectioning and understood the appeal. The dark brown colour keeps it from reading as costume, and the two distinct buns sit high enough to balance a long face by adding width at the temples. On a round face, keep them lower and closer to the ears so they do not add fullness at the cheeks. The honest downside is symmetry: each bun needs equal winding or one will sag by noon and wreck the whole effect. Coily texture helps, since it grips the wrap, but fine or slippery locs will need extra pins. It is playful, yes, and it is youthful, but it is not a lazy style. It takes real time to get both buns to match, and if you are in a hurry, skip it.
Black Loc Updo with Silver Beads
The beads catch the light before you even notice the bun, and that is the point. Loc updo beads come in metal, wood, or acrylic, and the choice changes the whole mood: silver reads elegant and cool, wood reads earthy, acrylic reads playful. I would pick silver here because the black locs make it pop without competing. The beads are woven in during the styling by a professional, and they are removable for washing, which is the detail that saves this style from being a maintenance nightmare. The updo itself is mid-back length gathered into a smooth coil, and the coily texture keeps it anchored. What you need to know before booking:
- Beads add weight, so shorter locs may pull.
- Ask for beads on the bun only, not the hairline.
- Remove them before any deep conditioning.
- They clink when you move, which you will either love or hate.
It is a special-occasion style, not a daily one, but the hold is solid for a full evening.
Dark Brown Neatly Wrapped High Bun
Ever wonder how a bun gets that smooth, almost sculpted surface instead of the usual lumpy coil? The neatly wrapped loc bun is built by taking each loc and wrapping it around the base in the same direction, tucking the ends underneath as you go. The dark brown colour hides any stray flyaway, and a light pomade smoothed over the surface keeps the coily texture from frizzing out. This one is a salon job, not a bathroom-mirror project, because the tension has to stay even or the wrap loosens and shifts by evening. Mid-back length gives you enough to wrap a full bun without it looking thin. A middle part widens a round face, so ask for a slight zigzag if you want softness. The hold is excellent, and it lasts a full day without a single pin needing a push.
Mid-Back Large Textured Black Loc Bun
This bun does not sit small and tidy, it sits big and deliberate, and that is exactly why it works. The large loc bun gathers every loc into a loose coil that maximizes fullness, and the coily, thick texture is what holds it there all day. Fine or thin locs will not get this volume, no matter how you wrap, so this one is for the dense heads among us. The black colour keeps the texture visible, every twist and turn reads clearly. Mid-back length is the minimum, anything shorter and the bun goes from voluminous to just bulky. It holds through a full workday, and I have even slept in it and reshaped it the next morning with just a few pins. The trade-off is weight, a bun this size pulls at the roots by hour six, so scalp massage is not optional.
Voluminous Bun with Gold Beads
This voluminous loc bun is the rare style that flatters both round and long face shapes. The volume sits high and wide, which balances a longer face by adding width at the crown, while the gold beads draw the eye outward on a rounder face. The texture is coily and wavy, which gives the bun natural grip and body. Colour is a deep black, letting the gold beads pop. Honest downside: the beads add weight, so the hold depends on how tightly you pin the base. If your locs are on the finer side, expect some sag by evening.
Sculpted Black Bun with Face-Framing Locs
I saw this sculpted loc bun and thought, that is a winter wedding guest who does not mess around. The bun itself is large and architectural, almost a shape you could draw with a compass, and the face-framing locs break the severity just enough. The colour is black with brown undertones, warm without being obvious. From the side and back, the bun sits low and solid, which reads formal and intentional. This is a cooler-weather statement, because the weight and the coverage feel substantial. It is not a July picnic bun. It is a December gala bun. The texture is coily, which gives the sculpting something to hold onto.
High Black Loc Bun on Top
I will confess: I have tried to build a prominent loc bun this high at home and ended up with something that leaned left. The technique is simple in theory. Gather every loc at the highest point of your head, wind them tightly in one direction, and secure with pins. The texture is coily, which helps the bun grip itself. The colour is black, no highlights, no distraction. The hold comes from the tension of the wrap, not from product. This is a salon job if you want it to sit straight and stay all day. At home, expect a few pins to migrate by hour four.
Ombre Loc Bun with Face-Framing Twists
Does any style look better on day one than day five? The ombre loc bun with face-framing twists is gorgeous fresh out of the salon: black roots melting into blonde ends, the twists soft against the cheeks. The hold is good for about three days if you sleep with a silk scarf. By day four, the twists start to separate and the blonde ends look a little dry. The colour is the real maintenance item here. The ombre needs a refresh every six to eight weeks, or the line between black and blonde gets muddy. The texture is coily and twisted, which hides a bit of grow-out but not all of it.
Front Braided Loc Bun with Blonde Highlights
The front braiding on this loc bun blonde highlights style is what separates it from every other bun in this roundup. The braids run from the hairline back into the bun, creating a woven band that frames the face without needing tendrils. The blonde highlights are spaced through the black base, not chunky, not stripey. They catch light differently depending on the braid direction. For a round face, the braids pull the eye upward and outward. For a longer face, the horizontal line of the braidng adds width. The texture is coily, which gives the braids grip. The bun itself is neat, low, and compact, so the front work gets the attention.
Layers Large High Black Loc Bun
This is the black loc bun that wins on presence alone. The large high bun sits at the crown, and the layers are what make it different from every other bun you have seen this week. A single-layer bun reads like a ball. This one has movement, a shape that shifts when you turn your head. The coily texture holds the volume without a single pin fighting for its life. Colour is straight black, no highlights, no dimension needed because the layers create their own shadow and light. You want this one from a salon. Not because you cannot twist your own locs into a bun, but because the layer placement has to be deliberate. Tell your stylist you want the bun to read as a separate shape, not just gathered ends. Mid-back length gives you enough weight to work with. A middle part keeps the front clean. This is the bun that walks into a room before you do.
Black Loc Bun with Fabric Wrap
Sunday morning, you have a brunch you are already late for, and your locs are clean but not cooperating. This fabric wrapped loc bun is the answer. The black loc bun itself is straightforward: mid-back length, coily texture, gathered high and wrapped into a round shape. The fabric wrap is what saves it. A strip of neutral grey or white fabric, tied around the base of the bun, then wrapped up and tucked. It adds visual weight to a bun that might otherwise read small against thick locs. The honest downside is that the fabric shifts. If you use a slippery material, you will be retying it by noon. A cotton or linen scrap grips better. Middle part, no bangs, just the bun and the wrap doing the work. It is a ten-minute fix that looks like you planned it.
Final Thoughts
After writing all of these, I keep coming back to the ones with face-framing locs or tendrils. They do not need to be perfect. They just need to be gathered. And that is the whole point of a loc bun. It is not about precision. It is about getting it up and still looking like you meant it.
