Locs are a natural canvas, and adding color is one of the simplest ways to shift their whole personality. The current trend leans toward soft, lived-in shades that let the texture do the work, not heavy, uniform dye jobs.
This collection of 22 Simple Color Locs ideas runs the gamut from subtle dark brown undertones to vibrant copper and plum hues, with lengths from chin to mid-back. Whether your locs are fine or thick, short or long, you will find a color application that fits your routine. If you have ever struggled with a visible grow-out line or a color that fades too fast, these options keep maintenance realistic without sacrificing impact.
Shoulder Length Locs With Dark Brown Undertones
A black base with subtle dark brown undertones gives shoulder-length wavy locs a natural look. The glossy, air-dried finish on medium-density hair creates a lived-in appearance. The middle part and length below the chin elongate a round face without adding bulk at the sides. Ask your colorist for: shoulder-length locs with dark brown undertones. This is a diy-friendly color application since the undertones blend into the natural base. Plan for a trim every eight to ten weeks to keep the shape clean.
Short Collarbone Locs Styled Away From Face
Short locs can look polished with a side part and front sections swept back. Collarbone-length tight locs with a dark brown base create a clean line. Medium-density hair of any texture can carry this shape, and the side part softens a square jaw. Ask your stylist for: collarbone-length short locs with side-swept styling. A light pomade on the styled sections helps them hold their place. Trim every six to eight weeks to keep the silhouette sharp.
Shoulder Length Copper Locs With Loose Styling
Copper lands somewhere between autumn warmth and spring brightness, which is why it works for two seasons instead of one. Shoulder-length wavy locs in a vibrant copper shade with a middle parting and loose styling keep the color from feeling heavy. Medium-density hair starting at shoulder length carries the tone without the color overwhelming the texture. Ask your colorist for: shoulder-length wavy locs in vibrant copper. A shine serum pulls out the gloss, and a trim every eight to ten weeks prevents the ends from thinning. This is a salon color, so expect to sit for the full application.
Shoulder Length Faux Locs With Ash Brown Blonde Blend
Solid color faux locs can look uniform, but the ash brown and blonde blend here creates depth without a full color change. The multi-tonal effect on shoulder length wavy faux locs gives thick density hair dimension that holds up even when the style is loose. Ask your colorist for: shoulder length faux locs with an ash brown and blonde blend. This is a salon only technique because the color needs to bond with the synthetic or human hair used in the extensions. A texturizing spray on the lengths keeps the blend visible.
Shoulder Length Light Brown Locs In Space Buns
Space buns on shoulder-length locs solve a practical problem: what to do with medium-length hair when you want it off your face without a full updo. The two high buns on light brown wavy locs with a middle parting keep the look playful but structured. Medium-density hair at shoulder length has enough weight to hold the buns without slipping, and the side view shows the shape clearly. Ask your stylist for: shoulder-length light brown locs styled into two space buns. Secure each bun with elastics and bobby pins, and expect this style to last through a full day. Oval and long faces carry the height of space buns well.
Collarbone Micro Locs With Lighter Brown Highlights
Ask your colorist for: collarbone micro locs, medium brown with subtle highlights. Because the locs are so fine, they air dry quickly and hold a neat shape with minimal effort, though they do need a trim every 10 to 12 weeks to keep the ends from fraying.
Chin Length Voluminous Black Locs
What happens when you have thick hair and you cut it short? You get this: chin length locs with enough volume to do the styling for you. The wavy texture and dense weight mean the hair holds a pulled up shape on its own, with a few strands left down to frame the face. Ask your stylist for: chin length thick locs, pulled up styling. This cut is a salon job, since the volume needs to be shaped properly rather than just hacked off. A trim every 6 to 8 weeks keeps the silhouette from becoming a triangle.
Shoulder Length Black Locs With Natural Volume
The middle parting splits the shoulder length locs evenly so the natural wavy texture looks neat, not messy. The black base needs no maintenance between salon visits, which is the real appeal of this look.
Thick hair at shoulder length holds this kind of volume without any product, but a sea salt spray helps revive the wave pattern on day two or three. Ask your stylist for: shoulder length thick wavy locs, natural volume. A trim every 8 to 10 weeks keeps the ends tidy while the locs continue to mature and settle into their texture.
Shoulder Length Black Locs Updo
An updo on shoulder length locs works because the thickness gives the style enough weight to stay put. The wavy locs are arranged into a voluminous, textured shape that looks intentionally crafted, which makes it a solid choice for events where you want the hair to look like it took effort. Ask your stylist for: shoulder length thick locs updo. The middle parting keeps the front clean while the locs are pinned up, and the black base means there is no root grow out to worry about between appointments. This is a salon build, so plan for the styling time instead of attempting it five minutes before you leave.
Short Rich Brown Locs With Defined Coils
Can you get defined coils at home without a stylist? Yes, if you start with the right base: short locs in a rich brown color with a middle parting. The tightly coiled texture holds a curl when you work a coil-defining cream through it and let it air dry, no heat required. Ask your stylist for: short locs, rich brown color, defined coils. The fine density means the style stays lightweight, so it is a genuine DIY option for days when the salon is not in the plan. A trim every 6 to 8 weeks keeps the shape crisp, but the color itself needs nothing beyond the occasional refresh.
Mid-Back Length Vibrant Red Coily Locs
Getting a uniform vibrant red on coily locs takes a two-step process: lifting the natural pigment enough for the red to read true, then applying a semi-permanent or permanent red all over. The result here is a saturated, even color that makes the coily texture pop without looking flat. Thick, coily hair at mid-back length is the ideal starting point, and the middle parting keeps the weight balanced. Ask your colorist for: mid-back coily locs, vibrant red color. The lift step is the tricky part, so expect to spend a few hours in the chair. A color-depositing conditioner every few washes helps the red stay vivid longer.
Mid-Back Length Curly Orange Locs
Orange can look Halloween if you go too bright or too flat, but this vibrant shade lands somewhere between a tangerine and a sunset, which keeps it wearable into summer. The curly locs at mid-back length have a different texture than a solid wave pattern, so the color shifts as you move. It is not a subtle tone, and that is the point. Thick curly hair at mid-back length carries the pigment well and the middle part lets the color run evenly down both sides. Ask your colorist for: mid-back curly locs, vibrant orange color. A curl cream on damp locs defines the shape and keeps the orange from looking chalky.
Shoulder Length Thick Locs Braided With Copper Red Color
Braiding thick locs at shoulder length creates a denser, more textured silhouette, but the tension from tight braiding can stress the roots if the locs are heavy. The copper red color here is a single-process shade, so the tone stays consistent from root to tip. Thick hair at shoulder length works best for this braided style; thinner locs might not hold the braid pattern as cleanly. Ask your stylist for: shoulder length thick locs, braided style, copper red color. The trade-off is that unbraiding takes patience, and the copper tone needs a gloss every six to eight weeks to stay bright.
Mid-Back Length Deep Plum Locs Partially Updo
Can a deep plum read as natural? On wavy locs at mid-back length, it almost does, because the dark base keeps the color from feeling costume-y. The partial updo pulls some locs away from the face while leaving the rest loose, so you get the drama of an updo without losing the length. Medium density hair at mid-back length holds this style well; very fine locs might not have enough weight to keep the updo secure. Ask your colorist for: mid-back locs, deep plum color, partial updo. The plum tone fades to a warmer mauve over about eight weeks, so a color-depositing conditioner in a cool purple tone extends the life of the shade.
Mid-Back Faux Locs With Honey Blonde Brown Balayage
The balayage on these faux locs starts with a warm brown at the roots and shifts to honey blonde toward the ends, which creates a soft, sunlit gradient without a hard line. The loose waves and braided accents at the front add movement to what could otherwise be a solid block of color. Thick, wavy hair at mid-back length is the natural fit for this technique, since the balayage needs surface area to blend well. Ask your colorist for: mid-back faux locs, honey blonde and brown balayage. Ask for a root shadow that matches your natural depth so the grow-out blends naturally.
Mid-Back Microlocs With Copper Base And Blonde Highlights
Microlocs at mid-back length take on a glossy, air-dried wavy pattern, with a copper base that is brightened by fine blonde highlights woven throughout. Fine density hair carries these highlights especially well, since the smaller locs let each lighter strand read clearly without overwhelming the whole. Ask your colorist for: mid-back microlocs, copper base with blonde highlights. A copper-and-blonde combination like this one brings warmth and dimension to the texture, and the wavy finish keeps the look relaxed rather than rigid.
Mid-Back Faux Locs High Ponytail With Blonde Highlights
Ever wonder what a ponytail does for color dimension? A high ponytail pulls the hair up and back, which lets the medium brown base and its subtle blonde highlights catch light from every angle. These are faux locs reaching mid-back, thick and wavy, gathered cleanly at the crown with a middle parting left visible in front. Ask your colorist for: mid-back faux locs, medium brown with blonde highlights, high ponytail.
This style works for active days or occasions when you want the hair off your neck without losing the texture. The ponytail shows off the highlights as they move, which is the whole point of adding them in the first place. A light hairspray smooths any flyaways at the crown, and a trim every 10 to 12 weeks keeps the ends neat.
Mid-Back Coily Locs With Lighter Brown Highlights
The side view here shows coily locs at mid-back length, sectioned with an intricate parting at the crown and pulled into a partial updo. The dark brown base is broken up by subtle lighter brown highlights that surface through the coily texture without demanding attention. Ask your colorist for: mid-back coily locs, dark brown with lighter brown highlights, partial updo.
Upkeep for coily locs with highlights means keeping the hair hydrated, especially if the lighter pieces were lifted from a darker base. A leave-in conditioner applied to the lengths prevents dryness, and the partial updo reduces friction on the ends during sleep. A trim every 10 to 12 weeks maintains the shape, and the highlights will need a toner refresh around the same interval if they start to warm up.
Mid-Back Coily Locs High Bun With Loose Tendrils
A high bun on mid-back coily locs, with several loose strands left out to frame the face, creates a silhouette that reads as intentional without being fussy. The dark brown base carries subtle lighter brown highlights, and the middle parting keeps the front symmetrical. Ask your colorist for: mid-back coily locs, dark brown with highlights, high bun with loose tendrils. The tendrils are the key detail: they soften the bun and prevent the style from looking too severe, especially on longer hair.
Mid-Back Air Dried Wavy Locs With Dark Base
Can you get away with zero heat on thick, wavy locs? Yes, but it takes patience. This mid-back length style relies on a middle parting and an air-dried finish, with the dark base color letting the texture do all the work. Ask your stylist for: mid-back wavy thick locs, dark base, air dried.
The honest trade-off is drying time: thick wavy locs can take hours to dry naturally, and sleeping on damp locs risks mildew or a stretched-out pattern. A diffuser on low heat cuts the time without flattening the wave, but the whole process is still more of a commitment than a quick blowout. This is a salon-leaning look for the initial installation, though the daily styling is minimal once the locs are set. The real drawback is that air drying requires planning, and not everyone has that kind of morning.
Mid-Back Curly Locs With Lighter Brown Highlights and Loose Curls
Straight locs have their place, but these thick, curly locs at mid-back length bring a different kind of weight, the good kind. The rich dark brown base gets broken up by subtle lighter brown highlights that follow the curl pattern, so the dimension looks like natural movement. A side parting keeps the volume balanced. Ask your colorist for: mid-back curly locs, dark brown with highlights, side part. If your hair is naturally curly and thick, this texture does the work for you.
The loose curls here are set, not scrunched. A curl-enhancing mousse applied on damp locs defines each one without crunch. A trim every 10 to 12 weeks keeps the ends from splitting. The side part and length below the collarbone suit most face shapes, though anyone with a round face will appreciate the elongation.
Mid-Back Locs Updo With Decorative Beads
The high updo is the structure, but the small, colorful beads threaded onto the locs are the event. The base is a rich dark brown with subtle lighter brown highlights that catch light between the beads, so the updo reads as layered even from a distance. A middle parting frames the face, and a few loose strands around the temples keep it from feeling severe. Ask your colorist for: mid-back locs updo, dark brown with highlights, decorative beads. This is a salon build, beads need secure placement so they don’t slide. The occasion is a wedding or a festive event where you want the hair to be noticed before you walk in.
Final Thoughts
For low maintenance, stick with darker base colors or subtle highlights that grow out gracefully. Vibrant colors or complex color melts may require more frequent toning and touch-ups.
- Trim locs every 8-12 weeks for shape maintenance.
- Deep condition locs weekly to maintain moisture.
- Use color-safe shampoos and conditioners to preserve color vibrancy.
- Avoid excessive heat styling to prevent color fading and hair damage.
Simple color locs offer endless possibilities for personal style.
