How to Do Waterfall Locks: Step-by-Step Boho Protective Style

Written by: WingJacky

August 11, 2025

Time to read 2 min

Are you looking for a lightweight, protective style that’s full of movement and boho vibes? Waterfall locks are taking over, and we’re here for it! This beginner-friendly guide breaks down everything you need to know about installing these trendy, goddess-inspired locs at home—perfect for naturalistas who want style and versatility.

Let’s get into it, girl.

What Are Waterfall Locks?

Waterfall Locks (also known as Luna Locks or Boho Faux Locs) are super thin, flowy locs that combine soft locs with curly human hair pieces. Think faux locs meet goddess vibes, but with way more movement and a lot less bulk.

They’re perfect if you love the butterfly loc aesthetic but want something lighter with more texture and bounce.

What You’ll Need

To create this look, here's everything our girl Jay used (you can shop most of these products in our Boho Human Bulk Collection):

2–3 Bundles of Spanish Curl Human Hair (20”)
12 Packs of Soft Locs (18”)
Kinky Wrapping Hair
Shine 'n Jam Magic Fingers Gel
Crochet Hook
Sharp Scissors
Steam or Hot Water (optional for softening)

Pro Tip: Prep the Night Before

Waterfall locks are beautiful—but they’re time-consuming. To save hours of work, do this:

Pre-section your natural hair
Pre-braid about 1 inch of each section
Lay out your soft locs & wrapping hair
Use Shine 'n Jam for ultra-clean parting

Trust us: the cleaner the prep, the smoother the install.

Step-by-Step: How to Install Waterfall Locks

Step 1: Part and Pre-Braid
Start with a middle part and create 3 rows below the ears and 6 rows on top (medium size). Clean parts = pro results.

Step 2: Attach Soft Locs
Use your crochet needle to pull the soft loc through the root of the braid. You can braid your hair into the loc about 1 inch down.

Step 3: Wrap with Kinky Hair
Take a thin piece of kinky hair and wrap it tightly around the base 4–5 times to secure it. Then continue wrapping down the shaft.

Step 4: Feed In Spanish Curl Hair
About 1–2 inches down, add a thick piece of Spanish curl hair and let it hang out to create the “waterfall” effect.

Step 5: Continue Wrapping
Use another piece of wrapping hair to continue locking down. Don’t pull too tight—you want the loc to have some movement.

Step 6: Secure the Ends
Wrap until the loc is secure and trim the ends to your desired length. Optional: use a little nail glue if you're worried about slippage.

Step 7: Steam or Dip in Hot Water
Finish with steaming or hot water to loosen stiffness and give it more flow.

⏰ How Long Does It Take?

This style takes 7–10 hours, depending on your speed and prep. Set aside a full day, or break it up over two days.

Maintenance Tips

Sleep with a satin scarf or bonnet
Moisturize scalp with lightweight oil
Trim flyaways as needed
Avoid heavy products to maintain bounce

With proper care, you can rock Waterfall Locks for 2–3 weeks—and look stunning every day.

Conclusion

Waterfall locks are perfect for protective styling without sacrificing movement or style. Whether you're traveling, working, or just showing off for IG, this look will have you feeling like that girl all week long.

Ready to create the look? Do you want to create the same style as the influencer? Shop here 🛒. Spanish Curl Bulk Hair Extensions

Stay Inspired

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