Locs take years to grow, and most women reach a point where they love the length but want a change that doesn’t mean cutting it off. Shaving the nape or a side is that change. The locs on top stay exactly as they are, the weight drops noticeably, the neck stays cool, and the style suddenly has a sharp line to play against. The honest trade-off is upkeep: buzzed hair grows fuzzy within two to three weeks, so the undercut needs clippers far more often than the locs need a retwist. What you get for that effort is a look that works down, half-up, in a bun, or slicked back, and looks different each way.
Side Undercut with Locs Swept Over
The most worn version. One side is shaved from the temple to behind the ear, and the locs are parted deep and swept over to the other side. When the locs hang down the shave barely shows; sweep them further over or tuck one section back and it appears. It works on any loc length past the chin. Keep the shaved side smooth and the retwist fresh along the part so the line stays clean.
Nape Undercut with Long Locs Down
For women who want the practical benefits without a visible change, the undercut sits only at the nape, roughly the width of a hand, and long locs fall right over it. Nobody knows unless the locs go up. It removes the weight that pulls at the back of the head, keeps the neck cool, and makes sleeping in a bonnet easier. It’s the lowest-commitment way to try the look.
High Bun with a Full Undercut
Both sides and the nape shaved, with the remaining locs gathered into a high bun on top. This is the boldest version, since the full undercut shows the shape of the head and the bun becomes a crown. It’s a favorite for events and for women with heavy, mature locs who want relief from the weight. Use a loc-safe band and wrap a few locs around the base to hide it. The undercut needs clippers every two weeks.
Locs with a Skin Fade
Instead of a hard undercut line, the sides and back are faded from skin at the bottom to a longer length where they meet the locs. The gradient is softer and grows out without an obvious step. Fades take more skill, so book a barber who does them regularly. Plan on a visit every two to three weeks to keep the blend crisp, since the fade is the whole point of this one.
Undercut with a Shaved Design
Once a side or the nape is buzzed, a barber can carve a design into it: parallel lines, a curve, a small geometric shape, a star. The design shows when the locs are pinned up or swept over. Simple lines hold up best, since fine detail blurs within a week or two. Expect a refresh every two weeks. It’s the most personal version on this list and the highest maintenance.
Short Locs Faux Hawk with Undercut
Both sides shaved and short locs left down the center, styled upward into a faux hawk. The locs on top can be a few inches long or reach the shoulder, and they’re pushed up with a little gel or a loc-safe foam. It’s a bold shape that suits strong features. Short locs are easier to hold upright than long ones, so this works especially well in the first two or three years of a loc journey.
Half-Up Locs with a Side Undercut
The front and crown locs are gathered into a small pineapple or bun on top while the rest hangs down, and one side is undercut beneath. Lifting the top half pulls the locs off the shaved side so it shows fully. It’s a five-minute style that turns the undercut from hidden to visible. Add a loc cuff or two on the front sections for detail.
Microlocs with an Undercut
Microlocs are thin, pencil-width locs that move almost like loose hair, and an undercut beneath them makes them feel lighter still. Because each loc is so fine, the shaved line against the soft microlocs is a striking contrast. It suits women who want the undercut but prefer a softer, less chunky texture on top. Microlocs take longer to retwist, so pair the undercut trims with those appointments.
Blonde Locs with a Dark Undercut
Lightening the locs to a warm blonde and leaving the shaved section its natural dark color turns the undercut into a two-tone detail. The contrast shows every time the locs move. The honest part: lifting locs to blonde is a bleaching process, and dryness is the main risk, so it belongs with a trusted loctician and a serious moisturizing routine. The shaved area needs no color care at all.
Loc Petal Ponytail with an Undercut
Loc petals are sections of locs at the front shaped into rounded, overlapping petal forms and pinned, with the remaining locs gathered into a high ponytail. Pairing it with a side or nape undercut gives the sculpted front a clean, shaved backdrop. It’s an event style that takes time at the salon and lasts a week or two. The undercut keeps the whole thing from feeling heavy.
Wicks with an Undercut
Wicks are the thickest locs there are, often formed by combining several locs into one dense column. A full head might have fewer than twenty. An undercut beneath wicks makes sense practically, since wicks are heavy, and visually, since the thick columns against buzzed skin is a strong contrast. Keep the wicks squared off at the ends and the undercut clean, and let the size of each wick do the talking.
Faux Locs with an Undercut
For women without locs of their own, faux locs installed over natural hair with the sides or nape shaved first give the same look for six to eight weeks. The undercut is done before the install, so the locs can be positioned to show or hide it. Soft, wavy faux locs give a mature look; smooth ones look freshly done. Keep the size medium so the weight doesn’t strain the scalp.
Starter Locs with an Undercut
An undercut works from day one. Comb coils or two-strand twists on top with the sides or nape shaved gives the starter phase a deliberate, finished shape instead of the in-between feel starter locs often have. It also cuts the amount of hair being locked, which speeds up the early stage. Keep hands out of the coils and let the roots do their thing while the undercut stays sharp.
Undercut with a Hairline Line-Up
A crisp line shaved along the front hairline and temples, connecting to a side or nape undercut, frames the face with clean edges. The line-up sharpens the whole look even when the locs are down and the undercut is hidden. It needs a barber every two weeks, since the hairline grows in fast and the line is the detail. Pair it with a fresh retwist so the parts and the line match.
Curled Loc Ends with an Undercut
Setting the ends of the locs on perm rods or pipe cleaners gives them soft spirals that bounce as you move, and a side undercut beneath adds contrast between the curls and the buzzed skin. The curls last about a week before they loosen. It’s a softer, more playful version of the undercut look and works on locs from chin length up. Let the set dry completely before releasing.
Asymmetrical Short Locs with an Undercut
Locs cut to chin or jaw length on one side and the other side shaved down to the ear, so the shape leans to one side. The asymmetry does more than the shave alone. It suits square and round faces and works especially well on mature locs that have been cut short on purpose. The long side can hang or tuck behind the ear. Both the short locs and the undercut need trims on the same schedule.