Doechii's BET Awards locs: a stylist and a loctician, one crown
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Photo: @slayedbymatthew on Instagram · Styled by @slayedbymatthew · Locs by @ronnieslocs · Stylist @sam__woolf
At the BET Awards in Los Angeles on June 28, Doechii wore burgundy faux locs piled into an oversized bun, split down the center, with plenty of hair left out at the front to frame her face. The Zoe Report called it a "sexy space bun" effect. The look took more than one set of hands, and the credits show exactly whose.
The look on the carpet
The hair matched a bold dress. Doechii wore a vintage Dsquared2 gown from the Spring 2006 collection, a crocheted halter style that Marie Claire described as mostly transparent. Her fashion stylist, Sam Woolf, tracked the gown down. The Zoe Report noted that the earthy, sensual feel of the hair suited the crochet dress, and that the faux locs stayed visible at the base of the updo.
The finish was simple. Nail artist Rachel Sun gave her a short, square French manicure with matching toes, a detail The Zoe Report read as very Y2K. Against all that, the burgundy locs did the heavy lifting.
The Zoe Report also placed the look inside a wider trend. Braided updos had been showing up on Keke Palmer, Kerry Washington and Chase Infiniti. Hairstylist Rashuna Durham told the outlet such styles are "both practical and elevated," fit for summer events, travel and everyday wear.
Two artists, one crown
The Zoe Report credits hairstylist Matthew with the BET look and with leaving out the face-framing pieces. Matthew's own Instagram post, embedded above, splits the credit. It lists him as the stylist, credits the locs to a separate artist, @ronnieslocs, and tags Sam Woolf as the stylist. One artist built the locs. Another shaped them into the final style.
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Photo: @slayedbymatthew on Instagram · Met Gala 2026
This was not a one-off pairing. Vogue Philippines named hairstylist Matthew Jean-Pierre as the artist behind Doechii's hair at the 2026 Met Gala in May. There he chose a textured wig to match her natural hair, put the focus on her edges, and added loose strands to sit with a Marc Jacobs headpiece. He told the outlet they wanted it to look natural and real.
Doechii has a track record of wearing protective styles on big stages. The Zoe Report lists braids connected to her dancers on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert, braids with finger waves at the 2025 Grammys, and beaded cornrows at NPR's Tiny Desk.
Faux locs, explained
Faux locs give the look of locs without locking the natural hair. The extension hair is shaped into locs and attached to the client's own hair, so the style comes out at the end. A Cosmopolitan explainer with braider Stasha Harris lays out the two main methods:
- Braid and wrap. The natural hair is braided in sections, then extension hair is wrapped around each braid. It takes longer and reads as more realistic.
- Cornrow and crochet. The hair is cornrowed, then pre-made locs are pulled through with a latch hook. It is faster but can look less natural.
The same piece puts the full process at roughly 4 to 9 hours, with crochet installs closer to 4 or 5. Length, thickness and method all change the clock. It recommends coarser textures, such as Marley hair, over sleek and shiny fiber. Florida loc specialist Ashley Holmes told Behind the Chair her standard install runs about 4 hours before add-ons like extra length or smaller parts, and that she prices the service between $200 and $400.
How long to keep them in depends on who you ask. Behind the Chair's specialist says up to 4 months. Hair.com gives six to 12 weeks. The Cosmopolitan piece advises no more than six to eight weeks, because new growth at the root raises the risk of breakage. The American Academy of Dermatology gives the same six to eight week ceiling for braids.
Wearing faux locs up
An updo like Doechii's adds a second layer of stress. Faux locs already carry extension weight. Gathering them into a high bun pulls that weight toward the crown. The American Academy of Dermatology lists tight buns, ponytails, updos, locs and extensions among the styles that can cause traction alopecia, hair loss from constant pulling. It flags pain, stinging, crusting and scalp "tenting" as warning signs, and says the condition can become permanent if it is not caught early. If a client notices thinning at the hairline, the next stop is a board-certified dermatologist, not another install.
Practical care while the style is in:
- Keep the base and the hairline loose. The AAD suggests looser braids at the hairline and thicker braids or locs.
- Wash gently with a mild shampoo and conditioner without disturbing the style, then dry the roots fully. Hair.com warns that moisture left at the scalp can lead to dandruff, fungus or mildew.
- Between washes, Hair.com suggests cleaning the scalp with witch hazel on a cotton swab.
- Take a red carpet updo down after the event. Let the scalp rest before the next tight style.
THE BRAIDINGFEST ANGLE
Celebrity looks are team sports, and the installer gets credit. If you install the locs or braids and someone else styles them, make sure your name is in the caption.
- Agree on credits before the job: who gets tagged, in what order and on which posts.
- Faux locs are a premium install. Price for length, color, method and the hours, and say up front which method you use.
- Tell clients how long the install is meant to stay in and when to come back for a takedown.
- Build relationships with stylists who need an installer. That's how Braid Artists end up on red carpets.
Sources: The Zoe Report · Marie Claire · Vogue Philippines · Cosmopolitan via Yahoo · Behind the Chair · Hair.com · American Academy of Dermatology
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