How long does it take to grow edges back after soft locs?

Most women with early-stage traction alopecia begin to see short new growth within 8 to 16 weeks of removing the tension source and supporting scalp health consistently. Deeper follicle damage can take longer, and some cases require professional treatment. If you see no change after 12 weeks of good habits, see a dermatologist.

Can I wear soft locs again after my edges grow back?

Yes, but with changes. Ask your loctician to leave the first half inch to one inch of the hairline out entirely, or braid the foundation braids looser at the edges than in the back. Build in rest periods of at least four to six weeks between installs. Pay attention to what you feel during installation. Tension that causes soreness lasting more than two days is a warning sign.

Is the thinning from soft locs permanent?

In most cases, no. Traction alopecia is reversible in its early stages if you remove the cause of tension. The exception is long-standing damage where the follicle has scarred over, which a dermatologist can identify through a scalp exam or trichoscopy. Catching it early matters.

Does castor oil regrow edges?

Castor oil is a thick emollient that can reduce moisture loss from the hair shaft, but there's no strong clinical evidence it directly stimulates follicle activity or regrows hair. It's not harmful in small amounts, but using it as your only strategy probably won't be enough. Scalp massage, reducing tension, and maintaining scalp health have more support behind them.

What's the difference between traction alopecia and regular breakage at the hairline?

Breakage means the hair strand has snapped but the follicle is still intact and producing hair. You'll often feel short rough ends and see some length. Traction alopecia means the follicle itself has been stressed or damaged, so nothing is growing from that spot at all. Look closely at the thinned area. If you see tiny follicle openings, hair can still grow. If the skin looks smooth and shiny with no pores visible, that's more concerning and worth a dermatologist visit.

Should I use edge control while my edges are recovering?

Skip it or use it very sparingly. Most edge controls contain alcohols and heavy holding agents that dry out the hairline and can irritate an already inflamed scalp. If you need to lay your edges for an occasion, use a tiny amount of a water-based gel and don't layer it daily. Let the hairline breathe most of the time.

Soft Locs Didn't Ruin Your Edges. These Mistakes Did.

June 14, 2026

By the Edge Naturale Editorial Team · Medically reviewed by Shelia Davis, Edge Naturale Medical Team · Last updated June 2026

Quick answer: Growing your edges back after soft locs means reducing tension, keeping the follicle healthy, and giving the hairline consistent moisture and scalp stimulation. Most women see improvement within 8 to 16 weeks once the damaging habits stop, but results depend on how long and how deeply the follicle was stressed.

What Actually Damages Edges During Soft Locs?

Soft locs are often marketed as a gentler protective style. And compared to traditional faux locs, they can be. But "gentle" is doing a lot of work in that sentence. The style itself is not automatically safe for your edges. What damages them is a short list of very specific things people do during installation and removal.

Too much tension at the root. If your loctician wraps the extension hair too tightly around the base braid, that constant pull stresses the follicle. The American Academy of Dermatology recognizes chronic tension as a primary driver of traction alopecia.
Braiding the edges too tight before wrapping. The cornrow or box braid underneath a soft loc is where most of the damage actually starts.
Wearing them too long. Eight weeks or more without a break means months of unrelieved tension. The follicle doesn't get a chance to recover.
Rough or rushed removal. Cutting too close to the scalp, pulling out shed hair that has coiled inside the loc, or skipping detangler during takedown all cause mechanical breakage.
Lace glue and edge control layered on top. Occluding the follicle with heavy product while it's already under tension is a recipe for inflammation.

Myth vs. Fact: What People Get Wrong About Edge Regrowth

The Myth	The Fact
Your edges are gone for good.	Unless the follicle is scarred (fibrosis), regrowth is possible. A dermatologist can check with a trichoscopy.
You need to do a big chop to regrow edges.	Length elsewhere has no effect on hairline recovery. What matters is what you stop doing to the hairline.
Castor oil alone will fix it.	Castor oil can reduce moisture loss, but there's no peer-reviewed evidence it regrows hair on its own. Scalp circulation and follicle health matter more.
You can put new locs back in as soon as the old ones come out.	The hairline needs at least 4 to 6 weeks of rest between tension styles to reduce cumulative stress on the follicle.
Edge thinning from soft locs is alopecia and requires medication.	Traction alopecia in early stages responds well to removing the source of tension and supporting follicle health. Medication may not be necessary if caught early.

So Why Are Your Edges Still Not Coming Back?

This is the question women ask most. They took the locs out weeks ago. They're moisturizing. Nothing is happening. Here's why.

First, hair grows about half an inch per month on average. New growth at the hairline is fine and short, so it can be hard to see, especially if your hairline was already receded before you noticed it.

Second, if inflammation is still present at the follicle, growth stalls. This can happen when you've swapped locs for another tight style, when you're still sleeping without a satin bonnet, or when product buildup is blocking the follicle mouth.

Third, stress and hormonal shifts slow growth across the whole scalp. Postpartum shedding, perimenopause, and chronic stress all affect the hair growth cycle independently of what style you wore.

How to Actually Grow Your Edges Back: A Step-by-Step Approach

Step 1: Stop the Tension

Nothing else works if the root cause is still happening. Loose wash-and-go styles, two-strand twists with no tension at the root, or a low-manipulation bun worn at the nape instead of the crown are all better options while the hairline recovers.

Step 2: Clean the Scalp Without Stripping It

Product buildup and sebum can block follicles. Wash with a gentle sulfate-free shampoo every one to two weeks. Focus the shampoo on the scalp, not the length. A clean scalp is the foundation everything else builds on.

Step 3: Stimulate Blood Flow to the Follicle

This is where topical products and technique actually help. Daily scalp massage for three to five minutes increases blood flow to the dermal papilla, the cell cluster that signals the follicle to produce a hair strand. A 2016 study published in ePlasty found that standardized scalp massage increased hair thickness in men over 24 weeks, suggesting mechanical stimulation does affect follicle behavior.

Pair that massage with a product that supports scalp circulation. The Follicle Enhancer uses peppermint oil, which has a cooling, vasodilatory effect on the scalp, alongside argan, jojoba, and coconut oil to condition the fragile baby hairs without suffocating the follicle. Apply a small amount to the edges and use the pads of your fingers, not your nails, to work it in with light circular motion.

Step 4: Keep the Hairline Moisturized Consistently

Edges are the driest part of the hairline for most women because they get the most manipulation and the least product. Moisturize daily with a light water-based leave-in first, then seal with an oil. Do not layer on heavy butters or thick gels that sit on top of the scalp and block airflow.

Step 5: Protect at Night, Every Night

Cotton pillowcases pull moisture from the hairline and create friction. A satin bonnet or satin-lined pillow is not optional during recovery. It's one of the lowest-effort, highest-return changes you can make.

Step 6: Feed the Follicle From the Inside

Hair is made of protein, and the follicle needs iron, zinc, biotin, and vitamin D to function well. If your diet is low in any of these, growth can slow regardless of what you put on your scalp. Get your iron and vitamin D levels checked before buying supplements. Supplementing nutrients you're not deficient in rarely speeds things up.

When Should You See a Dermatologist?

If you've been consistent with the steps above for 12 weeks and see no change, make an appointment with a board-certified dermatologist, ideally one who specializes in hair loss in textured hair. Signs that warrant an earlier visit include scalp pain, persistent redness or scaling at the hairline, or complete absence of any follicle openings in the thinned area. Scarring alopecia requires a different treatment path entirely and is not something to self-treat.

FAQ

This article is for education and is not medical advice. If you are worried about hair loss, see a board-certified dermatologist. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. Edge Naturale products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.