Loc Modifier

The Loc modifier creates dreadlock-style hair with tight coils, buildup, and natural variation. It's perfect for creating locs, dreads, and tightly coiled hairstyles with realistic structure and detail.

What It Does

The Loc modifier transforms smooth hair into cylindrical dreadlocks with:

  • Tight coiling around the strand axis
  • Buildup that thickens the loc structure
  • Frizz for surface texture
  • Profile curves for shape control along the length
  • Per-strand variation for natural randomness

Think of it as wrapping each strand into a tight coil, then adding thickness and texture to create the characteristic loc appearance.

Core Parameters

Loc Structure

Coil Count

  • Number of coil rotations along the strand
  • Higher values = tighter, more frequent coils
  • Range: 0-50, default 10
  • Example: 5 for loose coils, 20 for tight dreads

Coil Radius

  • How far the coil extends from the center
  • Controls the "tightness" of the coil
  • Range: 0.0-1.0, default 0.3
  • Lower = tighter coils, higher = looser spirals

Coil Radius Profile

  • Curve controlling radius along the strand length
  • Allows coils to tighten or loosen from root to tip
  • Default: uniform coiling
  • Example: Taper down at tips for natural look

Buildup System

Buildup Amount

  • How much the loc thickens from the base strand
  • Creates the characteristic cylindrical shape
  • Range: 0.0-2.0, default 0.5
  • Higher values = thicker, more substantial locs

Buildup Profile

  • Curve controlling thickness along the length
  • Allows locs to taper or bulge
  • Default: uniform thickness
  • Example: Thicker in middle, thinner at tips

Buildup Variation

  • Random variation in buildup per strand
  • Range: 0.0-1.0, default 0.2
  • Creates natural inconsistency between locs

Frizz Parameters

Frizz Amount

  • Surface texture and flyaways on the loc
  • Range: 0.0-1.0, default 0.3
  • Adds realism by breaking up smooth surface

Frizz Frequency

  • How often frizz details appear
  • Range: 0.1-10.0, default 2.0
  • Higher = more frequent, finer details

Frizz Profile

  • Curve controlling frizz along the length
  • Default: uniform frizz
  • Example: More frizz at tips, smooth at roots

Coil Variation

Coil Count Variation

  • Random variation in coil count per strand
  • Range: 0.0-1.0, default 0.2
  • Prevents uniform, artificial look

Coil Radius Variation

  • Random variation in coil tightness
  • Range: 0.0-1.0, default 0.15
  • Some locs tighter, some looser

Coil Phase

  • Starting rotation offset for coils
  • Range: 0.0-360.0 degrees
  • Randomizes coil alignment between strands

Coil Phase Variation

  • Random variation in phase per strand
  • Range: 0.0-1.0, default 0.5
  • Prevents synchronized coiling

Advanced Controls

Twist Amount

  • Additional twist along the strand axis
  • Range: 0.0-10.0, default 0.0
  • Simulates hand-twisted locs

Twist Profile

  • Curve controlling twist along the length
  • Allows twist to increase or decrease
  • Example: More twist at roots, less at tips

Segment Length

  • Length of each coil segment
  • Range: 0.01-1.0, default 0.1
  • Smaller = more detailed coils, slower

Smoothing

  • Smooths the coil shape
  • Range: 0.0-1.0, default 0.3
  • Higher = smoother, more polished locs

Profile Curves

The Loc modifier uses several profile curves to control how parameters change along the strand length:

Coil Radius Profile

  • Controls coil tightness from root to tip
  • Example: Start tight (0.2), end loose (0.5)

Buildup Profile

  • Controls thickness distribution
  • Example: Thin at root (0.3), thick in middle (0.8), thin at tip (0.4)

Frizz Profile

  • Controls surface texture distribution
  • Example: Smooth at root (0.1), frizzy at tip (0.6)

Twist Profile

  • Controls twist intensity distribution
  • Example: Heavy twist at root (1.0), no twist at tip (0.0)

FollicleScript Examples

Random Coil Count

10 + rand(index) * 5

Varies coil count between 10-15 per strand.

UV-Based Buildup

0.3 + u * 0.4

Thicker locs on one side (u=0 to u=1).

Length-Based Frizz

length * 0.1

Longer strands get more frizz.

Alternating Twist

(index % 2) * 5.0

Every other loc gets twist.

Clump-Based Radius

0.2 + (clump_id % 3) * 0.1

Three different coil tightness levels.

Workflow Tips

Creating Basic Locs

  1. Start with Coil Count: 10, Coil Radius: 0.3
  2. Add Buildup Amount: 0.5 for thickness
  3. Add Frizz Amount: 0.3 for texture
  4. Adjust variations for natural look

Tight Dreads

  • High Coil Count (15-20)
  • Low Coil Radius (0.2-0.3)
  • Moderate Buildup (0.4-0.6)
  • Low Frizz (0.1-0.2)

Loose, Textured Locs

  • Low Coil Count (5-8)
  • Higher Coil Radius (0.4-0.6)
  • High Buildup (0.6-0.8)
  • High Frizz (0.4-0.6)

Tapered Locs

  • Use Buildup Profile: thick at root, thin at tip
  • Use Coil Radius Profile: tight at root, loose at tip
  • Creates natural taper effect

Common Issues

Locs Look Too Uniform

  • Increase Coil Count Variation
  • Increase Buildup Variation
  • Increase Coil Phase Variation
  • Use FollicleScript for more randomness

Locs Too Thin

  • Increase Buildup Amount
  • Check Buildup Profile curve
  • Increase base strand width in Primitive tab

Coils Too Loose

  • Decrease Coil Radius
  • Increase Coil Count
  • Check Coil Radius Profile

Performance Issues

  • Reduce Coil Count
  • Increase Segment Length
  • Reduce Frizz Frequency
  • Use fewer strands

Technical Notes

  • The Loc modifier is GPU-accelerated for fast preview
  • Coiling is computed per control point for smooth results
  • Buildup is applied perpendicular to the coil direction
  • Frizz uses Perlin noise for natural variation
  • All 18 parameters support FollicleScript expressions
  • Profile curves are evaluated per strand segment

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Next: Cut Modifier - Trim and shape your locs Previous: Cornrow Modifier