LOC, LCO, and LOCO methods to moisturise your hair
Having dry hair is definitely one of the most common problems with natural hair. You can sometimes apply several moisturising products on your hair, but they still quickly end up dry. Then, you become frustrated and don’t know what to do with your hair. If you recognise yourself in these few sentences, please know that you are not alone. The truth is that most (if not all) of the naturalistas have gone through this. The hardest thing, when you start your hair journey, is to find the right products and methods for your hair.
Today, I decided to talk to you about three hydration methods for natural hair: LOC, LCO, and LOCO. These three methods are techniques that help retain the hydration of your hair for two to seven days. It’s, therefore, important to know your hair porosity level to identify the method that best fits your hair.
LOC method
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LOC is an acronym for Liquid, Oil, and Cream. The LOC method is in three steps:
- You moisturise your hair with your leave-in conditioner (L).
- The second step consists of sealing the hydration with natural oil (O) or with butter, if you prefer.
- You finish the process by applying your hair cream/lotion to close the hair cuticles and maintain hydration (C).
The method is undoubtedly the best known of the three. The purpose of this technique is to enclose or block the hydration so that the moisture can’t evaporate easily. It’s for this reason that the LOC method is generally recommended for people with porous and thick hair.
I tried the LOC method once because I wanted to make a comparison with my hydration method and it just didn’t suit me at all. I have thin and low porosity hair. Using this method simply makes my hair oily without being hydrated. I had to rinse and moisturise my hair again the next day.
LCO method
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The LCO method is just a variant of the LOC method because the last two steps are reversed. The acronym stands for Liquid, Cream, and Oil. This method is also done in three steps:
- Moisturise your hair with a leave-in conditioner (L).
- Apply your hair cream/lotion to enhance hydration and nourish your hair (C).
- Seal the hydration of the first two steps with your natural oil or butter (O).
The goal of the LCO method is to significantly hydrate your hair before sealing the moisture with a natural oil for maximum hydration. This method is best for people with thin and/or low porosity hair.
LCO method is the one that works best for my hair. I usually follow this method during my wash day. Once I finish washing my hair, I apply follow the 3 steps. I then twist my hair and let it dry in this way. This allows me to only moisturise my hair twice or three times a week.
LOCO method
Source of the original image: http://www.lovelycolibri.com/
The acronym for this method stands for Liquid, Oil, Cream, Oil. The principle of the LOCO method remains the same as the two previous methods, the only difference being that you have to count one more step:
- Hydration of the hair with a leave-in conditioner (L).
- Light natural oil to seal hydration (O).
- Cream to lock in moisture and make sure it does not evaporate easily (C).
- Heavy (natural) oil to permanently seal the hydration (O). You can keep the same oil as in the second step if your hair doesn’t like heavy oils.
The LOCO method is generally for people with rebellious, weakened and very thick hair. It’s only recommended when the two other methods don’t work for you; otherwise, you risk to only make your hair oily with no real hydration.
Good to know
Here are some tips to help you achieve these methods as best as you can:
- Make sure to always damp your hair before moisturising it.
- Before you decide to choose the LOCO method, you need first to make sure that the products you use are suitable for your hair. Each of the three methods is based on the combination of products. So, you have to listen to your hair and see that it’s best for your hair.
- Hair hydration lasts longer when you do a protective hairstyle after following any of these methods. By protecting your hair, you can keep your hair hydrated for up to seven days. You can, for example, twist your hair, make some cornrows, or even a bun.
- Be careful to use a natural oil that penetrates your hair thoroughly and that is effective to seal your hair moisture.
- If you have normal porosity hair, rely on the thickness of your hair to identify the method that would be best for you.
You now know the three most popular moisturising methods for natural hair. So, what method do you use to moisturise your hair? How often do you moisturise your hair?
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