Moisturizing Your Naturally Curly Hair with the LOC/LCO Methods

Dry hair is an almost universal complaint for people with naturally curly hair. It’s an especially big problem for those with tight curls or coils since the nature of these hair strands makes them particularly prone to dryness. Keeping curly hair moisturized requires a multifaceted approach. It really does not begin and end with the moisturizer you use. You need to use gentle shampoos that do not make the hair overly dry during washing. You need to deep condition the hair frequently and you need to seal the hair after using a moisturizer you apply. This makes sure your hair has the opportunity to penetrate the hair instead of evaporating from the strands. The LOC method or its variant the LCO method are ways in which you layer product onto the hair in order to keep it moisturized.

Porosity

Before we discuss the LOC and LCO methods, let’s review porosity. Porosity is a key property of the hair that determines how well your hair absorbs moisture and products in general. It plays a big role in how easily hair absorbs or loses moisture. Hair may have low, medium or high porosity. Medium porosity is the sweet spot and you will have no issues getting or keeping the hair moisturized. The problem arises when your hair is either low or high porosity. Low porosity hair has cuticles that tightly close and this makes it difficult for moisture, or anything else for that matter, to enter the hair strand. High porosity hair has cuticles that are perpetually open. This makes it easier for moisture to enter, but it also means that moisture has no problem escaping. The end result is that low porosity is difficult to moisturize but once it is, it will hold onto that moisture and high porosity hair will become easily moisturized but will not remain so for long, as the moisture escapes quickly from the hair.

The LOC method explained

The LOC method is an acronym for applying specific types of hair products to curly hair in a certain order. In this acronym, L stands for liquid, O stands for oil and C stands for cream. The products are applied to the hair in that order to create a layer that keeps moisture in the hair for longer periods of time. The LOC method is particularly beneficial for people with high porosity hair who struggle to keep their curly hair moisturized.

Liquid

Your liquid must be water based. Leave in conditioners, rose water, Aloe Vera juice, plain water or any blend thereof is a good option for the first step in the LOC method.

Oil

The second product applied in the LOC method is oil. Butters such as Shea butter or any blend of butters and or oils are also suitable for use at this stage. Use whatever oil or butter your hair seems to like best.

Cream

This is perhaps the trickiest product layer of the LOC method. Any creamy product can be used in the step. Product options for this step are curl creams and hair puddings, or a moisturizer such as a hair smoothie. What matters here is that the texture of the product choice is creamy and not what type of product it is. You do need this product to be heavy enough for its weight to help keep the hair cuticle close so that moisture cannot easily escape; however, you want to make sure that the weight doesn’t leave your hair looking limp, greasy or lifeless, which is a concern for people with fine hair or thin hair.

Some general tips for the LOC Method

STEP 1 – Apply water and leave-in conditioner to clean hair that is free of product buildup. In order for moisture to penetrate the hair strand, it first needs to come in contact with it. This means that dirt and product buildup must be removed, or your moisturizer will simply be sitting on top of all that grime because product buildup can create an impenetrable coating on the hair strand. Pay special attention to your ends and the sections of your hair that are especially prone to dryness and ensure they are adequately covered with product.

STEP 2 – Apply your oil to seal in the moisturizer. Be modest in the amount of oil you use. Since you will be following your oil with another product, you do not want to weigh your hair down.

STEP 3 – Seal everything in with your cream. Use products that work well for your hair and when trying a new product, allow your hair time to get used to it. Results are not always immediate when it comes to using products and sometimes products just do not end up working well together. If you think a product is not working for you then switch it out, but keep everything else the same to see if you notice a difference in your hair.

Some people prefer the LCO method which uses the cream before the oil, because they find that this works better for their hair, so feel free to try it either way and then pick a favorite. There is no one size fits all way of caring for your hair, so stick with whatever works for you. Just remember that sometimes you need to be patient with the process of achieving great hair.

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