LOC Method: Everything You Need to Know About This Hair Routine

Are you looking for a new hair routine? If so, you may have heard of the LOC method. This hair routine is gaining popularity for its simple, yet effective approach to healthy hair.

In this post, we'll give you everything you need to know about the LOC method, including how to do it and what products to use. Keep reading to learn more!

What does the LOC method mean?

The acronym in the LOC method stands for liquid (or leave-in conditioner), oil, and cream. This hair care method incorporates water or a water-based product, a hair oil of your choice, and moisturizing cream to retain moisture.

The name derives from the fact that you should apply the items in this order to ensure your hair is moisturized for longer. This trio of treatments aims to enhance the overall appearance and feel of your hair.

The most natural way to understand this is to consider your skincare regimen. This method, like a toner, prepares your hair for a moisturizer. First comes the liquid or leave-in conditioner, then oil and cream are used to help keep moisture in.

Leave-in conditioner

Humectants, such as honey, aloe, and hydrolyzed vegetable protein, in a water-based leave-in conditioner will help the water penetrate deeper into hair strands by attracting moisture. It can also function as a sealant to the water and moisture that have already been absorbed through washing and conditioning by including hair oils.

Oil

Consider a pot of boiling water that you don't want to overflow. Oil is added to the top of the boiling water to keep it from leaking. Why? Because oil coats the surface of the water, preventing it from escaping. Your hair is similar in this regard. It's all about selecting hair oils with excellent efficacy for your natural locks.

Cream

The hair product phase may be used before or after your oil, depending on your hair type. Try various ordering techniques to see which one works best for you. The versatility of a water-based hair styling cream like PATTERN's with different hair oils might be improved by adding it.

If it contains humectants like Shea Butter, the cream may attract extra moisture to your hair, just as a leave-in conditioner would. If it includes an ingredient with occlusive properties such as Coconut Oil, it may act as a sealant. Hair porosity can help determine the best order for your hair.

Reasons the LOC method works to moisturize hair

1. Water equals moisture

Water is a substance that is moisturizing since it is moisture. It's self-evident that adding water as the liquid to your hair will moisturize and hydrate your hair. The problem is retaining the moisture in the water after you've added it. And that's where the other two factors of LOC's process are.

2. Oil helps the hair hold on to water molecules

This is where the technique loses some people. And for good cause, it's true that oil and water do not mix. If you aren't utilizing oils that permeate the hair, use your cream before your oil or LOC Method. Coconut, olive, and avocado oils are examples of natural oils that have the ability to bind with the hair's internal structure or protein.

Coconut oil is a truly amazing substance that can help your hair grow faster. It increases the hair's capacity to retain water molecules. Coconut oil is also polar and saturated oils, which have been shown to aid in protein loss reduction during each wash. This keeps the hair healthy and prevents breakage.

3. Cream locks in moisture

There's some debate surrounding the definition of an excellent cream. Some women prefer to call their conditioner creams, or their styling products this. This is acceptable, many of these goods do include chemicals that function as moisture barriers. But make sure your cream is moisturizing. In this case, seal the hair cuticle with your leave-in conditioner or serve as a sealant. My leave-in conditioner is the cream for me.

But, let's not get hung up on the word cream. Because the finest creams in this technique may or may not be cream. The cream component serves two purposes, to seal or retain moisture brought by L and O.

How to do the LOC method

You've learned the basics, and now it's time for you to explore the benefits of the LOC method. We'll show you how to hydrate your natural hair with the LOC approach in this section.

1. Apply leave-in conditioner

If your hair is completely dry, wash it out and re-wet it with water. If you have a spray bottle and sectioning hair clips on hand, this is much simpler to do.

After that, apply the leave-in conditioner of your choice evenly over each section from root to tip. Give extra attention to the ends of your hair since they are the oldest and driest part of your hair. A water-based conditioner will give moisture to freshly washed hair.

The quantity of conditioner you need will be determined by the length and thickness of your hair.

2. Oil your strands

After you've coated your hair with conditioner, it's time for the hair oil. You should not be as liberal as you were in the prior step. Only a thin layer of oil should be used to lock moisture in your locks; don't overdo it so that your hair appears greasy. To prevent this, use small portions of oil and slowly add more when you feel you need it.

Hair oils that contain emulsifiers are ideal for this phase since they cause the oil to mix with water and give moisture rather than sitting on top of the hair shaft like normal oils.

3. Finish with cream

You may now proceed to the final step of the LOC method, which is to seal your hair with a creamy or butter-based moisturizer. You'll apply enough in each area to satisfy your own judgment. Similar to what was said previously, you may build up your application gradually but steadily.

The goal should be hair that is hydrated, defined in texture, and able to last for a few days.

Who should use the LOC method?

Do you have any doubts regarding whether the LOC technique is appropriate for your hair type? The fact is that the LOC approach works best on high porosity hair. High porosity hair is drier, has more frizz, and air dries fast because moisture leaves the hair shaft at the same rate as it enters it. If you're not sure about your hair's porosity, perform a simple strand test.

If you have low porosity hair (where the hair shaft stays closed and prevents moisture from getting in), you can use the LCO method. The LCO approach is typically used for low porosity hair.

The process entails layering a liquid, then cream, and finally oil. This slightly reversed sequence might have a significant impact on whether your hair is weighed down by the products you're applying to it.

Benefits of the LOC method

The LOC method is one of the most popular ways to moisturize natural hair. It's very effective in locking in moisture and preventing the fine hair from drying out.

When done correctly, the LOC method can give you:

• Frizz-free hair

• Shine

• A defined texture

• Hair that is manageable and easy to style

• Locks that last for a few days

How to make the LOC method work better for you

If you're not getting the desired results from the LOC technique, there are a few things you can do to make it more effective.

1. Choose the right products

Not all products are created equal, and not every product will work well with your hair. Be sure to select leave-in conditioners, hair oils, and cream moisturizers that are specifically designed for natural hair.

2. Use an airtight sealant

If you're looking to maximize the benefits of the LOC method, using an airtight sealant is a must. This will help to prevent moisture from escaping your hair shaft and keep your locks hydrated.

3. Be consistent

In order to see long-term results, it's important to be consistent with the LOC method. Try to use it at least once a week and more often if your hair is very dry.

4. Adjust the products and application to fit your needs

Not everyone's hair is the same, so you may need to adjust the products and amount of each product that you use. Be sure to experiment until you find what works best for you.

Can the LOC method go wrong?

The LOC method is a simple, straightforward way to moisturize the natural hair community. But, as with anything, there are ways it can go wrong.

One common mistake is using too much oil in the second step. Oils that are not water-soluble will sit on top of the hair shaft and make it look greasy. Additionally, this will slow down the rate at which moisture is able to enter the hair shaft, defeating the purpose of using the LOC approach.

Another mistake is using heavy cream in the final step. A thick, greasy cream will have the same effect as using too much oil and will make your hair look weighed down and unclean.

How often should you do the LOC method?

This is a difficult issue to answer because it all depends on your individual hair type, however, I'd suggest that you may do the LOC method every 3-4 days in general. Some people can manage to do it daily without being negatively impacted, whilst others feel overwhelmed by doing it every day.

If you find that your hair feels too bogged down with product at the end of the week, it's a good indication that the LOC method is being used too frequently. However, if your hair is still excessively dry, you may need to increase the number of times you wash it.