Whether you’re new to the curly community or just haven’t had the desire to keep yourself updated on all of the terms, then the L.O.C. Method may be something that you’re oblivious to. If that’s you, then it’s time to give it a try. We must warn you though, once you start the L.O.C. Method, you’ll never go back.
Where did the L.O.C. Method come from?
The L.O.C. Method was coined by the founder and CEO of Alikay Naturals, Rochelle Graham-Campbel. When she was in the early stages of her natural hair journey, she developed the method after reading “Grow It” by Chicoro, which discussed the science behind hair growth. The book though dense was full of helpful information, but she needed to create an easy acronym to help her remember the steps to retain moisture in her hair. She came up with L.O.C. – liquid, oil, and cream.
Graham-Campbel shared the L.O.C. Method with her supporters and it started to catch on. Naturals everywhere were finding success in the easy three-part method to retain moisture. It caught so much attention that many companies use the method and released its own version of a L.O.C. Method product line.
What does L.O.C. even mean?
L.O.C. is an abbreviated form of liquid (L), oil (O), and cream (C). The term is used as a way to direct curlies in the order that they should apply their hair products to make it easy to remember when doing so. Layering your products in this order helps your hair to retain moisture as well as seal it in with the oil and cream.
How should I be doing it?
Over the years many influencers have written blogs or created videos about the L.O.C. Method with misinformation. So, I am here to clarify the confusion and teach you all about the L.O.C. Method. The L.O.C. Method is extremely easy to do once you’ve figured out the best products for your hair. And chances are, you’ve already been doing it. If you haven’t or if you’re not sure if you have, here are the steps to follow to achieve it:
1. Apply a liquid.
Liquid does NOT stand for leave-in, and it also doesn’t mean water. The L in L.O.C. is for a water-based leave-in, not cream. If you use a cream leave-in you may find that your hair will later feel weighed down by oil. For this step, starting on damp hair water best. Or you can use a spray bottle to evenly distribute water if needed. Next, use a water-based leave-in conditioner on freshly cleansed. For this step, I use Shea Moisture’s Jamaican Black Castor Oil Strengthen & Restore Leave-In Conditioner.
2. Move on to the oil.
To lock in the moisture from your L step, you’ll want to apply a thin layer of oil onto your strands next. This is another step a lot of people get wrong. They think that since oil and water don’t mix that they need to use a heavy oil to penetrate the hair shaft. That is not necessarily true. Again, the L.O.C. Method isn’t about penetrating the hair, it’s about layering. It is essential to know the oil best for your porosity of hair. I have high porosity hair, therefore, for this step, I use my own blend of Olive Oil and Castor Oil.
3. Add on a butter-based cream.
Now that you’ve locked in the moisture, you have to seal it. The C part of the L.O.C. Method is not essential but highly recommended for naturals with extremely dry hair. C stands for cream based hair moisturizer. A lot of people think that they can’t put cream in their hair because it adds too much oil and product. Remember that with many products little goes a LONG way. You don’t need much, but you will find that the last step of the L.O.C. Method will make a big difference in moisturizing your hair so don’t skip it! I like to use Raw Shea Butter, EDEN BodyWorks Coconut Shea Curl Defining Creme or tgin Twist & Define Cream are all good options for this final step. Your cream can also be one that offers hold, but if it doesn’t, you can follow up with a gel like Eco Style Argan Oil Gel or As I Am Curling Jelly.
Why should I be doing it?
If you struggle with finding ways to keep your hair moisturized, then the LOC Method is a great choice for you. Those with high porosity level tend to benefit most from this method, but that doesn’t mean you should count yourself completely out if you have normal or low porosity hair. Ultimately, product selection is just as important as the method itself so make sure you’re choosing the best products that your hair will love and thrive off of. But if you have the latterly mentioned types of hair porosities, you’ll want to be sure that you are paying attention to whether or not your hair is being weighed down. Remember, this method is meant to provide layers of protection for your hair!
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