Ok, some of you may be thinking ‘what’s the L.O.C method?’ Well, you’re in luck because in this blog post we’ll break down the origins of the L.O.C method, what it means and how you can use it to revitalise your dry hair.

If you are a frequent visitor of natural hair blogs you probably would have heard of the L.O.C method. However, many do not know this technique was coined by the female entrepreneur, CEO and co-founder of Alikay Naturals, Rochelle Graham-Campbell. Before her product line Alikay Naturals became the success it is today, Rochelle documented her hair journey on her YouTube channel, Blackonyx77. It was on there where she shared the L.O.C method which was quickly adopted by many women as a way to moisturise and seal their natural hair.

Now, what does L.O.C. mean?

L.O.C is an acronym for:

L - Leave-in (or liquid)

O – Oil

C – Cream

It refers to the specific order you apply a moisturiser, oil and cream to your hair. Many women with curly and afro hair moisturise and seal their hair with a daily moisturiser/leave-in and oil but the L.O.C method aims to follow up with a creamy moisturiser or butter to acts as a second sealant. This helps by adding an extra barrier to maximise moisture retention which helps to slow down the rate moisture escapes from your hair. This is why the L.O.C method is popular to use during winter as the colder weather can have a harsh effect on our hair causing it to be drier than usual.

If you are interested in trying out this technique here are the steps to use it.

How to do the L.O.C method

• Step 1: Begin with your normal wash routine, whether that is cleansing your hair with a shampoo or conditioner. Although it is ideal to do the L.O.C method on clean hair, you can do it on dry hair.

• Step 2: Once your hair has been washed, using a moisturiser of your choice, apply it to your damp or dry hair. This can be your typical daily moisturiser, leave-in or your mixture of water and aloe Vera juice. CURLS Blueberry Bliss Reparative Leave In Conditioner, As I Am Leave-In Conditioner, and Cantu Shea Butter Leave-in Conditioning Repair Cream are also good products to use as your liquid.

• Step 3: Apply your hair with your oil, of choice, which will act as your first sealant. Examples of typical oils are Coconut Oil, Jojoba Oil, Sweet Almond oil and Grapeseed oil.

• Step 4: Apply your creamy moisturiser or butter. Butters like Shea and Mango Seed are great choices as well as styling and curl defining products such as Aunt Jackie's Curls & Coils Flaxseed Recipes Seal It Up Hydrating Sealing Butter, Soultanicals Can't Believe It's Knot Butta, and Curls Dynasty Icing On a Curl Whipped Hair Butter.

Who can benefit from the L.O.C method?

The L.O.C method is commonly mentioned in the natural hair community as natural hair tends to be drier and has difficulty retaining moisture, especially in the colder seasons. To see this method in action watch how Shanique uses this layering effect on her natural hair.

If you have chemically treated or relaxed hair there are also advantages to adopting this moisturising technique as Charisse demonstrates in the video below. 

Alternatives to the L.O.C method

If you have tried the L.O.C. method but feel you want to use a different combination you can change the order by applying a Liquid, Cream and Oil (e.g. L.C.O).

You can experiment with different oils and creams as different combinations may retain moisture better for your hair. Also, if you have fine or thin hair you’ll want to use lighter oils and creams instead of butters to prevent product build-up.  

If you are suffering from dry hair, give this method a try and watch it revitalise!