What Is The L.O.C. Hair Method?

By Toia Barry

Dry, frizzy hair is a sure sign that lackluster locks are in dire need of some moisture. If you feel like you can’t secure soft, hydrated, and healthy hair, you may be taking the wrong approach. But it’s not entirely your fault. Hair is dead, so it’s in constant need of moisture. Supplying it with an ample amount of hydration isn’t a one time thing - it has to be a regular part of your hair care routine. 

If you’ve been moisturizing lackadaisically, it’s time to make a change. There is a strategy that may work better for you, and it’s called the L.O.C. method. 

The L.O.C. Hair Method 

L.O.C. stands for Liquid, Oil, Cream. Just as you would with skincare products, the L.O.C. method focuses on applying hair care products from lightest to heaviest, so your hair can absorb all the benefits of each product. 

It’s more simple than it sounds. L.O.C. isn’t some fancy hair procedure or technique, but an easy way to remember three steps you should be taking to properly hydrate your hair. With the L.O.C. method, you’ll see less dryness and frizz, and your hair will look and feel softer and shinier, as well as be able to get longer. This method is often used for high porosity hair. Now, you may be asking, “What is hair porosity,” which we should answer before diving in. Hair porosity is your hair’s ability to retain or absorb moisture, affecting how well your hair lets in oils and moisture.  

Long story short, the LOC method helps you moisturize your hair for maximum shine in three simple steps. Let us walk you through the three steps of the LOC Hair Method steps: Liquid, Oil, Cream.

Step One: Liquid

The first part of the process is to infuse the hair with moisture from water. The L.O.C. method starts in the shower, where you saturate your hair with water. When it’s not wash day, you can also use a spray bottle to saturate your hair and start the L.O.C. method repeatedly. 

Yep, liquid simply means water. However, you can also add even more moisture by using a water-based leave-in conditioner to your wet hair post-shower as step one. In addition to hydrating your hair, leave-in conditioners offer other great benefits too, such as detangling and frizz-protection. If you have high porosity hair, try our Hawaiian Ginger Moisturizing Leave-In Conditioner, or if you have low porosity hair, try our Pomegranate & Honey Leave-In Conditioner, both of which are water-based. 

Water molecules will hydrate your hair, but when it comes to moisture retention, they can’t do it alone, which brings us to step two. 

Step Two: Oil

The second step in the process is to lock in the hydration from the liquid with oil. Oils will both add moisture to your strands and provide a barrier that prevents moisture loss. When using oil, it’s important to select a lightweight and emulsifying formula that can penetrate the hair shaft. Not all oils will absorb into the core of the hair, especially if you have low porosity hair. If you have low porosity hair or wavy hair that can appear greasy quickly, try a hair product with argan oil or avocado oil, such as our Avocado Moisturizing Milk. This is also a key step in how to retain low porosity hair, because hydrated hair is stronger hair that is able to get long. 

If you are using the L.O.C. method for high porosity hair, you can handle oils that are a bit thicker in nature, such as olive oil. Hydration is also a key step in how to fix high porosity hair, because signs of high porosity hair include dryness, frizz, and heat damage. If you’re not sure about your hair’s porosity or have medium hair porosity, reach for a safe-for-every-hair-type oil such as grapeseed or jojoba oil.  

Step Three: Cream

If the thought of adding cream to your routine makes you cringe, think again. Cream is essential for sealing your hair cuticle and ensuring every hair strand is hydrated to its maximum potential, making it one of the most crucial high porosity hair products. The cream step in the L.O.C. method can be a cream, butter, or thicker oil, depending on your hair type, and it can be applied gradually in small amounts to avoid overdoing it.  

The L.O.C. method for natural hair calls for thicker creams such as our Hawaiian Ginger Moisturizing Hair Butter, but if you are working with relaxed hair, you’ll want to use a more lightweight formula such as our Honey Ginger Styling Gel and a gentler hand when applying. 

Focus the cream on the ends of your hair, which tends to be driest. This is especially true for curly hair types because natural hair oils that come from the scalp have a hard time navigating the twists and turns of curls to reach the end of the hair strand. When using the L.O.C. method for curly hair, give special attention to the ends of your hair to address this issue. When you do so, you’ll achieve healthy, bouncy, and defined looking curls for days.

How LOC Moisturizes Your Hair

LOC is a simple way to remember the order of the steps when it comes to moisturizing your hair. The reason this is the recommended method for moisture is because:

1. The water (or liquid) is the initial step that moisturizes the hair
2. The oil helps the hair maintain the water molecules
3. The cream is what ultimately locks in the moisture for every strand of hair. Creams tend to vary in thickness depending on your hair’s porosity and hair type.

By locking in the moisture with cream, you are ensuring that the moisture will last to its maximum potential. This method can help you achieve hair goals and shine so that you have your hair looking its best. In some cases, it’s worth testing out variations of the LOC method, trying various thick and thin creams and finding what works best for your hair. Everyone’s hair is unique in thickness, type and porosity. What works best for one person won’t be the answer for everyone! Testing out different products can be a fun way to experiment with your hair to find out what really brings out the best shine and moisture retention.

The L.O.C. Method Promise

This order of operations is a fool-proof method for achieving moisturized hair. When you layer your Mielle Organics natural hair products in such a way, you’ll reap the maximum benefits. 

The best part? The method works on all hair types. Tailor it to your hair type by choosing the right weight and type of oil and cream to use in step two and step three. You can use the L.O.C method for natural hair or relaxed hair, or high porosity or low porosity hair care, and see fantastic results all the same.