The LOC method is a phenomenon that has been around for quite a while. You find it on hair care forums, Pinterest boards, and word-of-mouth advertising as soon as someone complains about their dry hair tips.
This method works so well for many hair types and is super easy to use. So I want to dedicate a whole article to it today. Let’s jump right in with the definition!
Disclosure: Some of the links below are so-called provision links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I can earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.
The LOC method is short for “the Liquid Oil Cream method”. This stands for a hair care regimen aimed at helping with dry hair by sealing as much moisture as possible into the hair.
That can mean desiccated tips or curly to kinky hair types with overall dryness.
So even if your roots get greasy quickly, you might benefit from the LOC method for your tips! Basically, as with any type of body care, you just use it where you need it.
As results you can expect:
- sleek and shiny hair
- less frizz
- a bit more time than usual for your hair to dry
Related: How to get rid of frizz: the ultimate guide
How to do the LOC method
The acronym LOC tells you, in which order to use various hair care products in order to achieve maximum results.
So first you start with Liquid, to add moisture to your locks. Then you add Oil in order to “lock in” the moisture. And finally, you seal the deal with some Cream, which keeps the oil in place.
Let’s look at the products you can use for those different steps a little more in detail!
LOC method products
While the LOC hair method is more about the order in which you use types of products, some products seem to work better than others for certain hair types.
A general recommendation is to stay as natural as possible and avoid the “evil” chemical ingredients that are bad both for you and our environment.
Related: How to select healthy hair products: All you need to know
Let’s look at some general product ideas for the different steps. This collection is in no way exhaustive but should give you a good starting point. For more details on which products to use for different hair porosity, see below that.
Related: What is hair porosity and why should you care?
1. Liquid: Add moisture
This can simply be the water in your hair after washing. Other possibilities are moisturizing conditioners* or Aloe Vera gel*. If you opt for conditioner, make sure it does not contain alcohol. Alcohol has a dehydrating effect.
Related: 8 ways to use Aloe vera gel for hair
2. Best Oil for LOC method: Lock the moisture in
Here you really have a wide variety of options. Any oil that you usually use for your hair will work. If you don’t usually use oil for your hair, check your kitchen.
Olive oil or sunflower oil can be used for your hair! Ideally, you get started with lighter oils though. Examples are almond oil or argan oil*. Only move towards the heavier ones if that is not enough care for your hair.
Related: How to pick the best hair oil for your hair type
2. LOC method Cream: Seal the oil in
Again, there are many options you can choose from here.
If you first want to try the whole LOC thing, simply check your hand cream for possible “evil” ingredients (when in doubt, rather avoid alcohol, for example!) and use that one.
Or try my homemade hair cream. Or, if you want to invest a little more in your hair products, you can buy hair creams online*. There are variants for every hair type and need.
Related: How to select healthy hair products: All you need to know
The LOC method for curly hair
Many people with curly hair swear on the LOC method.
Curly hair is dry by nature and can benefit from every little bit of moisture it can get. So a regimen like LOC not only adds moisture but also seals it into the hair. This is a godsend for us curlies!
Usually, people with curly hair already have a collection of products at home. If you are one of them, just try applying them in the LOC order. You might be surprised how different the effect of the same substances can be! If you are not too sure about which things to use for your LOC regimen, read on.
Related: Your complete guide to the curly girl method
I won’t go into too much detail here on what hair porosity means and how you can find out about your own hair porosity. You can find a full explanation and how to test for it here.
For the purpose of this article, I will just tell you which type of LOC products to use for which hair porosity.
LOC method for low porosity hair
Low porosity hair does not absorb products easily and has a tendency for buildup.
Related: The best low porosity hair products
So for the LOC method, you want to use light products and support the absorption with “opening” the hair a little. This can be done by using warm water for the “L”.
Finally, use a not-too-rich cream as a finish. The Aloe Vera hair food by Garnier (order it here!*) would work very well for this.
For more details, read all about the best LOC method products for low porosity hair here!
Related: How to make your hair grow faster – the no BS guide
LOC method for HIGH porosity hair
High porosity hair has a tendency to not keep the absorbed moisture in, although it does absorb liquids easily. So you really want to make sure to add Oil and Cream!
Related: The best high porosity hair products
People with high porosity hair will really benefit from the LOC method. (I speak from experience!)
For the Liquid step, I would recommend using Aloe Vera gel* rather than just water.
Related: 8 ways to use Aloe vera gel for hair
With the “O”, you can go a little heavier than your low porosity friends as well. My personal favorite is Macadamia oil (get some here!*, as it is rich but pretty neutral in smell.
Other people swear on coconut oil. For me, that can sometimes rather dry my hair out even more, when my hair already has protein overload, so better check how it’s working for you.
Related: Coconut oil for hair: the real benefits
And then we are already at the last step, Cream. Any rich cream will benefit you, think Shea cremes or winter variants.
You can also absolutely use body creams with the right ingredients. I personally loooove the Palmer’s Cocoa butter swivel stick* for my lips, so I would definitely also get their Cocoa Butter jar* and use it for my hair tips.
(I also use it to get baby soft feet, so it’s definitely worth to get it!)
You can order Palmer’s Cocoa Butter jar here*!
LOC method everyday?
One last point I want to address is frequency. People get excited about this regimen and then soon after
Well, this depends a little bit on your hair type and usual washing frequency.
If you are a curly, kinky or otherwise pretty dry hair type, I recommend doing the LOC method after every wash. If you are one of the aforementioned hair types, you can even do it in between washes. In that case simply use Aloe Vera, not water.
For most people, I would not recommend doing this every day though. The reason for this is, that having your hair constantly wet or at least moist is not a good idea. While it might look better at that moment, this puts a lot of stress on the hair, and can lead to hygral fatigue!
Related: Hygral fatigue: How to recognize and combat it
So this is the LOC method. Let me know how it is working for you! And if you want to share it with someone, you can simply use the following infographic!
Related: Haircare for beach vacation
*These links are so-called provision links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I can earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.
