The LOC/LCO Method + My Homemade Moisturizing Cream/Mixture

Hey Kurlies,

The LOC method is one of the most popular ways to moisturize and seal hair among naturals. LOC is an abbreviation for liquid/water based leave in conditioner, oil, and cream. I swear by this method-
sort of! I'll tell you about the LOC method in general, and then I'll share my version of the LOC
method at the end. Without further adoo, let's get started.

What does the LOC method entail?

Using your choice of LOC method products, you should apply your liquid/water based leave in conditioner first, oil second, and cream last. Sometimes the order of items is rearranged to create the LCO method, where the leave in is first, cream is second, and oil is last. Regardless, the moisture in your natural tresses is sealed by two well known sealants, oil and butter. 

Oil and butter are well known for their ability to create a moisturizing layer along the hair shaft, which prevents water from being evaporated from your hair. When water does not evaporate from your hair, your hair will stay moisturized longer. 

How do I complete the LOC method? 

1. Apply a moisturizing liquid/water based leave in conditioner to freshly washed hair
2. Apply a thin layer of oil to your hair for moisture
3. Apply a butter based, creamy moisturizer to your hair to seal that moisture in

What are some of the best products to use in the LOC method? 

Moisturizing liquid/water based leave in conditioner can include pure water (lone of the most moisturizing liquids EVER), Giovanni Leave In Conditioner, Cantu Leave In Conditioner, Karen's Body Beautiful Leave In Spray, and Alikay Naturals Lemongrass Leave In, and many more.

Oils that are great for sealing are Jamaican black castor oil, olive oil, jojoba oil, avocado oil, argan oil, macadamia oil, and grapeseed oil; however, there are plenty of other oils you can use.

Your cream/butter can be your styler if you are placing your hair in twists or bantu knots. If you like 
to rock wash and go, a cream can help define your curls or coils a little more. Examples of creams/ 
butters could be shea butter, mango butter, or cocoa butter; commercial creams you can use include Shea Moisture Curl Enhancing Smoothie, Alikay Naturals Shea Yogurt Hair Moisturizer, just to name a few. 

How frequently should one complete the LOC method?

The answer to this question is totally dependent on you and your hair's porosity. High porosity hair may have to moisturize more frequently. Low porosity hair may need less. 

My personal account on the LOC method....
Now, I personally have tweaked the LOC method to work for me. My liquid/ leave in is my water and Aloe Vera juice mix, which consists of a spray bottle filled with 1/3 Aloe Vera juice and 2/3 water. For my homemade moisturizing mixture, I use several oils, which include olive oil, castor oil, and several others. The cream I use is shea butter. I mix my shea butter and oils together to create my
homemade moisturizing mix, technically, combining steps 2 and 3 of the LOC method (See post on how to create moisturizing mix here). I moisturize my hair every day or every two days, depending on how my hair feels. Since I have begun using this combination, I have seen a major difference in the moisture levels of my hair. My hair was already soft prior to using this method, but since the use of this method and products, my hair is truly moisturized, easier to detangle, and overall, more manageable.

The products for my current LOC method

Kurlies Weigh In: Do you use the LOC method or some other variation of this method, like LCO (same products in a different order)? If you use the LOC method, what are your favorite staple products to moisturize and seal? If you don;t use the LOC method, what do you use to keep your hair moisturized?

Until next time...

Be faith-filled,fearless, and fabulous,

Kurly Ken

Do you pre-poo?

Hey Kurlfriends,

I've been modifying my hair regimen and adding certain elements. One element is "the pre-poo". Pre-pooing has multiple benefits, and I want to share these with you as well as my own experience pre-pooing for the first time.

What is a pre-poo?

A pre-poo is the process of applying a conditioning treatment prior to your hair being shampooed or washed in efforts to provide additional moisture to your hair follicles.

What does pre-poo do for your hair?

When you pre-poo, it claims to do four things for hair. First, it can provide additional moisture to your tresses. A pre-poo can also keep you from "over cleaning", or stripping, your hair during the shampoo process. Often times, shampoos can be very drying, and pre-pooing combats this issue. Additionally, it can aid in alleviating tangled tresses and leave your hair über soft and shiny. When I pre-pooed, I was amazed when I saw each one of these benefits on my own hair.

What are the best products for a pre-poo?

The best product to use truly depends on what conditioning treatment is best for your hair. You can use a store brought conditioner like VO5, Garnier, Tressemme Naturals, and the list goes on of other eligible conditioners or hair masques that can be used. You can also use oils like coconut, grapeseed, jojoba, or olive. Other suggestions are adding yogurt, bananas, or a humectant like honey to create a homeblend for a pre-poo. 

When I pre-pooed, I used coconut oil. My tresses had a nice amount of slip to finger detangle my hair before washing, and it also left my hair shiny and soft. My hair was extremely happy!

The Million Dollar Question: How do you pre-poo?
1. Gather all ingredients necessary for your pre-poo
2. Section your hair in at least 4 or more sections
3. Detangle each section
4. Apply your pre-poo over each section
5. Cover your hair with a plastic cap. You can intensify this step by sitting under a hooded dryer or jumping in the shower to let the steam do its thing under your plastic cap. It is recommended to leave your pre-poo on for 15-30 minutes. 

6. Rinse out your pre-poo and wash your hair as desired.

My resourceful self used a plastic bag from our local grocery store as my plastic cap. I also left my pre-poo in overnight, plastic bag and all! Just pure laziness on my part... Lol! But the result was hair that was soft as silk snd shinier than a new quarter! 

Question: Do you pre-poo? If so, what do you use? If not, would you be willing to try it? 

Until next time...

Be faith-filled, fearless, and fabulous,

Kurly Ken