Remember that LOC method post you all liked so much? Don’t even front, we know you liked that one!
Well no gift is complete without the fancy red bow on the top so in lieu of adding to that post we went ahead and developed a complete list of product suggestions that would make things a little easier for you if you want to start practicing this cool way of sealing your hair.
Note that everything on this list can be used on natural as well as relaxed hair so don’t skip over any of them because you fall into either category.
The LOC abbreviation means liquid, oil and cream and also relates to the order in which the products should be applied.
Having said that a lot of you said that you do LCO with success too.
It is almost impossible to list every product on the face of the earth or even to say for sure which the best moisturizers are so if you have some great products that we may have missed, go ahead and comment below so we can all benefit.
Anyway, on to the products now…here goes:
Liquid
Infusium 23 – The first ingredient is water which makes it perfect for the liquid category and it is a light weight old school conditioner that hydrates your strands right after washing your hair. If you use infusium 23 then you will just love it and it will always be in your arsenal. It is just one of those conditioners some of us have grown up with and just cannot bear to be parted from.
Giovanni Direct Leave-in Conditioner – It’s the best light weight leave in conditioner(affiliate link) on the market and with the first ingredient being water it is perfect for your hair and perfect for the liquid category.
Roux 619 Leave in Moisturizing Treatment – Because of how great this product is for detangling, it is often recommended for women who are transitioning to natural hair long term. It is a bit on the pricey side but well worth it if you want to have something really good in your arsenal.
Homemade – Aloe Vera Juice and water mix – This can be a 50/50 mix with half your spray bottle containing water, and the other half being AVJ. You can choose to add more aloe if you would like but whatever you decide Aloe Vera does not disappoint as one of the best liquid conditioners you can find in your cabinet.
Oil
Olive oil – For the LOC method we tend to want to use a light oil because you are also intending to use butters and creams. This makes olive oil a perfect candidate for this method. Smooth a small amount over your hair from root to tip. Olive oil is one of the healthiest oils you can use for your strands whether you are relaxed or natural, it is all natural and does an excellent job at locking moisture in, increasing manageability and shine.
Coconut Oil – This oil can be considered a pretty light oil although those with high porosity strands may not find it effective enough on it’s own. Yet it is so great for your hair it will be one of the best candidates for rounding things off with the LOC method. Considering the fact that it is one of only 2 oils that penetrate the hair strand, some women opt to use it first before adding the cream or butter just so that they get the added benefit of the oil itself.
Grape Seed Oil – This oil is super light and great for all hair types. It glides on easily and is one of the many oils that is considered to be a natural heat protectant(affiliate link) not to mention that it’s also chock full of ceramides. If you want a light oil, this one works well and is very easy to find.
Sweet Almond Oil – This light all purpose oil is a great sealant and hair smoother. It really helps to give your hair a great finish when used on top of your moisturizer and cream. If you have never tried it before, give it a whirl and see how you like it.
Homemade – Can’t make up your mind? A custom oil mix may just be in the cards. All you will need is an applicator bottle(affiliate link) large enough to hold your oils. Throw in a couple of essential oils(affiliate link) to seal the deal and get sealing! Our suggestion would be to use it for both your hair and skin because there is nothing like a natural oil after a long shower.
Cream
Cantu Shea Butter Leave In – Cantu Shea Butter Leave is a staple for many of us, and even though it has water listed as the first ingredient, its creamy texture makes it perfect for the cream category. This product has some protein in it which might be one of the reasons women with fine hair tend to like it so much. It also helps to smooth the hair and leave it feeling super silky once your hair dries. It’s pretty cost effective too which can’t hurt!
Shea Moisture Shea Butter Leave In – You can’t go wrong with shea butter, and this leave in is so creamy it remains one of the top sellers for the Shea Moisture products(affiliate link) line. Consider this leave in perfect for the LOC method because it is thick enough to work well but light enough not to weigh your hair down.
Oyin Handmade Whipped Pudding – Oyin hits you with the unrefined shea butter(affiliate link) and aloe vera early on the ingredient list making it ultra thick and perfect for locking in moisture. It is fancy and a little pricey but a little goes a long way; it is the kind of product you have to invest in at least one time but be prepared for it to turn into a staple.
Jane Carter Nourish And Shine – This baby has Holy Grail status for those with natural hair and is a great mix of butters and oils so depending on how your hair is feeling, it could serve as your cream and your oil all in one. At first glance the product might seem small but you really don’t need a lot to accomplish what your hair needs.
Homemade – Why not treat your hair to a creamy whipped shea butter mix? This simple concoction includes melted shea butter, melted coconut oil, jojoba oil, a splash of vitamin E oil. Using a hand mixer to whip everything together and add it to a glass jar, we promise you this will be heaven in a jar!
An alternative mix? Mix together 1/2 cup each of melted coconut oil, olive oil, add a teaspoon of castor oil, and a 1/4 cup of jojoba oil. To round things off add a splash of vitamin E oil and 3 drops of rosemary oil(affiliate link), and that’s it. Honestly an oil mix should be tailored to whatever it is that you like, so if you feel like using a different essential oil then go ahead and do that. Also measure according to what you prefer or what you have on hand, we are not strict with measurements in these parts.
Well that’s all folks there you have it; a few products to consider while practicing the LOC method. Don’t ever say we didn’t have your back.
Originally posted 2013-11-22 15:00:15.
I’m a big fan of many of the listed products.
Good post!
great article.thank you.
Sheena Y. Ferdinand this is what I was telling you
Thank you for the post.
I use a homemade cream that consists of shea butter, oils (olive coconuts and castor oils) and beeswax. Because I live in very dry country.
I want to ask if Palmer s hair food are good to be used as cream.
I read that I can mix water with my conditioner to have a leave-in conditioner that is used as liquid ib LOC method. Is this ok?
I am not sure about the palmers, only because I’ve never seen or used the product, but again it really isn’t about brand but rather ingredients. So if palmers is creamy in consistent and the first ingredient is not water then it would work as your cream. Or if it isnt creamy but clearly not water based but more oil based then it can be used as the oil.
I think it’s perfectly fine to mix conditioner with water to make a leave in, alot of women use certain conditioners in that manner, again it’s all about ingredients. I prefer to use a conditioner that has no cones in it as my leave in only because I don’t want to create buildup on my hair. It’s all about preference but if you want to make a leavein I think that’s fine…
Em
I want to try this method. I’ve been using Shea Moisture Curl Enhancing Smoothie,Hair milk, and Moisture spray. I also use ORS olive oil smooth-n-hold pudding. I wanted to know if loc method means using all those products at the same time? What about build up? Products clashing/clumping? Oil melting down your face and back? Scalp residue and hair follicle blockage? I also like having some hold, I don’t feel comfortable having my hair to wild at work.
Hi
I have loc’d hair and i was wondering if this LOC method can be used for someone with locs. Creams aren’t something i’ve heard recommended for loc’d hair. would you have any hair conditioning and moisturizing tips for those of us with loc’d hair?
I am also looking for some tips on toddler’s hair. my daughters hair is very tightly curled. it’s lovely when her hair is wet, because that is when her curls are more noticable. she has spiral curls when her hair is wet, but once it dries those pretty curls leave. I have tried a number of different childrens products, but the only one that seems to work well for her is taaliah waajihd’s kids line.
I just want to find some thing to keep her hair moist so when its time to restyle her hair, its not the drama spectacular that it is now.
1/3 of this is technically wrong. A lot of the creams listed are actually oils. Go with whatever works for you though. …
I think ‘cream’ refers to a product with a creamy consistency…and while the products listed do contain oils, it is their creamy/buttery consistency that leads to the great results and longer lasting moisture
Not in our house! Water based moisturizers work better for us here. Shea butter works as a flat out oil and dries us out.
Even whipped oils still act like oils but like I said whatever works for you…
Good Day
I am a male, and current LOC method is…
(L) water+aloe vera juice+vegetable glycerine
(O) virgin coconut oil+extra virgin olive oil
(C) hollywood beauty olive crème
Your thoughts?
Thx!