Natural Hair Queen

Natural Hair Queen

  • Shop
  • Free Report
  • Meet Patrina
  • Contact
You are here: Home / natural hair care / LCO Method for Natural Hair

LCO Method for Natural Hair

If you’ve already tried the LOC Method and want to experiment with something else, you may be curious about trying the LCO Method for natural hair as an alternative.

The LCO Method is a protective technique that helps to guard the hair against friction and to lock in moisture, just like the LOC Method does. However, sometimes it helps to change the order of your routine to get the results you want.

My LCO method product recommendations:

1. Liquid

Sale
Fermented Rice Water - pH Balanced - We have perfected our Fermented Rice Water to a Science for an exact period of time 4 Maximum Benefits (8)
Fermented Rice Water - pH Balanced - We have perfected our Fermented Rice Water to a Science for an exact period of time 4 Maximum Benefits (8)
$15.99
Buy on Amazon

2. Cream

Curls Blueberry Bliss Reparative Hair Wash, 8 Ounces and Reparative Leave In Conditioner, 8 Ounces
Curls Blueberry Bliss Reparative Hair Wash, 8 Ounces and Reparative Leave In Conditioner, 8 Ounces
  • Curls Blueberry Bliss Reparative Hair Wash is...
  • Curls Blueberry Bliss Reparative Leave In...
  • Curls Blueberry Bliss Collection: It’s all about...
  • Recommended for wavy, curly, very curly, and kinky...
  • Curls Blueberry Bliss Reparative Hair Wash, 8...
$28.99
Buy on Amazon
tgin Butter Cream Daily Moisturizer For Natural Hair - Dry Hair - Curly Hair - 12 Oz
tgin Butter Cream Daily Moisturizer For Natural Hair - Dry Hair - Curly Hair - 12 Oz
  • MAXIMUM HYDRATION FOR NATURAL HAIR: Get the...
  • PROMOTES HAIR GROWTH: This everyday moisturizer...
  • IMPROVES SHINE AND SOFTNESS: Due to the Vitamin E...
  • REDUCES FRIZZ AND FLY AWAYS: Our butter cream...
  • GREAT FOR STYLING: Can also be used as a setting...
$19.96
Buy on Amazon

3. Oil

 

LCO Merthod for healthy hair

In this article, you find out how to use the LCO Method to retain healthy length on natural hair.

 

What is the LCO Method?

The LCO Method stands for Liquid-Cream-Oil and it is a helpful way to guard and protect the hair from everyday wear and tear. For example, doing this method can protect from wind, UV rays, and friction.

Friction is caused by simple things like a shirt collar, the back of a sofa, or a comb raking through the hair. Even the curls themselves can cause friction as they collide with each other.

The LCO Method aims to prevent friction by coating your natural hair with protection you can wear without disturbing your hairstyle.

Layering on creams and oils after hydrating your hair can help to seal the strands and prevent harm from entering through the cuticle to damage the shaft.

How to Do the LCO Method

To do the LCO Method, you’ll need:

  • Use plain water, aloe vera juice, or a water based leave in conditioner.
  • Curling or smoothing creams,  work well for the cream for LCO Method.
  • Excellent LCO Method oils are Butta Butta Cream, Jojoba, avocado, or coconut oil.

If you are doing a wash and go, massage the products into every strand without sectioning too much. If you are doing a twist-out or braid-out, you’ll want to part each clump of hair first, then apply the products in the LCO order to each small section. That way, the products will coat every strand.

  1. Begin by wetting your hair. It’s always best to completely soak your natural hair in the shower because it will absorb a lot of water. But sometimes it’s not convenient to take a full shower. In this case, a water spray bottle will work. You can place two tablespoons of your favorite conditioner to help detangle and add slip to your water spray.
  2. Apply the cream. Massage it into every strand to make sure the nutrients penetrate through the cuticle.
  3. Apply oil(s). Finish with either one nutrient-dense oil, or a blend of several oils.
  4. Style as usual. In most cases, the LCO Method is excellent for styling and it is probably all you need.

LCO Method Steps

The LOC Method steps are:

Step 1:

Always put water on your hair as the first step. It’s best to thoroughly soak your hair with water from the shower, but you can also use a water spray bottle. Looking for something more than just plain water? Try aloe vera juice or rice water as a substitute. Or you can also use a water-based leave-in conditioner during the week, but make sure it is watery so that it doesn’t result in product buildup.

Sale
Fermented Rice Water - pH Balanced - We have perfected our Fermented Rice Water to a Science for an exact period of time 4 Maximum Benefits (8)
Fermented Rice Water - pH Balanced - We have perfected our Fermented Rice Water to a Science for an exact period of time 4 Maximum Benefits (8)
$15.99
Buy on Amazon

 

Step 2:

You have lots of choices when it comes to picking out a cream for the LCO Method. You can go with a leave-in conditioner, a curl cream, or a smoothing cream. Wondering about some specific LCO Method products?

Curls Blueberry Bliss Reparative Leave-In Conditioner
works well for a light cream, while
TGIN Daily Moisture Cream
function as a thick and heavier cream.

Curls Blueberry Bliss Reparative Hair Wash, 8 Ounces and Reparative Leave In Conditioner, 8 Ounces
Curls Blueberry Bliss Reparative Hair Wash, 8 Ounces and Reparative Leave In Conditioner, 8 Ounces
  • Curls Blueberry Bliss Reparative Hair Wash is...
  • Curls Blueberry Bliss Reparative Leave In...
  • Curls Blueberry Bliss Collection: It’s all about...
  • Recommended for wavy, curly, very curly, and kinky...
  • Curls Blueberry Bliss Reparative Hair Wash, 8...
$28.99
Buy on Amazon
tgin Butter Cream Daily Moisturizer For Natural Hair - Dry Hair - Curly Hair - 12 Oz
tgin Butter Cream Daily Moisturizer For Natural Hair - Dry Hair - Curly Hair - 12 Oz
  • MAXIMUM HYDRATION FOR NATURAL HAIR: Get the...
  • PROMOTES HAIR GROWTH: This everyday moisturizer...
  • IMPROVES SHINE AND SOFTNESS: Due to the Vitamin E...
  • REDUCES FRIZZ AND FLY AWAYS: Our butter cream...
  • GREAT FOR STYLING: Can also be used as a setting...
$19.96
Buy on Amazon

 

Step 3:

You’re putting oils on your hair in the last step, but it is still possible to penetrate the hair shaft through the cream layer if you use the right oils. Look for oils that penetrate and still protect. Coconut and avocado work well in this step. Jojoba oil and shea butter will also help to protect. You can also try using a blend of oils to get the benefits from each. Butta Butta Cream is an easy-to-use blend of oils that keeps the hair moisturized.

 

How Often Should I do the LCO Method

Frequency depends on how fast your hair loses moisture. Your curly hair is most susceptible to breakage and damage when it is dry. The LCO Method can help to keep it moisturized and this will assist you in retaining length.

If your hair is short and dry, remoisturize frequently. You probably need to do the LCO Method twice per week if your mane gets dry quickly.

Aim to do the LCO Method at least every time you wash your hair, which should be about once per week.

If you use quality products, you’ll be able to go 4-5 days before you need to do the LCO Method again. Do your LCO Method during the week with a water spray bottle when your hair begins to get dry.

You should also consider hair type and porosity. Check out the following notes:

  • LCO Method for 3c hair & LCO Method for 4a hair. 3c and 4a hair types can benefit from the LCO Method. However, you may not need heavy oils and thick creams. Try lighter products. Use a light leave-in for your cream, and jojoba oil for your oil.
  • LCO Method for 4b hair & LCO Method for 4c hair. 4b and 4c hair types have the most need for the LCO Method. Your skin’s sebum has a hard time traveling down the strand, and this results in additional need for protection. You’ll probably do best with doing the LCO Method twice per week and using heavy oils and creams.

The LCO Method is not just for curly hair. Any hair that loses moisture quickly can benefit from layering products on the hair. The LCO Method can help transitioning hair and relaxed hair too.

LOC Method vs LCO Method

The LOC Method is another technique that is frequently discussed in the Natural Hair Community, and it’s also an excellent way to protect your mane.

The LOC Method means liquid-oil-cream, while the LCO method is liquid-cream-oil.

There’s some discussion that the LOC Method works best for high porosity naturals and that low porosity naturals can use either the LCO or the LOC Method.

The most important thing here is to use a layering method—no matter which you choose. Layering your products will give you better protection than mixing them all together.

So, try out both the LCO and the LOC Methods to see which one you like best.

There are two more techniques you may have heard of also—the LGO and the LOG Methods. These methods use a gel instead of a cream.

LCO Method for High Porosity Hair

If you have high porosity hair, you probably have trouble keeping your hair moisturized. High porosity hair tends to be highly porous, and that means water can enter easily. But it also means that water can exit quickly too.

The LCO Method will help you coat your hair so that water cannot exit so easily. The key is to always apply your water first, and to apply the products before your hair dries.

Both the LCO and the LOC Methods will help to guard the hair shaft and to lock in the moisture you place on your hair.

LCO Method for Low Porosity Hair

Low Porosity types have a unique challenge. It can be very difficult to get the hair to soak up water. Low porosity hair is shinier that high porosity hair because the cuticles are closed.

However, the hair cannot readily absorb water because the cuticles are frequently closed.

The LCO Method will help to protect your strands from damage. The key is to make sure you detangle and apply your products in the shower where there is warm steam.

Using oils and creams in your regimen will help, regardless of your hair porosity type because they’ll lubricate your curls. Your natural hair will be able to slide apart easier, so it will tangle and break less.

Overall, the LCO Method is a fantastic way to protect your mane and retain the length you work hard to grow.

Which one do you prefer – LOC Method or the LCO Method for natural hair?

 

By: Patrina Haupt

Don't miss out!
8 Crucial Mistakes that Stop Your Natural Hair from Growing

Sign up to Discover:

  • Top 8 reasons your hair may not be growing
  • How to exactly determine your hair porosity
  • Steps you are missing in your hair routine
We promise not to spam you. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Invalid email address
Thanks for subscribing! Please check your email for further instructions.
Related posts:
Patrina

Hey Curl Friend, I’m Patrina Haupt the creator and author of Natural Hair Queen. I hope you find my healthy hair care tips helpful in your hair journey. Healthy hair care practices are definitely, what helped me to achieve waist length hair.

Want to receive my weekly hair care tips and free natural hair care guide? Click Here.

« Benefits of incorporating jojoba oil in your natural hair care regimen
Ingredients to Avoid in Black Hair Care Products »

Comments

  1. Nellie says

    January 7, 2020 at 4:22 pm

    To do the LCO method, can I use water as a liquid then my leave in conditioner for a cream then finish up with Shea butter for my oil?

    Reply
    • Patrina says

      January 10, 2020 at 2:59 pm

      Hello Nellie, Yes, you can use filtered water, a leave in conditioner then your oil

      Reply
Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Natural Hair Queen
Patrina HauptPatrina Haupt
Hey, Curl Friend I'm Patrina! I’m the creator and author of Natural Hair Queen. I'm a wife, mom of 2 boys, and a Public Health researcher from Southern California. I love to share healthy hair care practices, as this is what helped me achieve waist-length hair. I hope you find my blog articles helpful within your hair care journey. You can reach me by email or through social media below. Read more...
EmailFacebookTwitterLinkedInYouTubeInstagramPinterest

Popular Posts

Keratin treatment for curly hair… is it worth it?
Keratin treatment for curly hair… is it worth it?
Does the Inversion Method or Mulholland Method work for Hair Growth?
Does the Inversion Method or Mulholland Method work for Hair Growth?
Pineapple Method for Natural Hair
Pineapple Method for Natural Hair
Everything you need to know about how to grow your edges back
Everything you need to know about how to grow your edges back
The Big Chop – One Option to Start Your Natural Hair Journey
The Big Chop – One Option to Start Your Natural Hair Journey

Topics

  • Natural Hair Care
  • Hair Styles
  • Hair Types
  • Sitemap
  • Privacy policy
  • Terms of use
  • DMCA policy
  • Curation policy
COPYRIGHT © 2020· Natural Hair Queen

Naturalhairqueen.net is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.