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
2. Cream
- For curly hair
- Sulfate-free
- Clinically proven to repair damaged hair -...
- Formulated certified organic blueberry extract,...
- Repair, restore, and condition your overworked...
- 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...
3. Oil
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.
- 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.
- Apply the cream. Massage it into every strand to make sure the nutrients penetrate through the cuticle.
- Apply oil(s). Finish with either one nutrient-dense oil, or a blend of several oils.
- 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.
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? 
- For curly hair
- Sulfate-free
- Clinically proven to repair damaged hair -...
- Formulated certified organic blueberry extract,...
- Repair, restore, and condition your overworked...
- 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...
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
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.
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?
Hello Nellie, Yes, you can use filtered water, a leave in conditioner then your oil