LOC vs. LCO: Learn What's Best For You

First of all, I’m so happy you’re taking the time to really get to know your hair.

Let me tell you right now — with time, if you find a routine that truly moisturizes your hair, you’ll unlock the most important secret to growing long, healthy natural hair. Moisture is everything.

It doesn’t matter how many protective styles you do — if your hair is dry, you won’t retain length. There’s no way around it. All that beautiful new growth you worked for will snap off as soon as you start handling your hair again.

Moisture, moisture, moisture is the key to length retention.

I want you to get to a place where you can retain long, beautiful natural hair, and I’m here to help. Moisture is one of the biggest reasons so many Black women struggle to keep length, and I want to help educate our community — not just with textbook advice, but with real experience from someone who’s tried, failed, learned, and succeeded.

So let’s get you on the path to long, thriving natural hair — you’ve got this!

And here’s the thing — moisturizing your hair isn’t one-size-fits-all. The way you moisturize will depend on why you’re doing it. Are you prepping for a juicy, defined twist-out or braid-out? Or are you getting your hair ready for a long-term protective style like braids or wigs?

Each purpose calls for a slightly different approach to moisture, and learning to adjust your routine for what your hair needs in that moment is key. Don’t worry — I’ll walk you through it, because once you understand the “why” behind the moisture, you’ll start seeing real results.

Also, I’ve included products in this post that I personally use and love — not for monetary purposes or affiliate links, but because they actually work for me. I want to share what’s helped me in the hopes that it can help you too.

Leave In - Cream - Oil (LCO)

Quick Read:

Leave-In, Cream, Oil — or LCO — can work for all natural hair types, but it really shines when used on low porosity strands.

How do you know if you have low porosity hair?

• Your hair takes forever to get wet in the shower

• Hair product appears to just sit on your hair

• Your hair still feels dry after applying products

Chances are, you’re dealing with low porosity hair. That’s because your hair cuticles are tightly sealed, making it harder for moisture and products to penetrate.

To help, you’ll want to focus on using water-based products — ones that are lightweight and designed to hydrate, not just coat. Start with a good, watery leave-in conditioner to get moisture into the strands. Then follow up with your cream for extra softness, and seal it all in with oil.

The LCO method is especially great when you’re prepping for styles like twist-outs, braid-outs, or any look where you’ll be taking the style down, fluffing it out, and wearing it loose. It gives you long-lasting definition without feeling heavy or greasy.

• LCO- Use a Leave in, then cream, and then oil

• LCO is best for low porosity

• Low porosity - Hair doesn't wet quickly, hair doesn't absorb products well

• Use a water-based Leave-In

• LCO is best for stylings that require a take down (twist out, braid out)

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Leave In - Oil - Cream (LOC)

Quick Read:

Just like the LCO method, the LOC method — Leave-In, Oil, Cream — can work across all natural hair types. But if you ask me, I especially recommend it for my high porosity naturals.

So, how do you know if you have high porosity hair? Here are some signs:

• Your hair gets wet quickly, but dries super fast.

• You moisturize your hair, but within a day or two, it already feels dry and brittle again.

If that sounds familiar, you likely have high porosity hair. And trust me, this method can make a big difference.

With high porosity, the hair’s cuticles are raised, which means moisture goes in easily, but it escapes just as fast. That’s why the LOC method works so well:

• You start with a leave-in conditioner to add hydration.

• Then you apply an oil right away to help plug those open cuticles and slow down moisture loss.

• Finally, you top it off with a creamy product to seal everything in tight, giving your hair a soft, nourished feel that lasts.

When you use the LOC method correctly, your hair shouldn’t be drying out after just a few days. Instead, you’ll notice better moisture retention, less breakage, and healthier-feeling strands over time. If you're having the same problems, try to change the products you use.

Remember, hair care isn’t just about following trends — it’s about listening to your hair and giving it what it truly needs.

• LOC- Use a leave-in, oil, and then cream

• LOC is best for high porosity hair

• High porosity Hair absorbs products fast, hair dries fast within minutes or just a couple of days after moisturizing

• Use a thicker cream to finish

  • For course hair, generally, thicker creams equal more definition

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My 10+ Years Natural Hair Experience

Now that we’ve gotten the technical, textbook knowledge out of the way, here’s what I’ve personally noticed over my 10+ years of being natural.

Let me tell you — trial and error is not even the word! I’d buy products that worked, but then I’d get curious and want to try something new… and somehow, I kept doing that until I completely forgot what actually worked for my hair.

But now, a decade later, I’ve developed a routine that’s allowing my hair to thicken, get healthy, and thrive. And here’s an important truth: growing long hair doesn’t matter if it’s not healthy.

Here are some things I’ve specifically noticed with my type 4, low porosity hair:

• The LCO method works best for me

• Use oil on your hair when it's wet, but especially before you take down your style.

• Thicker oils (any kind) help my curls clump together better and make them easier to separate during the take-down process.

• If I apply oil before my cream, the cream won’t “grab” onto my hair, meaning my hair won’t look defined before I twist it.

• A key tip: your hair should have some definition before you start braiding or twisting — that’s how you know it’s moisturized and prepped well.

• I prefer heavier creams because they help my curls clump, but my leave-in is always water-based — for low-porosity hair, a light leave-in plus heavier creams and oils to seal in moisture works best.

The products I use are listed on the right — these are not sponsored or affiliate links, just what’s truly worked for me.

Eden Body works Coconut Shea Leave in

Products I Use Every Wash Day (nonpromotional)

Eden Body works Coconut Shea Curl Defining Créme

Renewing Argan Oil of Morocco extra penetrating oil - smells amazing