What is the LCO method and how do you do it at home – hairstyle camp
Do you want to learn how to wet your hair using LCO method? This is a simple technique that does not require finesse. You don’t need expensive products or a degree in cosmetology.
Here’s everything you need to know about the LCO method, how it differs from LOC methodAnd how to do it yourself at home.
What is the LCO method?
The LCO method is a moisturizing method for hair. LCO is an acronym for the three products used in this method: leave-in, cream and oil. Use this technique to keep your hair moisturized for as long as possible.
The LCO method is a popular method in the natural hair community for moisturizing hair. People love it because it helps keep even the driest natural hair moisturized for days. You can use the method as a rinse method and go and wet your hair for three to five days.
If you have trouble moisturizing your hair or your hair dries quickly, you might want to try the LCO method. It has been tested and proven to help your hair stay soft and moisturized for longer.
Who is the LCO method suitable for?
Many people wonder what the difference is between the LOC and LCO methods. Some suggest the LCO method over the LOC method based on natural hair type.
However, there are better ways to decide which moisturizing technique is right for you. Hair types like type 2 or four are often ambiguous, and many people have several types of hair on their heads.
Natural hair porosity, on the other hand, is a standard way to measure how hair responds to LCO and LOC methods.
When choosing between LCO and LOC methods, Know your hair porosity is essential.
The LCO method is ideal for Low porosity hair. Low porosity hair does not easily absorb water or products into the strands. Because of this, the hair shaft dries out, dries out and warps.
With the LCO method, low porosity hair can absorb light products. In addition, using oil as the last step seals the moisture, and prevents water loss.
High porosity hair will earn more from the LOC method than the LCO method. The LOC method is where creams are used after oils.
While either method works for high porosity hair, low porosity types should stick to LCO for best results.
How to do the LCO method at home
Follow these five simple steps to perform the LCO method effectively at home:
Step 1: Prepare your hair
For the LCO method to work, you need to moisturize your hair. The only way to moisturize your hair is with water. After that you can moisturize and seal moisture hair. Water is easily absorbed by freshly washed hair.
The first step to perfecting the moisturizing method is preparing your hair to receive products. You do this by thoroughly cleansing your hair and making sure it absorbs enough water. You can shampoo your hair as often as you need.
I recommend no more than once per day for those with dry hair and a very active lifestyle. However, for LCO to work, don’t go more than two weeks without washing your hair. Ideally, you should wash your hair every week or twice a week.
Follow these steps to prepare your hair for the LCO method:
- Oil your scalp: Massage an oil of your choice into the scalp. I recommend rosemary oil in a carrier oil like jojoba or pumpkin seed oil. Massage the oil into the scalp for at least five minutes. Work the oil into your strands and let it sit for 3 to 24 hours. The oil also acts as an oil cleanser for your scalp.
- Pre-poo the hair: Use a moisturizing pre-poo conditioner or detangling conditioner to carefully detangle your hair.
- Cutting from ends to roots: Section your hair and detangle gently with a wide tooth comb working upwards from the ends.
- Wet your hair: Get in the shower and rinse your hair with water. Do not attempt to shampoo before your hair is soaked in water. It also allows you to prewash the poop and oil.
- Lather your shampoo: Take the shampoo of your choice and lather with your hands. Ideally, it should be a moisturizing shampoo, but an occasional clarifying shampoo is perfect before LCO.
- Process the shampoo in: Using your fingers or the scalp brush, work the shampoo into each part of the scalp. Take your time. Let the shampoo do an initial cleanse and remove any oil.
- rinse and repeat: Wash out your first shampoo. I recommend shampooing twice if you wash weekly and more if you go more between shampoos. On your last wash, make sure all the shampoo residue is out of your hair.
- Apply a treatment or deep conditioner: Squeeze the excess water from your hair and apply the treatment or deep conditioner of your choice. You can mix in a small amount of oil and sit under a heated hat, hooded dryer or steamer to treat hair deeply. You can also wrap your hair in plastic and shower caps and sit in the sun.
- wash: Carefully wash off the deep conditioner after 30 to 45 minutes. If you don’t have a heating option and the sun isn’t shining, the conditioner can stay on for up to an hour. Remember that the deeper you are, the less time you need to do it, so if you do it often, 15 minutes will do.
- Remove excess water: After washing, squeeze out the excess water. Wrap your hair in a microfiber towel or cotton t-shirt to absorb excess moisture.
Your hair is now ready for the LCO method.
Step 2: Choose your leave-in conditioner
For the leave-in product, you can use a leave-in conditioner or treatment. The key is to choose a lightweight, water-based product whose first ingredient is water. Also look for moisturizers like aloe vera, glutamic acid and honey. Your leave-in can be protein-free or contain little protein.
- Remove the t-shirt or microfiber towel from the hair
- Make sure the hair is still damp but not dripping wet. If it is dry, spray a little water.
- Use a rat tail comb to cut your hair. Do not comb your hair with a fine-toothed comb.
- In one section, apply a small amount of leave.
- Gently work the leave-in conditioner into your strands by raking your fingers through your strands.
- Repeat for each section of hair.
Step 3: Apply hair cream
Find a hair cream that your hair type can benefit from. High porosity hair will work best with thick creams, butters and butters. Those with low porosity hair will benefit from light creams or gels to avoid weighing hair down.
- With the same sections as used in the last step, apply a small amount of hair cream.
- Drag the cream through the strands and avoid too many layers.
- Repeat with each section.
Step 4: Use hair oil
When choosing hair oil for the LCO method, consider the pores of our hair. Hair with low porosity will benefit from light oils such as jojoba, sweet almonds and sesame which have a structure similar to sebum. These oils lock in moisture for low porosity hair without weighing it down.
High porosity hair will benefit from a heavier oil like coconut and moringa. However, you can mix and match oils until you find the best blend for your hair.
To finish, apply a small amount of oil to each section of hair. Make sure you coat the shaft from the ends to the roots, as the ends are most prone to breakage.
Step 5: Style as usual
Once complete, style the hair as desired. I recommend a low manipulation style to avoid breakage and headaches.
- Cut your hair in half, from your forehead to your neck.
- Start a flat twist by selecting two pieces of hair from one half and start twisting.
- Follow up to your neck, picking hair alternatively from each side of the braid.
- Do the same for the other part.
- Add gold or silver hair clips throughout each flat twist as desired.
The LCO method is a tested and proven way to seal in moisture to produce healthy hair. With consistent use, you’ll notice softer, more moisturized hair. Find leave moisture in your hair love. Look for light and moisturizing hair creams. Invest in a quality oil to seal in the moisture.
Cut your hair and work with damp hair. Work each product into the strands gently but thoroughly. Don’t use too much product, but focus on raking it into each strand from ends to roots. Give extra love to your ends as they dry out faster and tend to break. Use the LCO method consistently to achieve excellent results.
What is hair porosity?
Hair porosity can depend on genetics or it can tell you how damaged your hair is. Low porosity hair has a completely intact, tightly closed hair cuticle.
High porosity hair has shingles to the hair cuticle that adheres and gains and loses water easily. The cuticle is usually not flat due to water and alkaline hair products or due to permanent processes such as hair lighteners or chemical relaxers. When the nail is infected, it is easy for it to be damaged and begin to miss shingles to the nail.
How to determine your hair porosity?
You will need a glass of distilled water and a few strands of clean hair. Wash them freshly. Throw them in the water and let them process for a few hours. If your hair is low porosity, it will float to the top, without absorbing water. If it is highly porous, it will sink to the bottom when it absorbs water.
Frequently asked questions about the LCO method
With the LOC and LCO recipes, you first apply a conditioner or leave-in treatment. With the LCO method, cream is applied after leaving and sealed with oil, and with the LOC method, oil is applied after leaving and locked with hair cream.
Many people report that the LCO method lasts two to five days, but if done correctly it can last up to a week. The LCO method locks moisture into hair shafts, helping them retain moisture over time.
The LCO method can be used daily, but it is recommended to use it every other day. When you use the LCO method daily, even if you use light products, you still run the risk of product build-up if you use LCO daily.
LCO is best for low porosity hair that has difficulty absorbing moisture. LOC is better for high porosity hair because moisture penetrates and escapes too quickly.
For dry hair that does not respond well to moisture and does not retain it, then the LCO method can be an excellent part of your hair care routine. It’s easy to do with just three ingredients, and the benefits are real regardless of your hair type.
Try it today, and see what it can do for your strands!