The Difference: LOC vs. LCO Method To Moisturize Your Kid’s Curls – frobabieshair.com
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The Difference: LOC vs. LCO Method To Moisturize Your Kid’s Curls

The Difference: LOC vs. LCO Method To Moisturize Your Kid’s Curls

Naturally curly or kinky hair is prone to drying out. Our hair follicles naturally produce a protective oil layer (sebum) that works its way from root to tip. However, this natural oil can’t travel all the way down your kid’s curls. So, you must add moisture to their hair to ensure that it doesn’t dry out. If their hair dries out, it will quickly damage and break. Here’s how to use the LOC or LCO method to moisturize your kid’s curls. 

LOC vs LCO METHOD Chart

LOC vs. LCO Method

To keep your child’s curly or kinky hair healthy, you can add a protective layer of oil to moisturize and seal their hair cuticle with the LOC or LCO methods. Perform a hair porosity test first to ensure you understand what type of hair oil to use. Then separate their hair into sections and follow the steps below.

LOC Method

  1. Short for leave-in, oil, and cream, this method is achieved by adding leave-in conditioner to towel-dried hair or spraying dry hair with a mixture of water and conditioner.

  2. Apply a light layer of your natural oil of choice, coconut, sweet almond, avocado, olive jojoba, or olive oil. The type of oil you choose depends on the porosity of their hair. The more porous their hair, the heavier the oil will need to be. Water and oil don’t mix, so the oil will coat the hair sealing in moisture.

  3. The final step is to close the cuticles with your cream of choice, such as a curly kids curl cream.

LCO Method

  1. Short for leave-in, cream, and oil this method is achieved by adding leave-in conditioner to towel-dried hair or spraying dry hair with a mixture of water and conditioner. 

  2. Then you will close the cuticles with your cream of choice, such as a curly kids curl cream.

  3. Apply a light layer of your natural oil of choice, coconut, sweet almond, avocado, olive jojoba, or olive oil.

Remember, a little bit of oil goes a long way, their hair should not look or feel oily, and it should not be weighed down. Give each method at least 3 weeks to see which one works best for your child.  

FroBabies Hair Hair Porosity Test

What Is Hair Porosity?

You should always perform a hair strand test to determine hair porosity before deciding between the LOC or LCO method. Hair that has low porosity means that it will not easily absorb oil, so you’ll need to use a thinner hair oil such as sweet almond or jojoba. Hair that has a high porosity easily absorbs oil, so you’ll need to use a thicker hair oil such as coconut or olive. Avocado oil is ideal for medium porosity hair, or hair that has both low and high porosity areas. 

Always use an organic and pure oil without synthetic additives. Yes, you can use oil blends, just ensure they are all-natural. Coconut oil can harden, so warm it by rubbing it in your hands together first. 

How To Test Your Child’s Hair Porosity?

You can ask your stylist about hair porosity the next time you are at the hair salon. Or you can test your child’s hair porosity at home with these 3 steps:

  1. Shampoo and rinse their hair, then pull out a strand our two before you add conditioner or hair product.

  2. Fill a glass three-quarters of the way with water. Jiggle the glass to break the surface tension of the water. Otherwise, the hair strand will just float on top. 

  3. Drop a single strand of hair into the glass to see if it sinks to the bottom or floats on the top. 
  • Hair that floats a bit before it sinks has low porosity. 
  • Hair that sits in the middle of the glass has medium porosity.
  • Hair that sinks quickly to the bottom has high porosity.

Keep in mind, that if your child’s hair is damaged it may have a higher porosity. So, perform another porosity test when their hair has been repaired or when they have healthy new growth. 

Calendar

How Often Should You Do The LOC or LCO Method?

You should do the LOC or LCO method on wash day, then every 3 to 4 days. Kids with mixed hair may only need to do it once per week. However, you can apply oil to split ends more often if they are beginning to frizz. Have split ends trimmed as soon as possible to minimize further damage up the hair strand. 

Young Boy with Frobabies Hair Products on table

How Else Can You Use Natural Oils On Natural Curls?

In addition to the LOC and LCO methods, there are a variety of ways to use natural oils to moisturize your child’s hair and scalp. 

  • Select curly kid’s hair products that contain natural oils to moisturize while they shampoo, condition, and style. Curly kid’s products are also designed to gently cleanse without stripping their hair of its natural oils.

  • Use oil as a preepoo for their hair and scalp. This can either be a hot oil hair mask or antifungal treatment to soothe their dry scalp. Saturate their hair with warm (not hot) avocado, coconut, or olive oil. Massage it into the scalp and comb it in from root to tip. Put on a shower cap or wrap their hair in a warm towel, and let sit for 20 minutes before you shampoo. Be mindful that the tub will be slippery when washing out the oil.

  • Before your child goes swimming, wet their hair with tap water. This will ensure it absorbs less chlorine or saltwater. Then, seal their cuticles with a layer of oil to further reduce absorption. Shampoo or co-wash their hair as soon as they are done swimming.

  • If your child will be out playing in the sun all day, apply an extra layer of oil to keep their hair from drying out in the direct sunlight. 

Looking For A Natural Product Line For Curly Kids?

If you are looking for a product line designed specifically for curly kids, look no further than Fro Babies Hair! Our products are sulfate-free, gentle, moisture-rich, and designed for the unique needs of curly hair.

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