Afro hair thrives on moisture + sealing.
Two main methods are used:

🔹 LOC (Liquid → Oil → Cream)

  1. Liquid (L): Water or a water-based leave-in (hydration).

  2. Oil (O): Light oil (jojoba, almond, or grapeseed) to seal water in.

  3. Cream (C): Moisturizing butter/cream for softness and long-lasting hydration.

🔹 LCO (Liquid → Cream → Oil)

  1. Liquid (L): Hydration step.

  2. Cream (C): Moisturizer first.

  3. Oil (O): Finishing seal to lock everything in.

Key Science:

  • Oil is not a moisturizer, it seals in moisture but does not add water.

  • You need water first (from a spray, leave-in, or wash).

  • Choose method based on hair porosity:

    • High porosity: LCO (cream seals water better).

    • Low porosity: LOC (oil before cream reduces buildup).

📚 Robbins, 2012; Gavazzoni Dias, 2015.