Understanding Products and What Each One Does
Every product has a job. Know the job, and you know when to use it.
The main product categories
Shampoo — cleans the scalp and hair, removing dust, sweat, and buildup. Sulfate-free shampoo is gentler and dries hair less.
Conditioner — returns water and softness after shampoo, and helps detangle. A deep conditioner does the same but stronger, used once a week or every two weeks.
Protein treatment — strengthens weak or damaged hair. Use it based on need (the stretch test), not too often.
Leave-in cream or milk — stays in the hair to keep water in through the day.
Oils and butters — seal water inside and protect. They do not "moisturize" on their own; they lock in water that is already there.
Order matters: the LOC method
A simple way to remember the moisturizing order is LOC:
L — Liquid (water or a water-based leave-in): apply water first.
O — Oil: seal the water in.
C — Cream: close everything and add softness.
For high-porosity hair, LOC works well because the oil seals the water quickly. For low porosity, some people prefer LCO (cream before oil) so the oil does not block water out. Try both and see which your hair prefers — you now know enough to make that choice yourself.
Key takeaways
- Every product has a job: clean, moisturize, strengthen, or seal.
- Oil does not moisturize — it seals in water that is already there.
- The LOC method (liquid, oil, cream) helps you apply products in the right order.