When you have a few different products lined up on wash day, figuring out what goes where isn’t always as simple as it seems. You know you need shampoo and conditioner, but once you get to leave-ins, creams, and oils, the order can get a little confusing.
That’s where having a routine helps. African Pride Moisture Miracle collection has products you can use from the beginning of wash day through styling, but that doesn’t mean you need to pile everything on at once. The key is figuring out where each product fits in your routine.
Below, we’ll go through the Moisture Miracle routine from pre-shampoo to styling, plus how to layer your products if you follow the LOC or LCO method.
Why Does Product Order Matter for Natural Hair?
There’s a reason you wouldn’t reach for your styling cream before your shampoo. Some products are meant to be rinsed out, while others stay on your hair after wash day. Following a general order helps you know when each one belongs in your routine and keeps you from adding products just for the sake of adding them.
Things get a little less straightforward once you’re ready to style. Leave-in conditioner typically comes first, but cream and oil can switch places depending on how you prefer to layer them. You may have heard of this as the LOC (liquid, oil, cream) or LCO (liquid, cream, oil) method.
Neither order has to be the right one for everyone. You can try both and see which one works better for your hair and the styles you usually wear. Things like your hair’s porosity, texture, and how much product you use can all affect how a layering routine feels on your hair.
Wash Day Prep & Conditioning
Before you get to leave-ins, creams, and oils, you’ve got the wash day part of the routine first. That starts with getting your hair ready for shampoo, then cleansing and conditioning before you move on to styling.
Step 1: Prep With a Pre-Shampoo
Start with Moisture Miracle Pre Shampoo. It goes on dry hair before you shampoo and gives you a chance to work through the tangles before you start washing.
Apply a generous amount throughout your hair, then use your fingers or a comb to gently detangle. If your hair is particularly dry or tangled, leave the Pre Shampoo on for 15 to 30 minutes before rinsing. Once it’s rinsed out, you’re ready for shampoo.
Step 2: Cleanse With Shampoo
Once you’ve rinsed out the Pre Shampoo, it’s time to wash. There are two Moisture Miracle shampoos to choose from, and either one can fit into this part of your routine.
The Moisture Shampoo uses honey and coconut oil and is made to clean away dirt and buildup without stripping your hair of its natural oils. The Aloe & Coconut Water Shampoo is another option if you’re looking for a creamy cleanser that leaves your curls feeling soft and hydrated.
Apply whichever shampoo you choose to wet hair, focusing on your scalp as you work it into a lather. Rinse thoroughly, repeat if needed, then move on to conditioning.
Step 3: Condition Your Hair
After shampooing, you’ve got a few options for conditioning. For your regular conditioning step, you can use the Moisture Miracle Conditioner or the Aloe & Coconut Water Conditioner. If you’re looking for a deeper conditioning treatment on that wash day, you can choose between the Aloe & Coconut Oil Deep Conditioner and the Moisture Masque.
You don’t need to use more than one. Choose the option that works best for your hair that day and follow the directions on the product. Once you’ve rinsed it out, you’re finished with the wash portion of your routine and ready to move on to your leave-ins and styling products.
Styling & Layering Your Moisture Miracle Products
Once you’re done washing and conditioning, you can move on to the products that stay in your hair without rinsing them out. This is where the order can change a little depending on whether you’re following the LOC or LCO method.
Step 4: Start With Leave-In Conditioner
No matter which method you’re using, start with the Moisture Miracle Leave-In Conditioner. On wash day, spray it throughout clean, wet hair, then use your fingers or a wide-tooth comb to work it through.
Once your leave-in is evenly distributed, you’ve got a choice to make. If you’re following LOC, oil comes next. If you prefer LCO, your cream comes next.
Step 5: Add a Cream or Oil
Here’s where LOC and LCO start to look a little different. Going with LCO? The Moisture Miracle Leave-In Cream comes next. Work it through your hair, using more or less depending on how much your hair needs.
If you’re trying LOC, use the Moisture Miracle 5 Essential Oils instead. You don’t need a lot to start, and you can always add a little more as you work it through your hair.
Either way, you’re not done just yet. The product you didn’t use here will be your last layer.
Step 6: Finish Your LOC or LCO Routine
Now you’ll finish with whichever product you didn’t use in the last step. If you’re following LOC, that means ending with the Leave-In Cream. If you went with LCO, the 5 Essential Oils will be your last layer.
Add what you need and work it through your hair until you’re happy with how it feels. From there, you can move on to styling, whether you’re doing twists, braids, a wash-and-go, or a different style.
Tips for Layering Moisture Miracle Products
There’s no need to overthink layering your products. Once you know what goes first, a few simple habits can make the rest of the process easier.
- Split your hair into sections. How many sections you use is up to you. The goal is just to make it easier to work the product through your hair without missing areas.
- Keep a spray bottle handy. If you’re applying a product that should go on wet or damp hair, you can mist your hair with a little water if it starts drying as you work.
- Pay attention to your ends. It’s easy to focus on the rest of your hair and forget about the ends, so make sure you’re working your products all the way through from roots to ends.
- You can always add more. Start with a little cream or oil and see how your hair feels. If you need more, add it as you go.
- Think about nighttime, too. A satin or silk bonnet, scarf, or pillowcase can help reduce friction while you sleep.
Build Your African Pride Moisture Miracle Routine
You don’t need every Moisture Miracle product to build a routine. Start with your wash-day basics, then choose the leave-in and styling products that make sense for your hair and the style you have planned.
If you want to experiment with layering, try LOC and LCO on different wash days and pay attention to the results. Once you find an order you prefer, you'll have an African Pride Moisture Miracle routine that's easy to repeat and adjust as needed.
FAQs
Should I layer Moisture Miracle products on wet or damp hair?
It depends on the product, so check the directions before you start. The Moisture Miracle Leave-In Conditioner, for example, goes on clean, wet hair. If your hair starts to dry while you’re working through each section, a light mist of water can help.
Do I have to use every product in the LOC or LCO method?
LOC and LCO generally involve three layers: a liquid or leave-in product, an oil, and a cream. If you're using the Moisture Miracle products in this article, you don't need to apply a large amount of each. Start with a little and add more if needed.
How do I know whether LOC or LCO is better for my hair?
Give them both a try. You may like the way your hair feels with cream before oil, or you might prefer oil before cream. Pay attention to your hair and how your style turns out, then stick with whichever order you like better.
Do I need to do the full Moisture Miracle routine every day?
No. The full routine starts on wash day, so there’s no reason to repeat every step daily. Between washes, you can refresh your hair with the Moisture Miracle products that are meant to be used that way, following the directions on the product.






