Raechele Cochran Gathers, MD
Knowing your hair porosity is important in guiding the hair styling and product choices that you make for your hair. The porosity of your hair can influence both the needs and behavior of your hair. If you have low porosity hair, it’s important that your products address the problems common in low porosity hair. Read on for recommendations for products for low porosity hair!
What’s Low Porosity Hair?
Hair porosity is essentially a measure of how easily water moves in and out of your hair strands. If you have low porosity hair, it’s harder for water to enter your hair; but once it does, it tends to stick around longer. Low porosity hair may look shiny and have a healthy luster, since the cuticle is closed. However, it may lack elasticity (snaps easily). You also may be more likely to have protein sensitivity—so be cautious with protein in your hair.
Low porosity hair typically needs moisture rich conditioners that won’t weigh it down. And it’s important that it be conditioned with heat or a steam cap to help open ther hair’s cuticle so that the moisture can penetrate the hair strand. If you’re not using heat, your conditioners are more likely to just sit on your strands.
Products for Low Porosity Hair:
Shampoo: As I Am Curl Clarity shampoo
This shampoo claims to remove product buildup, which is more common on low porosity hair. It also contains amla, a terrific ayurvedic ingredient for hair health and growth. As with all shampoos, especially those that clarify, you need to be cautious to avoid over drying and stripping your hair.
EDEN BodyWorks Jojoba Monoi Deep Conditioner
This ultra-hydrating deep conditioner contains penetrating and strenghthening coconut oil, as well as nourishing carrot seed, castor and sweet almond oils.
Deep conditioner: tgin Honey Miracle Hair Mask
This penetrating deep conditioner contains raw honey, jojoba and olive oil to help reduce dullness and saturate your hair with moisture. Use it with heat for a deeper penetration.
Leave in Conditioner/Moisturizer: Oyin Handmade Honey Hemp conditioner
This is a penetrating hydrating conditioner that also contains moisturizing honey and hemp oil, as well as aloe vera. It can also be used as a leave in conditioner.
Moisturizer/Curl Setter: Camille Rose Naturals Coconut Water Style Setter
This cream gel contains coconut water, olive oil and castor oil for the deep penetrating moisture that low porosity hair craves.
Care Tips for Low Porosity Hair
- Be cautious with protein
- Use light weight products and oils that are less likely to build up
- Clarify regularly
- Use heat when you deep condition. A heat cap like this one aids in moisture penetration.
How to Determine Hair Porosity
Check out this post for more information on the characteristics of low porosity hair, and some at home tests that might help you figure out your hair porosity. If you have high porosity hair, check out these high porosity hair products.
