Raechele Cochran Gathers, MD It’s easy to saturate high porosity hair with water. Unfortunately, high porosity hair loses moisture just as quickly as it grabs onto it. Because high porosity hair tends to be drier and more fragile, it’s important to know the best ways of caring for high porosity hair.
What Causes High Porosity Hair?
Your hair porosity is partly genetic. You may be born with hair that tends to be higher porosity. Damage from hair color, perms, relaxers, heat and certain hair products can also contribute to having high porosity hair.
Hair that has high porosity has a cuticle (which is like the shingles on a roof) that doesn’t lay flat. Instead of being flat and smooth, the cuticle is rough and raised. Because of this, it’s easier for high porosity hair to lose moisture.
smooth vs. rough cuticle
Characteristics of High Porosity Hair
- Gets saturated with water easily
- Finer hair strands
- Dries quickly
- Tends to get frizzy
- Lacks shine/dull
- Dry
Caring for High Porosity Hair
1. Double Down on Moisture
Use moisture rich deep conditioners 3-4 times per month to help hydrate your naturally drier strands. Try doing a moisturizing hair mask once a month. A good one to try is Design Essentials Natural Almond & Avocado Wash Day Deep Moisture Masque, which has nourishing sunflower and avocado oil.
2. Do Tea Rinses
Tea rinses can help to smooth the cuticle of high porosity hair and help to increase natural shine. Another benefit: tea rinses, green tea rinses contain a compound that helps to stimulate the hair follicle and can promote hair growth.
3. Seal in Moisture
After hydrating high porosity hair with a moisturizing conditioner, it’s important to seal in that moisture with the right oil. Natural oils like jojoba, sunflower and avocado are amazing for high porosity hair. Avocado oil also helps to strengthen the hair shaft, reduce inflammation and reduce free radicals that can cause damage to the hair and scalp. It’s a great sealant for high porosity hair.
4. Protein and Repair
Protein treatments can help repair and restore a weakened hair cuticle, minimizing the damage to fragile high porosity strands. Try a strengthening treatment like Olaplex Hair Perfector No 3 to help repair damaged disulfide bonds within the hair to help strengthen your strands.
5. Reduce Heat
Excessive heat can damage the cuticle of the hair and weaken already fragile strands. Be sure to avoid using heat more than once a week, and always use a good heat protectant!
6. Satin
High porosity hair loses moisture easily and sleeping on cotton sheets will worsen moisture loss by acting like a wick for your hair’s moisture. Be sure to sleep on satin sheets or use a silk or satin pillowcase. You can also wrap your hair before bed in a gorgeous satin scarf—so you’ll look amazing while you’re protecting your hair.
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