Three Ways To Take Care Of Low Porosity Hair

I have often struggled to relate to anyone with low porosity hair simply because I have always chemically treated my hair, at least as long as I can remember. While low porosity hair requires a slight adjustment in your hair care routine, it’s also the porosity that gives hair more reflective shine.

What is porosity?

Porosity refers to how well your hair is able to absorb and retain moisture through the cuticle. If you have low porosity hair, your cuticles are sealed up extremely well. As mentioned above, that gives hair beautiful reflective shine, but it can also keep moisture from getting in, because there is no easy way in or out of the hair strand itself.

Credit: @mathildlangevin

Why you need to know about porosity

Healthy hair needs a steady moisture balance, taking in and releasing hydration. When you are not aware of your porosity hair type, you can end up using products and habits that work against your hair. Once you know you have low porosity, you can adjust your routine and the products you reach for every day.

Problems of low porosity

Some issues you can experience from low porosity hair are:

1. Dryness: Strands have a hard time taking in moisture, so hair can slowly feel drier and more brittle over time, which can lead to breakage.
2. Product Build Up: Your cuticle is sitting so tight that products tend to sit on the surface instead of absorbing, leading to buildup.
3. Styling: Low porosity hair doesn’t reshape as easily, so you may notice your hair has a harder time holding a curl or finished style.

 

Three ways to care for low porosity hair

Here are three ways you can better serve your hair and get the most out of your low porosity hair:

1. Focus on Moisture

Your low porosity hair has trouble attracting and retaining moisture, so you will want to focus on products with humectants that help draw water to the hair. Look for ingredients like glycerin, aloe vera, and agave, which attract water from your environment while helping keep frizz in check. Goldie Locks® Smoothing Cream is made with aloe, shea butter, and carrot seed oil.

2. Gentle Cleansing

Low porosity hair tends to build up product faster and can look oily quicker, because oils and styling products tend to sit on the surface. You are likely shampooing more often than others, so reach for a hydrating, mild shampoo so you are not over-cleansing and leaving hair feeling dehydrated.

3. Styling precautions

Your hair can have a harder time holding its finished style, especially after heat tools, so you may be tempted to turn up the heat or take another pass with the iron. To avoid heat damage, prep your hair with a heat protectant that also helps your style hold.

*Based on independent testing.

Final Thoughts

Understanding your hair’s porosity is the first step to taking better care of your hair. Caring for low porosity hair the right way can improve your moisture balance and give you styling results that better match the effort you put in. If you have low porosity hair, remember above all else to deep condition regularly and avoid heavy oils that sit on top of the hair.