D
oes your hair find it hard to absorb water or haircare products? You likely have low-porosity hair. This kind of hair is typically a natural trait most people are born with. Therefore, heat damage, chemical treatments, and overuse of harmful hair products aren’t likely causes. Rather, chemical treatments and the like are responsible for high-porosity hair.
What is low-porosity hair?
A tightly bound cuticle layer characterizes this type of hair. This makes it difficult for water or moisture to penetrate the hair shaft. If you have a low porosity hair type, your hair is usually dull, dry to the touch, and sometimes feels oily or greasy, as natural oils and water are not easily absorbed into the hair. Maintaining a low porosity hair requires a specific haircare routine to prevent product buildup and allow moisture to penetrate the hair shaft.
Let’s explore some haircare tips for low-porosity hair…
- Wash with a clarifying shampoo and warm water: Clarifying shampoo is used to remove product buildup on the hair. Due to its inability to absorb liquids, low-porosity hair is more prone to buildup. The hair becomes weighed down and greasy. Using warm water and a clarifying shampoo can open the hair cuticle. This allows moisture to penetrate the hair shaft, removing excess grease and buildup from the hair.
- Avoid using hot water: Hot water can cause further damage to your hair. Therefore, when you have your wash day, ensure to use warm or lukewarm water.
- Use humectants: Humectants are ingredients that attract moisture to your hair. They are especially helpful for low-porosity hair that has a hard time absorbing moisture. Some common humectants include glycerin, honey, and aloe vera. When using humectants, it’s important to follow up with a moisturizing product to seal in the moisture.
- Consider lightweight conditioners: Your hair already has a lot of weight due to buildup. Therefore, it’s important to use a lightweight conditioner that won’t weigh your hair down. Opt for conditioners labeled “lightweight” or “daily use” and avoid those heavy, creamy conditioners that can leave a residue on your hair.
- Use leave-in conditioner: This seals in moisture and provides additional nourishment to the hair. However, most of them are thick and feel heavy on your hair. Choose leave-in conditioners that are lightweight and contain ingredients such as aloe vera or jojoba oil.
- Incorporate heat conditioning: To perform heat conditioning on your hair, start by applying a deep conditioning treatment. Next, cover your hair with a plastic cap and sit under a hooded dryer or wrap a warm towel around your head. The heat will open up the hair cuticle and allow the conditioning treatment to penetrate deeply into your hair.
- Stay away from proteins: Now I didn’t say you should quit milkshakes and eggs. Rather, avoid products that contain proteins. Protein treatments easily overwhelm low-porosity hair which can leave your hair feeling stiff and brittle. Instead, look for products free of proteins.
- Use water-based products: Using heavy products on low-porosity hair is a disaster. It can sit on the surface of your hair and make it difficult for moisture to penetrate. Instead, use water-based products as they do your hair a ton of good.
- Stay away from heavy hair oils and butter: Switch to water-based products instead. They are great for low-porosity hair because they hydrate your hair without weighing it down. Look for products that list water as the first ingredient.
- Avoid silicone: This is a common ingredient found in hair products that can create a barrier on the surface of your hair. Although silicone smooths down the hair cuticle and creates shine, it makes it difficult for moisture to penetrate your hair shaft. Buy hair products labeled “silicone-free.” If you don’t see such labels, check the ingredient list for words like dimethicone, Cyclomethicone, or phenyl trimethicone.
Check out some essential products for low-porosity hair…
#1. Briogeo Scalp Revival Micro-Exfoliating Shampoo
This water-based clarifying shampoo contains micro-exfoliators to remove dirt and buildup on the hair and scalp. It’s also moisturizing and soothing and doesn’t contain silicones, parabens, or even artificial dyes. It cleans your hair thoroughly.
Shop here
#2. Maui Moisture Lightweight Hydration + Hibiscus Water Shampoo
Another lightweight water-based shampoo. It contains natural ingredients like hibiscus water, passion fruit, and watermelon. Plus, it doesn’t contain silicone, sulfates, parabens, or synthetic dyes. This product leaves your hair moisturized and smelling great.
Buy now
#3. SheaMoisture Protein Free Conditioner
A lightweight conditioner that’s great for hair with low porosity. It contains baobab, tea tree oils, spearmint, and sage. The conditioner is also free of sulfate, artificial colors, and protein. It moisturizes dry hair and produces shine.
Shop now
#4. Aunt Jackie’s Quench Moisture Intensive Leave-in Conditioner
This water-based conditioner contains natural ingredients like marshmallow root, shea butter, and extra virgin olive oil. It’s effective for long-lasting moisture, so you’re sure to say goodbye to dull and dry hair. Aunt Jackie’s Quench Moisture Intensive Leave-in conditioner leaves your hair feeling soft with a great shine.
Buy here
#5. Moroccan Argan Oil
Argan oil is a rare oil with a high content of antioxidants, essential fatty acids, and vitamin E. It hydrates, softens the hair, increases elasticity, and produces shine.
Get it here
#6. Adwoa Beauty Baomint Moisturizing Curl Defining Cream
It is particularly for individuals with dry textured hair. It moisturizes, softens, and gets the hair ready for styling. It doesn’t contain sulfates, parabens, mineral oils, or petroleum.
Buy now
#7. Olaplex No. 7 Bonding Oil
Olaplex No. 7 Bonding Oil is a weightless oil that softens hair and protects it from breakage.
Shop here
Featured image: D’Andre Michael via @msvfox/Instagram
For the latest in fashion, lifestyle, and culture, follow us on Instagram @StyleRave_
This is a Style Rave original content exclusively created for our readers. If reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached, or otherwise used by any other publishing house or blogs, such use should provide a direct link to this source article. Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.
—Read also
