As mentioned earlier, low porosity hair has tightly packed cuticles, making it difficult for moisture to penetrate. This results in dryness, frizz and lack of elasticity.
Unfortunately, if you have low porosity hair it may break easily if you stretch it, due to its low elasticity.
According to experts, low porosity hair has a hard time taking in moisture and people with low porosity can have difficulty when comes to hydration. ``If your hair is of low porosity, you'll most likely find your hair takes longer to dry naturally and feels heavy.
Low porosity hair tends to suffer from product build up because the products sit on the hair fibers rather than penetrate them. Low porosity hair can also suffer from dryness because it is difficult to replenish its moisture levels. Low porosity hair tends to look healthy and smooth but can lack elasticity.
Is your hair glassy and smooth? Then it's probably not porous at all. This is because the low porosity hair strands are sealed and smooth, making the hair appear reflective and shiny.
Low porosity hair can be more challenging to moisturize, but it tends to be more resilient and less prone to damage. High porosity hair can be easier to moisturize, but it is often more susceptible to damage and breakage.
As a general rule of thumb, straight hair types usually have low porosity. That said, it's possible that a few of your curly hair friends also have moisture-resistant fibers.
For low porosity hair, light oils like jojoba, argan, avocado, and almond oil are ideal as they easily penetrate the tightly bound cuticles without weighing the hair down.
Low Porosity Hair:
- Common signs: Products may sit on the hair's surface, taking longer to absorb. Hair may feel weighed down or greasy if over-washed. - Wash Frequency: Low porosity hair typically requires less frequent washing, approximately every 1-2 weeks or as needed.
Use lighter products like Argan, Sweet Almond and Grapeseed oils that work best for low porosity hair. Lotions are lightweight too.
Healthy hair should have some elasticity, meaning it should allow for some stretch before it breaks. When hair moisture and protein levels are depleted, it loses this ability which can make hair prone to breakage, a telltale sign of damage.
Cold water is often suggested to close cuticles. However, hair with low porosity benefits more from warm water.
We tend to think of curly hair as dense and prone to dryness. Low porosity curls tend to be looser, wavy, or S-shaped. The curls are distinct with a tight, flat cuticle that prevents moisture from entering and exiting the hair. This is why low porosity hair can often look limp or flat.
Avoid Heavy Products and Buildup 🧴
Heavy creams, thick oils, and butters are the enemies of low porosity hair. These products tend to sit on the surface of your hair and cause buildup, making it harder for moisture to get through.
Take some strands of hair from your brush or comb (be sure to use clean hair as products can alter the results) and drop them into a glass of water. Let them sit for a few minutes, and if the strands float after the time is up, you likely have low porosity hair. If it sinks, the hair is likely to be high porosity.
Additionally, your hair's natural oils struggle to travel from the roots to the ends due to the tightly packed cuticles. As a result, low porosity hair tends to be: Dry and/or frizzy, especially at the ends. Prone to product build-up, resulting in weighed-down or limp hair.
In the case of low porosity hair , the cuticles are naturally closed, leaving little room for moisture to penetrate naturally. Low porosity hair can also be difficult to style, as it tends to get oily quickly and doesn't last long.
Gentle Detangling: Low porosity hair is prone to tangles.
Hair with higher porosity absorbs more moisture and swells more when exposed to water or humidity, resulting in greater shrinkage. Lower porosity hair, on the other hand, may shrink less due to its ability to resist moisture absorption and retain shape.
Hair that has low porosity is not too dry and can maintain moisture quite easily. This also makes it very difficult for moisture to penetrate through the cuticles when needed.
If it does feel pretty bumpy, it means you have higher porosity. If you run your hand down the strand the opposite way (from end to root instead of root to end) and it feels and sounds squeaky, this means you have low porosity.
Clarifying Shampoo
It should be used 1 - 4 times a month depending on hair texture & porosity. Fine, wavy, thin, low porosity hair usually clarify more than once a month. Clarifying is so important. Skipping this can result in hair loss due to clogged pores, dry, frizzy, lifeless hair.