Low porosity means the cuticles in your outermost layer are densely packed together, so much so it's difficult for water and products to penetrate and reach those inner layers. 3 This isn't a bad thing whatsoever—your hair just needs a bit of a push when it encounters moisture.
When it comes to hair porosity, low porosity hair is considered the healthiest. This is because it's the best at retaining critical moisture that's essential to keeping hair optimally healthy due to its tightly closed cuticle layer.
Lower porosity is generally great. It is still true that higher hair porosity absorbs water and product quickly and just can't hold on to it while lower porosity hair maintains better moisture.
1st Con - low porosity takes forever to absorb moisture. More often than not, products sit on top of our hair. So we have to do more for our hair to absorb those products.
Hair porosity is a measure of how easily hair can absorb and retain moisture, and it can vary from low to high. All three types of hair porosity (low, medium, and high) are common and can occur in individuals of any ethnicity and hair type.
An estimated 20 percent of the population has low porosity hair, but few have even heard the term. People of all races and ethnic groups can have this type of hair, but African-Americans are particularly susceptible to low porosity. This type of hair requires special care to maintain moisture and health.
How to grow low porosity hair? Using products with ingredients like emollients and softening properties is a good place to start. Deep condition and steaming also help give your hair the hydration it needs. A twisted hairstyle also helps trap moisture and helps stimulate healthy hair growth.
Low porosity hair has a cuticle layer that lies very flat. This makes the hair more resistant to absorbing water and other substances. It also means that once moisture does penetrate the surface, the hair retains it for longer.
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.
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.
Low porosity hair: The cuticles in low porosity hair are tightly packed together, this makes it difficult for moisture to enter the hair shaft. Due to this, pure coconut oil may not be beneficial to this porosity type.
Low Porosity Hair:
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.
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.
As Washington notes, this is because low porosity hair cuticles are “already smooth, and protein smoothing treatments may cause a buildup of protein on the surface of the strand.” You'll also want to avoid silicones and products with heavy butters.
Protective hairstyles like twist-outs, braids and Bantu knots are a great option for moisture retention if you're all-natural. These help trap moisture in while you air dry. As a bonus, you'll have beautifully defined curls when you undo the styles.
Because low porosity hair is so difficult to penetrate, this hair type can become easily damaged and dried out. Additionally, this hair type does a poor job of absorbing moisturizing products like conditioner and masks, leading to this hair type easily becoming oily and greasy.
Cold water is often suggested to close cuticles. However, hair with low porosity benefits more from warm water.
Turns out medium porosity is the sweet spot for your hair. It lets moisture in and keeps water out. This hair type strikes a perfect balance between high and low porosities. This is why medium porosity hair is often strong, well-nourished, and manageable.
Use warm water: When washing your hair, use warm water to open up the cuticles slightly. This will aid in better product absorption. However, avoid using excessively hot water, as it can strip your hair of natural oils and lead to dryness.
Low porosity hair is typically stronger, shinier, and healthier looking than high porosity hair types because the hair cuticles lay flat. It is also less prone to split ends if you're not heat styling on a regular basis.
Coconut Water Leave-In Conditioner: perfect for low porosity hair due to its lightweight, hydrating formula that doesn't weigh hair down.