Low porosity hair requires special care when it comes to moisturizing, as the hair cuticles are tightly closed and can make it difficult for moisture to penetrate. As a general guideline, you should aim to moisturize low porosity hair every 2-3 days, or as needed based on how your hair feels.
Deep condition once a week Low porosity hair tends to lean more towards the drier range, it's important to deep condition your hair during each wash day. If possible, put on a shower cap and wrap a hot towel or t-shirt around your head to lightly steam the DC into your hair.
Fine, low porosity hair doesn't need much moisture from heavy creams or conditioners, but it does need a lot of hold and some protein to give structure. Look for a good hard hold gel, and for everything else look for lightweight products with few emollients.
So when it comes to deep conditioning low porosity hair, hot oil treatments are a great option. Oils such as grapeseed, jojoba, argan, and coconut oil are suitable for this treatment. Applying oil treatments to clean, damp or dry hair is best. All you have to do is mix your oils of choice in a heat-safe bowl.
Clarify the Hair Clarifying your hair is essential, and I recommend that you do it once every two weeks. If you don't take the time, you're going to find that the hair strands have product build-up. This makes it even harder to retain and get the moisture. You can use a DIY option or buy it at the store.
Avoid Heavy Products and Buildup 🧴
Heavy creams, thick oils, and butters are the enemies of low porosity hair.
Cold water is often suggested to close cuticles. However, hair with low porosity benefits more from warm water.
The simple answer is that you should moisturize low porosity hair whenever it feels dry. Usually, a couple of times a week works for extra-dry hair. For everyone else, once a week should do the trick.
Coconut Water Leave-In Conditioner: perfect for low porosity hair due to its lightweight, hydrating formula that doesn't weigh hair down.
Beware of Protein
However, low porosity hair is protein-sensitive because the cuticles are already tough and tightly packed together. Adding additional protein to a low porosity hair care routine can cause the hair to become stiff and fragile, so instead of stronger hair, you're left with hair more prone to breakage.
It's important not to overdo protein treatments for low porosity hair, as too much protein can make the hair stiff and brittle. Limit protein treatments to once every 4-6 weeks or as needed based on the condition of your hair.
This means that low porosity hair is practically resistant to moisture. It is very difficult for water (or other hydrating ingredients) to be absorbed into the hair to keep it moisturized. This means low porosity hair tends to be very dry (more on that below).
Appropriate moisture is the secret to happy tresses. But when they refuse to absorb moisture easily, they become dry and lose their natural curl definition, leading to dry hair and limp curls. It means there is a need for conditioning low porosity hair.
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.
However, certain oils can actually exacerbate low porosity issues. Many oils, such as coconut oil, castor oil, and olive oil, are hydrophobic, meaning they repel water. When applied to low porosity hair, these oils can coat the cuticles, forming a barrier that prevents water molecules from entering the hair shaft.
For low porosity hair, you will want to use lightweight curly hair oils. Choose products that won't sit on the hair strands and make them look greasy. Products that contain glycerin are ideal because it helps to retain moisture within the hair.
Due to this, pure coconut oil may not be beneficial to this porosity type. This is because whilst the oil acts as a sealant to stop hydration leaving the hair, it also works in the opposite way, preventing moisture entering. This could leave you locks in protein overload, feeling dry, brittle, and prone to breakage.
Detox regularly: Since low porosity hair is prone to buildup, it's important to detox your hair of any residues – from hard water minerals to product buildup – that can prevent moisture from penetrating.
The upside to having low porosity hair is that once moisture gets in, it's easy to keep it in. But its hydrating repelling properties typically mean that your hair is often dry. The LCO method (leave-in, cream, oil) can help hydrate low porosity hair types.
In fact, over-washing low porosity hair can actually strip it of its natural oils and make it more prone to dryness. As a general rule, low porosity hair should be washed no more than once a week or every two weeks. However, this can vary depending on your individual hair needs and lifestyle.
Low porosity hair has tightly packed cuticles that resist moisture, making product buildup a common struggle. Clarifying is the key to resetting your hair, but without deep conditioning immediately after, your curls might end up even drier than before.