Very few persons can pride with the fact that their hair is perfect and easy to style. Most of us have to deal with various hair problems, like dull hair, dry and brittle hair, and so on. Having a beautiful and healthy hair can be quite a challenge in this case, because not all the products we use help us with our hair problems. This happens not because the products are bad, but because we may not use the right products for our hair. For instance, your hair’s porosity can play a very big role in the way your hair looks and feels. Not many people know that they have low porosity hair, which affects in a great deal the hair care ritual. So let us take a closer look at what low porosity hair means and how you can handle it.

What is high and low hair porosity?

Normal hair is the one that has medium porosity, which makes it the easiest to maintain and style. When it comes to porosity, you should know that the hair’s porosity is tightly connected to how much water the hair can absorb or releases. In the case of high porosity, the hair lets out too much moisture in a shorter time period, because of gaps in the hair cuticle. These gaps can be the result of severe treatments applied to the hair, due to chemical processes, external damages, or can be a natural property of the hair, which means that a person was born with such hair. Thus, this hair will appear to be dry and will frizz easily, especially when the humidity in the air is elevated. Activities that are considered to be normal and simple, like shampooing your hair or taking a bath, can produce damage to your hair because of the excess water that the hair absorbs during these processes. Using anti-humectants can help, by removing the excess moisture from the air and keeping your hair cuticle sealed, as much as possible.

In the case of low porosity hair, the cuticle of the hair has a tight layer, with cuticles overlapping each other. Such hair will hardly absorb any water and will be hard to style because most styling products will not enter the hair cuticle. It may appear like a healthy hair, as it will have a shiny look, especially darker hair. But, it may feel rather stiff and brittle, pretty much like straws, due to the lack of proper moisture. This rigid aspect and feel of the hair is due to the fact that, in case of low porosity hair, there are product build-ups, especially when using protein-rich products. So, to avoid such problems, it is highly recommended that all the products you use to be protein-free, in case the porosity of your hair is low. Moisturizers with jojoba or coconut oil, or shea butter, are highly recommended in this case. Also, your hair will love hair milks, which are light humectants products that will lock moisture inside the hair.

The hair porosity test

Are you curious about your hair’s porosity? You should know that there are easy tests you can do on your own and find out if your hair has high or low porosity. As you found out earlier, due to porosity, your hair behaves and looks in a certain way. If you knew what type of porosity your hair has, it would be easier to take proper care of it and use the right hair care products. So, identifying your hair’s porosity is more important than you may think.

To determine your hair’s porosity, there are two easy tests you can perform. One of the tests is the float test. For this test, all you need to do is to take a couple of hair strands that can be usually taken from your comb or brush after brushing your hair. Take these hair strands and put them in a bowl of water. Let the hair strands sit in the bowl for a few minutes, approximately 4 minutes. If you find the hair floating in the bowl, it means that you have low porosity hair. If the hair sinks in the bowl, it means that you have high porosity hair.

Another test would be to take a strand of hair and slide it with your fingers starting from the tip and going towards the scalp. If you feel small bumps as you advance towards the scalp, it means that the porosity is high, because the cuticles are lifted. If the hair feels smooth, the porosity is low, the cuticles being closed tightly.

Moisturizing and styling tips for low porosity hair

Low porosity hair can be extremely beautiful, but the biggest challenge is to moisturize it. Because the cuticles are closed tightly, the hair does not absorb sufficient moisture from the environment or from most moisturizing products, so you will need to be more careful about it. Moisturizing your hair is a must, even if we are talking about low porosity hair, because without sufficient moisture, the hair becomes brittle and fragile. Also, when using the wrong products, it has a tendency to build up products on its surface. This means that after a while, your hair may feel heavy, look dull, and loose its natural shine. Such a thing happens because the moisturizing products you use are not getting through the hair’s cuticle, remaining on its surface and creating a thick layer of product. If this is happening to you as well, don’t fret, because with the right hair care strategy your hair, even if it has low porosity, will look gorgeous.

To start with, you will have to clarify your hair. This will help you get rid of product build up that may be on the surface of your hair, not allowing the moisturizing products to do their job right. Once the hair is clean and cleared, it is time to apply a deep moisturizing treatment. The best way to do this is by applying heat to your hair first, directly or indirectly, for opening the hair’s cuticle prior to applying the moisturizer. You can either user a cap to cover your hair after applying the moisturizer or using the heat from a hair steamer. Also, do remember that it is best to have your hair damp before moisturizing it, for obtaining the best results.

When it comes to styling, it is best to avoid heavy styling products, which can produce build ups on your hair. Again, it is best to style your hair when damp, because it is easiest to manage and it is not that vulnerable. Use light styling products, like foams instead of butters, and so on. Also, during the winter, you may need some extra moisture for your hair, including when styling it. Even if hair butter is your choice, use it together with a humectants or pick one that has already contains a humectants. Humectants are more than welcome in the case of low porosity hair, because they lock moisture in. It is true that during wet weather they may make your hair feel heavier, because they attract moisture from the air, but other than that, they are great.

Top 5 products you need to try

We know you want sleek, gorgeous hair, without having to visit the salon. These top 5 must-have products will help those of you who have hair with a low porosity, like curly hair that is mostly dry and fragile.

Shea Moisture Low Porosity Protein Free Leave In Detangler

The Shea Moisture products are protein-free, which means that they will prevent product build up on your hair, keeping your hair clean and hydrated. All the products contain tea tree and baobab oils, clary sage, spearmint, and Shea butter, for making your hair easier to manage and properly nourished. The Shea butter is organic, this ingredient being certified in this direction, and helps by nourishing the hair. The rest of the ingredients will keep the scalp and the hair clean, without the presence of any sulfates. If you have curly hair or coils, which is hard to moisturize with traditional products, you will find Shea Moisture Low Porosity Protein Free Leave In Detangler ideal, as it has the right ingredient combination that will help your hair regain its hydration.

Eden BodyWorks All Natural Shampoo

Even when it comes to cleaning, having a low porosity hair can be quite tricky to clean. A shampoo that cleans your hair efficiently without being too aggressive is the best way to go. Eden Bodyworks All Natural Shampoo with tea tree, peppermint, and coconut oil is perfecting for washing your hair, because it strengthens the hair and give it a healthy shine. When massaging the product on your scalp, as you wash your hair, the peppermint oil will enhance the circulation on your scalp, making it produce thicker and healthier hair. Not to mention that you will instantly feel a refreshing sensation as well. Of course, besides the previously mentioned ingredients, the shampoo has ingredients like carrot seed oil, jojoba seed oil, and sweet almond oil, all of them picked to provide the best care for your hair.

Camille Rose Coconut Water Style Setter

If you need a deep conditioner because the product you currently use is not doing his job right or you have curly hair that is hard to manage, frizzy, or damaged from hear, Camille Coconut Water Style Setter is what you need. The consistency of the treatment is a thick one, although the product is not going to feel heavy on your hair. This means that you will only need a small quantity to spread on your hair and going a long way with moisturizing your hair. You can use the product in two different manners. You can apply the treatment, leave it to act for about 5 minutes, and then rinse. This works especially in those days when you don’t have too much time. Or you can apply it and leave it for 20 minutes under a shower cap, for a deep hydrating and nourishing treatment.

Beautiful Textures Moisture Butter Whipped Curl Crème

For curly hair of any type, especially the one that has to deal with low porosity, this hair butter is more than perfect. It softens the hair and makes the curls more defined and soft, helping you get rid of that rigid and dry sensation. If you are fighting with frizzes as well, you will find Beautiful Textures Moisture Butter Whipped Curl Crème more than helpful, as it will tame them and make the hair more manageable. The product is so efficient because it uses a cocktail of oils that have as main purpose to nourish and deeply hydrate your hair. Olive oil, soybean oil, argan oil, coconut oil, but also shea butter and mango butter, they all come together in a very precious product that provides the care you need for your hair. If you want to enjoy soft hair, curls that are more defined, and less frizzy episodes, you may want to try this product.

NOW Foods Organic Jojoba Oil

This product is 100% pure organic Jojoba oil and nothing else. If you want the most efficient but safe care for your hair, opting for NOW Foods Organic Jojoba Oil may be the best thing you can do. There are no chemicals involved and you will enjoy the pure benefits brought by an entirely natural product. The best part is that you don’t have to use it just for your hair, but also for hydrating your skin as well. There are no side-effects, so feel free to try it out.

Final thoughts

Do you have low porosity hair? If so, how do you keep it easy to manage, healthy, and shiny? If you found a secret recipe for keeping this type of hair in a healthy and beautiful shape or if you have some tips you want to share with us, please do so. If you are still looking for the best hair treatment in your case, do try the products mentioned earlier, because we made a special selection to help those of you who have hair with a low porosity, like curly hair that is mostly dry and fragile. We would also love to hear how these products helped you and how did they manage to improve the shape and condition of your hair. So do let us know.