Low-porosity hair is resistant to moisture, which can make it challenging to manage. Friends with this hair type frequently struggle with permanently dry or permanently greasy hair.

Low-porosity hair can be moisturized with styling products with a water base. The best way to maintain the moisture in your natural hair is to apply water to it.

We’ll get into how to moisturize low-porosity hair properly, but first, let’s get clear on what “low porosity” really means and why it matters.

What is Low Porosity Hair?

How well your hair can absorb and hold moisture is referred to as its porosity. It depends on how porous or open the cuticle of your hair is. Although styling and caring for your hair can have an impact over time, the main cause is genetic.

Hair porosity is divided into three categories: high, medium, and low. High porosity hair has a more open cuticle layer—making it easy for moisture to get in but hard for it to stay in. In order to prevent moisture from entering at all, low-porosity hair has a cuticle layer that is more tightly bound.

How to Tell If You Have Low-Porosity Hair

There is no need for a powerful microscope, which is required in order to examine your cuticle. By observing how your hair appears and behaves, you can determine porosity.

Common signs of low porosity:

• On your hair, moisturizers essentially just sit. Does your hair still feel very greasy after drying when you use a leave-in conditioner or another moisturizer? Most likely, because of its low porosity, little of the product was absorbed.
• Your life is ruined by product buildup. It may appear as the greasiness we mentioned above or as residue on your scalp and hair roots.
• Your hair takes forever to dry. Low porosity hair also does not readily absorb water. One hour after taking a shower, if your hair is still dripping wet, you can be sure it is LP.

Drop a clean, dry hair strand into a clear glass of water to perform the float test. Low porosity is indicated if something briefly floats to the top before sinking to the bottom. (It is considered high if it sinks to the bottom or is medium if it floats close to the center.)

How to Moisturize Low-Porosity Hair

If you have low porosity hair, here’s how to trap moisture in without turning your mane into a grease ball:

• Emollients and humectants should be present in products. Emollients create a barrier of protection around the hair shaft to trap moisture while humectants draw it in (sort of like a magnet). So, yes, you’re going to need those. We adore emollients like jojoba oil, argan oil, and cetearyl alcohol (a non-drying, fatty alcohol that is oh-so-good for hair!) as well as light humectants like aloe vera and glycerin.). To learn more about these ingredients and how we use them in our products, see our ingredient glossary.
• Don’t use strong oils or butter. Your best bet is to use lightweight, liquid-based formulas because your hair will be able to absorb them more easily and won’t look or feel greasy or flat. For thirsty, low porosity hair types that can’t handle thick formulas, our leave-in conditioner is a fantastic alternative.
• Heat helps. Applying products with heat will lift the hair cuticle, so for better absorption, try doing so even with leave-in moisturizers. Get a hair steamer if you want to look extra-fancy; oo-la-la.
• And clarifying shampoo also. Keep your cuticle extra clean to aid it. Clarifying shampoos are designed to get rid of tough debris and pollutants that collect on the hair over time, obstructing nutrients from entering the hair shaft.
• Deep condition once a week to add more moisture. All hair types will benefit from our moisture mask, which is nutrient-rich.
• Use protective styles to keep moisture in. Consider using hairstyles that slowly absorb moisture and help you extend the time between washes, such as braids, twists, and locs.

Are These Products Good for Low-Porosity Hair?

Is Shea Moisture Manuka Honey for Low-Porosity Hair?

Low-porosity hair needs to be moisturized and nourished, which is why Shea Moisture created the Manuka Honey & Mafura Oil Intensive Hydration Hair Care line. Manuka Honey, Mafura Oil, and Baobab Oil are some of the ingredients used in this line’s formulation because they are well known for providing intense hydration and penetrating the tightly closed cuticles of low-porous hair.

Is Camille Rose Good for Low-Porosity Hair?

Low-porous hair benefits greatly from many Camille Rose products. Low-porosity hair can be moisturized and made softer by using any product made with healthy, natural ingredients like coconut oil, aloe vera, and honey. The Curlaide Moisture Butter, Algae Renew Deep Conditioner, and Coconut Water Leave-In Treatment are a few of their well-liked products for this hair type.

Is TGIN Good for Low-Porosity Hair?

An assortment of low-porosity hair products are available from the natural hair care line TGIN (Thank God It’s Natural). Shea butter, coconut oil, and argan oil are among the healthy, natural ingredients found in many of their products and are excellent for softening low-porosity hair. TGIN’s products are a good option because they don’t contain harmful sulfates, parabens, or phthalates.

Is Curls Blueberry Bliss Good for Low-Porosity Hair?

A variety of hair care products are available from Curls Blueberry Bliss, a brand that uses natural ingredients like blueberry extract, which is renowned for its antioxidant properties. Even though the company doesn’t focus on low-porosity hair specifically, many of its products can still be useful. Low-porosity hair is moisturized and nourished by humectants and natural oils found in some products.

Is LCO Or LOC Method Better for Low-Porosity Hair?

Both the liquid, cream, oil (LCO) and liquid, oil, cream (LOC) methods work, but the LCO method might be more effective for this hair type. Using a liquid or water-based product as the first step in the LCO method opens up the hair cuticles and improves moisture absorption because low-porosity hair is resistant to moisture.

Is Leave-in Conditioner Good for Low-Porosity Hair?

For hair with low porosity, leave-in conditioner can be very beneficial. The use of a leave-in conditioner after washing the hair gives it additional moisture and nourishment because it is moisture-resistant. Look for leave-in conditioners with natural, light-weight ingredients that can help to moisturize and soften the hair without weighing it down, such as aloe vera, glycerin, and coconut oil.

Is Low Porosity Hair Bad?

Low-porosity hair is not unattractive; it just needs special care to stay healthy and manageable. Products find it challenging to penetrate the hair shaft due to a tightly closed cuticle layer. If it is not sufficiently moisturized, this results in breakage. Low-porosity hair can, however, be healthy, shiny, and gorgeous with the proper hair care regimen.

Final Thoughts on How to Moisturize Low-Porosity Hair

The bottom line is that learning how to moisturize low-porosity hair is as easy as keeping the hair clean, giving water and water-based products the top priority, using ambient heat, using protein strategically, and treating your low-porosity hair with top-notch treatments. Soon, you’ll notice moisturized coils.

FAQs