Everything you need to know about Low Porosity Hair

Every person dreams of having luscious, soft, and healthy hair. But what does it take to keep your hair healthy-looking? 

If you want to know how to manage your hair effectively, it is important to first understand your hair porosity. It is the porosity of your hair that determines how easily moisture passes in and out of your hair cuticles. 

Your hair can have high porosity, normal porosity, or low porosity, and the treatment methods and management techniques for each of these is different. 

While high porosity hair is known to absorb moisture easily, low porosity hair repels moisture. In this article, we will discuss everything there is to know about low porosity hair, from management tips to product recommendations. 

Let’s dive in.

Table of Contents

• Low Porosity Hair - Definition
• Low Porosity Hair – Causes
• Low Porosity Hair - Characteristics
• Products do not get absorbed in the hair
• Longer washing and drying time
• Greasy hair
• Lesser volume
• Dry hair and thin ends
• Low Porosity Hair – Solutions
• Use Clarifying and Volumizing Shampoo
• Use Lightweight Products with Hydrating Ingredients
• Conditioning You Hair
• Hair steaming to increase absorption
• Protective hairstyles
• Low Porosity Hair - Recommendations
• Low Porosity Hair - Expert Tips

Low Porosity Hair – Definition

A hair strand is made up of three layers – the cuticle, the cortex, and the medulla. While the cortex and medulla make up the middle and inner layer, the cuticle is the outermost layer which comprises of tiny cuticles. These individual cuticles are stacked on top of each other, very much like the tiles on roofs. 

The hair porosity depends on how tightly or loosely these cuticles are packed together. While high porosity hair has more spaces between the cuticles, with low porosity hair the cuticles are packed together tightly. When there is little to no space between the cuticles, it makes it harder for moisture to enter the hair shaft.

Low porosity hair is one that repels water. Although low porosity hair is generally considered to be healthy, it lacks volume and elasticity. Besides this, managing low porosity hair can be difficult as products tend to sit on top of the hair rather than providing deeper nourishment. However, with the right techniques and products, managing low porosity hair can become easier.

Low Porosity Hair – Causes

Low porosity hair is usually the result of genetic factors, and not heat damage or the use of chemicals. Heat styling your hair and using harsh chemicals do damage the cuticle layer, but the result of it is high porosity hair.

Low Porosity Hair – Characteristics

Here are some characteristics that can be commonly observed in low porosity hair –

1. Products do not get absorbed in the hair

The problem with low porosity hair is that it does not allow products to seep into the hair. Instead of being absorbed, the products sit on top of the hair strand on application. If you have low porosity hair, you will notice that whenever any product like conditioner or oil is applied to your hair, it will remain on the surface. Sometimes, when you touch it with your fingers it can also come off easily. This is because the product was not absorbed by the tightly-packed cuticles in the hair strands.

2. Longer washing and drying time

When you have low porosity hair, you can expect washing and drying to take longer than usual. This is because the water does not get absorbed into the hair, making it difficult to get the hair wet. Getting your hair fully saturated for shampooing takes time. After that, the process of drying the hair can also be quite long-drawn. You might think that blow-drying the hair would quicken the process, but that also takes substantially longer as compared to other hair types.

Low Porosity Hair – Solutions

The biggest upside of having low porosity hair is that it is relatively undamaged and does not require as much care as high porosity hair. 

However, it can be dry and brittle if it does not get the right hydration. 

The key to managing low porosity hair lies in two things –

1. Preventing the build-up of product.

2. Ensuring that moisture penetrates the hair fibers.

Here are some ways you can take care of low porosity hair –

1. Use Clarifying and Volumizing Shampoo

When washing your hair, look for a good clarifying shampoo that can help in removing residue (natural or artificial) from the hair as well as the scalp. 

Make sure that your shampoo is free of harsh chemicals like sulfates and parabens that can lead to over-drying of hair. This is the last thing you want for your hair, since it already has trouble absorbing moisture. 

Another property you should look for in a shampoo is the volumizing ability, since low porosity hair tend to look quite flat. When shampooing your hair, remember to focus on the roots of your hair to remove product build-up and sebum.

2. Use Lightweight Products with Hydrating Ingredients

Providing hydration to low porosity hair can be the tricky part. Rather than using rich and dense conditioners and masks, look for good quality products that provide hydration while being lightweight. Look for emollients and humectants in the products for the best results.

The molecular weight of humectants is low, which means that they can enter the hair shaft easily. Besides this, humectants also attract moisture from the air into the hair fiber to provide more hydration. 

Glycerin and aloe vera are widely known to be great humectants. Emollients, on the other hand, are moisturizing agents. They form a thin film around the hair shaft, which increases the moisture-retention capacity of the hair strand. Some great emollients are coconut oil, shea butter, and argan oil.

3. Conditioning Your Hair

With low porosity hair, you want to apply conditioning products that get absorbed into the hair strands. At the same time, you do not want them to leave behind an oily residue. 

You should consider using deep conditioning treatments and a rinse-out conditioner to provide your hair with the necessary hydration. The advantage of using these products is that they provide your hair with much-needed hydration, but there is no hassle of grease as the conditioning products are washed off. 

Just make sure that you avoid the scalp while applying the conditioning treatments to avoid greasiness. Good quality conditioners would leave your hair hydrated and soft.

Another conditioning treatment that will work great for low porosity hair is a leave-in conditioner. These lightweight conditioning products contain emollients, humectants, and other moisturizing agents that provide low porosity hair with an extra dose of moisturization.

4. Hair steaming to increase absorption

The problem with low porosity hair is that it is difficult for moisturizing products to reach the hair fibers. This can be done by using warmth to open up the hair cuticle through the process of hair steaming. 

All you have to do is apply a conditioner of your choice to damp hair, and provide it steam with a warm wet towel or a simple shower cap. Wait for 10-15 minutes and wash off the conditioner with cold water to close the cuticles. This will help in sealing in the moisture.

5. Protective hairstyles

Hairstyles can go a long way in protecting your hair from the weather elements. If you have a problem with moisture retention and hair definition, you can try Bantu knots, braids, or twists. These protective hairstyles will help the hair absorb moisture better.

Low Porosity Hair - Expert Tips

Here are some expert-recommended Dos and Don’ts for low porosity hair –

DOs for Low Porosity Hair:

1. Hair Mask: A nourishing hair mask can be great for treating low porosity hair, and providing it the hydration it needs. All you have to do is saturate your hair with water and then apply the hair mask generously. Make sure it penetrates into the hair. Deep conditioning treatments work really well for low porosity hair.

2. Hooded Hair Steaming: Steaming is great for opening up the hair cuticle, so that the product can be better absorbed in the hair. If you have low porosity hair, you should invest in a hooded steamer. All you have to do is apply your conditioning treatment and steam your hair to make sure it gets absorbed. Seal the cuticle by rinsing it with cold water.

3. Hydration, Hydration, Hydration: Your low porosity hair needs all the love and attention it can get. It would be good to invest in moisturizing products specially formulated to give a boost of hydration to your hair.

DON’Ts for Low Porosity Hair:

1. Don’t skip shampooing: Cleansing low porosity hair is just as important as conditioning it. Shampooing is essential to remove the build-up of product from the scalp, however, it is important to use a formulation that does not strip the scalp of essential nutrients.

2. Don’t use heavy creams: While low porosity hair need conditioning products, heavy butters and oils are not the best choice for them. They can contribute to the build-up of product in the hair. Instead, you should go for lighter oils between washes.

3. Don’t use protein treatments: Low porosity hair does not need protein as an overdose of this ingredient can make the hair a little too stiff.

Low porosity hair is relatively undamaged and can be easily managed with a good hair routine. The only downside is the hair’s resistance to moisture and water. With the right hair care practices and tips provided in this article, you can easily overcome that.