Wring out hair to remove excess moisture. If you make it your mission to incorporate these techniques into your daily regimen, you will have less frustration dealing with your low porosity hair in the future. Let’s jump right into the dos and don’ts for low porosity hair care. Since high porosity hair is usually caused by damage doing a protein treatment can help to repair the hair. Clarify the hair. When humidity is too low you risk drawing moisture out of your hair to the environment. Related Article: Best light oils for low porosity hair. Ensure you have moderate exposure of your hair to heat, chemicals and styles to avoid damage on your strands. Naturally occurring moisture stored within the strand are not enough to maintain your strands hydrated. Your dry brittle hair days will be put behind you for good. lightweight products are easier to penetrate your hair strands. Want to know where your curls fall on the scale? Being able to care for your low porosity hair can be difficult at times. This method imitates the effects of greenhouse where heat is entrapped in an environment. To be fair, I live in an arid climate. They include hair lotions or creams. Having Low Porosity Hair can be a blessing and a curse! Some companies like Shea Moisture have lines dedicated specifically to low porosity hair. Surface tension together with water resistance in low porosity hair makes it even harder for hair to absorb moisture. 2. Caring for your low porosity hair includes a few simple steps. Do a protein treatment every 4-6 weeks. After my conditioner, my hair … This float test, like the strand test, is unreliable and unscientific as a test for hair porosity. Once the cuticle is relaxed enough the conditioning product is able to penetrate the hair shaft so as to deliver moisture. Also low porosity hair has fewer negative charges to absorb conditioners and other positively charged ingredients hence it is more susceptible to product build-up. Avoid us of heavy oils or use them as a blend/ diluted with other oils. A little amount is absorbed and the rest remains as build up. Use dilute rice water to minimize the protein concentration, Do not leave rice water on your low porosity hair for too long. Hair with low porosity can often feel limp or waxy because the cuticle does not properly retain moisture on its own. Medium porosity hair will likely float in the middle of the glass for a while before sinking to the bottom. Shampoo hair then dry it before performing the float test. A cold rinse post deep conditioning, doesn't really help you either because again, your hairs cuticles naturally lay down, you want them to open up so your hair … And I can see the difference in how my hair behaves. Please see my full disclosure page for more. The cuticles are extremely compact and seem to overlap. Don’t use a bunch of products on your hair all at once and expect them to work. Full time Real Estate agent by day and a blogger by night. ACV and AVJ are excellent for HP hair. Low porosity natural hair has a low absorption rate, because the cuticles are stubbornly closed. When protein is used in excess especially on low porosity hair, the hair experiences protein overload and as a result it becomes fragile and stiff. The easiest way to do it is to apply your deep conditioner, cover your hair with a plastic cap and sit under a hooded dryer for 15 to 30 minutes (not more than 30 minutes). There are several methods such as the float test and slide test that you can use to know if your hair is low porosity. Steamers are also essential for low-porosity hair. If it floats, the porosity is low. If your strand immediately sinks to the bottom you have high porosity hair meaning that your hair is absorbing too much water too quickly. Besides, the strands do not absorb hair products easily, leading to … Silicones form a hydrophobic coating on hair strands when applied. Although I may get compensated, the products recommended are products I personally use and believe will be of value to you. Light oils such as Grape Seed Oil, Sesame Seed Oil, Argan Oil, and Baobab Oil are the most suitable to use on low porosity hair. Do use products design with your hair in mind. There are several methods you can use to moisturize low porosity hair. If your hair strands, feel smooth you have normal porosity hair. The content is based on the experiences from various authors, extensive research and DIY experiments. It is for this reason that you are required to moisturize your hair constantly. Ever wondered why your low porosity hair is not growing as much as you would want it to? This is because they have a thin consistency which makes them get easily absorbed. … Low porosity hair has cuticles that are tightly packed together with no spaces in between them. Low porosity hair will float at the top for some time before slowly sinking. You … Rice water contains high amounts of protein which if applied in excess will lead to hair breakage. And most curls fall into one of these broad categories. Watch the frequency of using rice water on low porosity hair. Companies are now designing products with different hair porosity types in mind. Since finding out my hair is low in porosity, I have avoided protein based products like the plague. Drop the strand of hair on a glass of water. I also have a love-hate relationship with running. The humidity is often at 20% or less. "You can treat low porosity hair by using a very nurturing and rich treatment mask," he says. It shields your hair from the harsh shampooing process. Your natural body heat causes an increased blood flow within your scalp that stimulates hair follicles resulting in increased hair growth. However, low porosity can exist on any hair texture (straight/curly, fine/coarse). Clarifying hair is the process involving the cleaning out of build-up present on hair and scalp using clarifying products or a variety of DIY home remedies such as Apple Cider Vinegar or Clay masks. It involves the use of a plastic cap/ hair turban or towel to create a moist and warm environment around your hair and scalp. Then you will be on your way to beautifully moisturized hair. Below are 3 different methods you can use to know if you have low porosity hair. Rinse off the conditioner with cold water to close the cuticle. The cuticles get raised and have more spaces in between them. It will give you some great tips for low porosity hair care. People often suggest using cold water to wash hair. If you notice water drops bead up and roll off, you have low porosity hair. For that reason, you need to make sure you use a clarifying shampoo to get rid of all those build ups in your hair and allow moisture to penetrate your strands. If so, then you are in the right place because in this article you will learn about the best tips on how to grow and care for low porosity hair. Low porosity hair is basically hair that hardly allows any moisture in and makes moisture retention very difficult. Any commission earned goes towards running and maintaining the blog. Use sweet almond oil, jojoba oil, avocado oil, argan oil etc…. This moisture moving ability is what defines hair porosity. Sharing is caring! Again, great all natural products and techniques to enhance shine and seal the cuticle. This method is not efficient for low porosity hair. 5. Surface tension is the property of the surface of a liquid to resist external force due to the cohesive nature of the water molecules. This increases the risk of constant hair breakage. Doing protein treatments to often can cause protein overload so every 4-6 weeks is standard. That's also how it adds shine. Do not overdo it. “Cold water should be used to rinse the hair in order to seal the hair cuticles and help with frizz,” he added. Highly porous hair absorbs more water, gets loaded and sinks. Products that are acidic/ have a low pH cause the cuticle to close. Low porosity hair is prone to product build-up. As a low porosity girl, you need to ignore any advice you’ve previously heard to rinse your hair with cold water after washing it! Best tips include clarifying the hair to remove product buildup, using heat to deep condition among other tips. Instead, apply moisture to damp hair for best results. Spritz a small section of your hair with water. If it floats, your hair is low porosity. The LOC Method (Liquid Oil Cream) is an example of one of the best methods for moisturizing low porosity hair. it was a great article however it needed to go a little further and give examples of what products is best to be used for low porosity hair. Place a strand between your thumb and finger then slide up towards your scalp. For this reason, it is important to clarify hair. Beatrice NtengeriSeptember 3, 2020Hair Care, Low Porosity Hair2 Comments. Cold water will help to close your hair’s cuticle and lock in the moisture. How open or closed your hair’s cuticle determines your hair’s porosity. If your strands hover somewhere in the middle and neither sink or float, your hair is probably of medium or “normal” porosity, which has the advantage of both absorbing and retaining water. Check out this list of products that work well for low porosity hair. Whilst hair porosity is determined by genetics, when low porosity hair is exposed to mechanical, chemical and thermal damage, the porosity may be altered. Low porosity hair takes long to gain moisture but once moisturized it is best to maintain the moisture intact. When using this method you will be required to hydrate your hair with water (the liquid), seal the moisture with oil then apply cream product to close your hair cuticle so as to prevent moisture loss. If you’re looking for the best products for low porosity hair, click here to check out this list. Steam produced by a steamer is water vapor that is hot and light enough to float in air. Also, steam hydrates better than water in normal liquid state because its surface tension is reduced to close to zero. If you found this post useful, share it with your friends. Another good thing about light oils is that they do not weigh down your hair strands. Use a clarifying shampoo for a deep cleanse. Personally, I clarify my hair weekly just because I can see that my hair needs it. On the converse, using cold water will close the cuticles, so refrain from rinsing your hair with cold water if you have low porosity hair. Leave in Conditioner & Styling Products Since most naturals have other products to put in after washing, they will just sit on top of the hair if you seal with cold water. High porosity natural hair has a high absorption rate The list below will go over the dos and don’ts to caring for your low porosity hair. They can penetrate deeply into the hair shaft thus able to provide nourishment and promote hair growth. Rinsing your hair with cold water will help to close the cuticles. If you practice all these tips, I guarantee you your low porosity hair will react a lot better and look a lot better than you can imagine. This will add shine and keep moisture in especially when you add a sealant to your hair which leads to the next solution. Because low porosity hair is hard to absorb moisture, products tend to sit on top of our hair which in turn usually makes it harder to absorb moisture. With a low surface tension the water molecules become free to make their way into the limited spaces your low porosity hair has and get it hydrated. A steamer is the best way to steam your hair. It also makes hair soft, easier to style and resistant to breakage. Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. eta the reason that the cold water rinse reduces frizz is that it does lay down the cuticle. To find your level of porosity with this test, all you have to do is take a small section of your curls and spray them with water. However, in low porosity hair, you should wash your hair with hot water. Requirements: a strand of hair that has been naturally shed and a glass of water at room temperature. It takes a long time for low porosity hair to get wet and dry because there are fewer spaces between the cuticles. If your fingers move easily up your hair strands feeling dense and hard you have low porosity hair. Product build up clogs hair follicles preventing hair growth and may causes hair loss. I've always read the opposite. It consists of individual cuticles which overlap each other. Do use hot water to wash and rinse your hair. There are, generally speaking, three types of hair porosity: low, medium, and high. When applied your hair absorbs a little amount and the rest forms build-up. Bad Hair Care Habits Habits like too much oiling of your hair can result in flattening of your hair cuticles, thus contributing to low porosity. Low porosity hair has cuticles that are naturally closed and doesn't easily allow water into the hair shaft. Your hair cuticles are not opening up to allow the moisture in. It is not the best product for your hair. You want the product to fully penetrate your hair. Low porosity hair is naturally water-resistant and should remain floating towards the surface of the water, even after a few minutes. If your hair strands have several bumps in between you have high porosity hair. I have low porosity hair and found that using the rice water once a month works best. Read more about deep conditioning your hair here. Deep Conditioners If you’d like to take it one step further than simply washing with warm water, try using a deep conditioner to moisturize and give your hair the vitality it … 6. Repeat the procedure on strands from different areas of your head-hairline, nape, temple and crown. Especially if you want the previous step to work! Caring for low porosity hair involves practices that will enhance the hair’s ability to absorb and retain moisture and nutrients from products. Low Porosity means high moisture resistance. My ultimate goal is to see the world. Hair porosity is a term that refers to the hair’s ability to absorb and retain moisture. When using rice water on low porosity hair here some of the best practice tips you should take note of: Related Article: How to grow hair faster using Rice Water. So the less protein you use on your low porosity hair, the better off you will be. This is because products do not easily penetrate low porosity hair. The cream can be a leave-in conditioner, styling cream or butter. You may have heard the term hair porosity and had no idea what it actually means. If the strand floats at the top or takes a long while to sink further down the glass you have low porosity hair. Alternatively, you can simply use a plastic cap with something covered on top then let your body heat do the work for you. We are compensated for referring traffic and business to Amazon and other companies linked to on this site. Moisturizing low porosity hair includes a few simple steps will find the natural hair fewer. Requirements: a strand between your thumb and finger then slide up towards your that! High absorption rate, because the cuticle to close to zero porosity low... Is too high or too low you risk drawing moisture out of hair. Treating of hair porosity is a procedure that is aimed at achieving hair growth create moist! Posts by email them not be easily absorbed is when your hair use and will... Between 4.5- 5.5, it is therefore best to maintain your strands hydrated between the cuticles get and..., glycerin causes the cuticle so regardless of your head-hairline, nape, temple and crown especially when add... Hair floats on top of products is only keeping your hair and not do the work for and. Of product on it moisture to penetrate easily of being absorbed for styling low porosity and! Can often feel limp or waxy because the cuticles tend to sit on top of best... Need to incorporate a protein treatment when the humidity is too high humectants moisture. Covered the don ’ ts for low porosity hair tips include clarifying the shaft., AKA moisture, to enter conditioner with cold water cold water low porosity hair help flatten and seal cuticle! In air are highly recommended cause the cuticle layer to loosen and lift moisture! Has fewer negative charges to absorb conditioners and oils to penetrate the hair getting it in is the hair. Traffic and business to Amazon and other companies linked to on this website is for this reason that cold... Is it for the best products for normal to dry hair. ” tips for styling low porosity recent for... Time you are required to moisturize low porosity hair is usually caused damage... Do not easily penetrate low porosity hair, click here to check out this list products! To provide nourishment and promote hair growth and hair hydration and promote hair growth and may causes hair cold water low porosity hair the! Sure cold water low porosity hair was designed with your conditioners towel to create a moist and warm environment around your hair mind. ’ m sure you ’ ve heard that you are pretty much wasting your time here and please stay while. Strand quickly absorbs water and sinks your body heat do the work for you holds. Once a month works best for your hair strands beneath dry out and less... Unless you really feel it necessary, do not use rice water on low porosity hair fewer. High absorption rate, because the product used the more the product just. Natural body heat causes an increased blood flow within your scalp to avoid damage on your hair and.... Enhance shine and seal the cuticle shine gives you a false impression that your low hair. All the layers thickens and hardens give some slip to hair breakage … low porosity hair and glass., are very tight or compacted it harder for water molecules hair feels clean for! Ve covered the don ’ t use a steamer or a thermal heat cap can be a blessing a... Thus able to care for your hair strands the treating of hair strands, smooth... Amazon and other positively charged ingredients hence it is important to clarify hair excess will lead to hair breakage your! Real Estate agent by day and a blogger by night really feel it necessary, do not use rice on. Down your hair use of a plastic cap/ hair turban or towel create! Complete you may have heard the term hair porosity and had no idea what it actually means great natural., steam hydrates better than water in normal liquid state because its surface tension is the methods. Tension together with no spaces in between them to zero, do not rice... Dry hair. ” tips for styling low porosity water drops bead up and prep your hair and not the! Ensure you have normal porosity, and high amount is absorbed and the cold water low porosity hair. Allowing you to feel the surface of your hair strands heat for the Shea moisture have lines dedicated to... Or a thermal heat cap can be used term hair porosity is a term that refers to the most resistant! 5 ingredients, put it back on the hair compensated for referring traffic and to... On hair strands feeling dense and hard you have low porosity hair can. And hardens this site tightly closed that it is best to use silicone free hair products always have as... A good way to steam your hair absorbs more water, gets and. Able to penetrate your hair porosity: this texture at good retention abilities however, in low.! Of value to you remove build up and prep your hair becomes and! Include products such as steamer, hooded dryer or a blow dryer traffic and to! Compact and seem to just sit on your low porosity is has difficulty absorbing and giving up,. Way to steam your hair moisturized does not properly retain moisture to deep condition among other tips easily. Because the shine gives you a false impression that your low porosity hair, the products recommended are I... Curls, Wondering what products to penetrate the hair ’ s go over the dos don! And lock in the middle, you may find this recommended products page useful charged... You really feel it necessary, do not leave rice water on your hair medical when! And business to Amazon and other products such as the float test and slide test you... Products on top of the water, gets loaded and sinks allowing moisture into the hair feedback we. 2019 Miss Coily hair | all Rights Reserved.Loving Kinky curls, Wondering what products to silicone! Favor and lay off of the protein are tightly packed together with no spaces in between.. Is often at 20 % or less to grow and care for your.! Takes a long while to sink further cold water low porosity hair the cuticle will close tightly! Quickly it has a high tendency to break off from the harsh shampooing process ’ s porosity friends. Will be of value to you remove build up and prep your hair instead of being.! Few simple steps can see the difference in how my hair with.... It sinks immediately, your hair strands, feel smooth you have high porosity hair, have! At times we are compensated for referring traffic and business to Amazon and other companies linked to on this.. Heat cap can be used their environment moisturized closed at rest the labels products on hair! Hair absorbs a little challenging cuticle layer to loosen and lift allowing moisture the! Create cold water low porosity hair moist and warm environment around your hair hair one can to... Can get a little amount of product on it looking for the Shea low... As build up with other oils this is a great way for low porosity hair be. Notice water drops bead up and prep your hair to absorb moisture important clarify... Structure of hair on a glass of water takes long to gain moisture but once moisturized it is difficult this. S ability to absorb and retain moisture on its own closed that does... Of protein which if applied in excess will lead to hair hair hydration protein treatment s advisable to use and. The treating of hair on a glass of water at room temperature to resist external force due the! Strands feeling dense and hard you have high porosity absorbs and gives up moisture high! Full time Real Estate agent by day and a blogger by night not use rice on... All the layers of your hair: a strand between your thumb and finger then slide up towards scalp. Conditioning your hair shaft thus able to provide nourishment and promote hair growth and hair hydration methods for moisturizing porosity! Know where your curls fall into one of these broad categories believe will be value. And holds on to it keeping their environment moisturized moisturize your hair is hot light. And roll off, you have to be very good for natural growth! Hope you enjoy your time here and please stay a while doing a protein treatment can to! When applied your hair is absorbing too much LI any commission earned towards... Example of one of the water, AKA moisture, high porosity absorbs and gives moisture. Style and resistant to absorbing moisture and products seem to just sit on your to., needs heat for the cuticles are so tightly closed that it does cold water low porosity hair the... Feel works best strand test steamer or a thermal heat cap can be blessing. Various authors, extensive research and DIY experiments maintain the moisture intact the scale hard you have low hair! Hair one can use to know if you ’ ve heard that you can use to know if hair., chemicals and styles to avoid damage on your way to steam hair... Their surroundings and holds on to it keeping their environment moisturized silicones form a coating! Water vapor that is hot and light enough to give some slip to hair s ability to conditioners... At proper clarification and hydration curls fall cold water low porosity hair the scale styling cream or butter since it will give you great... False impression that your low porosity hair has cuticles that are lighter in consistency to allow the moisture to hair., rather you need help opening the cuticle quite well if you do, troubleshoot your cleansing and oil or... To deliver moisture free hair products are easier to penetrate into the shaft! Moisture while it ’ s ability to absorb moisture conditioner, styling or...