Does your hair take forever to dry? Or do your favorite products just sit on your strands without really sinking in? If yes, you might have low porosity hair.
Low porosity hair means your hair cuticles are tightly closed, making it hard for moisture and products to penetrate.
In this blog, we’ll dive into what low porosity hair really means, how to test for it, and the best tips to care for it so your hair thrives instead of struggles.
What is Low Porosity Hair?
Let’s consider this. Your hair’s outer layer is made of millions of cuticles. These tiny openings allow moisture to get in and nourish your hair. But what if these cuticles overlap each other?
Well, in this case, the opening will be obstructed. This means these tiny doors will open rarely to let the moisture, oil, and water to get it. This will reduce hydration, making your hair feel dry and frizzy.
But there is a bright side to this as well. The low porosity hair is naturally more resistant to damage and breakage. This is because the water or the moisture will sit on the outer side of your hair, thus protecting it.
This is why knowing the right low porosity hair care is very important.
Characteristics of Low Porosity Hair
Knowing the proper low porosity hair routine is very important to keep your strands healthy and beautiful. But before that, you must know the signs you must look for to know whether your hairs have low porosity. So, here are the ones to know:
- Water beads sit on the surface of your hair
- Oil, creams, and other products sit on top, making you feel heavy hair
- Long time to dry or even air-dry hair
- Product buildup on hair, which might feel stick
- Hair colour and other treatments feel difficult
So, if your hair shows any of the features mentioned above, then you would need to follow the proper hair care for low porosity hair.
Causes of Low Porosity Hair
One of the most important things that you must know is that this condition of low porosity does not happen by chance. Most of the time, it is genetic in nature. But certain habits can lead to the same as well. The common causes are as follows:
1. Genetics
Many people are born with low porosity hair. Their hair cuticles are tightly packed, which blocks the water and moisture to go in. This makes your hair dry and frizzy.
2. Product Buildup
Due to the overlapping cuticles, most of the products you apply stick to your hair. It can be oil, cream, or even conditioner. This makes an additional layer that blocks hydration, causing damage.
3. Chemical Treatments
Treating hair with colours and chemicals quite frequently can impact hair quality greatly. And if you have low porosity, then your hair structure is at a higher risk of getting damaged. This will impact the hair’s ability to absorb moisture.
4. Improper Care
If you use the wrong product on your hair or do not condition it properly, then your hair care routine is incomplete. Failing to follow the haircare for low porosity hair can impact moisture locking and quality.
5. Environmental Factors
While this is usually not considered, it is a crucial factor leading to low porosity. Hard water and pollution can block the pores and make it difficult for moisture and nutrients to enter.
How to Care for Low Porosity Hair
Don’t be upset if your hair has low porosity. There are certain tips for low porosity hair that can help you not just manage your hair better but also improve its shine and beauty. The tips that you must know are as follows:
1. Use Lightweight Products
Since your hair has overlapping cuticles, you must use lightweight products. These products will get into the pores easily and will help you provide nourishment from the inside.
2. Clean and Condition Regularly
This is one of the most important steps in the low porosity hair care routine. Rather than waiting for a week, you must try to shampoo and condition your hair twice every week. This will remove any buildup and will keep your strands clean and ready to absorb moisture.
3. Use Heat Wisely
Yes, we all love to style our hair. But while you do so, it is advised to use heat on your hair wisely. Regular styling using a straightener or a curler can be damaging. So, use gentle heating and proper protection to allow the moisture to enter.
4. Apply Products on Damp Hair
For low porosity hair care, it is advised to apply hair butter or conditioner to damp hair. This will allow the cream to penetrate better and will leave you with shiny and silky hair for a long time.
5. Try Liquid Oils
If you wish to nourish your hair deeply, it is better that you use the oils. The lighter oils like argan, jojoba, or grapeseed will nourish and help your cuticles. This will also avoid any kind of buildup.
6. Limit Protein-heavy Products
If the products you use on your hair have a high protein content, they will make it brittle and stiff. Instead, you must focus more on the moisture-based treatment, which is essential.
7. Environmental Protection
No matter how many tips for low porosity hair you follow, these are incomplete until you protect your hair. Wear a scarf or wear a hair protection spray while out.
So, when you follow these simple steps, you are not just protecting your hair but are also offering it extra support to make it healthy and shiny.
Conclusion
Managing low porosity hair is not just about the frizziness or dryness. It is about how you can make changes in your routine to ensure your hair gets the moisture and nourishment it needs.
By following the tips for haircare for low porosity hair and making simple switches, you can easily manage your hair. Try using the right product and avoid overheating for starters. Understand what your hair actually needs, and there you will have the answer.
Remember, healthy hair is less about trends and more about consistency.
