Individual hair types differ, and some of your natural hair features are passed down genetically. Hair porosity is an example of those features. You might be itching to read this one because your hair frustrates you sometimes, but don’t scroll to the end. Take a moment to read through the definition.
What is Low Porosity Hair?
Low porosity hair is the inability of your hair to absorb moisture from water, oils or conditioners. You experience low porosity hair because your cuticles lay tight and flat against your scalp, limiting how liquid penetrates your hair.
A case of low porosity hair is if water beads and rolls off your hair instead of getting absorbed immediately. Low porosity hair makes it difficult for you to moisturize and style your hair. And if you experience this, the following are ways to care for your low-porosity hair.
- Moisturise Properly
It is saddening that your hair refuses to absorb moisture, the one thing that’s essential to it. Your hair needs moisture to maintain its strength and texture. Moisture also makes your hair resistant to damage, softer, and easier to style.
Although your hair has moisture, it’s not enough to keep your hair hydrated. When it exhausts this amount, it becomes brittle and breaks off. Moisturizing low-porosity hair is difficult, but the liquid oil cream is one way to do it seamlessly. This method works efficiently and would require you to do the following.
Hydrate your hair with water, after which you should apply either almond or argan oil. Lastly, use either a styling cream, hair butter, or leave-in conditioner to help your hair retain moisture.
- Say No to Too Many Products
One of the downsides of using too many products on low-porosity hair is how it promotes product build-up. Product build-up occurs when only a tiny amount of the products you use get absorbed by your hair. The rest of the products sit on your strands and scalp. When this becomes too much, your strands become less flexible and dry out.
- Get Rid of Build Ups
When you notice that you have a lot of build-up on your hair, you’d need to get rid of it to let your hair grow. You can get rid of your current build-up by using do-it-yourself remedies like apple cider, clay masks, and vinegar.
It is essential you get rid of build-ups because too much of it can cause hair loss and prevent hair growth.
- Adopt the Steaming Method
Steaming promotes better hydration because moisture in the vapour state has more effect than when in the liquid form. The vapour from steaming works faster and better penetrates your hair than water.
- Greenhouse Effect
The greenhouse effect strives to achieve hair growth and hydration for low-porosity hair. This is how it works.
You need to get into an environment that entraps heat; a good example is a sauna. Ensure to cover your hair with a plastic cap or a hair turban because the humidity will help your hair absorb moisture. In addition, your body heat would also increase the blood flow in your scalp, stimulating your follicles to enhance growth.
- Use Water-Based Products
Since you already know that certain products cause build-up because of how your hair deflects them, try water-based products.
Water-based products are more lightweight than other products, and they penetrate better. A water-based product you can use is the Honey & Ginger Styling Gel for smooth edges and lesser frizz.
- Protect Your Hair
If you have low-porosity hair, it will take great effort to moisturize it. When you do, you have to protect your hair to ensure that the moisture remains. Cover your hair with satin/silk caps and use satin/silk pillowcases. Because satin and silk do not get rid of whatever moisture your hair has accumulated.
Frequently Asked Questions
We have guessed some of the questions you might have about low-porosity hair and provided the answers below.
- How Do I Know If I Have Low Porosity Hair?
There are three different methods you can use to ascertain if you have low-porosity hair. We advise that you use a combination of two methods for clarity.
- Sink/Float Test
What you’ll require for this test is a strand of your hair and a glass of water that’s at room temperature.
- Place the strand of hair on the glass of water.
- If the strand floats, you have low porosity because this hair type resists moisture.
- Spray Bottle Test
You need to put some water into a spray bottle and spritz a small amount on your hair. Watch your hair for the following reaction.
- If the water beads and rolls down your hair, you have low porosity hair.
- Slide Test
You are required to feel the strands of your hair for this test. Place several strands between your thumb and forefinger and slide upwards, away from your scalp. Repeat this method with strands from your nape, crown, and temple regions. If your strands feel dense, and your fingers move easily along the length of the strands, you have low-porosity hair.
- Does Rice Water Work for Low Porosity Hair?
Without a doubt, rice water is excellent for low-porosity hair. However, once a month is enough if you decide to use this treatment method. This is because rice water has enough proteins that might cause your hair to break if you use it excessively.
Another product apart from rice water that has adequate protein for low porosity hair is the Pomegranate & Honey Leave-In Conditioner.
Bottom Line
You might have experienced low porosity hair without knowing it was an actual problem. But now that you do, and you know how to handle it, do well to care for your hair correctly. If you have any questions or further recommendations to care for low porous hair, let us know in the comments section.
