Natural Hair Care Regimen for Low Porosity Hair

Hair porosity is the term for the ability of hair to absorb moisture, styling products or chemical treatments. There are three degrees of hair porosity: high, medium, and low.

High Porosity hair has raised cuticles that have lost their tightness due to excessive use of heat or frequent chemical treatment. Very porous hair can absorb excessive amounts of water but cannot retain it due to damaged hair cuticles.

Low porosity hair, also called resistant hair, refers to cuticle scales that are tightly sealed, preventing moisture or chemicals from entering or leaving the hair shaft easily. Low porosity hair usually looks healthy and has a lot of shine due to the smooth cuticle layer. Another advantage of having low porosity hair is that the color does not tend to fade quickly.

The cuticle of hair with normal porosity is loose, which allows a little moisture to pass into the cortex. Medium porosity hair is in the middle of the spectrum and is considered ideal because it responds well to styling products and chemical treatments. If your hair does not easily soak up water in the shower, this is a good indication that it has low porosity. A simple strand float test can be done to determine the porosity of your hair, but the products you use can lead to inconsistent results. It is best to do the strand float test after using a clarifying shampoo when your hair is freshly clean. Some experts recommend having your hair examined by a professional for more reliable results. It is useful to know the level of porosity of your hair to be able to adjust your hair care regimen and select products compatible with the condition of your hair.

Why is the lower porosity frustrating?

Although considered to be a healthier porosity level than high porosity hair, low porosity hair is not ideal in terms of moisture and absorption of the product. When deprived of moisture, the hair can become inelastic and fragile.

If your low porosity hair gets dehydrated for any reason, you should make extra efforts to infuse your strands with moisture. Hair with low porosity is more susceptible to the accumulation of product, because the hair products do not pass the cuticle layer, but rather sit on the hair shaft so that your strands are oily. Hair with low porosity is more resistant to chemical treatments, such as perm or coloring, than hair with normal or high porosity. If you have strong hair, keep in mind that chemicals will take longer to penetrate the cuticle to work.

Good Regimen for Low Porosity Hair

Hair with low porosity requires different care than hair with medium or high porosity. You need to learn some tips on how to absorb moisture in the hair shaft and keep your strands healthy and beautiful.

Deep conditioning treatments: A deep conditioning, at least once a month, is crucial to infuse low porosity hair with the necessary moisture. For maximum benefit, apply your conditioner to clean, damp hair. Apply gentle heat to make the deep treatment more effective.

The best way to help get moisture into the hair shaft is to incorporate a spray or warming gel cap into your hair care regimen. Using a hair steamer for 15 to 30 minutes helps loosen tightly closed cuticles, allowing the conditioning ingredients to penetrate the hair shaft and infuse your locks with moisturizing nutrients. If you don't have any of these tools, sit under a hooded dryer with a plastic cap for 10 to 15 minutes. Wait about two hours if you are using a plastic cap and your own body heat.

Deep Conditioning Treatment or Therapy should be used as an intense deep conditioner that infuses dry and curly hair types with much-needed moisture. It hydrates dry hair, leaving it soft, shiny, and easy to detangle. Some of the best deep conditioning prodects are:

1. Motions deep conditioning masque
2. Black Castor & Flaxseed oil deep conditioning therapy
3. Cantu Shea butter oil sheen deep conditioning spray
4. Africa's best texture shea butter deep moisture conditioning treatment
5. Creme of nature Moisture - active deep conditioning treatment - jojoba & olive oil

Clarification: Accumulation can prevent hair from absorbing water when a moisturizing treatment is applied. Use a clarifying shampoo once or twice a month to remove old, persistent products from your strands. Don't forget to follow up with a protein-free rinse conditioner.

Bentonite clay is an excellent natural deep cleanser for low porosity hair. It has strong absorbent properties which attract impurities and eliminate excessive product accumulation. A bentonite clay hair mask softens resistant hair, making it easier to manage and receptive to styling products.

Wash your low porosity hair with warm water instead of cold water to help the cuticle open a little, allowing the moisturizing ingredients of the conditioner to penetrate the hair shaft. After conditioning, rinse with cold water to close the cuticle and seal the moisture inside the hair. Use a water-based leave-in conditioner on damp hair after each shampoo. The liquid-based leave-in conditioner, which contains little or no protein, will infuse your non-porous hair with moisture and lubricate the hair shaft, without coating the hair with too much product.

To meet the requirements of natural hair with low porosity, Shea Moisture has created a new range of products based on porosity. The Shea Moisture low porosity hair range includes low porosity, protein-free shampoo and conditioner and leave-in conditioner.

Products to avoid

There are certain products that your non-porous hair will not like

Silicones: avoid using products containing water-insoluble silicones because you already have a layer of compact hair cuticle and do not need anything that can cover the hair shaft. Silicones that are not soluble in water require the use of shampoos containing sulfates to remove them.

Protein-rich conditioners: Avoid thick, protein-rich, creamy conditioners that can weigh down your hair. Use a light or diluted rinse conditioner to ensure proper lubrication.

Protein-enriched styling products: protein-rich leave-in products may not be beneficial for strands with low porosity as there are not many tears or gaps in the cuticle layer that need to be filled. Protein particles that bind to hair can block already closed cuticles, preventing moisture from entering.

Heavy oils: Also avoid using heavy hair oils for styling purposes, as they cannot be absorbed and will remain on the surface of the hair. Use hair oils in smaller doses and choose light moisturizing oils such as jojoba, argan, baobab and sweet almond oils, which can easily penetrate the hair shaft. However, heavier oils work well for hot oil treatments as they can be absorbed when reheated.

Co-washing: Washing your hair with a cleansing conditioner will cause build-up over time. If you stick to the co-wash method, you should regularly clean your non-porous hair with a clarifying shampoo.

So, you have all the information for low porosity hair!! Go on & create a haircare routine accordingly. If in doubt, let us know in the comments. We will be happy to clarify it.