Do you feel like your hair takes forever to get wet? Or once it gets wet, does it take forever to dry? Then, most probably you have low porosity hair.
If you have this unique hair type and find it a bit tricky to manage, fret not. In this article, we will dive into a lot of detail on this topic and explore 5 super easy and helpful tips to keep your low porosity hair in top condition. But before proceeding to the tips, you need to understand what exactly low porosity hair is! And how do you know if you really have this hair type? Let’s dig deeper.
What is Low Porosity Hair?
Normally, hair porosity is determined by how well hair can absorb and retain moisture. That means your hair’s ability to take in moisture and also hold it in place. This ability to absorb and retain moisture again depends on how the cuticles are laid down along the hair shaft. What is the hair cuticle? Well… the cuticle is the outermost layer of the hair, responsible for shine, tangling and moisture retention.
Let’s make it easier to understand. If you think about porosity, you should think about absorbency. Okay, let’s think about something like a sponge. A sponge is a very porous material and able to take in a lot of moisture. Now think about a metal surface, like a metal table or something similar, that doesn’t absorb moisture as well. Now consider this: high porosity is like a sponge, and low porosity is like a metal table. See, how easy it is to understand!
In low porosity hair, the cuticles are laid down very tightly and overlap each other. It’s harder to get moisture in, but when it does, the cuticle retains moisture much better. Low porosity is usually healthy hair. In high porosity, the cuticles are more compromised, so they are more porous and absorb moisture more readily but they also do not retain it very well. Often we see dry damaged hair with high porosity.
Signs of Low Porosity Hair
Confused? Thinking about how to determine if you really have low porosity hair? Easy. We’ll explore the determination tests later, but let’s first have a look at the common signs of low porosity hair.
Water Resistance
This is the first sign that you may be carrying low porosity hair. As the cuticles are tightly packed on the outer surface, it is difficult for moisture to get in. And that’s why your hair takes time to get wet. When you apply water, it may bead up on the surface rather than being quickly absorbed.
Slow Drying Time
If you find your hair takes longer than normal to dry out, let’s be sure that you have low porosity hair. Since low porosity hair can retain moisture well, water gets trapped in the tightly packed cuticle, and you feel your hair is still damp even after a long time of towel drying.
Product Buildup
after applying gels, creams or oils to your hair, If you notice they accumulate on the surface rather than being absorbed, it’s because of your low porosity hair type. Just like water, product molecules also get interrupted by the tightly packed hair cuticles.
How to Determine Hair Porosity
You will find a lot of tests on the internet to determine hair porosity. Here, I’ll discuss the two most common and easy hair porosity determination tests.
Floating Test
All you are going to need is just a glass of water and a clean hair strand. Take a strand of clean hair and drop it in a glass of water. Let it sit for a few minutes and see if the hair stays on top, bottom or middle of the glass.
- If it floats, your hair has low porosity. Which means it doesn’t absorb moisture easily.
- If it sits on top and then slowly sinks or floats in the middle, it has medium porosity. That means it absorbs moisture normally.
- If it sinks fast, your hair has high porosity. Which means it might be damaged, leading to frizziness and dullness.
Spary Test
To perform this test you’ll just need a spray bottle with water at room temperature. Then take a section of your hair and spray water on it. When you spray water in your hair:
- If the water sits on top of your hair, then your hair porosity is low.
- if it absorbs immediately, Your hair porosity is high.
- If the water sits on your hair for a few minutes and is then absorbed, you have medium or normal hair porosity.
Low Porosity Hair Care Tips
Low porosity hair is normally considered a healthy hair type. But this doesn’t mean low porosity hair can’t get dry or doesn’t need any care. With proper care and just a little effort, you can maintain your low porosity hair perfectly.
Use Clarifying Shampoo Once a Week
Since heavy hair products can’t penetrate the hair, products often sit on the surface and buildup occurs very quickly. Eventually, it makes hair feel weighed down, greasy, dull and hard to style. So, it is important to ensure that the scalp and hair are thoroughly cleaned.
Normally clarifying shampoos are designed to deeply cleanse the hair and scalp. Use a clarifying shampoo once a week to remove product residues.
Deep Condition Your Hair With Heat
When using oil or a deep conditioning mask on your hair, apply heat to it. You can use a steamer. Or maybe you can soak a towel in hot water, wring it out well and then wrap it around your hair. You can also use a shower cap in the same way.
The aim here is to activate the hair oil or conditioner and open up the hair cuticles. It will allow moisture to penetrate and provide the full benefits of all nutrients.
Use Lightweight Oil
When choosing oil for your hair, go for relatively lighter or less dense oils such as almond oil, sesame or jojoba oil. These oils can easily penetrate the fine cuticles of low porosity hair.
Dilute your conditioner before using it
When using conditioner, you can dilute it with a little water. This will help your hair absorb it more easily.
LCO method
Use the LCO method in styling. Now what exactly is the LCO method? It is basically a technique for layering products to improve your low porosity hair’s ability to retain moisture. LCO stands for liquid/ leave-in conditioner, cream and oil.
Here, the first step will be using water or a water-based product. Start with a hydrating spray or a leave-in conditioner. It will provide the initial moisture to the low porosity hair.
Then use a water-based cream to seal in moisture and soften the hair.
And finally, use a few drops of lightweight hair oil to lock in moisture and prevent evaporation. This method will ensure your low porosity hair stays hydrated for longer.
Mistakes to Avoid
- If your hair is low porosity hair, avoid hot showers as they strip the hair of it’s natural oil and make it dull and dehydrated. Use lukewarm water instead. When you use lukewarm water, it helps open the cuticle slightly and allows the products to penetrate more effectively.
- Heavy cream usually can’t penetrate the low porosity hair and it just causes product buildup around the hair shaft and weigh down your hair. So if you are using heavy or more creamy products, you should swap them with lightweight, water-based products.
- Don’t use too much protein treatment on your hair. Because the low porosity hair can’t absorb the protein effectively, so too much protein treatment can cause build up and it can make your hair dry and brittle.
Final Words
Do you still find caring for your low porosity hair a bit challenging? Relax! Just follow these easy tips, put in a little effort, and enjoy your healthiest and most vibrant hair now and in the years to come
