Many people do not understand just how complex hair really is. There is so much that goes into perfecting your best hairstyle while still maintaining hair health. One of the many issues that hair can face is being low porosity.
Low porosity hair simply means that the structure of the hair has difficulty absorbing moisture. This can make it hard to style and take care of the way you would like. Even though this can be such an inconvenience, don’t lose hope! Here is all you need to know about low porosity hair.
What is low porosity hair?
Low porosity hair means that the hair doesn’t soak up moisture easily. You cannot cause low porosity by putting too much heat on it or coloring it. It is almost always due to genetics. Let’s get into the technical reasoning for what exactly this looks like.
The hair structure has three separate layers: the cuticle, the cortex, and the medulla. The cuticle of the hair is the outer layer of the hair strand that acts as protection. The cortex is the middle layer that contains proteins and pigment that gives the hair its natural color. The cortex is also the thickest layer. Finally, the medulla is the innermost layer of the hair.
Low porosity hair is apparent when the cuticles of the hair overlap one another closely. Since they are so tightly packed next to one another, it doesn’t allow the moisture to soak into the hair efficiently. This also makes it more difficult for hair products like oils and conditioners to penetrate the hair properly.
How do you tell if you have low porosity hair?
You might be questioning whether your hair qualifies as low porosity or not. If you are unsure if you have low porosity hair, here are some visible signs to look out for.
One of the main indications of low porosity hair is that you have a hard time washing and drying your hair. If you find that it takes forever to wash all of your hair, it could definitely mean that you have low porosity hair. The same goes for drying your hair.
Do products like shampoos and oils tend to just sit on your hair without really absorbing into it? Well, that’s another major sign of low porosity hair. Since low porosity hair has a hard time absorbing moisture, it is also going to have a hard time absorbing any products as well.
If you want a defining answer as to if you have low porosity hair, do the float test. The float test is a simple, easy test to tell how much porosity your hair has. Here are the steps:
- After taking a shower, you’ll have some hair that has naturally shed from the scalp. Save that hair and let it dry completely.
- Then, you are going to want to fill up a cup with room temperature water. Make sure the water is not too hot, as the warmth will help open up the hair cuticle. Room temperate water is key here.
- Next, put the hair into the cup of water and let it sit. High porosity hair has open cuticles, so the hair will sink the bottom of the cup. Low porosity hair doesn’t soak up water easily, so the hair will float at the top of the cup.
How do you treat low porosity hair?
If you find that you do have low porosity hair, you’re probably now wondering how to treat it properly. Hair health is so important in regards to the overall appearance of your hair.
One of the main mistakes people with this type of hair make is applying a very large amount of product to the hair. This seems like it would make sense, but it surprisingly does more harm than good. Going back to the structure of low porosity hair, the cuticles of the hair are very tightly packed together. So no matter the amount of product you put on your hair, it just isn’t going to saturate the hair. Putting a large amount of product on low porosity hair is going to end up in a ton of build-up which you do not want.
Instead of putting a large amount of product on the hair, you need to research the right products that suit your hair type. Certain products have ingredients that more easily penetrate low porosity hair.
When applying hair products to low porosity hair, only do it when your hair is damp and warm in temperature. The warmth will help lift the hair cuticle and allow the product to penetrate the hair much easier.
What products are best for low porosity hair?
When looking for products that suit low porosity hair types, there are a few things to look out for.
The most important products for treating any hair type is just shampoo and conditioner. For shampoo, find one with products like honey and/or glycerin. These products will soak into the hair better than other ingredients. For conditioner, creamier consistencies with natural ingredients work best.
If you use heat on your hair, you are going to need to invest in a good heat protectant. Specifically, get one that doesn’t leave much residue after applying it. This is important for all hair types, but especially low porosity hair.
If you tend to wear your hair naturally curly, you are going to want to purchase a curl defining cream. Gel products do not mesh well with low porosity hair. Instead, a creamier consistency will help to lock your curls in place while keeping your hair soft to the touch.
Final Thoughts
Low porosity hair can be such a hassle to deal with. Without knowing how to take care of it correctly, it can turn into a big mess real quick. That’s why we created this guide that showed you all you need to know about low porosity hair. If you have this hair type, hopefully you’ll be able to bring your hair back to life in no time!
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you best wash low porosity hair?
Washing your hair might seem like a simple task, but there is a method to it. Instead of using your nails, massage the shampoo into your scalp with your fingertips. Also, you might feel inclined to bunch all of your hair on top of your head when washing it. Don’t do this! Be gentle with your hair and work in sections. Lastly, make sure you are only using conditioner on the ends of your hair. Avoid putting it on the scalp, as it is going to create a lot of unwanted oil in your hair.
How to best moisturize low porosity hair?
Moisturizing your hair is very important for hair that is low porosity. But, you have to know how to do it correctly. First, you are going to want to get a good quality deep conditioner. We all know that warmth helps to lift the hair cuticle. So, wrapping the hair in a cap or sitting under a hooded dryer with heat is optimal. Sit with the deep conditioner on with heat applied for 15 minutes, and you should be good to go!
How to keep your hair healthy while sleeping?
One of the best things you can do for your hair is to change the way you sleep on it. Especially for low porosity hair, using a satin pillowcase will minimize the damage done to your hair while sleeping on it. For extra precautions, you can wrap your hair in a silk scarf or material to keep it from moving.