Taking care of naturally curly hair is not an easy task. With all of the information circulating around the internet, hair care can become confusing or even frustrating. However, if you’re suffering from chronically dehydrated curls, finding out about your porosity and how to properly manage it will be a game changer for you!

In this article, we’ll teach you everything you need to know about low porosity hair and how to effectively manage it. 

So, what is low porosity?

Hair porosity refers to the degree your strands absorb and retain moisture. Each of your hair stands possesses an external layer of cuticles that resemble the scales of fish. These cuticles act as passageways where moisture can enter. When your cuticles are raised, water can easily get in and get out.

On the other hand, when your cuticles are tightly  closed, water has an extremely hard time entering your hair shaft. With low porosity hair, your cuticles are tightly packed together and are difficult to open making it harder for moisture to get in, hence the reason for chronically dry hair.

What are the causes for low porosity hair?

The reasons for low porosity hair are mainly genetic. However, your porosity levels can change over time depending on external factors such as excessive use of heat tools, too much manipulation, pollution, sun exposure and chemical treatments such as coloring services.

Either way, no matter your porosity level, high, medium or low it is important to be aware and adapt your curl regimen accordingly.

 …but how do you know if you have Low porosity hair?

Delayed wetness - you have been noticing that your hair takes a really long time to get wet, even though you are not using silicone or mineral oil based products.

Prolonged dry time- it takes your hair very long to dry. This is typical for low porosity hair because it retains moisture much better which makes drying times longer.

Products tend to “sit” on top of your hair - most products have a hard time penetrating your hair and visibly create white residue or build-up. It may seem that products simply coat your strands, instead of being absorbed. As a result, your hair feels chronically dehydrated and rigid to the touch.

Float hair strand test - you have done the float test on clean hair and your hair strand floats on top of the water, even after more than 5 min.

If these characteristics sound familiar to you, there is no need to panic. Your hair is not forever doomed to be dry and brittle. In fact, there is nothing wrong with low porosity hair, you simply need to know how to best manage it and which products to use.

Let’s recap: The biggest challenge for low porosity hair to absorb hydration, making it prone to chronic dehydration. The biggest benefit of low porosity hair however is, that once the hydration is in, it stays in!  This means that you need to hydrate much less during wash days, saving tons of product and money 😉. 

Our Low porosity Hacks for thriving, hydrated curls

Low Porosity Hack #1: A Deep Cleanse!

Using a good clarifying shampoo will help you get rid of all product residue and mineral build up which will assure proper moisture absorption.

We recommend using our detox & chelating shampoo once a month. Read more here. 

Low porosity Hack #2: Keep it light!

Opt for conditioners and moisturizers especially created for low porosity hair. These are lighter in texture and provide sufficient slip to deeply penetrate and reach within the hair shaft, hydrating the cortex.  Regular products with thick molecules are not able to penetrate the small spaces in between the tightly arranged cuticle layers. 

Try our new Moisture Rescue Conditioner for low porosity and fine hair which is made with a lightweight formula that is designed to penetrate even the smallest of cuticles and hydrate your curls at their very core. The Resurrection Plant aka Rose of Jericho and Ginseng are meant to deeply hydrate and revitalize every strand and give your hair the moisture that it needs. With this product in your arsenal, you can truly say goodbye to dryness!

Low porosity Hack #3:  Heat it up baby!

One very effective way to increase the conditioning properties and reassure the best absorption is the use of heat. Heat raises the cuticles of your hair which helps products penetrate your hair shaft. 

Low porosity Hack #4: Ah Push it push it! 

Use your fingers to push the conditioner within the hair shaft. Take your time when applying the conditioner section by section, making sure to smooth down the cuticles with your finger tips, pushing all the good hydration into the core of the hair shaft. How do you know if you are doing it right? Your best indicator is that the product gets absorbed by the hair and does not sit on top, creating residue. 

You can always add  more water to your conditioner and repeat the smoothing motion. Once all of your “Moisture Rescue Conditioner” has been absorbed, simply continue using your regular styling products. No need to rinse out the conditioner. Keeping it in will ensure long lasting hydration throughout the week. 

So once you understand your low porosity hair and adapt your product and curl regimen, you can say goodbye to dry, dull hair, and hello to gorgeous, hydrated curls and coils! Try out the Moisture Rescue Conditioner now and watch your hair flourish!