Expert's opinion
Expert's opinion
The article is a subjective view on this topic written by writers specializing in medical writing.
It may reflect on a personal journey surrounding struggles with an illness or medical condition, involve product comparisons, diet considerations, or other health-related opinions.
Although the view is entirely that of the writer, it is based on academic experiences and scientific research they have conducted; it is fact-checked by a team of degreed medical experts, and validated by sources attached to the article.
The numbers in parenthesis (1,2,3) will take you to clickable links to related scientific papers.
How To Moisturize Low-Porosity Hair: 2024 Expert Tips For Healthier Hair
Updated on
- Written by Lisandra Fields, Health Writer
Medically reviewed by
Kathy Shattler, MS, RDN
Are you struggling with dry, dull, and unmanageable low-porosity hair? Don’t fret! Understanding how to moisturize low-porosity hair can make a world of difference. Low porosity hair means it has tightly closed cuticles that resist moisture absorption, making it prone to dehydration.
But fear not; some specific techniques and products can help you achieve luscious, hydrated locks with healthier hair porosity. This article will explore how to keep low-porosity hair moisturized. From understanding your hair’s unique characteristics to selecting the right supplementary biotin product and implementing effective routines, we’ll guide you through every step.
Let’s embark on this moisturizing journey together, shall we?
Tips For Moisturizing Your Low-Porosity Hair
- Use warm water to open the hair cuticles before applying conditioner or deep conditioning treatments.
- Opt for lightweight, water-based products that won’t weigh down your hair.
- Use the liquid, oil, cream, or LOC method; or the liquid, cream, oil, or LCO method to seal moisture.
- Incorporate steam treatments or a heated towel wrap to enhance product absorption.
- Avoid heavy oils and silicones that can create build-up. Deep condition regularly and consider incorporating humectants like glycerin for added moisture.
- Protect your hair with satin or silk bonnets or pillowcases to minimize moisture loss while you sleep.
How To Moisturize Low-Porosity Hair
Open Cuticles With Warm Water
When moisturizing low-porosity hair, start your hair care routine by shampooing with warm water to rinse your hair. Warm water helps to open the tightly closed cuticles of low-porosity hair, allowing moisture to penetrate more effectively.
Choose Lightweight, Water-Based Products
When selecting products for low-porosity hair, opt for a lightweight, water-based product with biotin. These products are less likely to weigh down your hair and are easily absorbed by the cuticles. A lightweight deep conditioner can work wonders to keep hair hydrated.
Seal In Moisture With LOC Or LCO Method
After applying a water-based leave-in conditioner or moisturizer, follow with a light oil, such as jojoba or argan oil, and then seal it with a cream-based product.
Enhance Product Absorption With Steam Treatments
Steam increases[1] the skin’s permeability, allowing moisturizing products to penetrate deeply. Use a handheld steamer or create a DIY steam treatment by covering your hair with a plastic cap and wrapping a heated towel around it. Leave it on for 15-20 minutes to maximize moisture absorption.
Avoid Heavy Oils And Silicones
These substances can create a barrier on the hair shaft, making it more challenging for moisture to penetrate. Opt for lighter oils, such as grapeseed or almond oil, and silicone-free products to maintain optimal moisture balance. However, coconut-based hair oils have been found to mitigate the damage caused by routine washing[2] by decreasing hair porosity.
Protect Hair With Satin Or Silk
These smooth fabrics create less friction compared to cotton or other materials, helping to retain moisture and prevent breakage. Wrap your hair before bed to maintain optimal moisture levels throughout the night.
How Often Should You Moisturize Low Porosity Hair?
Determining the frequency of moisturization can be a bit tricky. Here are some factors to consider when deciding how often to moisturize your low-porosity hair:
- Hair Porosity Level: While low-porosity hair requires regular moisturization, it is crucial to strike a balance. Unlike high-porosity hair that quickly loses moisture, low-porosity hair retains moisture for longer periods.
- Environmental Factors: Environmental conditions[3] can impact the moisture retention of low-porosity hair. Dry arid climates or exposure to excessive heat, wind, or air conditioning can rapidly deplete moisture from your hair.
- Hair Routine And Products: The moisturizers for low-porosity hair you use and your hair care routine also play a role in determining how often you should moisturize. You may require less frequent moisturization if you incorporate moisturizing ingredients in your shampoo, conditioner, and styling products.
- Hair Manipulation And Styling: Activities such as hot oil treatment, chemical treatments, or frequent manipulation (brushing, combing, or styling) can cause moisture loss in low-porosity hair.
Characteristics Of Low-Porosity Hair
Understanding these characteristics is crucial for effectively moisturizing and maintaining healthy hair. Here are some key traits of low-porosity hair:
Tightly Closed Cuticles
Low-porosity hair has tightly packed cuticles, making it difficult for moisture to penetrate the hair shaft. This results in water and products sitting on the surface rather than being absorbed.
Water Repellent
Due to its closed cuticles, low porosity hair tends to repel water, causing it to take longer to wet in the shower or during styling. Water droplets may even sit on the hair instead of being absorbed.
Product Build-Up
With its resistant cuticles, low-porosity hair is prone to product build-up. The hair shaft’s inability to absorb products efficiently can lead to a residue layer, leaving the hair feeling heavy and weighed down.
Slow Drying Time
Low-porosity hair takes longer to dry because moisture has difficulty penetrating the cuticle layer. This can be problematic, especially when using heat styling tools or trying to achieve quick drying times.
Lack Of Natural Shine
The tightly closed cuticles can prevent light from reflecting off the hair, resulting in low-porosity hair appearing dull and lacking natural shine.
How To Identify Low-Porosity Hair
Identifying low-porosity hair is essential for tailoring your hair care routine to its specific needs. Here are some key methods to help you determine if you have low-porosity hair:
Water Test
Take a small section of clean, dry hair and place it in a glass of room-temperature water. If the hair floats on the surface for an extended period without sinking or absorbing water, it indicates low porosity. This is because the tightly closed cuticles repel water, preventing absorption.
Strand Texture
Low-porosity hair tends to have a smooth, almost waxy texture when you run your fingers along a strand. This is due to the tightly packed cuticles that create a barrier, making the hair feel resistant to touch.
Slow Product Absorption
When applying a water-based product to your hair, observe how quickly it is absorbed. Low-porosity hair takes longer to absorb products as the cuticles resist penetration. If products tend to sit on the hair’s surface, it suggests low porosity.
Drying Time
Low-porosity hair has a slower drying time due to the difficulty in water absorption.[4] If your hair takes a long time to air dry or requires extended heat styling to dry completely, it could indicate low porosity.
Lack Of Product Build-Up
Unlike high-porosity hair, low-porosity hair tends to resist product build-up. It could indicate low porosity if your hair rarely feels weighed down or experiences minimal residue accumulation.
Ingredients To Avoid For Low-Porosity Hair
Here are some ingredients to avoid when selecting hair care products for low-porosity hair:
- Heavy Oils: Thick, heavy oils such as coconut oil, castor oil, and olive oil can create a barrier, increasing hair porosity and making it difficult for moisture to penetrate the cuticles.
- Silicon: While silicon can provide temporary smoothness and shine,[5] it can build up on the hair shaft and weigh down low-porosity hair. Look for silicon-free hair products or choose water-soluble silicon that is easier to wash out.
- Mineral Oil And Petroleum Jelly: These ingredients, often found in hair greases or heavy pomades, can coat the hair and prevent moisture absorption.
- Sulfates: Sulfates, such as sodium lauryl sulfate[6] and ammonium laureth sulfate[7] (ALS), are common cleansing agents found in many shampoos. However, they can strip the hair of natural oils and moisture, leaving low-porosity hair dry and brittle.
Conclusion
Understanding how to hydrate low-porosity hair is the key to unlocking its full potential. You can tailor your hair care routine by recognizing the unique characteristics of low-porosity hair, such as tightly closed cuticles and resistance to moisture absorption. Embrace the journey of discovering what works best for your low porosity hair, and enjoy the rewards of vibrant, moisturized, and manageable locks that truly reflect your unique beauty.
Frequently Asked Questions
Washing once per week or as needed is generally sufficient to maintain a clean scalp without stripping away essential oils.
You can use heat styling tools on low-porosity hair, but using them sparingly and cautiously is important. Use heat protectant spray and the lowest heat setting before styling to minimize moisture loss and potential damage.
Use clarifying shampoos sparingly, about once a month, then follow up with a moisturizing deep conditioning treatment to replenish moisture after clarifying.
While using a quality low-porosity hair moisturizer is important, over-moisturizing can lead to product buildup and weigh down the hair. Find a balance that keeps your hair adequately hydrated without creating excessive buildup.
+ 7 sources
Health Canal avoids using tertiary references. We have strict sourcing guidelines and rely on peer-reviewed studies, academic researches from medical associations and institutions. To ensure the accuracy of articles in Health Canal, you can read more about the editorial process here
- Jeong Woo Lee, Priya Gadiraju, Park, J.-H., Allen, M.G. and Prausnitz, M.R. (2011). Microsecond thermal ablation of skin for transdermal drug delivery. Journal of Controlled Release, [online] 154(1), pp.58–68. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jconrel.2011.05.003.
- Kaushik, V., Kumar, A., Nitya Nand Gosvami, Gode, V., Sudhakar Mhaskar and Kamath, Y. (2022). Benefit of coconut‐based hair oil via hair porosity quantification. International Journal of Cosmetic Science, [online] 44(3), pp.289–298. doi:https://doi.org/10.1111/ics.12774.
- Nurul Adlina, Nur, Ainon Atikah Jafri and Azlin, E. (2021). The Effects of Temperature, pH and Moisture Exposure on Human Hair. [online] ResearchGate. Available at: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/352540717_The_Effects_of_Temperature_pH_and_Moisture_Exposure_on_Human_Hair.
- Ishihara, A., Tsukamoto, Y., Inoue, H., Noda, Y., Koizumi, S. and Kyohei Joko (2021). Analysis of water distribution in delipidated human hair by small‐angle neutron scattering (SANS). International Journal of Cosmetic Science, [online] 43(6), pp.653–661. doi:https://doi.org/10.1111/ics.12741.
- Advincula, L., Addor, F. and Berardo, M. (2016). Use of silicon for skin and hair care: An approach of chemical forms available and efficacy. [online] ResearchGate. Available at: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/305312185_Use_of_silicon_for_skin_and_hair_care_An_approach_of_chemical_forms_available_and_efficacy.
- Tomlin Joshua Paul, Taylor, T. and Babu, A. (2019). Sodium lauryl sulphate. [online] ResearchGate. Available at: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/338128231_Sodium_lauryl_sulphate.
- Agarwal, D., Verma, A., Jyotsna Dhanik and Virendra Kasana (2018). Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate: An Anionic Surfactant Catalyzed One Pot Green Synthesis of 1H-Benzo[d]imidazoles,… [online] ResearchGate. Available at: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/326655208_Ammonium_Lauryl_Sulfate_An_Anionic_Surfactant_Catalyzed_One_Pot_Green_Synthesis_of_1H-Benzodimidazoles_Quinoxalines_and_23-Dihydro-1H-benzob14diazepines_at_Room_Temperature.
Written by:
Lisandra Fields, Health Writer
Medically reviewed by:
Medically reviewed by:
