Let’s be real, when most people talk about hair care, they focus on length, texture, or products, but rarely do they mention porosity. And yet, it’s one of the biggest factors in understanding how your hair behaves, what it needs, and how to keep it thriving. If you've already checked out our guide on high porosity hair, you know that porosity determines how well your hair absorbs and retains moisture. Today, we’re diving into low porosity hair. What it means, how to care for it, and why knowing your porosity is the key to building a regimen that actually works.
What is Hair Porosity?
Hair porosity refers to how well your hair absorbs and holds onto moisture. Think of your hair cuticle like the shingles on a roof. When they’re tightly packed, moisture has a hard time getting in, which is the case for low porosity hair. On the other hand, high porosity hair has gaps in the cuticle, making it easier for moisture to get in but harder to retain.
Signs of Low Porosity Hair
Not sure if you have low porosity hair? Here are some common traits:
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Product Buildup is Real: Products tend to sit on top of your strands rather than absorbing, making your hair feel greasy or coated.
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Water Beads Up: Instead of quickly soaking into your hair, water just rolls right off. Think about your wash day experience and how long it takes for your hair to get completely drenched. You can also think about whether water beads up as you mist dry hair.
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Long Drying Time: Your wash day styles take forever to dry because water doesn’t easily escape.
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Hard to Moisturize: It feels like no matter how much leave-in conditioner you apply, your hair still seems dry.
How to Determine Your Hair Porosity
Not sure where you stand? Try these simple tests:
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The Water Test: Drop a clean, shed strand of hair into a glass of water. If it floats for a long time before slowly sinking, you likely have low porosity hair.
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The Spray Test: Lightly mist a section of your hair with water. If the droplets sit on top rather than soaking in, that’s a sign of low porosity.
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The Product Test: Apply a small amount of leave-in conditioner or oil to dry hair. If it takes a while to absorb, you could likely have low porosity hair.
Common Misconceptions About Low Porosity Hair
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My hair is dry, so it must be high porosity.
Low porosity hair can also feel dry—not because it loses moisture quickly (common sign of high porosity hair) but because it struggles to absorb it in the first place. -
I don’t need deep conditioning.
Actually, you do! You just need to do it the right way (we’ll get into that next). -
Heavy oils and butters are the best for moisture.
Thick products can actually make moisture absorption harder by sitting on top of the hair instead of penetrating the strands, thus causing moisture overload or product buildup.
How to Care for Low Porosity Hair
Now that you know what low porosity hair is all about, let’s get into the best ways to care for it.
1. Try Using Heat to Open Up the Cuticle
Since your cuticles are tightly packed, adding a bit of warmth can help your products absorb better. Try:
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Steaming your hair before, during and/or after applying deep conditioner.
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Using a heated cap or hooded dryer when deep conditioning.
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Rinsing with warm water instead of cold.
2. Choose Lightweight, Moisture-Friendly Products
Avoid heavy butters and thick creams that sit on top of the hair. Instead, opt for:
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Water-based leave-in conditioners for lightweight moisture. Our Aloe Vera Hydration Mist and Aloe Vera Curl Refresher are both lightweight, hydrating hair mists designed to hydrate and refresh your strands without leaving your hair feeling weighed down.
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Humectants like aloe vera and glycerin to draw in hydration. Our Amla and Chebe Hair Butter is a lightweight yet nourishing blend of aloe vera juice, vegetable glycerin and shea butter, and a powerful mix of herbs designed to seal in moisture and enhance hydration, keeping your strands soft, strong, and well-nourished without weighing them down.
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Lightweight oils like grapeseed or argan oil instead of heavy ones like castor oil. Our Amla and Chebe Hair Oil is the perfect complement to our Hair Butter, providing an extra layer of sealing to lock in moisture, enhance shine, and promote long-lasting hydration. This lightweight yet potent blend of herbs and natural oils helps strengthen strands while keeping your hair soft, nourished, and protected.
3. Clarify Regularly to Prevent Buildup
Since low porosity hair struggles with absorption, product buildup happens fast. Try using a clarifying shampoo to remove residue and keep your hair fresh.
Our Clarifying and Stimulating Shampoos are a gentle yet highly effective clarifying shampoos that assist with keeping your strands clean and help fight against messy tangles that often form during the shampoo stage. For those that shampoo weekly, try our Moisturizing shampoo for optimal moisture retention.
4. Apply Products to Damp (Not Soaking Wet) Hair
Instead of applying leave-ins and creams on soaking wet hair, try slightly drying your hair first. Slightly damp hair is more receptive to moisture than dripping wet strands.
5. Use Protein Wisely
Low porosity hair doesn’t need as much protein as high porosity hair. Too much can lead to stiff, brittle strands. Stick to occasional protein treatments only when needed (if your hair feels overly soft or lacks elasticity).
Our Green Tea and Honey Fortifying Masque is a light (plant protein) treatment perfect for strengthening without overwhelming low porosity hair.
Final Thoughts
Knowing your hair porosity is a game changer. It allows you to choose the right products and techniques to keep your curls moisturized, healthy, and thriving. If you suspect your hair leans towards high porosity, be sure to check out our guide on how to care for high porosity hair for tailored recommendations.
No matter your porosity, the key to happy, hydrated hair is understanding what it needs and giving it the right care. Have you figured out your porosity? Let us know in the comments below!
For more low porosity product recommendations click here
