There are many quotes on hair that motivates us to have healthy hair. A girl’s hair is her crown and confidence to conquer anything, even the world. We all dream of having hair with no problems at all. Not a single one! Is this possible? Is there anyone who has the perfect hair?
On average, there are 10 out of 100 people who have hair with an ideal porosity level. Those are the lucky ones. Porosity is not something that we add to the hair, it is the natural property of it. Though we can treat it using ideal and dedicated products.
Low porosity hair is one of them. There are three levels of porosity, high, low, and medium. The latter one makes your hair look and feel just right. Other than that, both have issues. So what is hair porosity? Porosity is the ability of hair in absorbing and retaining water, oils, or any product that will help hair stay strong.
After reading here, the first doubt will be ‘how to recognize the hair type?’ which will be followed by many questions like, ‘What if I have low porosity hair?’ ‘Is there any solution to it or I will have to live with it?’ and plenty of them.
I am here to share with you everything about low porosity hair, from discovering them to the right products to use for its treatment.
But before anything, we all know how thin a single strand of hair is, right? But do you know it also has parts? They are cuticle, cortex, and medulla.
The cuticle is an uppermost layer of the hair, the structure is like the shingled roof – overlaying individual cuticles on each other. The cortex is the middle layer and the thickest one, which provides fibrous proteins and pigments to the hair. The last one is the medulla, the innermost layer of the hair.
What is Low Porosity Hair?
Low porosity hair is when your hair can’t absorb or retain any of the product, this is because of the cuticles bound tightly together. It won’t allow water, oil, or conditioner to reach the hair shaft.
Styling your hair with a straightener will damage the hair’s cuticle layer, resulting in the high porosity hair (which also won’t retain moisture). Don’t worry! This isn’t the result of using a chemicalized product, it’s a genetic factor. You can always treat it.
How to Recognize the Low Porosity Hair?
How will you know if you have low porosity hair? Do I have to visit a trichologist (the one who treats hair)? Nope, you don’t have to! You can do the testing on your own. There are a few characteristics that will directly tell you whether your hair has a low porosity. Take heed!
You will find oil or any other moisturizing product sitting on your hair, even after the hours of application.
Washing and drying hair isn’t an easy and quick task to do.
Lack of luster and hair elasticity.
If you still have a doubt, take a Float Test for the accurate result. For that, you will need a transparent glass full of water, your hair strand (perfectly washed and rinsed), and constant focus.
Put the hair in a water glass and look at how it performs, is it floating on the upper level of water, in the middle of it, or has settled down. All three describe a different type of porosity level.
If your hair is floating on the water or takes time to settle in, then you have low porosity hair, as it didn’t absorb water.
When your hair is in the mid-level of the water glass, you are likely to have medium porosity.
Hair that sinks to the bottom without taking much time shows the symptoms of porous hair, which means high porosity.
How to Treat Low Porosity Hair Type?
There are a number of ways to treat the hair with low porosity. You can use products for its care and few remedies or haircare routines that will help you out.
Embrace Pre-poo
Pre-poo is a conditioning treatment carried out on hair before shampooing. Use oil, a mixture of oils, conditioner containing oil, or a butter. You can also go for oils of sunflower, coconut, avocado, etc. as it provides softness, weight, and slip. You can keep it for a few hours or just 1/2 an hour before the hair wash.
Use Deep Conditioner
The regular leave-in conditioner won’t be able to give moisturization to the hair, so you will have to go for deep conditioners with heat treatment. You can use a hooded dryer, steamer, or even a heat cap will also work well to provide warmth to the hair. Cuticles will loosen due to heat and this way, hair will soak up all the nourishment.
Seal The Moisture
You need oil to seal in the moisture. Use L (liquid/leave-in), C (cream), O (oil) method, rather than LOC. Remember to use oil as the last ingredient (always) as it will hold up the others well.
Wash Your Hair Regularly
The most important thing is clarifying the hair. Washing your hairs once in a week or two will wash away the product build-up and will allow hair to take in moisture another time. Wash your hairs with warm water at the beginning to open the cuticles to absorb the moisture, and then seal it off with cold water.
Try The Greenhouse Effect
The greenhouse effect (GHE) is a well-known process for the growth of hair. You have to wash your hair, add a shower cap and leave it overnight (or for the more extended period). The warm and steamy environment will be created, and cuticles will also lift up and absorb the moisture. The hair will be damp and curly after the removal of a shower cap. Check out these curly hair styles for women.
Use Satin to Protect Your Hairs
Cotton soaks up the moisture and oils, so ditch those cotton pillows and embrace satin pillow covers. You can also get a satin headscarf to protect your hair when you are out. Satin doesn’t soak much water, oil, or any other product and helps hair in retaining them.
Which are the Best Low Porosity Hair Products?
These were the tricks to treat your low porosity hair. A proper hair care routine, and you are halfway there. To treat the remaining ones, many companies have launched products designed especially for low porosity hair.
Shampoo, leave-in or deep conditioners, and cream with essential oils will help you in treating hair at its best. Whenever you get your hands on one of the products for the treatment make sure it’s alcohol-free. We have named the best of the products below:
Kinky-Curly Come Clean Natural Moisturizing Shampoo
TGIN’s Moisture Rich Sulfate-Free Shampoo
All these products are natural and harm-free products. Look for the oils of avocado, argan, grapeseed, jojoba, baobab, pomegranate, sweet almond, apricot, sunflower seed, and others for natural moisturization.
Have a Healthy and Low Porosity-free Hair:
This is all you need to know about the low porosity hair and its treatment. Maintain a proper hair care routine, and you will see the magic. You love your hair how they are, but treating them like a queen will make you love them more.
