High porosity hair is one of the most misunderstood hair types. Knowing this special hair feature can result in healthier, more controllable hair. This article will explore everything you need to know about high porosity hair, including how to identify it, the best products for it, and effective ways to keep it moisturized and nourished.
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What is High Porosity Hair?
High porosity hair refers to hair strands that have an open or raised cuticle layer, which allows moisture to easily enter but also escape just as quickly. You may have dry, brittle, or even frizzy hair if it has difficulty maintaining moisture. The raised nature of the cuticle prevents the hair from retaining moisture over a long duration, and may eventually cause vulnerability and breakage.
It can be just natural, the product of chemical processes, heat styling, or things like exposure to the elements. This may be a hard to deal with, but with the proper care, you can maintain healthy and hydrated locks.
How to Identify High Porosity Hair
It is very important to know about high porosity hair for maintenance. Here are a few of the signs to look for to determine whether you have high-porosity hair:
- Absorbs Moisture Quickly But Also Loses It Just as Fast
High porosity hair absorbs moisture quickly due to its open cuticle structure, but it also loses that moisture just as fast. This makes it difficult to keep hair hydrated for long periods, even after applying moisturizing products. You might notice that your hair feels soft and hydrated right after washing, but starts to feel dry and brittle again soon after.
- Frizzy and Dry Texture, Even After Moisturizing
Even after applying moisturizing products, this type of hair can still feel frizzy and dry. The raised cuticles don’t hold moisture well, so your hair might look smooth right after styling, but it quickly turns puffy or rough. This fizziness can be challenging to manage without the right products to lock in moisture.
- Damaged or Split Ends That Don’t Seem to Improve with Regular Care
The raised cuticles of high porosity hair are more susceptible to breakage, and as such, istends more to damage and split ends. They may hang around even after getting regular trims or conditioning treatments. This is because the hair struggles to retain moisture and repair itself without extra care, making it harder to maintain smooth, healthy ends.
- Shiny Appearance Right After You Wash, But Dulls Quickly
High porosity hair might appear shiny, flat/sleek after washing as it is temporarily able to retain moisture. However, this luster dulls as soon as the moisture drips off. The hair can quickly lose its glossy appearance, making it look dull and lackluster. To keep the shine longer, you’ll need to use sealing products that lock in moisture.
- Tangles Easily and Feels Rough or Coarse
High porosity hair tends to tangle more easily because the raised cuticles catch on each other, creating friction. This can make your hair feel rough and coarse to the touch.Continued detangling with the perfect products can keep tangling at a minimum and damage to the hair cuticle down.
Testing your hair’s porosity can also help. The water test involves placing a clean strand of hair in a glass of water. If the hair sinks quickly, it likely has high porosity.
High vs Low Porosity Hair: Key Differences
The primary difference between high vs low porosity hair lies in the cuticle layer of the hair strand. Low porosity hair has the smooth, closed cuticle, so it’s hard for moisture to get in, but once it’s in, it can’t get out. On the other hand, High Porosity hair has a loose, raised cuticle layer, which makes it easy for moisture to slip in and out.
Feature | High Porosity Hair | Low Porosity Hair |
Moisture Absorption | Absorbs moisture quickly | Takes longer to absorb moisture |
Moisture Retention | Loses moisture quickly | Retains moisture for longer |
Texture | Can feel dry and frizzy | Often smooth and shiny |
Susceptibility to Damage | More prone to damage and split ends | Less prone to damage |
Which is Better?
High porosity hair vs Low porosity hair: Is one better than the other? Both high porosity and low porosity hair have their own sets of problems, and they are not better than the other. The thing is, you have to know what your hair needs and treat it accordingly.
Best Shampoo for High Porosity Hair
When selecting a shampoo for high porosity hair, you want to focus on moisture-retention formulas that hydrate without stripping the natural oils. Seek out shampoos with hydrating ingredients — e.g., glycerin, honey, coconut oil. Many sulfate-free shampoos are a safe bet as sulfates can exacerbate already dry porous hair.
Here are finally our top contenders for the best shampoo for high porosity hair:
- SheaMoisture Raw Shea Butter Moisture Retention Shampoo
This sulfate free shampoo works to cleanse and condition without stripping the scalp of your natural oils Safe for colored, straight, and curly hair, it will leave your hair looking and feeling silky soft She butter and argan oil ensure your hair is left touchable and soft while sea kelp will help you to achieve that volume and texture that you and so many others are looking to achieve. It’s especially great for high porosity hair because it’s not harsh and helps add moisture to maintain the softness of your hair and keep easy to style. Its ability to hold moisture will also ensure your hair doesn’t start looking like a big, frizzy ball.
- Mielle Organics Babassu Oil & Mint Deep Conditioning Shampoo
This deep-cleansing, sulfate-free shampoo uses babassu oil, mint, and shea butter to cleanse the scalp deeply while providing moisture and strength to hair. It’s ideal for high porosity hair because it offers intense hydration while maintaining balance, leaving the hair feeling soft without weighing it down. The mint adds a refreshing feel and can also help stimulate the scalp.
- Ouidad Ultra Nourishing Shampoo
Ouidad Ultra Nourishing Shampoo – A great shampoo for high porosity hair because it’s meant to moisturize and soften hair without removing your hair’s natural oils. Made with monoi oil, it helps for repair and seal cuticle to prevent moisture loss. It’s also perfect for curly and textured hair, providing the deep hydration your haircraves.
- TGIN Moisture Rich Shampoo
Coconut oil and vitamin E are known to penetrate and deepen high porosity hair moisture. Great for adding moisture and providing nutrients, to dry, brittle hair. The tokuyose formula is non-greasy and keeping the hair in moisture to improvement manageability.
- DevaCurl No-Poo Original Zero Lather Conditioning Cleanser
The DevaCurl No-Poo is a no-lathering shampoo alternative that cleanses and hydrates without stripping. It’s made from peppermint oil and grapeseed oil, both of which contribute to adding moisture and shine to high porosity hair. The shampoo is perfect for curly and textured hair that needs additional moisture and to prevent breakage.
- Carol’s Daughter Black Vanilla Moisture & Shine Shampoo
Carol’s Daughter Black Vanilla Shampoo uses black vanilla extract, aloe vera, and pro-vitamin B5 to restore moisture and shine to high porosity hair. It’s great for enhancing softness and smoothness while reducing frizz and improving manageability. This shampoo hydrates dry, dull hair and provides a healthy, glossy finish without the heavy buildup.
- Kinky-Curly Come Clean Natural Moisturizing Shampoo
Kinky-Curly Come Clean Shampoo Specially formulated for For Kinky, Curly, and high porosity hair. It’s formulated with mandarin orange extract and sea kelp to cleanse hair and scalp deeply and thoroughly, without stripping natural oils. This shampoo helps to hydrate and refresh hair while maintaining moisture balance, leaving the hair clean, soft, and more manageable.
- Briogeo Don’t Despair, Repair! Super Moisture Shampoo
Formulated with rosehip oil, aloe vera, and B-vitamins, this shampoo provides an intense burst of moisture to high porosity hair. It helps to restore health to dry, brittle hair while improving elasticity and preventing further damage. The nourishing formula strengthens the hair, reduces breakage, and improves moisture retention.
- Cantu Shea Butter for Natural Hair Sulfate-Free Cleansing Cream Shampoo
Formula uniquely created for high porosity hair, shea butter shampoo quenches your hair, to leave it feeling vibrant and nourished. It’s packed with natural oils and offers a mild clean that replenishes your moisture balance. It’s sulfate-free, so it’s perfect for textured hair that requires moisture without the stripping factor.
- Aunt Jackie’s Oh So Clean Moisturizing & Softening Shampoo
Aunt Jackie’s Oh So Clean Shampoo is a shampoo that is enriched with olive oil and shea butter to soften and moisturize high porosity hair types. It repairs and moisturizes and leaves the hair feeling so clean and full and healthy, never dry like so many other shampoos. A soft formula that helps to keep moisture locked in, great for keeping hair soft and manageable.
Moisturizing Products for High Porosity Hair
Moisture in high porosity hair is key to keeping the cuticle layer healthy and preventing frizz. Regularly moisturizing can temporarily fill in the spaces resulting from the lifted cuticles, helping tame frizz, dryness and breakage.
Top Moisturizing Products for High Porosity Hair
- Leave-In Conditioners: A leave-in conditioner can help seal in moisture and provide extra hydration. Look for formulas that contain silicone, which can help smooth the cuticle layer.
- Hair Masks: Moisture is crucial, so a weekly deep conditioning treatment can be one way to help supply some much-needed hydration to your hair. To minimize the drying effects, seek out masks that contains natural oils (e.g., argan oil, coconut oil or avocado oil).
- Oils and Serums: Nourishing oils, such as jojoba, castor, or argan oil, can temporarily plump strands and help lock moisture into the hair.
What Does High Porosity Hair Mean for Your Routine?
When it comes to looking after high porosity hair, your routine should work to ensure the hair retains as much moisture as possible and strengthen those crossed hair shafts. Here are some of your tips for healthy hair:
- Deep Condition Regularly: Weekly deep conditioning treatments help provide much-needed moisture.
- Avoid Over-Washing: Over washing can strip your hair of its natural oils. Shampoo your hair 3-4 days a week as needed.
- Seal Moisture with Oils: After moisturizing, always follow up with a lightweight oil or cream to seal the moisture in.
- Protect Hair at Night: Using a satin or silk pillowcase or wearing a silk scarf can prevent moisture loss while you sleep.
FAQ: Everything You Need to Know About High Porosity Hair
Q1: Can high porosity hair be repaired?
Yes, while you can’t completely change the porosity of your hair, you can improve its appearance and manageability with regular moisturizing treatments, protein treatments, and using the right products.
Q2: What’s the best shampoo for high porosity hair?
The best shampoo for high porosity hair should be sulfate-free and formulated to hydrate and lock in moisture. Opt for shampoos that include glycerin, aloe vera and other hydrating ingredients.
Q3: What causes high porosity hair?
This is often caused by genetics, chemical treatments (like coloring or bleaching), heat styling, or environmental damage (such as sun or wind exposure). Over time, these factors can raise the cuticle layer of the hair.
Q4: Is high porosity hair prone to damage?
Yes, high porosity hair can be more susceptible to damage as it loses moisture more rapidly and can get dry, brittle, fragile, and break easily. Proper moisture and care are key to maintaining healthy hair.
Q5: How do I prevent high porosity hair from becoming dry and frizzy?
To keep the moisture in, use moisturizing products, deep condition often, and seal with oils or creams to keep high porosity hair from drying and frizzing. Also, avoid heat and chemical treatments as much as possible.
By understanding your hair and implementing the right products and techniques, you can keep your hair hydrated, healthy, and looking its best.
If you are a mom or a to-be mom, prioritize yourself. Take care and shine bright.
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