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Have you ever wet your hair and noticed that the water seems to sit right on top? Or maybe you put on a product and, instead of soaking in, it just seems to coat your hair.
If that sounds familiar, you may have low-porosity hair.
Low porosity simply means that it can be harder for water and products to get into the hair strand. Once you understand that, caring for your hair gets a whole lot easier. You can stop piling on products that aren't working and start paying attention to what your hair actually likes.
Hair porosity is basically how well your hair absorbs and holds onto moisture.
You'll usually hear hair described as low, medium or high porosity. Low-porosity hair has a harder time letting water and products in. Higher-porosity hair tends to absorb moisture more easily, but it may also lose that moisture more quickly.
One thing that's important to know is that porosity and hair texture are not the same thing. You can have straight, wavy, curly, kinky or coily hair and still have low porosity.
Your hair will usually give you some clues.
You may notice that water beads up on your hair before it finally starts soaking in. Your hair may take a while to get completely wet, or products may seem to sit on top instead of absorbing.
You might also notice that heavy products build up quickly or that your hair takes a long time to dry.
That doesn't mean one of these things automatically makes your hair low porosity. It's really about noticing a pattern in how your hair responds to water and the products you use.
Here's where people sometimes make things harder than they need to be.
If your hair feels dry, your first instinct may be to keep adding more product. With low-porosity hair, more isn't always better. Sometimes you're just adding another layer of product on top of hair that's already having trouble absorbing what's there.
Start with water. Make sure your hair is thoroughly wet before applying your conditioner or moisturizer.
And don't be afraid to start with a small amount of product. You can always add a little more.
Gentle warmth can also be helpful when conditioning your hair. A warm towel or shower cap is an easy way to add a little warmth without using excessive heat.
And if your hair starts feeling coated or your products don't seem to work the way they used to, buildup may be part of the problem. Sometimes your hair simply needs a good wash and a fresh start.
Yes, you can use oils and butters on low-porosity hair.
You don't have to throw everything away because somebody on the internet said low-porosity hair can't use butter. 😂
The key is how much you use and how you use it.
Try applying your products while your hair is still damp and start with a small amount. Pay attention to how your hair feels. If a little works, there's no reason to pile on more.
Your hair will usually tell you when you've overdone it.
This is exactly why we make our Low Porosity Hair Butter.
It was made with low-porosity hair in mind and is meant to be used a little at a time. Apply a small amount to damp hair and work it through wherever your hair needs it.
Don't feel like you have to use a handful of it. Start small. You can always go back for more.
At the end of the day, porosity is only one piece of the puzzle.
Your hair texture, density, the products you use, how you style your hair and even your environment can make a difference.
So don't get too caught up trying to make your hair follow every "low-porosity rule" you see online.
Pay attention to your hair.
If something leaves it feeling coated, use less. If your hair needs more moisture, try applying your products while it's still damp. If something is working beautifully, you don't need the internet to tell you to stop using it.
The goal isn't to have a perfect low-porosity routine.
The goal is to learn what works for your hair.
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