HOW TO PICK THE RIGHT PRODUCT FOR LOW POROSITY HAIR

Before we delve into the business of product selection, hands up if your hair gives you these issues:

  1. Takes a longer time than usual to dry when wet?

  2. Takes a longer time to get wet when dry?

  3. Products just seem to sit on the hair strands?

  4. Seems like you have to use more product for any desired outcome?

Chances are your hair really isn't taking to the moisture, and this likely means you have a low-porosity texture. "Low porosity hair is resistant to absorbing and losing water due to its tighter structure," explains board-certified dermatologist Shani Francis. 

The pore is simply a channel or gateway for ingredients to enter the hair shaft. Low porosity hair is a hair fiber that has overlapping cuticles. These overlapping cuticles create a barrier preventing water and moisture to penetrate.

Hair porosity refers to how open your hair shaft is to receive and lose a substance, most often water or moisture.

The best way to open the cuticle of a hair is to create an alkaline environment. the best ingredients for low porosity hair should be smaller, molecule-based, and more polar. "Alkaline ingredients will open the cuticle to make absorption easier; acidic closes the cuticle

Now that we’ve established the foundation for low porosity hair, let us hop on products to look out for. Because low porosity hair does not easily accept moisture and hydration, you always have to ensure that the hair is constantly moisturized. Otherwise, breakage can occur, ultimately damaging your strands. This means that WATER has to be your hair’s best friend since it is the ultimate form of moisture.

  • Wash your hair frequently and don’t skip washdays. Choose products with high pH levels (alkaline) to make the hair more porous.

  • Water-based conditioners are a better alternative for low-porosity hair (remember, we are trying to get as much moisture in as possible while opening up the cuticles!).

  • Use a humectant and lipids, which are found in fatty acid oils like jojoba, argan, avocado, and shea binds to the humectant with moisture-binding ingredients. Our Scalp and Hair Treatment is the perfect light-weight oil with organic jojoba, argan, and coconut (the right protein for low-porosity hair) oils.

  • To help with absorption, condition hair when wet and/or apply some heat to help absorption.

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