Hair porosity in curly and coily hair
What is Hair Porosity?
Porosity is how well your hair absorbs and retains moisture. It depends on how
open or closed your hair cuticle layer is.
Low Porosity Hair (Tightly Closed Cuticles)
Needs: Lightweight and water-based products to help with product buildup.
Traits:
-Products often sit on top of the hair instead of absorbing into the cuticles.
-Hair takes forever to dry.
-Hair can feel “stiff” or resistant to moisture.
Recommended shampoo:
- Kinky-curly come clean natural moisturizing shampoo
- Shea moisture low porosity weightless hydrating shampoo
- Shea moisture baobab & tea tree low
- K18 peptide prep color-safe detox clarifying shampoo
Recommended conditioner:
- Mielle pomegranate & honey moisturising & detangling conditioner
- Deva Curl One Condition Original
- As I am hydration elation intensive conditioner
- Shea moisture low porosity weightless hydrating conditioner
Recommended leave-In:
- Aunt Jackie’s quench moisture intensive leave in
- Essano coconut leave-in conditioner
- Kristiness weightless shine leave-in conditioner
- Shea moisture low-porosity weightless hydrating detangler
-Light oils (don’t coat the hair too heavy): Argan oil, Jojoba oil and grape seed
Tips:
- Use warm water or a steamer: warmth helps to open hair cuticles and absorb products easier
- Avoid heavy oils and butters as they often sit on top of the hair without absorbing
- Use a clarifying shampoo or apple cider vinegar to remove product build up
Medium Porosity Hair (Cuticles are slightly open)
Needs: Water-based products and light to medium hair products work best.
Traits:
- Hair absorbs and holds moisture well
- Holds hair styles well
- Hair dries at a moderate pace
Recommended Shampoo:
- Pureology Hydrate Shampoo
- Schwarzkopf BC moisture kick shampoo
- Hask curl care shampoo
- Tresemme smooth curls shampoo
- Essano Curl Define Shampoo
- Umberto Giannini Curl Jelly Wash Shampoo
- Being curl power shampoo
Recommended Conditioner:
- Hask curl intensive deep conditioner
- Essano curl define conditioner
- living proof curl conditioner
- Davroe Curlicue deep conditioning rinse
- Curl smith conditioner
Recommended leave in creams:
- Mielle Organics Pomegranate & Honey Leave-In
- Aveda be curly advanced curl enhancer cream
- Keune confident curl leave in
- Kristin ess ultra hydrating curl leave-in
- Essano curl define cream
Light but rich oils: Olive oil, Grapeseed oil and avocado oil
Tips:
- Avoid overloading hair with heavy products that can weigh it down
- Apply water-based leave ins or spritz with water and conditioner mix
- Avoid over protein use: Use light protein treatments if hair shows signs of
breakage, limp curls and weakness
- Use sulphate-free shampoos to avoid stripping natural hair oils
High Porosity Hair (Open/Damaged Cuticles)
Needs: High porosity hair loses water quickly, so it needs intense hydration.
Traits:
- Hair dries quickly after washing
- Hair is prone to frizz and tangles
- Hair can feel dry and is prone to breakage
Recommended shampoo:
- Shea Moisture High Porosity Moisture Replenish Shampoo
- TGIN moisture rich sulfate-free shampoo
- Kinky curly come clean natural moisturing shampoo
- Umberto giannini coily curls shampoo
- Ethique curl defining shampoo
Recommended conditioner:
- Ethique curl defining conditioner
- Camile rose fresh honey nectar deep conditioning treatment
- Umberto Giannini coily curls conditioner
- Mielle organics babassu & mint deep conditioner
Recommended leave in creams:
- Shea moisture Jamaican black castor oil leave in conditioner
- Mielle organics pomegranate & honey leave in
- Kinky curly knot today leave-in conditioner
- TGIN green tea super moist leave in conditioner
- Camille rose naturals curl love moisture milk
Light oils: Jojoba, argan and grapeseed oils.
Heavy oils: Castor, avocado and coconut oil. (Mixing light and heavy oils works best).
Tips:
- Apply oils when hair is damp for maximum moisture retention
- Use water-based moisturisers first, then cream and then oil for maximum hydration
- Avoid products that are alcohol-heavy or overly drying
- Regular deep conditioning: Use conditioning treatments weekly to restore and maintain hair health