Hair porosity in curly and coily hair
What is Hair Porosity?
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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:
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-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.
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Recommended shampoo:
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- 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
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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
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Tips:
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- 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.
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Traits:
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- Hair absorbs and holds moisture well
- Holds hair styles well
- Hair dries at a moderate pace
Recommended Shampoo:
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- 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
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Recommended Conditioner:
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- Hask curl intensive deep conditioner
- Essano curl define conditioner
- living proof curl conditioner
- Davroe Curlicue deep conditioning rinse
- Curl smith conditioner
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Recommended leave in creams:
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- 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
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Light but rich oils: Olive oil, Grapeseed oil and avocado oil
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Tips:
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- 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:
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- Hair dries quickly after washing
- Hair is prone to frizz and tangles
- Hair can feel dry and is prone to breakage
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Recommended shampoo:
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- 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
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Recommended conditioner:
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- 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:
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- 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
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Light oils: Jojoba, argan and grapeseed oils.
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Heavy oils: Castor, avocado and coconut oil. (Mixing light and heavy oils works best).
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Tips:
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- 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