According to Experts, These 8 Low Porosity Hair Products Are Just What You Need to Lock in Moisture This Season

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No two heads of hair are exactly alike. Frankly, I consider hair one of the trickiest beauty subjects because there’s much more to hair care these days than the average shampoo and conditioner. There’s a chance that you may find yourself struggling to understand your strands after years of one-size-fits-all type of products. Perhaps you believe your hair is damaged because it’s so dry, or you think you have an oily scalp because your hair constantly feels weighed down — both could be true. But it’s also important to note that other factors, like your hair’s porosity, could be in place.

“Hair porosity is typically broken down into high, medium, and low,” Maria Santiago, a Celebrity Hairstylist who’s worked with Mariska Hargitay and Ed Sheeran, told SheKnows. “Simply put, it’s the hair’s ability to absorb and retain moisture.” Sometimes, our hair woes can just be symptoms of not understanding our porosity levels — especially when it comes to products. Someone with low porosity hair finds it hard for moisture to penetrate their hair because their hair cuticles are tightly packed together. If this sounds like something you’re experiencing, then you might have low porosity hair, and this is just the spot for you.

Best Low Porosity Hair Products at a Glance

Best Shampoo for Low Porosity Hair: K18 PEPTIDE PREP Color-Safe Detox Clarifying Shampoo
Best Conditioner for Low Porosity Hair: Bread Hydrating Ceramide Hair Conditioner
Best Pre-Poo for Low Porosity Hair: The Rootist AHA+ACV Pre-Shampoo Scalp Clarifying Rinse
Best Hair Mask for Low Porosity Hair: Amika Hydro Rush Intense Moisture Mask with Hyaluronic Acid
Best Hair Oil for Low Porosity Hair: Bread Hair Oil

To help us get to the root of understanding low porosity hair, Santiago gave us a deep dive into how to care for it, ingredients to stray away from, and, of course, what to use. Below, find out everything you need to know and the best products for low porosity hair for light and moisturized strands.

What Does Having Low Porosity Hair Mean?

“Low porosity [hair] means there’s a tight cuticle that makes it much harder for moisture to penetrate,” Santiago said. “The hair is harder to get wet throughout and can be dry and brittle.” Santiago also mentions that all hair types could fall under the low porosity umbrella, but typically, straight hair is often the texture that experiences a lack of moisture due to lower levels of porosity. And I know it might seem like an easy fix to just dose your hair in as much water as possible to see how much it can soak up, but that won’t really work. If low porosity hair is left untreated, it can lead to “dandruff and greasy hair” since the hair shaft doesn’t absorb the products that are being applied. 

What Are The Best Ways To Treat Low Porosity Hair?

Santiago recommends that you start “clarifying your hair” first and foremost. Using a clarifying shampoo “can remove build-up” and start the process of allowing moisture to penetrate the hair. She also recommends trying hair steaming. “Steaming the hair allows for the cuticle to open to absorb moisture,” Santiago mentions. Lastly, she suggests using deep conditioners or treatments as a way to lock in moisture. However, she does warn against using products that are heavy, like hair butter or ones that are made with silicone bases, as well as protein treatments.

Best Pre-Poo for Low Porosity Hair

Best Clarifying Shampoo for Low Porosity Hair

Best Conditioner for Low Porosity Hair

Best Leave-In Conditioner for Straight Low Porosity Hair

Best Leave-In Conditioner for Curly Low Porosity Hair

Best Hair Mask for Low Porosity Hair

Best Scalp Serum for Low Porosity Hair

Best Hair Oil for Low Porosity Hair