Curl patterns, density, width, and even porosity affect your tresses’ look, feel, and manageability. Even with identifying those parts of your hair, it takes trial and error to get it right, so when you discuss hair porosity with a newly natural, you can see why they immediately have a blank look on their face.
MORE: 15 Products for High Porosity Hair
You can have low, medium, or high porosity strands, and the category your tresses fall into lets you know which products are more likely to give you the best results for styles and keeping your hair healthy. Naturals with low porosity have a tightly bound cuticle layer that lays flat and can be hard for products to penetrate and get the good stuff in! Low porosity strands resist moisture and are protein-sensitive, so it is ideal to steer clear of protein or use it sparingly.
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Low porosity hair requires moisturizers rich in emollients such as shea butter, jojoba oil, and coconut oil. It also benefits from humectant products, which attract and hold moisture to your hair. Choose lighter, liquid-based products such as hair milks that won’t sit on your hair and leave it oily or greasy.
Here are 15 products that will not leave stubborn strands weighed down.
Top 15 Products for Low Porosity Hair
1. Aunt Jackie’s Curls & Coils In Control AntiPoof Moisturizing & Softening Conditioner
Aunt Jackie’s is here to help tame, nourish, and deep-condition frizzy, hard-to-manage, dehydrated, brittle natural curls, coils, and waves with natural extracts and proteins. Gentle humectants moisturize and hydrate. It’s gentle enough to be used daily after shampooing or as a co-wash.
2. Mielle Organics Pomegranate & Honey Moisturizing and Detangling Shampoo
This ultra-moisturizing shampoo will strengthen your hair and will be left clean and with serious moisture and shine.
3. As I Am Rice Water with Forbidden Black Rice
This scent-free spray is great for anyone sensitive to fragrant products and wanting to avoid protein overload in their products. The dynamic formula can help promote healthy hair growth by fighting breakage.
4. Softsheen-Carson Care Free Curl Gold Instant Activator
This is no longer just for the Jherri Curl! Many naturals, especially ones with low porosity, are singing the praises of curl activator for moisturizing their tresses. Never greasy or stiff, this dual conditioning product gets it’s notch on the list for its glycerin and water.
5. Carol’s Daughter Almond Milk Restoring Conditioner
Daily damage from heat-styling tools, coloring and even harsh environmental aggressors can leave hair extremely damaged, feeling porous and rough. Improve hair’s condition with this nourishing cream that restores weakened, over-processed hair and ends signs of damage.
6. SheaMoisture Coconut and Hibiscus Curl Enhancing Smoothie
Full of the good stuff, this curl smoothie will define your curls while hydrating those strands with coconut and hibiscus. This product does not contain sulfates, parabens, or phthalates, but it is full of nutrient-rich vegetable butters that will not weigh your hair down.
7. Ceremonia Guava Hydrating Leave-In Conditioner
This award-winning conditioner is great for low porosity hair reliever because of it’s ability to deeply hydrate and repair the hair cuticle. The cuticle opens, the hair shaft moisturizes, and you end up with healthy, smooth, manageable curls.
8. Olaplex No. 4C Bond Maintenance Clarifying Shampoo
Your hair will love this clarifying shampoo that removes product buildup, excess oil, hard water minerals, and heavy metals and pollutants.
9. Kinky-Curly Knot Today
It is a great detangler filled with a host of botanicals that are great for all hair types and has a wonderful slip. Chock-full of organic mango extract, organic slipper elm, and organic marshmallow root, it is no wonder your hair will be tangle-free within seconds.
10. Mixed Chicks Sulfate-Free Shampoo
Your tresses will thank you for a shampoo that is mild and won’t strip your hair of its natural oils. Mixed Chicks brings a sulfate-free shampoo that features avocado, sweet almonds, and aloe to any texture.
11. Oyin Handmade Honey Hemp Conditioner
This conditioner is enriched with aloe vera gel, honey, and hemp oil that has incredible slip and some serious moisturizing power. This conditioner is great as a pre-shampoo conditioning treatment and an amazing leave-in.
12. Briogeo Curl Charisma Rice Amino + Avocado Hydrating Shampoo
Say goodbye to sulfates with a shampoo that will hydrate and cleanse the hair without stripping your hair of the natural oils you need. Rice amino acids help seal the hair cuticle and prevent frizz and humidity.
13. Naturally Drenched Rebalance
Every curly needs a treatment but with this gem you get a prewash curl conditioner that works as a protective shield against harmful chemicals in your hair products. Naturally Drenched uses bamboo extract and almond oil to lock in moisture and strengthen hair follicles.
14. Kreyol Essence – Rosemary Peppermint Haitian Black Castor
If you need a deep oil treatment then Kreyol Essence has you covered with a rosemary peppermint castor oil formula that helps to fight dandruff, alopecia, and dry scalp. This can be easily blended with your favorite conditioner or left as a hot oil treatment overnight leaving hair soft and manageable.
15. GIRL+HAIR Deep Conditioning Hair Mask Pouch
Low porosity hair will fall in love with this moisture hair masque that provides hydration for dry, damaged, and brittle hair. It can be used to deep condition and improve hair textures after just one use.
Have you taken the porosity test? Let us know in the comments what your results were.
