Low porosity hair ✨
What is Low Porosity hair:
Low porosity hair is human hair that doesn't readily absorb water and treatments.
How to test your hair porosity:
To test your hair's porosity, you can perform the glass of water test or the spray test
Glass of water test:
Shampoo and rinse your hair to remove any product buildup.
Fill a glass with room temperature water. Water that's too cold can make your hair's cuticle too tight, and water that's too hot can make it expand.
Drop a clean strand of hair into the glass.
Let it sit for a few minutes.
Observe the results:
Low porosity: The hair floats at the top.
Medium porosity: The hair floats somewhere in the middle of the glass.
High porosity: The hair sinks quickly to the bottom of the glass.
Methods you can use consistently to help with Low Porosity hair:
Hair steaming: Hair steaming is a hair care treatment that uses moist heat to open the hair cuticle and scalp pores, allowing hair products to penetrate deeper and be better absorbed.
Benefits of hair steaming include:
Cleansing
Steaming can help remove dirt, product buildup, and dead skin cells from your scalp and hair.
Moisturizing
Steaming can add moisture to your hair shaft, which can help prevent dryness and breakage.
Improving elasticity
Steaming can help your hair stretch and relax without breaking, which can make it easier to style.
Enhancing hair growth
Steaming can increase blood flow to your scalp, which can help your hair grow longer.
Strengthening hair
Steaming can help strengthen your hair strands and prevent premature aging.
Improving scalp health
Steaming can help keep your scalp hydrated and prevent hair loss.
Beneficial for curly hair
Steaming can help enhance the elasticity of curly hair, which can make curls look more vibrant.
The greenhouse effect method (GHE) is a hair care technique that uses a plastic cap to create a warm, moist environment to help retain moisture in dry hair. The method is also known as the baggy method.
Here's how to do the greenhouse effect method:
Apply a moisturizer or natural oils or butter to your hair
Cover your hair with a plastic cap, baggy, or saran wrap
Let it sit overnight
The heat and moisture from the cap stimulate the production of sebum, which is your hair's natural oil. This helps the oil penetrate each strand of hair. Some say that the greenhouse effect method can help with hair growth and length retention.#hairporosity #lowporosityhair #hairgrowthjourney #hairgrowthtips #consistencyiskey #Lemon8
As someone who’s struggled with seemingly endless dryness, even after slathering on products, I totally get the frustration. My low porosity hair felt perpetually thirsty. I'd watch water bead up on my wet low porosity hair right after a shower, refusing to soak in, and get a close up view of those tightly sealed cuticles. It took me a while to realize that my hair’s unique structure meant I needed a completely different approach to washing low porosity hair and keeping it moisturized. One of the most common issues I faced with my low porosity natural hair was how it looked and felt. Right out of the shower, my low porosity hair after shower would often feel strange – not quite wet, but not dry either, almost like it had a waxy coating. Water would just sit on top, creating those small white droplets you might see in a close-up shot. Because products struggled to penetrate, my hair could look dull or even porous frizzy hair close up if not properly managed, despite its low porosity nature. The key was to find ways to open up those cuticles just enough to let moisture in, then seal it. My washing routine completely changed. I learned that just using any shampoo wasn't enough. For washing low porosity hair, regular clarifying is crucial to remove product buildup that just sits on the surface. I now start with a gentle, sulfate-free clarifying shampoo, focusing on my scalp, and always use warm water. Warm water helps lift the cuticles slightly, making it easier for moisture to get in. I also learned to really work products into my hair, section by section, ensuring even distribution. Conditioning became an art form. Instead of just rinsing quickly, I’d apply a lightweight conditioner and let it sit for a good 10-15 minutes, sometimes even under a pink disposable shower cap to generate a little heat, similar to the greenhouse effect method. This gentle warmth really helps the conditioner penetrate. When it comes to deep conditioning, hair steaming has been a game-changer. Using my hair steamer once a week has transformed my hair's ability to absorb treatments deeply, leaving it incredibly soft and hydrated. I’ve also had to be mindful of the types of products I use. Heavy butters and oils tend to just sit on my porous hair strands close up, weighing them down and making them feel greasy without truly hydrating. I now opt for lighter, water-based products, humectant-rich leave-ins, and light oils like jojoba or argan. Applying products to damp, not soaking wet low porosity hair, then following up with a light sealing oil, has made a huge difference. It’s fascinating how different high porosity hair is! My friend has high porosity hair, and her hair drinks up water and products instantly because her cuticles are always open. While that means her hair gets hydrated quickly, it also loses moisture just as fast. For low porosity, it's about getting moisture in and keeping it there. Understanding these differences has been crucial in my hair care journey. It’s all about consistency and tailoring your routine to what your hair truly needs!