Understanding High Porosity Hair
An understanding of what high porosity hair means is essential to moisturizing it properly. High porosity hair is hair that has cuticles that are raised and open, making it more prone to moisture loss. This type of hair needs to be hydrated with moisture-rich products and properly sealed in.
This article will delve into what high porosity hair is, what the causes of it are, and how to properly moisturize it:
What is High Porosity Hair?
High porosity hair is a term describing the condition of hair strands that have a high degree of porosity, which allows them to absorb more moisture and appear shiny. This can be caused by damage from over-processing and excessive heat exposure, as well as environmental factors such as UV rays or chlorine – or even improper grooming techniques.
High porosity hair typically looks and feels dry, limp, or lifeless because the cuticle layer is lifted due to damage or lacks in strength; this makes it very difficult to maintain hydration in the hair strand. High porosity strands are also prone to frizzing more easily than other types of hair.
It’s important for women and men with high porosity hair to maintain good haircare habits and regularly use appropriate products. Regular deep conditioning treatments can help restore the cuticle layer to build back some strength and limit how much moisture is released from the strand during styling. Different techniques such as protein treatments might be needed depending on the level of damage present in your hair’s cuticles. Furthermore, it’s necessary to use conditioners with certain ingredients such as shea butter, oils, proteins extracts collagen that are specifically formulated for high-porosity hair so they don’t slip off your strands too quickly; otherwise your hairstyle won’t stay defined for long!
Identifying High Porosity Hair
High porosity hair has increased surface-level cuticles to allow more moisture to move freely into and out of each strand. This heightened ability can be beneficial, but it can also leave the strands of your hair vulnerable if they are not properly cared for. To identify whether you have high porosity hair or not, there are a few simple tests you can do.
First, look at your hair and see if it is overly dry or prone to fast-fading color or highlights. If your appearance indicates this, then you probably have high porosity hair. To confirm this suspicion, run a strand of hair between two fingers and feel for bumps on the surface. Those bumps indicate raised cuticles along the length of the strand and will confirm that you indeed have high porosity hair.
Another test that can be done uses water as an indicator – since high porosity hair allows moisture in more easily than other types, dampen one single strand with lukewarm to warm water then feel how quickly it absorbs the liquid. If it does so immediately (as opposed to other types which tend take a little longer), then this could also be an indication that your type of hair is considered “high porosity”.
Moisturizing High Porosity Hair
Moisturizing high porosity hair can be a difficult task. This type of hair tends to be more porous than other hair types, making it especially vulnerable to dryness. But with the right technique, you can successfully keep your hair hydrated and healthy.
This article will provide tips on how to properly moisturize high porosity hair:
Using the L.O.C. Method
The L.O.C. Method is one of the most popular and effective techniques used to moisturize high porosity hair. The acronym stands for Liquid, Oil and Cream, which are the three fundamental steps needed to effectively seal in moisture, reduce breakage and promote healthy hair growth.
- Liquid: Start off by spritzing a water-based spray or mist onto your hair section by section (avoiding the root area). This should be done until your hair feels damp enough for styling/manipulation. The purpose of this step is to add moisture to your strands without over-saturating them, as too much water can cause a lot of frizz if not sealed in properly with oil or a cream.
- Oil: Once your hair has been pre-moisturized with water, it’s time to choose an appropriate oil to lock in all that moisture you just added. Oils are some of the best products for moisturizing high porosity hair due to their properties that help trap humidity and prevent dehydration, so be sure to pick an option suitable for your specific needs (i.e. lightweight versus heavy oils).
- Cream: Last but not least is applying a cream or butter product overtop of the oil layer you just added onto your strands before finally styling as desired – this helps seal in the moisture even more, giving you beautiful soft and silky results! When picking out a cream product keep in mind it doesn’t need to be extremely thick nor greasy – choose something light yet nourishing which will easily absorb into your strands while also making sure that none of its ingredients counteract each other (check labels!).
Avoiding Over-Moisturizing
When it comes to moisturizing high porosity hair, it’s important to know that too much moisture can do more harm than good. Over-moisturizing will make the hair overly soft and vulnerable to damage, much like how skin that is over-moisturized can be prone to cracking or peeling.
It is best to apply only the amount of product necessary for your particular hair type, and if you feel that your hair needs extra moisture, try adding just a small bit more. Additionally, you should avoid using heavy products or formulations containing ingredients (like silicone) that can sit on the surface of the cuticle and create a barrier, preventing proper hydration from taking place.
If you have trouble distinguishing between properly hydrated strands of hair and those that are over-moisturized, look for signs in the texture; strands of high porosity that have been rushed with too much product will feel limp or weak when pulled.
Deep Conditioning
Deep conditioning is an important part of maintaining moisture in high porosity hair. Deep conditioning helps to nourish and repair the strands of hair that have become damaged due to environmental factors like sun, wind, and air pollution. Deep conditioning also helps to seal in moisture and lock in hydration, which is essential for high porosity hair.
Let’s explore the different kinds of deep conditioning treatments for high porosity hair:
Applying a Deep Conditioner
Applying a deep conditioner can be one of the most important steps to nourish and moisturize high porosity hair. Here are some tips to help you get the best results out of using a deep conditioner:
- Start by massaging your favorite deep conditioner into your scalp and evenly coat each strand. Leave the product in for at least 15 minutes.
- A heat cap, hooded dryer, or steamer can be used to open up your hair cuticles and enable the deep conditioner to penetrate faster. For extra hydration and conditioning, you may also opt for a pre-treatment like an oil or protein treatment prior to conditioning.
- It’s important to rinse out all of the product, thoroughly removing any residue that might block moisture and cause products to accumulate more quickly than usual. This is especially true for those with high porosity hair as this type tends to absorb more product, faster.
- By using cool water when rinsing as opposed hot water, you’ll provide an additional barrier against humidity and protect against frizz in humid climates. You can also use a microfiber cloth or cotton t shirt instead of a towel when drying hair after rinsing out the conditioner – this will help prevent frizz as well! Finally, finish with a light leave-in conditioner after towel drying if possible.
Leaving the Conditioner on for the Appropriate Length of Time
When it comes to deep conditioning high porosity hair, the most important factor is making sure the conditioner is left on long enough in order for it to properly saturate the strands and for its benefits to be fully realized. For high porosity hair, it is important to leave the conditioner on for at least 20 minutes, ideally up to an hour or longer.
If you are using a moisturizing or reconstructive treatment or formula, then you will want to apply a heat source like a steamer or hooded dryer in order to open up the cuticles of your hair shafts and increase absorption. Heat treatments help break bonds between the various molecules within our strands and make it easier for them to penetrate deeper into our hair. The added heat also helps create an environment that allows your natural oils and sebum (your scalp’s natural oil) to reach your follicles quicker and provide moisture even more effectively than if applied without heat. Applying this kind of heat source while rinsing out the conditioner gives you all around better deep conditioning results that nourish right down into your very strand tips.
Another benefit of leaving restores strength and flexibility over time with regular use as well, so it’s important not to rush through this step! If you notice that your ends are still feeling dry, broken or brittle after deep conditioning, then consider leaving some extra time on your next session—you might be surprised by how much of a difference this small tweak can make in your results!
Protective Styling
Moisturizing high porosity hair can be challenging, but one way to do it is by protective styling. Protective styling involves minimizing the amount of styling and handling of your hair to help preserve the moisture in it. This can mean wearing your hair in a bun, braid, or other style that places less stress on your hair.
In this section, we will discuss the benefits of protective styling for high porosity hair as well as the best tips for doing it.
Braiding Hair
Protective styling is an extremely beneficial approach to managing and maintaining high porosity hair. This type of styling involves using protective methods to keep your hair secure and safe, while providing moisture at the same time. One protective style option is braiding hair.
When braiding your high porosity hair, it is important to use a moisturizing product that can be left in throughout the duration of the style. Choose a moisturizing leave-in conditioner or cream with botanical ingredients like coconut or olive oil, or jojoba or shea butter that provide nourishment to your coils without weighing them down. Make sure to section your hair in an organized manner prior to braiding; this will make braiding easier and faster and also prevent your coils from being pulled too tightly when weaving them into plaits. Be gentle when creating parts and doing the actual braiding process; excessive pulling can cause breakage which can lead to irreversible damage for high porosity strands.
When complete, seal each braid with a light layer of oil such as argan, almond, coconut or vitamin E and ensure that all ends are tucked away securely underneath the braid for neatness; this will help ensure that ends remain protected during styling. Finally, you may enhance hairstyle with various accessories such as bobby pins, thread wraps or decorative beads for added pizazz! Braids provide a great look for active lifestyles because they require minimal maintenance but at the same time still offers accessorizing potential – it’s truly a win-win situation!
Wearing Protective Styles
Protective styling can be a great way to help maintain healthy, hydrated hair and reduce hair breakage. It involves using hairstyles that protect your ends from friction and keep your natural oils at the scalp for longer, promoting healthy hair growth. The general rule is that anything that keeps your ends covered and away from the elements can be considered a protective style.
Some popular protective styles include:
- Braiding (cornrows, box braids etc.)
- Buns
- Twists (Senegalese twists, two strand twists etc.)
- Updos
- Wigs
- Weaves
- Ponytails
Some of these styles may require some type of product to adhere them in place such as gel or edge control wax. Before deciding on a protective style it is important to make sure you have accurately identified the porosity of your hair so that you can choose the right products and styling techniques for maximum hydration.
High porosity type four curls require additional moisture in order to maintain locks that are full of life. For high porosity hair avoid tight hairstyles with extra tension on your strands during installation and opt for more natural styles with loose braids/twists or bantu knots which will reduce the chance of breakage from too tight hairstyles at the root area throughout wear time. Additionally regularly moisturizing these delicate strands will prevent them from becoming dry/brittle over time which makes protective styling highly beneficial for high porosity curls!
Other Tips
Along with moisturizing your hair, you should also take some other steps to ensure that your hair stays healthy and happy. Some of these steps include:
- Deep conditioning regularly to replenish lost nutrients
- Using heat protectants to shield your locks from hot styling tools
- Avoiding products with sulfates
Read on for more tips that can help keep your hair moisturized and healthy.
Avoid Heat Styling
Heat styling is one of the main culprits when it comes to damage high porosity hair. When using heated tools, make sure to always use a heat protectant first – this will not only provide a layer of protection against direct heat, but it will also help reduce moisture loss. Additionally, try to avoid blow drying your hair too often as the high heat from the hair dryer can cause extreme moisture loss and split ends.
A great way to style your hair without applying heat often is to let it air dry or use flexirods or rollers for an effortless look. Furthermore, if you’re looking for Curly Girl Method approved tools, look no further than the Devacurl One Step Dryer and Styler or choosing any type of diffuser attachment – both will give you beautiful curls without any damage. It might take some getting used to but hot tools are one of those ‘treat yourself’ moments that should be saved for special occasions or every once in a while rather than daily use!
Trim Hair Regularly
Regular trims are essential for high porosity hair as it helps to keep your hair healthy and free from split ends. Regular trimming helps to eliminate damage caused by heat styling, brushing, and everyday wear and tear. It is recommended to get a trim every six to eight weeks or as soon as you start to notice split and frayed ends.
When trimming your hair, remember not to cut too much of your length off at once, otherwise your hair may appear short after just a few trims. If possible, have a professional add layers so that the ends blend together with the rest of the length. This will help keep your hair looking longer while allowing you to keep your desired length.
Use Natural Oils and Butters
In order to successfully moisturize high porosity hair, it is important to use natural ingredients that can penetrate and bind to the hair shaft. Natural oils, like coconut oil, argan oil and jojoba oil, work great for this purpose by helping to seal in moisture. Natural butters are also excellent for adding extra moisture; ingredients such as shea butter and cocoa butter help provide deep conditioning that regular conditioners fall short on.
Additionally, creamy raw African shea butter is a great option because of its ability to deeply penetrate into the hair shaft and lock in moisture for long-lasting hydration.
