How to Take Care of Your High-Porosity Hair

High porosity hair has a unique struggle – the art of retention. You get the moisture in but lose it very fast. 

See, unlike low porosity hair, water has no problem entering high porosity hair strands. The strands are raised like an acorn or the shingles of a roof, making moisture penetration easy and effortless.

The problem? Making sure the water stays put.

Moisture retention can seem impossible with your High Porosity Hair. We've got the solution to making sure that your High Porosity Hair stay moisturize. Stay tuned.

What is High Porosity Hair?

Your High Porosity Hair have their cuticle is open (under the microscope, the hair cuticle is raised rather than laying flat. 

This can be due to genetic or damage due to your hair. Commonly from over-manipulation damage, poor diet, bleach or heat. 

High Porosity strands are not lying flat, your strands can easily catch onto each other, causing single strand knots and split ends. A double-whammy!

How To Know If You Have High Porosity Hair

Some indicators of high porosity hair include:

• Frizz
• Extreme dryness
• Inability to retain a style
• Extreme tangles and,
• A dull-looking color. 

To check your porosity, gently grasp a section of clean, freshly washed hair. Run your fingers along the length of the strand, from the tips to the ends. If you feel any uneven, bumpy parts in the strand, this means that your cuticles are open and you have high porosity natural hair.

1.Pre-Poo

Pre-pooing is the act of applying a protective product onto the hair prior to shampoo. This reduces the stripping effects of the shampoo, as detergents are quite drying, especially for high porosity hair.

Studies have shown that coconut oil is the most effective oil for providing a barrier against the shampoo, and also protecting the hair shaft from over-swelling from water, a trait inherent to high porosity hair. Our High-Porosity Hair Mask is made with Avocado Oil, Mango Butter & Coconut Oil.

Apply coconut oil to the hair overnight before your wash day to allow the oil to do its job, for at least 8 hours.

2. Shampoo

While low porosity hair benefits from deeply clarifying shampoos, you should opt for shampoos that are sulfate-free and contain moisturizing ingredients to reduce dryness. Ingredients to look out for include fatty acids, coconut-derived detergents, and butters for friction-reducing slip.

3. Deep Condition

Deep conditioning is a sacred practice for all naturals, but is especially important for high porosity hair. This is an excellent opportunity to use deep conditioners that target damaged cuticles but also encourages moisture retention

4. Moisturize and Seal

Once you wash out your deep conditioner, it’s time to lock in all that moisture with a water-based leave-in conditioner. This is your hair’s first line of moisture defence and is 100% imperative to keep your hair hydrated until next wash day.

To finish...

High porosity natural hair can be a challenge. Retaining moisture is a struggle for all naturals but this is especially pronounced in high porosity natural hair.

The trick is to find a balance between adding in the correct amount of protein, balancing this out with moisturizing deep conditioners, protective styling and regular trims.