It turned into the most confusing six months of my life.
Nobody told me "natural hair" could mean ten different things — or that my new growth would behave nothing like the wig I'd worn for years.
Half the products TikTok swore by did nothing. The other half made my TWA (teeny weeny afro) worse — drier, more brittle, breaking before it had a chance to grow.
I was sabotaging my own hair without realizing it.
Then I learned one word that changed everything...
And it decides what gets into your hair and what stays out.
I was deep in a TikTok rabbit hole at 2 a.m. when someone said something that stopped me cold:
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Porosity. I'd never heard the word used about hair before.
So I tried the test she described. Drop a clean strand of your hair into a glass of water. If it floats, you have low porosity hair. If it sinks, you have high porosity.
Mine floated. For ten minutes.
That meant my cuticles were sealed so tight that every thick cream and heavy butter I'd been piling on was just sitting on the surface. Never absorbing. Never doing anything except weighing my hair down and breaking it off.
The products weren't bad. They just weren't built for hair like mine.
Porosity is how easily your hair absorbs and holds moisture. It comes down to how your cuticles — the outer layer of each strand — are structured.
Tightly sealed cuticles. Repels water and product. Needs lightweight, water-based formulas and heat to open the cuticle.
Balanced cuticles. Absorbs and retains moisture well. The "easy mode" most products are designed for.
Raised or damaged cuticles. Absorbs everything fast but loses moisture just as quickly. Needs sealing oils and protein.
I'd been disappointed by enough "miracle" products to know that ingredients on a label don't always show up in the mirror. So I committed to one bundle, one routine, no other products, for 30 days. Here's what each phase actually looked like.
I had done my research and knew about porosity. Still, after trying plenty of so-called "miracle" products, I learned that what’s on the label doesn’t always match what you see in the mirror. That’s why I decided to stick with one bundle and one routine (no other products) for 30 days. Here’s what really happened at each stage.
The Low Porosity Shampoo cleansed without stripping, and the Hair Mask Deep Conditioner softened my curls in a way no drugstore product ever had.
For the first time, I could feel my hair really being moisturised deeply.
By day 30, my hair felt like a different texture. Hydration that lasted between wash days. Less breakage in the comb, less lint on my pillow, and visible thickness at my ends. I wasn't chasing moisture anymore. I was retaining it. That's when I knew this wasn't another product cycle. It was the right routine, finally.
USD · shipping at checkout
Hydrates deep
Defines curls
Protects length
Order today
Jun 15
Ships
Jun 16
Arrives
Jun 19
What's inside
Scent
Texture
Most "curly hair" products aren't built for the specific way textured hair behaves. Here's how Ethnic Gals stacks up.
| Criterion | Heavy "Natural" Brands | Generic Curly Brands | Ethnic Gals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Helps Moisture Actually Absorb | |||
| Built for Definition + Retention | |||
| Designed as a Full Routine |
Each formula is intentionally crafted for low porosity hair — helping moisture penetrate instead of sitting on top.
Gently cleanses without stripping moisture from resistant strands.
Lightweight & Clarifying. Removes buildup without stripping hair of natural oils. Sulfate-free.
Deep conditions sealed cuticles so moisture finally gets in.
Designed for deep conditioning without sitting heavy on the strand. Perfect for weak or chemically-treated strands.
Lightweight slip and hydration without buildup or weighing down.
Hydrates with a penetrating formula built for low porosity hair, but doesn't coat or block absorption.
Ancient botanicals that nourish the scalp and accelerate length retention.
Locks in hydration without weighing curls down. Herbally curated to naturally support hair growth by retaining moisture.
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...
You might ask yourself why your low porosity hair is not growing as much as you would want it... Time to learn the best tips on how to grow...
Before buying any products, you SHOULD know your hair porosity (low, high, or normal). How your hair retains water & moisture will shape your entire hair care routine. Stick with us and discover the science behind your porosity's hair! #ethnicgals
