The Best Low-Porosity Hair Products: 21 Nourishing Shampoos, Conditioners, and Oils

Table Of Content

• Best hair oil: Mielle Organics Rosemary Mint Scalp & Hair Strengthening Oil
• Best Heating Cap
• Best for Temporary Hair Thinning: René Furterer Triphasic Reactional Concentrated Serum
• Try Water-Based Stylers and Lightweight Oils
• How To Moisturize Dry Gray Hair
• Curl Definer: Adwoa Beauty Baomint Moisturizing Curl Defining Cream

With jojoba oil, olive oil, and aloe, it provides hydration and slip in between the cuticles, but the slightly thinner consistency means it won't ever weigh down curls. By coating the hair with heavy oils that coat the strands, you'll create even more of a barrier between the deeper layers of your hair and the essential hydration it needs. Instead, opt for lightweight oils that smooth and seal the strands without building-up on top of the hair after using water-based stylers that can better absorb into the hair. If your hair leans on the drier side but still doesn't absorb product super well, def try this moisturizing leave-in conditioner from Ceremonia.

Best hair oil: Mielle Organics Rosemary Mint Scalp & Hair Strengthening Oil

Just don't forget to seal in that moisture with a nourishing hair product (like one of the leave-in treatments or creams above!). Before diving into products, it helps to know what low porosity hair actually means. "Hair porosity describes how the hair's cuticle absorbs and holds on to moisture in its pores—hence, the term porosity," says hairstylist Miko Branch, co-founder of hair care brand Miss Jessie's.

Best Heating Cap

It is important to use gentle products and techniques to keep the hair healthy. Revitalise your hair with the best oil for low porosity hair- Natural Ka Damage Repair Shampoo. Infused with natural ingredients, this natural shampoo is designed to nourish and strengthen damaged hair, leaving it looking healthier and more lustrous. Say goodbye to dryness and breakage as the unique formula works to repair and protect your hair from within. Experience the power of nature in every wash with the Natural Ka Damage Repair Shampoo. If you’ve struggled with finding the right routines for your hair type, look no further.

Best for Temporary Hair Thinning: René Furterer Triphasic Reactional Concentrated Serum

Instead of deeply nourishing, castor oil might just sit atop the hair, weighing it down and making it feel greasy. Over time, this can result in reduced volume, decreased shine, and a feeling of heaviness. For those with low porosity hair, it’s essential to be cautious with castor oil and opt for lighter alternatives that align better with the hair’s unique structure and needs.

Try Water-Based Stylers and Lightweight Oils

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Since this hair epiphany, I've drastically changed my hair routine to include low-porosity-friendly hair products, like hair serums, clarifying shampoos, and silicone-free formulas. Keep reading for all of my top picks for my fine hair, plus tons of options for low-porosity wavy, curly, and coily hair. The pore is simply a channel or gateway for ingredients to enter the hair shaft. "Simply put, low porosity hair is a hair fiber that has overlapping cuticles. These overlapping cuticles create a barrier preventing water and moisture to penetrate," explains trichologist and inventive colorist, Bridgette Hill. She says that, in low porosity hair, the cuticle is so tightly overlapped that water and water-based products bead on top of the hair fiber versus penetrating the hair fiber. "Hair porosity refers to how open your hair shaft is to receive and lose a substance, most often water or moisture," says Francis.

How To Moisturize Dry Gray Hair

It’s also important to note that any hair texture and thickness can be low porosity—curly, straight, thick or fine. The Jessicurl Deep Conditioning Treatment is a daily, thick conditioner that claims to moisturize and strengthen the hair in just one use. It contains cocoa and shea butter that intensely nourish damaged locks. This product adds volume to your hair and creates bodacious, bouncy spirals. This hair oil repairs damaged cuticles and promotes healthy and shiny hair.

This is actually where the issue lies, especially when it comes to curly hair. If coconut oil prevents water from getting into the hair shaft, it can lead to hair that becomes drier or more brittle over time. "Coconut oil can coat the hair shaft. When using it alone, it can become a barrier to water and any other product to hydrate the hair, thus making the hair drier," she explains. With low-porosity hair, it is best to avoid heavy oils, butter, and products that can weigh down the hair.

Low-Porosity Hair Might Be The Reason For Your Frizzy Hair & These Products Are The Solution

You can also try light oils—like sunflower seed oil, grapeseed oil, jojoba oil, and argan oil—which absorb into hair fairly quickly too. As someone with super-dry, curly hair, I have to be careful about what I put on my strands. I've tried a lot of different products over the years—and I mean a lot. It was only through this trial-and-error experience that I learned which ingredients don't work for my specific hair type.

“Hair porosity is the hair's ability to be able to retain and absorb moisture,” says Grace. Kimble recommends this formula with bentonite clay and apple cider vinegar for removing excessive product buildup from the scalp. The apple cider vinegar has anti-fungal properties that can help balance the pH of your scalp and keep the follicle clean, reducing hair loss. If you don’t know your hair’s porosity level, there are plenty of ways to figure it out—and you should. Knowing whether your hair is low or high porosity can make a big difference in terms of the products you select and how you style your hair.

It's infused with cinnamon, pistachio oil, and cupuacu butter to deeply penetrate the hair shaft and impart intense nourishment. Because low porosity hair is so sensitive to buildup and therefore averse to thick products, it can be challenging to find a styling mousse or gel that doesn’t leave this hair type limp and dried out. This foaming gel from Verb, however, is lightweight, crunch-free, and still retains a firm hold that allows you to style your curls however you please. It’s perfect for defining curls and coils, and works to minimize frizz even on the most humid of days. Replenish and reactivate your curls with the Vernon François Nourishing Hair Mist, a lightweight, vitamin-rich refresher spray that gently mists hair-healthy botanicals and amino acids directly to your strands. Formulated with plant-based ingredients and free of parabens, silicones and sulfates, this top-rated hair mist revitalizes lackluster curls by taming frizz, increasing hydration, enhancing shine and protecting your hair from damage.

Be sure to look for a silicone-free formula, like this one from Adwoa Beauty that's made for fine and low-porosity hair types. It's got lightweight moisturizers (like squalane and strawberry and raspberry seed oil) to help reduce flyaways and give your hair a bit of definition and hold. This detangler was specifically made with low-porosity curls and waves in mind. Just smooth it through your mid-lengths and ends in the shower after conditioning, then slowly detangle with a comb or brush. It'll give your hair lots of slip, thanks to shea butter, tea tree oil, sunflower seed oil, and grapeseed oil, but reviewers said it doesn't pull out their curls or waves or leave an oily film on their hair. This shampoo combines a mix of lightweight oils and moisturizers (like babassu and honey) with strong cleansers to break down buildup and scalp oils without totally stripping your hair of moisture.

Ingredients To Avoid For Low Porosity Hair

Table Of Content

• Best with Peptides: The Ordinary Multi-Peptide Serum for Hair Density
• Best shampoo and conditioner combo: Briogeo Banana + Coconut Nourishing Shampoo + Conditioner Duo
• Tips For A High Porosity Routine
• Instead of Protein Treatments…
• Ceremonia Guava Hydrating Leave-In Conditioner
• Moroccan Argan Hair Serum

Low porosity hair requires special care to keep it properly hydrated and healthy. The best oils for this hair type are lightweight, non-comedogenic, and rich in essential fatty acids. Such oils can penetrate the compact cuticles of low porosity hair, delivering and sealing in moisture. A hot oil treatment involves warming up a suitable carrier oil (or a blend of oils) and applying it to the hair and scalp. The heat allows the oil to penetrate the hair shaft more effectively, which can be especially beneficial for low porosity hair that naturally resists moisture absorption. Castor oil is ineffective on low porosity hair due to its thick consistency, making it difficult to permeate tight hair cuticles, potentially leading to a buildup on the hair’s surface.

Best with Peptides: The Ordinary Multi-Peptide Serum for Hair Density

"Conditioners and leave-ins may not work properly because they pass through the hair without remaining on the strand and could be too heavy." "Understanding your hair porosity is vital when it comes to your haircare needs. Our hair strands are so delicate," Kamara tells us. "I like a light leave-in conditioner to help with hair health," says Warren. Look for creamy, silicone-free confections with plenty of humectants to draw water into the strands.

Best shampoo and conditioner combo: Briogeo Banana + Coconut Nourishing Shampoo + Conditioner Duo

When you're not quite ready to wash your hair but your curls are feeling a bit dull and limp, spritz on this silicone-free curl refreshing spray from Camille Rose. It uses rice water extract, honey, and aloe vera to give your hair much-needed hydration and make your curls and waves spring right back up. Scroll on for all of the best low-porosity hair products from K18, Olaplex, Shea Moisture, and Adwoa Beauty. And don't forget to check out helpful info from experts like trichologist Bridgette Hill and hair stylist and educator Mezei Jefferson about choosing the right low-po products for your hair type. Clarifying shampoos “will help remove any buildup that may tend to form on the hair from products that we put on,” says Mahogany Grace, a New York City-based hairstylist and owner of the Mahogany Grace Salon. Gutterman recommends leave-in conditioners, since they’re not too heavy.

Tips For A High Porosity Routine

If you take the strand test, your hair strand will float on the top due to its incapability to absorb water. This shows that low porosity hair cannot absorb hair care products easily. To get the best of your hair care products, use shampoos and conditioners that are alkaline to lift the hair cuticles. To combat hydration issues, you’ll want to avoid oils like castor oil or coconut oil as they are made to seal the cuticle — working against your efforts to lock in moisture. Spino also suggests staying away from protein rich conditioners as they can cause excess product buildup.

Finally, it washes out easily, so I never have to worry about accumulating nasty buildup. "Hair porosity describes how well your hair is able to absorb and retain moisture," explains celebrity hairstylist Larry Sims. If you have low porosity hair, it means the structure of your hair doesn’t easily allow moisture to be absorbed into your hair shaft. This can make it harder for water to saturate your hair when it’s washed.

Use this mash up of fruits to deeply hydrate without weighing the hair down. Detangle like a boss, and skip all the additives with this conditioniner, made specifically for low porosity hair without the protein. See here for our full guide to protein treatments and what to do if you've gone overboard. In case you're not quite ready to invest in a steaming apparatus, this thermal heat cap can help. Just pop it in the microwave to warm up and place it over your hair while it's saturated in your favorite conditioner. We may earn commission from links on this page, but we only recommend products we love.

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Best Products For Low Porosity Hair To Retain Moisture – 2024

The cuticle cells of low porosity hair are tightly packed together and lie flat, leaving no gaps for moisture to enter, whereas high porosity hair cuticle cells are much more open. Meanwhile, “the goal of a serum is to target the hair follicle directly by delivering compounds that may allow for improved or optimal hair growth,” says Dr. Mirmirani. These ingredients are those that aren’t typically found in the diet, such as minoxidil and plant-based compounds. That’s because factors like genetics, your nutrition, stress and anxiety, and changes in your hormones, metabolism, or medications can all contribute to thinning hair. And the cause of your hair loss can help you determine the right ingredients for you—and, with that, the best hair growth serum. Therefore, “the best guidance is to ask questions and rely on trusted sources for scientific evidence and advice that is tailored to your individual need,” she instructs.

Moroccan Argan Hair Serum

Try to avoid thicker ingredients like coconut oil before moisturizing. For moisture to penetrate it, it needs to be open for the hydration to get inside. Each product is carefully selected based on its effectiveness, and we want you to make the best choices for your hair’s health. This curl-quenching conditioner infuses curls with rich hydration, softens, strengthens, and encourages definition.

Briogeo Scalp Revival Charcoal + Coconut Oil Micro-Exfoliating Shampoo

You can opt to either deep condition with a mask once a week to balance all the natural oils or ultra-hydrating conditioners on wash day to eliminate product buildup and replenish moisture. As for daily maintenance, a hair serum or oil can be used for hydration and protection of the hair strand without layering itself and causing weight. Understanding hair porosity is great for all hair types but especially necessary for curls, where coils and spirals make it difficult for product and moisture to travel from root to tip. Ahead, TZR spoke to a few hairstylists to get the full scoop on determining your porosity and finding a routine to satisfy your hair’s unique needs. They are even taking out the guesswork by sharing their favorite products for each type. This natural treatment is perfect for curly hair types seeking intense moisture without weighing the hair down.

Also, this brand steers clear of cruelty practices that test on animals. The Mielle Organics Mongongo Oil Hydrating Conditioner is protein-free and formulated for every hair type, especially for protein-sensitive 3A to 4C hair types. It is formulated for those looking to hydrate, repair, and protect their tresses from heat damage. It offers intensive moisturization and frizz-free conditioning while providing a healthy shine to your tresses.

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She recommends hair products that attract and hold moisture, such as the Curlsmith Essential Moisture Cleanser. With ingredients like andiroba seed oil, shea butter, and coconut oil, she says it helps deliver a great amount of hydration and flexibility. She advises against co-washing if you have low porosity hair and says to be diligent with a regular cleansing and conditioning routine at least every five days. Low porosity hair has difficulty absorbing moisture due to the closed cuticles. So, moisturize low porosity hair whenever they feel dry, even though it is twice a day.

This water-based leave-in from Ceremonia features glycerin and aloe for that very purpose, plus agave and guava fruit extract to shield hair from free radical damage. Now let's get your locks all moisturized and healthy with the best low porosity hair products. For the sink or float test, "You'll take a few strands of hair that have naturally shed from the scalp and fill a cup with room temperature water," Rullan explains.

When you notice build-up, scalp itch, excess oils, lackluster curls, etc., it’s time to grab the shampoo. Leave-in conditioners can build up over time, especially if you are using them too often. They are frequently formulated with proteins that strengthen the hair cuticle. If your hair takes a long time to wet and dry and your hair products tend to stay on the surface of your hair rather than being absorbed, you most likely have low porosity hair.

Use it on its own to refresh tired curls or pre-styling to improve the results of your hair dryer, straightener or curling iron. Combining aloe vera juice and coconut water also allows this top-rated shampoo to soothe and seal split ends for healthier, shinier hair. Many leave-in products tend to be on the heavy side, but you can keep things light by spritzing on this water-based formula, which detangles, moisturizes, provide heat protections and fight frizz. Coconut oil hydrates and makes hair shiny, and fennel seed oil helps prevent breakage. Users say it can also refresh curls and waves on second day hair, but be conservative when applying—a little goes a long way. This is especially important for curlies whose strands are already drier than other hair types by nature.

However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission. She has also written about sexual wellness, fashion, culture, and politics both at Marie Claire and for publications like The New York Times, Bustle, and HuffPost Personal. She has worked extensively in the e-commerce and sales spaces since 2020, including two years at Drizly, where she developed an expertise in finding the best, highest quality goods and experiences money can buy.