High Porosity Hair Guide and Best Products
High porosity hair has a raised or damaged cuticle layer, allowing moisture to easily enter and exit the hair shaft. This type of hair can become easily moisturized but also loses moisture quickly.
Retake Porosity QuizCharacteristics
- Absorbs water and products quickly
- Dries very quickly
- Prone to frizz and tangles
- Can become overly moisturized easily
- May look dull without proper care
Care Tips
- Use leave-in conditioners and oils to seal in moisture
- Deep condition regularly
- Look for products with positively charged conditioning agents that bond to damaged hair like behentrimonium chloride
- Use anti-humectants in humid weather
- Consider using protein treatments to strengthen hair
Build Your Routine
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1. Cleanse
Choose your cleanser based on your needs
For high porosity hair, we recommend: Use pre-poo to protect hair, then alternate between cowash and gentle shampoo. Clarify monthly.
pre-poo
These products are meant to be used before washing to help protect your hair from stress and damage.
bondbar Bonding Pre-Shampoo Treatment
Repairs bonds, prevents split ends, and reduces breakage by 70% while improving detangling by 90% after one use
Bonding Primer
Instantly helps repair hair, smooth strands and reduce breakage after just one use
Bond Curl Rehab Salve, Bond Building Strength Treatment for Weak, Damaged Hair
A protein-rich bond-building treatment that targets all 3 hair bonds to repair, strengthen, and reduce damage—formulated specifically for curls
clarifying shampoos
Heavier shampoos meant to remove long-term buildup from oils, products, and hard water. Meant to be used occasionally, as they are much stronger than regular shampoos.
Fable & Mane SahaScalp Wild Ginger Purifying Scrub
A protein-rich exfoliating shampoo to boost circulation, reduce buildup, and gently remove flakiness
Perfect Clean 2-in-1 Scalp Scrub & Shampoo
A 2-in-1 scalp scrub and clarifying shampoo that gently removes buildup and impurities to reveal a healthy scalp and immensely shiny hair
Clarifying Shampoo
Remove buildup from products, pollutants, and hard water with this salon-grade clarifying wash
shampoos
Cleansers that remove buildup and oil from your hair. Essential for low-porosity hair and should be used on other porosity types at least occasionally.
Bond Building Shampoo
Gently cleanses while repairing bonds to reduce breakage, tame frizz, and enhance curl definition
Scalp Revitalizing Solution Hair Thickening Shampoo
With probiotic beads, biotin, rosemary, and caffeine to support scalp health and promote stronger, healthier hair growth
Cleansing Shampoo
A mild shampoo that rids your scalp of buildup without stripping it of any natural oils
cowashes
Gentle, non-lathering cleansers that clean without stripping natural oils. Use these for daily wash if you have high-porosity hair.
Curl Quenching Conditioning Wash
A 2-in-1 shampoo and conditioner that gently cleanses buildup, soothes the scalp, promotes healthy hair growth, and boosts shine
No Lather Cleanser
A color-safe, no-lather cleanser that gently cleanses and hydrates all curl types for soft, strong, frizz-free curls
Coconut Cowash Cleansing Conditioner
2. Condition
Choose your conditioner based on your needs
For high porosity hair, we recommend: Use conditioner every wash and deep conditioner every 1-2 months
conditioners
Products that add moisture and help detangle hair. Almost everyone needs conditioner!
Cream Daily Conditioner
This conditoner delivers the moisture your curls crave and leaves your strands silky-soft and easy to detangle and style
Super Moisture Conditioner
Super moisturizing, protein-free conditioner is fantastic for erasing frizz and defending from split ends!
Big Energy Conditioner
An ultra-lightweight conditione to keep hair big, bouncy, and full of life
deep conditioners
Intensive treatments that restore moisture and repair damage. Essential at least weekly for high porosity hair and good for all porosity types occasionally.
Bonding Hydration Mask
Boosts moisture without weighing hair down and improves wet detangling by up to 90% after just one use
Rapid Hair Repair
Restores strength, shine, and pH balance to damaged or color-treated curls while adding volume
Therapy Session Hair Mask
Delivers 48-hour smoothness while deeply conditioning and repairing hair to be 2X stronger and 3X more hydrated
3. Protect
Choose a product that helps protect your hair
For high porosity hair, we recommend: Use a leave in and cream
leave ins
Light conditioners that stay in your hair to provide ongoing moisture. Most important for high-porosity hair. May weigh down low-porosity hair.
Leave-in Detangler
Softens curls, controls frizz on no-cleanse days, and makes detangling and styling easy for all curl types
Curl Wow Flo-etry Vital Natural Serum
A lightweight curl primer that delivers deep moisture without buildup to leave hair feeling product-free
Slip Detangler
Loosens knots, adds moisture, and locks in color without buildup or dullness
creams
Rich moisturizers that help define and shape curls, and provide a barrier to protect against moisture loss. Essential for high-porosity hair. May weigh down low-porosity hair.
Curl Quenching Hair Butter
A lightweight, vegan hair butter that delivers deep moisture for easy curl revival!
Curl Passion Curl Perfectionist
Tames frizz, enhances natural texture, provides light hold, and contains protein for added strength
Curl Talk Curl Cream
Defines curls, seals in moisture, controls frizz, and adds shine for bouncy, polished curls
4. Enhance
Choose a product that helps enhance your curls
For high porosity hair, we recommend: Choose either a gel or custard
gels
Styling products that provide hold and definition. Useful for all porosity types.
Curl Keeper® Original Liquid Styler
A water-based formula that reactivates with water for frizz control and curl refresh without buildup
Spray Gel
Spray gel that delivers the hold of a gel with added definition, volume, and shine—made with gentle, natural ingredients
Pamper My Curls Curl Sculpting Glaze Strong Hold Gel
A protein-free strong-hold glaze that defines curls, fights frizz, adds shine, and holds styles without white residue
custards
Thick styling products that provide moisture and definition. Useful for all porosity types.
Define & Shine Mango Papaya Curl Defining Custard Styling Gel
A protein-rich, strong-hold styling gel that defines curls and delivers intense shine
Orange Marmalade Flaxseed and Aloe Curl Definer
CurlsBot note: This is the main styling product I use on my own hair- Melissa
Gelebration Spray
Technically not a custard, but serves the same purpose
5. Seal
Choose a product that helps seal in moisture, some gels from the previous step do this so if you already used a gel meant to seal, skip this step
For high porosity hair, we recommend: Use an oil or a spray
oils
Optional finishing products that can help seal in moisture. Best for high porosity hair.
Bonding Concentrate
Boosts shine, tames flyaways, protects from heat, and hydrates with nourishing oils and bonding technology
No. 7 Bonding Oil
Lightweight oil that adds shine, reduces breakage, controls frizz for 72 hours, and protects against heat up to 450°F
Doux Drops
A shine-boosting, bond-building serum that repairs and strengthens hair, smooths the cuticle, and protects against breakage—perfect for straight styles, blowouts, or curly wash days
sprays
Optional finishing products that can help seal in moisture and lock in styles.
Spray Gel
Spray gel that delivers the hold of a gel with added definition, volume, and shine—made with gentle, natural ingredients
Pamper My Curls All-in-One Moisture Mist
A lightweight, oil-free mist that moisturizes and refreshes curls without weighing them down
Hair Spray
6. Accessories
Choose your accessories
For high porosity hair, we recommend: Optional accessories
accessories
Useful items for anyone with curly or wavy hair.
Mint Satin Scrunchie
This super-soft satin scrunchie is adorable paired with any outfit
The Puff Cuff
A durable, damage-free hair clamp made for thick, curly hair that holds securely without pulling
Universal Diffuser
Turn any hairdryer into a diffuser with this attachment
Define EdgeLift Brush
The Define EdgeLift Brush is a unique brush that helps define your curls/waves
Volume EdgeLift Brush
The Volume EdgeLift Brush is a unique tool that helps you create voluminous curls/waves
Volume Root Clips
These clips are specially designed to help you create volume at the roots of your hair