Low Porosity Hair Guide and Best Products
Low porosity hair is healthy, undamaged hair. It does not need protein or bond repair treatments. It is often shiny and healthy looking.
Want to master your low porosity hair?
Characteristics
- Healthy, undamaged hair
- Treatments and products that rely on penetration might not be as effective because the healthy hair is already protected by a tight cuticle
- Fat-based products can coat this type of hair, which can be good or bad depending on the product and how much you use
Care Tips
- Use heat or steam to help products penetrate
- Regular clarifying treatments to remove buildup
- Apply products to damp hair to improve absorption
- May better tolerate sulfates than other porosity types and even benefit from them
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1. Cleanse
Choose your cleanser based on your needs
For low porosity hair, we recommend: Use clarifying or regular shampoo to prevent buildup, avoid cowash. Clarify every 1-2 weeks.
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.
Clarifying Shampoo
Brand: Odele
Remove buildup from products, pollutants, and hard water with this salon-grade clarifying wash
Water Works Clarifying Shampoo
Brand: Ouidad
A strong, sulfate-based cleanser designed to deep-clean the scalp and hair, removing product buildup, oils, and residues.
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.
No. 4 Bond Maintenance Shampoo
Lightweight
High Porosity
Low Porosity
Brand: Olaplex
Uses Olaplex’s bonding technology to gently cleanse, strengthen, and add shine while repairing damage
Hydration Shampoo
Brand: Rahua
Replenishes dry, thirsty hair with a medium cleanse and a touch of protein for added bounce
Water Works Clarifying Shampoo
Lightweight
High Porosity
Low Porosity
Brand: Ouidad
A strong, sulfate-based cleanser designed to deep-clean the scalp and hair, removing product buildup, oils, and residues.
2. Condition
Choose your conditioner based on your needs
For low porosity hair, we recommend: Use conditioner every wash and deep conditioner every 1-2 months
conditioners
Products that add protection, softness, and shine, as well as helping to detangle hair. Almost everyone needs conditioner!
No. 5 Bond Maintenance Conditioner
Lightweight
High Porosity
Low Porosity
Brand: Olaplex
A highly concentrated conditioner with Olaplex’s bonding technology that repairs hair prone to damage or dryness
Behentrimonium Chloride 2% Conditioner
Brand: The Ordinary
With only 7 ingredients and no oils, this conditioner is ideal for those with low porosity hair.
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.
Healing Moisture Moi Moi Hair Masque
Brand: L'Anza
A rich, hydrating masque to restore extremely dry, brittle hair.
Hydration Mask
Brand: Rahua
Amazonian oils and protein-bonding sugars that deliver deep hydration for revitalized, shiny, and smooth hair
Omega 9 Hair Mask
Brand: Rahua
Moisture and low protein penetrate deeply to strengthen, soften, and hydrate hair from root to tip
4. Enhance
Choose a product that helps enhance your curls
For low porosity hair, we recommend: Choose either a gel or custard
gels
Styling products that provide hold and definition. Useful for all porosity types.
No. 10 Bond Shaper Gel
Lightweight
High Porosity
Low Porosity
Brand: Olaplex
A humidity-resistant gel with flexible hold that fights frizz, hydrates, and strengthens curl bonds
Gelebration Spray
Brand: Jessicurl
Technically not a custard, but serves the same purpose
custards
Thick styling products that provide hold and definition. Useful for all porosity types.
Gelebration Spray
Brand: Jessicurl
Technically not a custard, but serves the same purpose
Rockin' Ringlets Styling Potion
Brand: Jessicurl
A unique liquid gel that moisturizes with natural film-forming humectants and helps enhance and define curls
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 low porosity hair, we recommend: Use a foam or spray
foams
Light styling products that add volume and definition without weight. A great option for low-porosity hair.
SET Gel to Foam Styling Mousse
Brand: Miche
A gel-to-foam with medium hold that adds definition and volume while leaving curls soft, touchable, and healthy-looking
Bouncy Strength Volume Foam
Brand: Curlsmith
A lightweight foam helps build volume and provides humidity protection
sprays
Optional finishing products that can help provide more protection and shine. Best for high porosity hair.
Spray Gel
Brand: Curl Keeper
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
Brand: Inashi
A lightweight, oil-free mist that moisturizes and refreshes curls without weighing them down