Low porosity hair is a dry and coarse type of hair that doesn’t absorb oils, moisturizers, and conditioners easily. Often it is referred to as type 4 hair or Afro hair. The outermost layers or the cuticles of this type of hair are tightly packed together and don’t have the ability to retain moisture. Moisturizers and oils just sit on the top of the hair and don’t go into the hair.
To make stubborn low porosity hair smooth, shiny, and easy for styling, you need to know the moisturizing and sealing methods that workout for it. Steaming and LCO are the most common and effective moisturizing methods for low porosity type 4 hair.
Related:- How to Pre Poo Low Porosity Hair
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Table of Contents
The LCO Method
LCO or applying Liquid, Cream, and then Oil to your hair is a popular and effective way of moisturizing low porosity hair. Here is how you do it step by step.
1. Shampoo or deep cleanse your hair
Water is the main moisturizing agent for low porosity hair. When shampooing your hair, it is in maximum hydration level with soft, smooth, and bouncy feeling. Shampooing helps to open up your cuticles and clear up product or dust build-ups that could block moisturizers to get into the hair.
Use deep cleansing or clarifying shampoos formulated for low porosity hair once or twice a month depending on your product usages. These types of shampoos have additional moisturizing ingredients to keep the hair moisturized while deep cleansing and clarifying it.
SheaMoisture Moisturizing Shampoo – Intensive Hydration Formula for Low Porosity Hair
SheaMoisture is a formula of Shea butter, Manuka Honey, and natural oils. Shampoos that contain honey should be your best bet for your hair type as they don’t leave lots of residues and can easily penetrate through your cuticles easily.
SheaMoisture is an intensive hydration formula that is able to moisturize stubborn and dry low porosity hair. It deep cleans and washes away product and dust build-ups while repairing and restoring your hair’s natural shine and glow. It is a thick and creamy formula that feels soft on your hair. SheaMoisture is free from sulfate and paraben or any other harmful chemicals.
2. Apply Leave-In Conditioner
After shampooing your hair, dry it out with a microfiber towel or a t-shirt till it b becomes damp wet. Then put it into small sections and apply a leave-in conditioner to each section. Detangle each section with your fingers while applying the leave-in conditioner. Watch out for the ends as they dry out faster and you might need to spray water when needed. Look for water-based and thick leave-in conditioners as they have the ability to fully moisturize dry low porosity hair.
Renpure Leave-In Conditioner – A Coconut Extract That Moisturizes Dry Hair
Renpure Leave-in Conditioner is an extra virgin coconut extract formula. The formula also contains tea tree oil, argan oil, and shea butter. Coconut is a well-known hair food that is rich in vitamins and essential nutrients that nourish and moisturize dry hair. Apply a generous amount of Renpure Leave-In conditioner on your hair and enjoy smooth, moisturized, and shiny natural hair.
3. Apply Moisturizing Cream
On top of the leave-in conditioner, put a generous amount of moisturizing cream on each section of your hair. Apply the cream starting from the roots to the ends. Cream holds the water molecules. Don’t forget to detangle with your finger every time. Brush and spray water at the ends whenever needed.
tgin Butter Cream – A cream Specifically Formulated for Moisturizing Dry Type 4 Hair
tgin is a daily moisturizer hair cream that is formulated specifically for dry low porosity hair. The formula contains shea butter, cocoa butter, and Vitamin E oil. The cream is thick and feels like lotion.
It delivers maximum hydration, softness, and shine to your natural type 4 hair. It also promotes hair growth and prevents hair loss. Apply a small amount of tgin buttercream to each section of your hair from the roots to the ends and enjoy smooth and moisturized natural hair. tgin is free from sulfate, paraben, or other harmful chemicals.
4. Apply Moisturizing Oil
Finally, apply moisturizing oil on top of the leave-in conditioner and the cream. Oil locks in and seals the moisture. Detangle with a wide-toothed comb and put each section into a twist. Your hair is now well moisturized and sealed. You can start styling it with the style of your preference.
OGX Argan Oil – Extra Penetrating Oil for Stubborn Dry Hair
OGX is an extract of Moroccan Argan oil specifically formulated for dry coarse hair. The treatment is an extra penetrating formula that goes deep into the cuticles of dry type 4 hair and delivers hydration, softness, and shine. It also protects your hair from damage and breakage.
Apply a small amount to each section of your hair on the top of the leave-in conditioner and the cream to seal the moisture.
Related:- Best Oils for Low Porosity Hair
The Steaming Method
Steaming is another popular way of moisturizing and sealing low porosity hair. After deep cleansing with a clarifying shampoo and towel drying your hair till it gets damp wet, follow these steps to moisturize and seal your hair.
1. Apply deep conditioner or hair masque
To feed your hair with the necessary nourishing ingredients that it needs to get moisturized and hydrated, apply a deep conditioner or a hair masque. Put your hair into small sections and apply a generous amount of deep conditioner or hair mask to each section. Distribute evenly till your entire hair is covered up. Put each section into a twist.
SheaMoisture Shampoo, Conditioner, and Hair Masque Combination Set
SheaMoisture is a combo of Clarifying shampoo, deep conditioner, and hair masque. The formula contains three main ingredients; Shea butter, Manuka Honey, and Mafura oil.
It is intensive hydration set perfect for dry type 4 low porosity hair. You can use either the deep conditioner or the hair masque for your steaming session. You can see the results right after applying the treatment conditioner or the hair masque to your hair. Your hair becomes moisturized, soft, and smooth right away.
2. Steam your hair
Steaming opens up your hair pores letting the conditioner or hair masque penetrate your hair strands. Sit underneath a tabletop steamer for 15 to 20 minutes so that your hair gets enough time to suck all the essential nutrients from your conditioner and hair masque.
Read more 5 best hair steamers in 2020.
3. Detangle
After your hair gets all the nutrients of the conditioner or hair masque, it looks soft, smooth, and shiny. Untwist each section and detangle with your fingers first, and then with a wide-toothed comb. Make sure your comb glides easily through your hair without getting blocked by tangles.
4. Rinse in water
To seal the moisture, rinse your hair with cold water. Apply a finishing hair spray to finally lock in the moisture. Your hair is now moisturized and ready for styling.
Hair Care Tips for Low Porosity Hair
Every hair type has its own characteristics, and the first thing you should do to care for your hair is to learn a lot about it. The more you know about your hair, the better you care for it as every hair type has its own hair care routine specific to its texture and characteristics.
Low porosity hair has its own beauty. If you understand it well and provide it the proper hair care regimen it deserves, you sure will enjoy the unique beauty and style it has in it.
Unique Characteristics of Low Porosity Hair
The following are the main things that make your hair unique;
- Low porosity directly refers to low ability to retain moisture which results in dry hair. Your hair is dry coarse hair that needs much more extra moisture and hydration than other hair types.
- Low porosity hair is more prone to product build-up as hair products don’t penetrate through the cuticles but rather they sit on the top of the hair and creating build-ups.
- It is resistant to chemical processes, such as coloring.
- It gets tangled easily and comb-detangling is a bit hard.
Pre-poo /Pre-Shampoo
Pre-poo is applying a treatment to your hair before going through the shampoo process. It prepares your hair for shampooing providing it with the moisture your scalp and hair needs. Applying a pre-poo treatment protects and shields your hair from dryness that can be caused by your shampoo. It also makes detangling much easier through providing your hair a good slip.
Related:- How to Pre Poo Low Porosity Hair
African Pride Moisture Miracle – A Pre-Shampoo for dry hair
African Pride Moisture Miracle is a pre-shampoo specifically made for dry hair. It is formulated from Aloe vera and coconut water. Aloe is a natural moisturizer that hydrates and replenishes your hair’s natural groom. It also protects your hair from breakage and damage. Coconut water gives strength and extra moisture.
Apply a generous amount of African pride pre-shampoo to your hair and distribute all over your hair. Detangle with your fingers or a comb, and then rinse with water. Now you can proceed with shampooing as your hair is well moisturized and detangled.
Shampoo twice a month
Washing and drying low porosity hair takes a longer time than other hair types. Your hair doesn’t get wet easily, and either air drying or blow drying it takes a long time. Regular Shampooing washes away essential nutrients and oils from your hair and might lead to hair damage and breakage. Shampooing with clarifying shampoos twice a month is enough for your hair type. Excessive washing washes away essential oils and nutrients from your hair and causes breakage and damage. You can co-wash (Conditioner wash) with cleansing conditioners weekly, in between shampoo washes, to keep your hair and scalp clean and maintain moisture.
Use a clarifying shampoo
Product build-up is one main issue you have to deal with while taking care of your hair. Your cuticles are close, and build-ups make the situation worse. Use clarifying shampoos for deep cleansing your hair and thoroughly clean product build-ups. Clarifying shampoos also help to clean your scalp and promote healthy hair growth.
Moisturize regularly
Moisturize daily or every other day to the latest. Apply moisturizing creams or oils for regular daily moisturizing. Deep condition and Steam or apply LCO weekly to keep it hydrated all the time.
Use your fingers and a wide-toothed comb for detangling
Tangled knots are common for your hair type. Brush detangling might be painful and may cause breakage, hair loss, and split ends. The simple way to detangle your hair is putting it into small sections, finger detangling it first, and then combing it with a wide-toothed comb b. Finger detangling is gentle on your hair and saves you from breakages and hair loss.
Limit styling
Low porosity hair is delicate and prone to damage and breakage. Limit styling and keep manipulation minimum. Do not try to wear every trend you spot out every day, rather select protective styles that are gentle on your hair and do not take much time. Twists and braids are good examples.
Incorporate Protein treatment
Protein is one of the building blocks of hair. It gives your hair structure and strength. A protein treatment helps your hair to retain back its natural protein and gain the natural shine and strength it has. Keratin protein treatments are the most popular proteins that give strength and shine to your hair.
Avoid using many different products
Find a few very good products that work great for your hair and stick to them rather than trying each product you find in the market claiming to be the ‘best’ for your hair type.
Be consistent with your hair care routine
We have come so far discussing hair care routine and tips you should follow to take care of your hair and maintain its health and natural beauty. Finally, we recommend you create a hair care routine that fits your budget, time, and lifestyle, and remain consistent with it. Make adjustments when you learn something new and beneficial, and take time to understand and know more about your hair every day.
