Porous hair is a common problem for those with curly and kinky hair. The cuticles are raised and the strands are unable to hold onto moisture, which makes the hair dry, frizzy, and difficult to style.
Fortunately, there are products available that can help correct the porosity of the hair and keep it looking healthy and shiny.
In this post, we’ll discuss what porous hair is, what causes it, and how to correct and maintain its condition using porosity-correcting products. Stay tuned!
If you’re curious or in a hurry
Roux Rejuvenating Porosity Control Corrector and Conditioner This specific product is my absolute favorite for my porous hair!
What Is Porous Hair?
Everyone’s hair strands have a certain level of porosity, and these levels range from low to high and can differ GREATLY from one person to another.
Not sure whether your strands are porous or maybe you don’t even know what that means.
In simple terms, hair porosity refers to a strand of hair’s ability to absorb and hold moisture. But here’s a look into Merriam-Webster as it pertains to something being porous— it possesses or is full of pores.
And, just like your skin your hair also has pores—although not the same type. All hair is porous, but damaged strands are even more intensely porous.
How To Know If Your Hair Is Porous
How do you know if your hair is porous? Usually, your hair’s cuticles do not lay flat and moisture escapes easily, causing frizz and excessive dryness. The more damage the cuticle has suffered, the greater the hair’s porosity and the more water or moisture it tends to absorb.
You may be thinking, “If my hair is dry, absorbs moisture easily, this is great, right? Not necessarily.
The downside of this high level of absorption is the high level of moisture loss that results from it. Highly porous hair absorbs more water when wet, but loses even more as it dries.
When it is dry, porous hair feels swollen, puffy and rough to the touch due to the lifted, damaged cuticle layers, which have instigated an inherent moisture deficiency.
Reasons Hair Becomes Porous
There are a number of reasons why hair can become porous. The most common reason is the use of high heat styling tools. Whether you’re using a curling iron, flat iron, or blow dryer, these devices can cause the hair shaft to become dry and brittle, leading to damage.
Brushing your hair often can also lead to porous hair. When you brush your hair, you’re essentially tearing through the strands, which can damage the cuticles and make the hair more susceptible to damage.
Hair can also become porous with a lot of sun exposure or damage from chemical treatments, such as bleaching, straightening, or perming.
Shampooing your hair frequently with harsh chemicals can also lead to porous hair. These sulfates are known to cause hair frizz, strip hair of moisture, leaving it dry and unhealthy.
Swimming in chlorinated water or salt water can also lead to porous hair. Chlorine not only strips away natural oils, it also leaves hair porosity and makes it more brittle.
Porous hair loses moisture easily. It will seem to absorb any kind of hair product, often feeling dry, brittle, rough and bumpy. It is also difficult to get porous hair to feel soft and pliable.
4 Porosity Correcting Hair Products To Try
Roux Porosity Control Corrector and Conditioner
If you have chemical damage from bleach or relaxers, etc. that left your hair extremely porous, dry, dehydrated, and brittle, then this is for you.
This equalizes porosity, returns hair to a balanced state, and infuses moisture for increased smoothness and vibrancy. This scientifically proven formula enriched with keratin and anti-oxidant vitamins closes the cuticle with a pH of 4.5 to rebuild a barrier of protection and achieve predictable results prior to chemical service.
I love that it takes only 2 minutes and it does exactly what it says. Your hair will feel and be stronger. This doubles as a great finishing rinse.
- Can be used weekly
- Contains Isopropyl Alcohol
Redken Extreme Bleach Recovery Lamellar Treatment
This is a rinse out treatment and conditioner that instantly moisturizes and nourishes bleached hair, color treated hair and damaged hair.
It’s like a liquid bandage for hair that has been damaged after receiving a highlights treatment.
This hair treatment, which is meant to be applied to wet hair, warms on contact and instantly improves softness, smoothness, and shine.
The Fix acts as your foundation and concealer to temporarily fill in the blemishes found in each strand.
- Contains silicone
Senscience CPR Cuticle Porosity Reconstructive Treatment.
This is an intensive two-step in salon restorative treatment that repairs the cuticle porosity deficiencies by replenishing vital nutrients that have been depleted from hair.
Fortifies, moisturizes and protects hair. Formulated with Keratin, Silk Amino Acids and Bio-Structurer to penetrate damaged cuticle layers to repair, smooth and seal for lasting protection that preserves moisture and shine.
If you want a quick fix, this is it.
Note: All of these products are great for maintenance after you have reset your porosity.