What oils are good for low-porosity hair

Low porosity hair has the external layer of the hair shaft tightly connected. It cannot readily absorb moisture and hair oils. Thus, losing elasticity, gaining brittleness and weakness, low porosity hair is the type of hair that can be called dry by default. Selecting proper oils for your hair, especially for low porosity hair type, adds moisture to the hair fibers and seals them. This article will outline which oils should be used for low-porosity hair and how they should be used.

What Is Low Porosity Hair and What Makes Hair Have Low Porosity?

Low porosity hair is usually genetic, but there are also lifestyle factors that can lead to the tight sealing of cuticles:

- Chemicals and over-processing, such as frequently using a hair dryer, straightener, or hot iron.

- Damages due to sun, wind, and pollution  

- Mineral obtained from hard water

- Build up from hair products

10 Signs That Show You Have Low Porosity Hair

Here are the common signs and characteristics of low-porosity hair:

• Strands have a sandpaper-like texture, or simply they are dry to the touch 
• The hair is dry looking and has no sheen on it.
• Rather, products rest at the top of strands rather than ingested
• Stiff and takes a long time to wet but will also take approximately one hour or more to dry.
• Susceptible to swelling and hair damage.
• Very hard to deform, fracture, or chemically treat
• Chances are, if your hair exhibits more than one of these characteristics, it is low porosity.  

The Best Oils Suitable for Low Hair Porosity

1- Coconut Oil

Coconut oil is an effective and multipurpose hair oil containing fatty acids and vitamins that are beneficial to the hair. It has a thin consistency which isn’t heavy on the hair and will not weigh down thin low porosity hair. It also suggests that the small molecule structure enables it to easily pass through the cuticle layer. 

Coconut oil is best for pre-poo, on wet hair used as leave-in or on dry hair to eliminate frizzy hair ends and flyaway. It is most effective to employ focus application to mid-length hair, particularly the ends.

2- Argan Oil

This particular oil is called the ‘liquid gold’ for the hairs. Argan comprises vitamin E, antioxidants, and the linoleic acid obtained through the kernels of the Moroccan argan tree. When it comes to Low porosity hair it helps to improve the hair strands that may be adversely affected making them brittle. Also, it works to fix damages on these hair types.

It is recommended to apply argan oil before wash day, you can apply it as a natural treatment at night. It can also be used mixed in your favorite conditioner or styling products in a few drops for added benefits. 

3- Grapeseed Oil 

It is a refined delicate oil containing vitamin E, antioxidants, minerals, and linoleic acid. Due to its formulation, this light oil disappears gently into the hair with low porosity leaving no residue behind. It incorporates extra moisture and lustre and gives one a natural look to avoid losing hair moisture.

Massage grapeseed oil on the damp hair and then styling using heat. The heat should benefit the penetration of the oil for added conditioning.

4- Avocado Oil

Oleic acid revived in avocado oil promotes scalp health, thus acting as a conditioner for the dry and porous hair strands, vitamins A, D, and E enhance hair shaft. It’s a lightweight formulation that doesn’t leave the fine-haired feel sticky, thus not greasy. 

Dip your fingertips in warm avocado oil then massage gently unto dry hair because it assists in improving the hair’s shine and elasticity. Shower cap for 30minutes before washing it off with the regular soap and water.

5- Jojoba Oil

To be precise, jojoba is a liquid wax closest to the natural scalp sebum that people produce. This makes it quickly penetrates strands of low porosity hair to improve softness and moisture penetration. As a wax, it covers the hair to eliminate dampness too.

Forms of Oils and How to Incorporate Them into Low Hair Density follicles

When using oils on low porosity hair, good technique is critical for allowing penetration into the strands:

- Apply to damp or dry hair: It is well known that oils are better absorbed in wet or dry hair as opposed to hair that is saturated with water.  

- It is also essential to warm the oil before application. Nothing is as effective as heat expanding the cuticles to allow oil penetration.

- Mix with other ingredients: Mixing oils with the conditioners, treatments or styling products helps get into the hair shaft. 

- Massage and distribute thoroughly – Do not rush when applying oils to hair. This makes for better absorption and doesn’t cause greasiness.  

- Less is better – Porous hair cannot soak up much product but just a little will go a long way; too much of oil will just lay on hair.

- Allow extra processing time – Oils should be left in the low porosity hair for not less than 30 minutes before washing off. 

Conclusion

Certain oils can significantly improve moisture, shine, strength as well as assist with handling low porosity hair. Some natural oils are coconut oil, argon oil, grape seed oil, avocado oil and jojoba oil. These are much better suited to adequately applied on the hair shaft and help moisturise the porous strands of hair.