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This article was co-authored by Shun Pittman and by How.com.vn staff writer, Janice Tieperman. Shun Pittman is a Master Cosmetologist, Author, Owner, and Founder of Corps d’Elite Salon and Corps d’Elite Beauty. With over 25 years of international experience, she is dedicated to and specializes in providing luxury salon services to all hair types and textures and every skin tone and shade. Her services include hair conditioning treatments, cutting, coloring, styling, extensions, and makeup application. Shun has experience working with, coaching, training, and mentoring beauty professionals from multiple companies including L'Oréal, Wella, Matrix, Paul Mitchell, Redken, Big Sexy Hair, and Toni & Guy. She is also a host for national and local media outlets and her work has been featured in The Washingtonian, The Cheddar Network, and WJLA Good Morning Washington's Beauty and Fashion Police segments. Shun is the author of “50 Things Your Hairdresser Wants YOU to Know (and a few things we don’t...)".
There are 10 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page.
This article has been viewed 15,675 times.
Hair porosity is a fancy term for your hair’s ability to hold in moisture. Porous hair, sometimes referred to as high-porosity hair, tends to dry out really quickly.[1] Thankfully, it’s easy to tweak your beauty regimen so that your tresses stay nourished and healthy. Take a look at your current hair care routine and see what kinds of products and treatments might work for your porous hair!
Steps
Choose oil- and cream-based hair products to add moisture. As a general rule of thumb, shop for thicker, richer products to nourish and moisturize your hair. Look for products with the words “cream” and “oil” in the label, as opposed to water-based ingredients—these products will give your hair a great moisturizing boost. While oils are important to high-porosity haircare, they need a cream product in order to be effective.[2]
Look for products with protein-rich ingredients that strengthen your hair. Shop for shampoos and conditioners with special ingredients listed along the side, like silk protein, wheat, or keratin. If you’d prefer a more inexpensive protein solution, create a DIY protein mask by cracking open an egg and spreading it through your hair.[5]- If you use a protein treatment, always treat your hair with a moisturizing deep conditioner afterward.[6]
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Wash your hair with a moisturizing shampoo. Look for shampoos with the word “moisturizing” on the label so that you aren't using something that strips your hair of its natural oils. Double-check that your shampoo doesn’t have any sulfates, which aren’t very good for your hair.[7]- Ingredients like amino acids and marine algae extract are great additions when treating high-porosity hair.
Go through any tangles with a wide-tooth comb. Be gentle with your hair—if you’re dealing with a lot of tangles, don’t try to wrestle with a brush. Instead, grab a wide-tooth comb and work your way through the tangles. It may take a little more time, but your hair will thank you for it![8]
Spritz your hair with vinegar on an as-needed basis. Fill a spray bottle with a diluted mixture of apple cider vinegar and water (4 parts water to one part vinegar), which can help close your hair cuticles and better seal in moisture. Spray the diluted vinegar through your hair whenever you feel like balancing the pH a bit.[9]- Aloe vera gel can also help balance your hair’s pH.
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Apply a leave-in conditioner to your clean, damp hair. The LCO method is a fancy term for Liquid/Leave-in Conditioner, Cream, and Oil, a 3-step process that keeps your hair moisturized and nourished.[10] After washing your hair, work your leave-in conditioner of choice through your hair with a detangling brush or your fingers.[11]- You can use a leave-in conditioner on its own to refresh your hair throughout the week.
Work styling cream or butter through hair. Grab your favorite cream or butter product, which will help add a lot of moisture into your hair. If you aren’t a fan of traditional cream products, look for a custard-like product instead.[12]
Finish things off with your oil of choice. Grab your favorite oil and spread it throughout the different sections of your hair, which will help keep them moisturized and nourished. You don’t have to use any specific oil for this—any natural oil will get the job done.[13]- Argan and jojoba oil are great options to consider for this.
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Toss out any products with damaging ingredients to keep your hair healthy. Avoid shampoos and conditioners with sulfates, which do a lot of damage to your hair over time.[18] Additionally, stay away from products like bleach and hair relaxers, which can increase your hair porosity and aren’t that great for your hair overall.[19]- Focus on haircare products with healthy ingredients, like natural oils.
- Chat with your stylist to make sure you're using the right shampoo, conditioner, and/or treatment for your hair type and hair texture.[20]
Wear a hat outdoors to prevent your hair from getting more porous. Direct sunlight can hurt your cuticles over time, which can lead to hair damage. If you like to spend time outdoors, wear a comfortable hat to protect yourself.[21]
Stay away from heat styling products to protect your porous hair. Don’t use iron curlers or straighteners, if possible. These items can do a lot of damage to your hair, and aren’t worth it for a temporary style fix. If you’re interested in long-term styling changes to your hair, talk to a stylist or haircare professional for help.[22]
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Tips
- If you aren’t sure what type of hair you have, try a porosity test with a single strand of hair.[23]Thanks
- Keratin treatments can help strengthen your hair and get rid of some of your curls and frizziness. Visit your local salon to see if this treatment is a good fit for you.[24]Thanks
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Warnings
- Touching your hair only leads damage in the long run. If you tend to touch your hair as a nervous habit, look into healthier alternatives.[25]Thanks
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References
- ↑ https://www.cau.edu/curc/Symposium%20Files/3%20-%20Oral%20STEAM.pdf
- ↑ https://www.elle.com/beauty/hair/a31991850/high-porosity-hair-care/
- ↑ https://www.shape.com/lifestyle/beauty-style/low-high-porosity-hair
- ↑ https://blacknaps.org/the-best-products-for-high-porosity-hair/
- ↑ https://www.elle.com/beauty/hair/a31991850/high-porosity-hair-care/
- ↑ https://blacknaps.org/the-best-products-for-high-porosity-hair/
- ↑ https://www.vogue.com/article/high-porosity-hair-products-according-to-the-pros
- ↑ https://www.ouidad.com/blog/curly-hair-routine-101/all-about-porosity
- ↑ https://blacknaps.org/the-best-products-for-high-porosity-hair/
- ↑ https://www.elle.com/beauty/hair/a31991850/high-porosity-hair-care/
- ↑ https://www.ogleschool.edu/blog/lco-method-beginners-guide-styling-natural-hair/
- ↑ https://www.ogleschool.edu/blog/lco-method-beginners-guide-styling-natural-hair/
- ↑ https://www.elle.com/beauty/hair/a31991850/high-porosity-hair-care/
- ↑ Shun Pittman. Master Cosmetologist, Global Salon Educator & Author. Expert Interview. 7 September 2021.
- ↑ https://www.cau.edu/curc/Symposium%20Files/3%20-%20Oral%20STEAM.pdf
- ↑ Shun Pittman. Master Cosmetologist, Global Salon Educator & Author. Expert Interview. 7 September 2021.
- ↑ Shun Pittman. Master Cosmetologist, Global Salon Educator & Author. Expert Interview. 7 September 2021.
- ↑ https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/hair-products-harmful-ingredients-explained-parabens-sulfates-chemicals-a8395561.html/
- ↑ https://www.curlcentric.com/hair-porosity/
- ↑ Shun Pittman. Master Cosmetologist, Global Salon Educator & Author. Expert Interview. 7 September 2021.
- ↑ https://www.curlcentric.com/hair-porosity/
- ↑ https://www.cau.edu/curc/Symposium%20Files/3%20-%20Oral%20STEAM.pdf
- ↑ https://www.shape.com/lifestyle/beauty-style/low-high-porosity-hair
- ↑ https://blacknaps.org/the-best-products-for-high-porosity-hair/
- ↑ https://www.cau.edu/curc/Symposium%20Files/3%20-%20Oral%20STEAM.pdf
About This Article
Master Cosmetologist, Global Salon Educator & Author
This article was co-authored by Shun Pittman and by How.com.vn staff writer, Janice Tieperman. Shun Pittman is a Master Cosmetologist, Author, Owner, and Founder of Corps d’Elite Salon and Corps d’Elite Beauty. With over 25 years of international experience, she is dedicated to and specializes in providing luxury salon services to all hair types and textures and every skin tone and shade. Her services include hair conditioning treatments, cutting, coloring, styling, extensions, and makeup application. Shun has experience working with, coaching, training, and mentoring beauty professionals from multiple companies including L'Oréal, Wella, Matrix, Paul Mitchell, Redken, Big Sexy Hair, and Toni & Guy. She is also a host for national and local media outlets and her work has been featured in The Washingtonian, The Cheddar Network, and WJLA Good Morning Washington's Beauty and Fashion Police segments. Shun is the author of “50 Things Your Hairdresser Wants YOU to Know (and a few things we don’t...)". This article has been viewed 15,675 times.
Co-authors: 4
Updated: January 11, 2022
Views: 15,675
Categories: Hair Care
Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 15,675 times.
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