Products for Low Porosity Hair

[lithostoic]

I've just found out my hair is low porosity (did 3 different tests) and it makes so much sense. My hair takes ages to get wet then ages again to dry. And Argan oil worked great on my hair when I used to use it.

Could anyone recommend me some products for my hair? Shampoos, conditioners, deep treatments, leave ins, anythin you can think of that works well for lo po hair.

Maybe I'll edit this post later on and compile a master list!

[chen bao jun]

I don't know that a particular product works so much as judiciously using heat. pre treatments of oil or whatever under a cap dryer or steamer, deep treatments with same. And then, when you finish everything, always a cool or cool water rinse to seal the cuticles again, preferable with a touch of vinegar or some other mild acid like that (some use vitamin c)

[lapushka]

Those float tests aren't reliable. If regular dye sticks to your hair, and you have been able to perm it in the past, chances are it is *normal* porosity. Not low. Low is when all chemical services fail and it is *very* rare!

[ooo]

I secondwhat lapushka sait! It is just when you are following curly hair boards you get the idea, that normal porosity does not exist. Almost everyone thinks there, they are either heigh (not sooo many) or low porosity (most).

[chen bao jun]

It may be rare but it exists.

It might depend on what population you are talking about too. Lots and lots of Asian people have (coarse) 'resistant' hair--resistant meaning its not impossible, but its a real pain to get chemicals to take and actually do anything. I learned a lot about taking care of my hair over there--nobody here that I knew (even hair dressers) could figure out why somebody whose hair really is not that curly (for a black person anyway) required super perm chemicals left on their hair so long that I literally would get scalp burns--and then my hair still wouldn't be straight and yes, why dye wouldn't go in, much less things that weren't chemicals (I had the perpetual problem where I would condition and condition and oil and oil and everything would just stay on top, so that I still had incredibly dry hair--dry AND greasy.)

Learning about low porosity was literally a life saver for my hair, so I would say, while she may be misdiagnosing with those tests, if she is having certain problems (resistance to chemicals is definitely a huge sign), she may be a low-po. As I very certainly am (though I've met few other black people who are. I'd think lo-po would be rare among curlies just because all the bends form the curls ought to make the cuticles lift in places, but I guess I'm the proof that it's possible).

[khryz]

Before getting products, have you experimented with different techniques of haircare? Things like co-washing, CWC, etc, stretching washes. Maybe the products are useful, but the technique doesn't make your hair happy.

Things like SMTs with humectants, shea butter, coconut oil will help your hair hold moisture. You can consider doing an oil rinse (http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/showthread.php?t=129191) when washing, experimenting with your argan oil.

Perhaps this is also why things like argan oil work well for you. I wouldn't fret over the shampoo, unless you've specific scalp needs where you have to decide between sulfate or no-sulfate. Try to avoid protein-rich conditioners as it can build up easily. Basically, humectants/glycerin will be your best friends if you're lo-po. :)

For me, I never quite figured out what my hair porosity is. I started off with hardy Asian hair, like chen bao jun described. Chemical treatments had a hard time penetrating my hair. Of course now with bleach and stuff, it's a lot more porous... but oh my virgin growth needs quite a bit of "coaxing" too.

Anyway, my point is that, perhaps instead of focusing on the porosity of your hair, think about what products has made your hair feel good before, and try out different techniques with products you already have that your hair may like. HTHs!

[chen bao jun]

"coaxing" is a great way to put it, Kryz. As I said, I am so glad I went to Asia so I learned about this. You are right--the techniques are more important than the products. For everybody, I think, but for lo-pos especially. I literally thought I had straw for hair, so far as the feel of it went. I was glad it was strong (coarse, lo-po hair is very strong) but it felt so awful. I do those things you mentioned now--SMT--and I use my hair dryer to get the moisture from it in, oil rinse and I love my humectants (except in winter here when its very dry). I watch the protein, as I get over proteined easily, but I do need some on my ends, which are still wrecked from pre LHC--mostly from the chronic dryness I had.

And now it feels like hair and is not dry and not greasy either.

I love your pink color. That must have been heck to get into resistant hair, but its sure worth it for the looks.