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15 Products for Low Porosity Hair to Nourish Your Dry Strands

Bring on the moisture

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By Chelsea Candelario
•
Published Mar 1, 2024

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a collage of products for low porosity hair in a pink background
Paula Boudes/PureWow

Do your strands get super dry right after washing and styling your hair? This might be a sign that you have low porosity hair, which means that any styling products you apply to it has a harder time penetrating the surface of your strands, so it all tends to just sit on top. Beyond weighing your hair down, this can lead to more dryness, breakage and tangles. And while all hair types can exhibit some level of low porosity, it’s usually more common within the curly community. Whether you’re searching for a shampoo, conditioner or leave-in styler, we found 15 products for low porosity hair that will finally bring moisture back to your strands.

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The Products for Low Porosity Hair at a Glance

1

Best Scalp Scrub

Briogeo Scalp Revival Scalp Scrub Shampoo

read more

$42 at SEPHORA
2

Best Mousse

The Doux CRAZYSEXYCURL Honey Setting Foam

read more

$16; $13 at amazon
3

Best Shampoo

PATTERN Cleansing Shampoo

read more

$21 at ulta
4

Best Conditioner

Mielle Pomegranate & Honey Moisturizing and Detangling Conditioner

read more

$14 at ulta
5

Best Leave-In Conditioner

TGIN Green Tea Super Moist Leave-In Conditioner

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$16 at ulta

Show More

How We Chose Products for Low Porosity Hair

As a beauty editor, and someone with low porosity hair, I test tons of products for a living. So much so that I've found a few haircare items that actually work for locking in moisture and strengthening my strands. And when you also add having curly, color-treated hair into the mix, my recommendations vary from nourishing scalp scrubs (like Briogeo) to cleansing shampoos (like Pattern). Keep reading to learn more about my favorites and a few popular picks by reviewers.

products for low porosity hair bridges scalp revival micro exfoliating shampoo scrub
Sephora

Best Scalp Scrub

1. Briogeo Scalp Revival Scalp Scrub Shampoo

What We Like

  • contains natural ingredients
  • safe for color-treated hair
  • Black-owned

What We Don't Like

  • can feel heavy on some hair types

Briogeo

This scrub shampoo aims to exfoliate, cleanse and soothe your scalp, swiftly clearing away any product build up, thanks to the binchotan charcoal in the formula. There’s also a blend of coconut oil, tea tree oil and panthenol in it that moisturizes the scalp, reduces itchiness and prevents dryness. As someone with low porosity hair, I find that this scrub is great at cleansing my scalp and it has a nice minty sensation to it that feels cooling and soothing.

Fast Facts

  • Key Ingredients: binchotan charcoal
  • Scent: minty
  • Best For: oily scalp, flakes, dandruff
$42 at SEPHORA
$42 AT AMAZON
products for low porosity hair the doux mousse
Amazon

Best Mousse

2. The Doux CRAZYSEXYCURL Honey Setting Foam

What We Like

  • helps define curls
  • lightweight formula
  • Black-owned

What We Don't Like

  • sticky texture

The Doux

When it comes to shopping for products for low porosity hair, you want to make sure they have nourishing ingredients that can help lock in moisture, reduce frizz and improve shine. This setting foam checks off all the boxes with honey, aloe, bamboo and silk amino acids in the formula. I just started using mousse this year and this leave-in has helped define my curls without any flakes or crunchiness. The formula is also very lightweight and provides a flexible hold for all hair types. 

Fast Facts

  • Key Ingredients: honey, aloe, bamboo, silk amino acids
  • Scent: sweet honey
  • Best For: frizz, dullness, dryness
$16; $13 at amazon
$15 at sally beauty
products for low porosity hair pattern cleansing shampoo
Ulta

Best Shampoo

3. PATTERN Cleansing Shampoo

What We Like

  • great for curly and coily hair
  • has a nice lather
  • Black-owned

What We Don't Like

  • might feel drying for some hair types

Pattern

This cleansing shampoo will improve your wash day and many fans of PATTERN attest to that (including this editor right here). It helps remove product build up and revive your scalp to prep it for conditioner. Crafted with matcha green tea, panthenol and aloe vera, the formula helps strengthen strands and bring moisture back. This shampoo caters to curly, coily and tighter textures, so you’ll get a deep cleanse without away stripping natural oils; it also encourages cuticles to open up for maximum moisture. 

Fast Facts

  • Key Ingredients: matcha green tea, aloe vera, panthenol
  • Scent: jasmine, bergamot, sweet sandalwood
  • Best For: brittle strands, oily scalp, dryness
$21 at ulta
$21 at sephora
products for low porosity hair mielle organics
Ulta

Best Conditioner

4. Mielle Pomegranate & Honey Moisturizing and Detangling Conditioner

What We Like

  • pleasant scent
  • hydrating formula
  • Black-founded

What We Don't Like

  • might feel heavy for some hair types

Mielle

Conditioner is key for low porosity hair, and this Mielle pick hits the spot. The rich formula helps lock in moisture, strengthen strands and prevent breakage. Infused with pomegranate and honey, this conditioner helps moisturize low porosity locks and it smells divine. Once I rinse out the product, I find it leaves my hair super soft and makes detangling easier in the shower.

Fast Facts

  • Key Ingredients: pomegranate, honey
  • Scent: sweet
  • Best For: dryness, breakage, split ends
$14 at ulta
$12 at amazon
products for low porosity hair tgin leave-in
Ulta

Best Leave-In Conditioner

5. TGIN Green Tea Super Moist Leave-In Conditioner

What We Like

  • nourishing ingredients
  • helps define curls
  • Black-owned

What We Don't Like

  • may feel heavy for some hair types

tgin

If ‘super moist’ is in the name, we expect it to deliver a hydrating punch—and it does. This leave-in conditioner is formulated with green tea extract to prevent dandruff and soften strands, along with argan oil, which has been proven to fight frizz, reduce dryness and encourage healthy hair growth. It also has a nice slip to it and leaves you with silky, soft curls. 

Fast Facts

  • Key Ingredients: green tea, argan oil
  • Scent: green tea
  • Best For: frizz, dandruff, brittle strands
$16 at ulta
$16; $15 at amazon
Ulta

Best Daily Moisturizer

6. TGIN Butter Cream Daily Moisturizer

What We Like

  • creamy texture
  • great for twist outs
  • Black-owned

What We Don't Like

  • might feel heavy for some hair types

TGIN

This daily moisturizer adds hydration back to dry areas like no other. Aside from the 5,000 5-star reviews on Amazon, I also stand by this styling cream. Its blend of cocoa and shea butter locks in moisture, improves shine and reduces frizz. You’ll also find vitamin E oil, which encourages healthy hair growth and balances oil production on the scalp, according to Healthline. The styling cream melts into my strands and doesn’t feel heavy or greasy during the day. The lightweight texture also provides shine and adds softness for bouncier curls.

Fast Facts

  • Key Ingredients: shea butter, vitamin E
  • Scent: shea butter
  • Best For: dryness, frizz, dullness
$16 at ulta
$15 at amazon
products for low porosity hair granteva
Amazon

Best Hooded Dryer

7. Granteva Hooded Hair Dryer

What We Like

  • works on all hair types
  • has adjustable drawstring
  • best-selling hair drying hoods on Amazon

What We Don't Like

  • can only leave it low setting to avoid overheating

Granteva

Here’s your sign to get into the hair steaming game. This hooded hair dryer brings the salon treatment right to your home. It’s designed to connect to most blow dryers, so you can get adequate airflow with no problem. It also has an adjustable velcro strap and drawstrings for a comfortable fit, as well as an integrated headband to protect your ears from the heat. The brand claims it’s a great tool for deep conditioning and I found it gets the job done. It provides even heat distribution and helps deeply penetrate my haircare products for frizz-free, defined curls. I also appreciate that it’s travel-friendly, so I can take it wherever I go without it taking up too much space in my bag. 

Fast Facts

  • Key Ingredients: N/A
  • Scent: N/A
  • Best For: dryness
$30; $16 At Amazon
products for low porosity hair glow by day deep conditioning heat cap
Kohl's

Best Heating Cap

8. Glow by Daye Deep Conditioning Heat Cap

What We Like

  • travel-friendly
  • great for coily hair
  • Black-owned

What We Don't Like

  • limited availability

Glow By Daye

If hair steaming isn’t your jam, a deep conditioning cap might do the trick. This heat cap is crafted with microfiber cotton for a comfortable fit and has a flaxseed-lined interior to lock in some much-needed moisture to your natural hair. One of our fellow PureWow editors tested the heating cap and found that it really improved the condition of her 4C coils: "Because of this cap, my hair can easily reap the benefits of my deep conditioning treatments while I multitask. Plus, I don’t have to worry about fidgeting in a chair under intense heat every other month. For that, my curls and I are beyond grateful."

Fast Facts

  • Key Ingredients: N/A
  • Scent: N/A
  • Best For: dryness
$38 At kohl's
products for low porosity hair shea moisture
Amazon

Best Bundle

9. SheaMoisture Low Porosity Shampoo and Conditioner Set

What We Like

  • sulfate-free formula
  • great for all hair types

What We Don't Like

  • strong scent
  • might feel heavy for some hair types

SheaMoisture

Looking to spruce up your wash and style routine? SheaMoisture has you covered. This set is specifically designed for low porosity hair, featuring a blend of baobab, tea tree, rapeseed and sunflower oils, along with shea butter. It comes with a shampoo, conditioner and leave-in detangler to soften strands, cleanse the scalp and improve the overall appearance of dry, brittle hair. As one reviewer shares, "For 40 years my hair felt like a riddle I couldn't crack: [not] exactly thick, not exactly curly, [there’s] so much of it but [it has] zero ability to hold a style, takes forever to dry [and] the list goes on. I started reading about low porosity hair, tried these products, and cannot believe the difference. Finally, a conditioner that doesn't just make my hair slimy! Ironically, my hair feels coarse after I use this product, but once I dry it, it's softer than ever before without being greasy.

Fast Facts

  • Key Ingredients: baobab oil, tea tree oil, grapeseed oil, sunflower oil, shea butter
  • Scent: shea butter
  • Best For: frizz, dryness
$36 at Amazon
$13 At Ulta (shampoo only)
products for low porosity hair Bomba curls Dominican forbidden hair mask
Nordstrom

Best Hair Mask

10. Bomba Curls Dominican Forbidden Hair Mask

What We Like

  • creamy formula
  • contains natural ingredients
  • Afro-Latinx-owned

What We Don't Like

  • not great for gray hair
  • strong scent

Bomba Curls

If you have low porosity hair, add this moisturizing hair mask to your routine. Featuring cinnamon, pistachio oil and cupuaçu butter, it offers a boost of hydration to limp locks, while restoring elasticity and encouraging healthy hair growth. Leave it on for 20 minutes and apply heat for best results. As one reviewer shares, "I neglected my hair for a month and deep conditioned [using] this mask and [afterwards] my curls were THRIVING!! I now use this mask every two weeks and I have definitely noticed a difference in my hair. My curls are juicier, softer and it's growing.”

Fast Facts

  • Key Ingredients: cinnamon, pistachio oil, cupuaçu butter
  • Scent: tropical
  • Best For: elasticity, shine, dryness
$28 at nordstrom
$28 at thirteen lune
products for low porosity hair olaplex no 6 bond smoother reparative styling creme
Sephora

Best Bonding Cream

11. Olaplex No. 6 Bond Smoother Reparative Styling Creme

What We Like

  • the best-selling styling cream on Amazon
  • hydrating ingredients
  • great for frizz

What We Don't Like

  • might feel drying for some hair types

Olaplex

This styling product aims to repair and nourish your strands through Olaplex’s proprietary bond building technology, which claims to strengthen and protect your hair against daily stressors (i.e., sun, pollution and heat) and regulate your porosity levels. The key ingredient, bis-aminopropyl diglycol diamleate, repairs broken bonds, so you can have replenished, frizz-free hair. "I live in Tampico, Mexico, which is the second most humid place on earth! I struggle a lot with frizz and dryness due to humidity, but this product (along with no. 7) has worked wonders, while also strengthening my hair. Also, the new pump helps with portion control and [prevents me from using] all the product. I recommend it a lot for curly girlies," says one shopper. 

Fast Facts

  • Key Ingredients: bis-aminopropyl diglycol dimaleate
  • Scent: N/A
  • Best For: damaged, frizz, dryness
$30 At Ulta
$30 At Amazon
products for low porosity hair bondiboost rapid repair serum
Ulta

Best Hair Serum

12. BondiBoost Rapid Repair Serum

What we Like

  • safe for color-treated hair
  • contains clean ingredients
  • non-greasy formula

What We Don't Like

  • not great for fine hair

BondiBoost

Whether you’re using it after a wash or implementing it as a daily styling product, this hair serum offers the support your low porosity locks need. Formulated with macadamia and coconut oil, the leave-in serum nourishes and conditions strands, while the chamomile extract strengthens split ends and damaged areas. Shoppers say it helps repair ends, reduces frizz and seals in moisture. "I really liked the end result, as the frizz and dryness levels really decreased for a couple days. I used this serum on the ends of my hair where I have chemically-treated hair (bleached it three times) and it seems like it fused my split ends temporarily," explains one reviewer.

Fast Facts

  • Key Ingredients: macadamia oil, coconut oil, chamomile extract
  • Scent: clean
  • Best For: dryness, breakage, split ends
$28 at ulta
$28 at sephora
products for low porosity hair Sienna naturals Issa are wash day ritual set
Nordstrom

Best Collection

13. Sienna Naturals Issa’s Wash Day Ritual Set

What We Like

  • comes with shampoo, leave-in conditioner, scalp oil and hair mask
  • Black-owned

What We Don't Like

  • strong scent

Sienna Naturals

If the beauty aisles feel a bit too overwhelming, this set simplifies things for you. The tightly curated collection of Issa Rae’s go-to products includes a moisture-rich shampoo that cleanses and removes build-up without stripping your hair. There’s also a leave-in conditioner and a hair oil that soothes the scalp and nourishes your strands. And let’s not forget the hair mask, which aims to strengthen strands, minimize breakage and hydrate low porosity hair using aloe leaf juice, glycerin and baobab oil. For one shopper, the collection was a great option for her natural hair. "Best investment ever. The whole line makes my hair soft and manageable. My hair has been starving for added moisture [and] this brand has given it the right balance," they say.

Fast Facts

  • Key Ingredients: shea butter, coconut oil, baobab oil
  • Scent: lavender, geranium
  • Best For: dryness, damaged, chemically-treated, color-treated
$98 At Nordstrom
$108; $98 At Sienna Naturals
products for low porosity k18
Sephora

Best Clarifying Shampoo

14. K18 Peptide Prep Color-Safe Detox Clarifying Shampoo

What We Like

  • safe for color-treated
  • great for oily scalp
  • has clean ingredients

What We Don't Like

  • might feel heavy for some hair types

K18

This clarifying shampoo works to deeply cleanse the scalp without drying out strands. Formulated with activated charcoal, salicylic acid and peptides, the formula has a reputation for removing buildup and completely revitalizing dry hair. As one shopper says, “I've got wavy to curly hair, so finding a great clarifying shampoo that doesn't strip my hair of natural oils and moisture is tough. This shampoo has been so great in keeping my scalp so nice and clean [and my] hair soft and healthy. Although I'm not in love with the smell—I find it doesn't linger, so it doesn't matter. Despite that, I still think this shampoo is fabulous.”

Fast Facts

  • Key Ingredients: activated charcoal, salicylic acid, peptides
  • Scent: fresh citrus
  • Best For: color-treated hair, damaged, breakage, oily scalp
$38 At sephora
$38 At amazon
products for low porosity hair adwoa
Sephora

Best Hair Milk

15. Adwoa Beauty Melonberry Hair Milk

What We Like

  • has clean ingredients
  • pleasant scent
  • Black-owned

What We Don't Like

  • finicky pump

Adwoa Beauty

This leave-in conditioner promises to moisturize and soften low porosity hair. Its nourishing oil blend of kalahari melon, red raspberry and strawberry helps hydrate dry strands, while preventing any moisture loss and taming frizz. Though the hair milk works great for all hair types, it’s targeted towards finer locks as it doesn’t weigh them down. “I use this religiously! I love the smell and it goes on without mess and absorbs quickly. My ends feel soft and overall, my hair feels so much better,” shares one shopper.

Fast Facts

  • Key Ingredients: kalahari melon seed oil, red raspberry seed oil, strawberry seed oil
  • Scent: light berry
  • Best For: dullness, dryness, frizz
$24 At sephora
$22 At amazon

Frequently Asked Questions

What Is Porosity?

Porosity refers to your hair’s ability to absorb and retain moisture. The level of porosity can determine how much water and other products are able to penetrate your hair and scalp. As Dr. Karen Kagha, a board-certified dermatologist, previously explained to us: “The hair cuticle plays a role in the porosity of the hair because it acts as a protective barrier to the hair shaft,” adding that “the cuticle can be damaged by heat, over-manipulation or chemicals, thus altering the hair’s porosity.”

How Can I Figure Out the Porosity of My Hair?

If you need help figuring out your own hair porosity, the water test is your best bet. Simply grab a glass of water, gather a few strands and drop them into the water. Watch how your hair reacts to the H2O. If it floats to the surface, you have low porosity hair; if it sinks, you have high porosity hair. And if it stays in the middle of the glass, you likely have medium to normal porosity.

What Are Some Ways to Care for Low Porosity Hair?

Don’t fret, folks. If you have low porosity hair, there are some tried-and-true solutions to bringing back moisture.

1. Use hydrating ingredients. It starts with using products that cleanse, strengthen and nourish your low porosity locks. Whether it’s a clarifying shampoo or a hydrating hair mask, look for fatty acids (like avocado) and humectants (like honey) in your hair care products. These nourishing ingredients help penetrate your cuticles, seal in moisture, add softness and shine, as well as improve elasticity overtime. 
2. Avoid protein-based products. On the flip side, those with low porosity hair should steer clear of heavy butters and oils (i.e., shea butter, coconut and castor oil). These ingredients can weigh down your locks and cause product build up. If you need to add hair oil into the mix, look for lightweight formulas with ingredients like argan oil, vitamin E oil and grapeseed oil instead.  
3. Try deep conditioning. Invest in a hair mask and add some heat to your wash routine. After applying a mask, use a conditioning cap or try hair steaming. The latter method is known to lift the cuticle and make it easier to seal in moisture. 

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about face matte fluid eye paint review chelsea candelario
Chelsea Candelario

Associate Editor, Ultimate Fangirl, Aspiring Beauty Guru

Chelsea Candelario is an Associate Editor at PureWow. She has been covering beauty, culture, fashion and entertainment for over a decade. You'll find her searching the internet...
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