Key ingredients: aloe vera, coconut oil, and shea butter | Frequency of use: as often as desired | Sulfate-free: yes
Best Oil: Bread Beauty Supply Hair Oil Everyday Gloss
Why it’s worth it: Bread Beauty Supply Hair Oil Everyday Gloss is a lightweight oil that enhances moisture and shine without weighing hair down. Jose shares it’s one of her favorite low-porosity hair products because it’s made out of safflower seed, sweet almond, and castor oil, ingredients that more easily penetrate and absorb into the hair. This daily oil makes it easy to achieve a glossy finish that looks moisturized but won’t veer into greasy territory.
Key ingredients: kakadu plum oil and safflower oil | Frequency of use: as often as desired | Sulfate-free: yes
Best Heat Protectant: Bumble and Bumble Bb. Heat Shield Thermal Protection Mist
Why it’s worth it: Bumble and Bumble Bb Heat Shield Thermal Protection Mist is a lightweight mist boosted with antioxidants like vitamin E and sunflower seed oil to create a protective barrier, shielding your hair from heat-styling tools (up to temperatures of 450°F) and preventing moisture loss. This superfine, non-sticky formula ensures your hair feels soft and looks fresh, making it perfect for low-porosity strands that struggle with heavier products.
Key ingredients: jojoba seed oil, honey, and castor oil | Frequency of use: as often as desired | Sulfate-free: yes
Best Hair Mask: Sienna Naturals Plant Power Damage Repair Strengthening Hair Mask
Why it’s worth it: Sienna Naturals Plant Power Damage Repair Strengthening Hair Mask is a great choice for low-porosity hair in need of deep hydration and repair. Formulated with avocado oil, shea butter, and jojoba oil, this rich and creamy hair treatment improves elasticity and strengthens dry, dull strands. It’s recommended you use this mask one to four times a week and leave it on for around 10 minutes before rinsing with cold water.
Key ingredients: pea and baobab proteins, murumuru butter, and blue tansy oil | Frequency of use: one to four times per month | Sulfate-free: yes
Frequently Asked Questions
What is low-porosity hair?
Low-porosity hair is a hair type that is typically more resistant to absorbing moisture or products. According to cosmetic chemist Ginger King, low-porosity hair is most commonly associated with tightly coiled hair, but it’s important to note that it’s not exclusive to just this texture. “Low-porosity hair simply refers to strands that do not absorb products easily and frequently encounter issues with buildup,” King explains. This means that the cuticles of low-porosity hair are tightly packed, making it difficult for moisture or hair products to penetrate the strands. As a result, people with low-porosity hair often struggle to maintain hydration, leading to dryness and frizz. Additionally, the lack of absorption can cause products to sit on the surface of the hair, resulting in a heavy, greasy feeling, and potential build-up over time.
What ingredients are good for low-porosity hair?
According to Jose, the best ingredients for low-porosity hair are humectants (such as hyaluronic acid and glycerin) and lightweight oils.” It’s essential for low-porosity hair products to include ingredients that “are easily absorbed into the cuticle” they hydrate without causing buildup. “Coconut oil is one of the few oils that have shown penetration to hair,” King confirms. Other shaft-penetrating oils suitable for low-porosity hair are argan oil and olive oil.
Meet the experts
- Mirna Jose, a hairstylist based in New York City and Los Angeles
- Lana Hunter, a hairstylist based in Los Angeles
How we test and review products
We always enlist a range of testers for our makeup vertical, but hair-care products and tools are another story. While there are certainly products that can be used across different hair textures, lengths, curl patterns, thicknesses, colors (natural and unnatural), and needs, hair products are often created with specific consumers in mind. Many are created in order to address a concern (dandruff, breakage, brittleness) or to work most effectively for a specific hair type (4C curls, wavy hair, gray hair). You wouldn’t want to pick up a purple shampoo that’s only been reviewed by someone with, say, auburn hair, or a diffuser that’s never been tested by anyone with curls—right?