Best moisturizer for low porosity natural hair

Natural girls, have you ever stepped in the shower to wash your hair and it seemed like your curls just refuse to absorb water? You're not dreaming; chances are your hair really isn't taking to the moisture, and this likely means you have a low-porosity texture. "Low porosity hair is resistant to absorbing and losing water due to its tighter structure," explains board-certified dermatologist Shani Francis. 

The pore is simply a channel or gateway for ingredients to enter the hair shaft. "Simply put, low porosity hair is a hair fiber that has overlapping cuticles. These overlapping cuticles create a barrier preventing water and moisture to penetrate," explains trichologist and inventive colorist, Bridgette Hill. She says that, in low porosity hair, the cuticle is so tightly overlapped that water and water-based products bead on top of the hair fiber versus penetrating the hair fiber. "Hair porosity refers to how open your hair shaft is to receive and lose a substance, most often water or moisture," says Francis.

Hill explains that extremely low porosity hair requires a little alkalinity for best results. William Gaunitz, WTS, trichologist, and founder of Advanced Trichology concurs. "The best way to open the cuticle of a hair is to create an alkaline environment," he says. "Washing hair with alkaline shampoo could be a good option for getting moisture into the hair." This is where a clarifying or exfoliating shampoo comes in. "Ingredients in these shampoos open the cuticle to allow for moisture to enter and break down the protein structures," says Hill. Francis further explains that the best ingredients for low porosity hair should be smaller, molecule-based, and more polar. "Alkaline ingredients will open the cuticle to make absorption easier; acidic closes the cuticle," says Francis. 

Breaking down protein may not seem like a good idea for hair, but Hill explains that this process allows humectants and moisture to penetrate the hair fiber deeper, giving the hair more elasticity, softness, and shine. She also notes that your hair won't feel great to touch after shampoo, but says that it will after you properly condition it. 

Jamila Powell, curl expert and founder of Maggie Rose Salon, says that hair types that don't accept hydration easily need to make sure hair is hydrated and moisturized frequently. "The best way to do this is to wash your hair more frequently and through consistent deep-conditioning," she says. "Low-porosity hair requires as much hydration as possible, and the best form of hydration is water. Therefore, I would suggest washing your hair more frequently, not the opposite." Gaunitz adds that using alkaline water that's above an 8.0 pH could also encourage a higher level of moisture. Cosmetic chemist Ron Robinson, of Beauty Stat, also notes the importance of using the proper pH for both water and your products: "High pH products, which are more alkaline, can make hair more porous," he says. "And low pH products like apple cider vinegar can make hair less porous."

After you shampoo, Hill says to start your conditioning and styling with a humectant to attract moisture. "It works as the adhesive layer of moisture that is small enough to penetrate the cuticle," says Hill. The second layer of moisture should be lipids. "Lipids, which are found in fatty acid oils like avocado and shea, binds to the humectant filling open spaces created by the clarifying shampoo with moisture-binding ingredients." 

Powell also advises against emollient-heavy formulas. "I would recommend avoiding most oil-based products and look for more moisture-based products so that the ingredients don’t just sit atop the hair." Hill agrees: "It is important for people with low porosity hair to use conditioners that are water-based. Natural glycerine, lanolin, avocado, jojoba, and shea are all ingredients that offer loads of moisture for low porosity hair," says Hill. Robinson agrees: "avoid too much protein or heavy oils as they can sit on the hair and not absorb," he says. "To help with absorption, condition hair when wet and/or apply some heat help absorption."

Once you've found what products work best for you, Dominique Burton, curl expert and founder of La Fleur Hair Studio, says you should adopt the LCO (liquid, cream, oil) method. "It’s a great way for low porosity hair to absorb moisture effectively," Burton says. "First, apply water or a water-based product, followed by a cream to seal and moisturize ends, and finish it with a natural oil."

One thing to note, which Francis points out, is that having low porosity hair isn't a bad thing. "In fact, it's the goal," she says. "Everyone wants small 'poreless' skin, but when it comes to hair, there is confusion." Ultimately, for healthy hair, you want moisture to get in and stay in. Now that you have the why and how-tos in place, check out some expert-approved products that will hydrate low-porosity curls, and ultimately make wash day a whole lot easier. 

All products featured on Allure are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

• Cleanser: Carol’s Daughter Wash Day Delight Water-to-Foam Shampoo

  Burton suggests formulas like Carol's Daughter’s innovative Wash Day Delight for your best cleanse. "Using a gentle but effective detox shampoo as your first wash is a great way to clear your scalp and hair strands of any buildup which will ultimately allow moisture to penetrate the hair cuticle deeper," she says.

• Courtesy of brand 

  Cleanser: Briogeo Be Gentle Be Kind Banana + Coconut Nourishing Superfood Shampoo

  The fatty acid and vitamin E-enriched coconut in Briogeo's Be Gentle Be Kind Banana + Coconut Nourishing Superfood Shampoo is what's going to help pump moisture into low-porosity hair without completely stripping hair as you cleanse. Additionally, the banana and açai are both antioxidants, which will protect hair from damage. The formula is also sulfate-free, and an Allure Readers' Choice Award winner. 

• Conditioner: Design Essentials Almond & Avocado Moisturizing & Detangling Conditioner

  Burton says that there are steps you can take to make your deep-conditioning even more effective. "Using a steamer as your choice of heat when deep conditioning guarantees you ultimate moisture absorption," she says. "The moist heat lifts the cuticle allowing the moisture to fully penetrate into the hair." Before steaming, coat your hair with the Design Essentials Almond & Avocado Moisturizing & Detangling Conditioner. The blend of almond, avocado, shea butter, and coconut milk work together to infuse hair with the moisture it's missing.  

• Conditioner: Oribe Intense Conditioner For Moisture And Control

  Oribe is an editor and hairstylist favorite for top-notch hair care at home. The brand's Intense Conditioner For Moisture And Control is made with olive oil and keratin to moisturize and strengthen hair while it improves shine and smoothes curls.

• Treatment: Naturally Drenched Rebalance

  Powell loves Naturally Drenched's Rebalance to restore hair's pH and increase hydration. "Aloe vera, honey, and glycerin are humectants," she says. "Which are all great ingredients for keeping low-porosity hair healthy and hydrated." After shampooing, work Rebalance through sections of hair before applying your conditioner.   

• Leave-In: Mizani 25 Miracle Milk Leave-In Conditioner

  After shampooing your hair, using a water-based leave-in conditioner, like Mizani's Miracle Milk, will help re-infuse any of the natural oils that washed down the drain. It will also help the moisture to get inside of each strand and not just sit on the top of your hair, Burton notes. This lightweight cream penetrates deep into the hair and leaves behind hydrating coconut and fennel seed oils.

• Leave-In: Aveda Cherry Almond Softening Leave-In Conditioner

  Made with cherry blossom extract, sweet almond oil, and moringa oil, Aveda's Cherry Almond Softening Leave-In Conditioner boasts potent emollients, which strengthen and moisturize hair without weighing it down.

• Curl Definer: Adwoa Beauty Baomint Moisturizing Curl Defining Cream

  Made with moisturizing honey, silk amino acids, and shea butter, Adwoa Beauty's Baomint Moisturizing Curl Defining Cream curl cream softens and hydrates hair, plus smooths out damaged cuticles and ends.

• Curl Definer: Ouidad Curl Shaper Take Shape Plumping + Defining Cream

  Medium-to-thick strands will benefit most from Ouidad's Curl Shaper Take Shape Plumping + Defining Cream. Moisturizing glycerin and açai fruit oil in this fast-absorbing formula penetrate deep to create definition up top that isn't flaky or wrought with build-up.

• Oil Treatment: Mielle Organics Rosemary Mint Scalp & Hair Strengthening Oil

  Hill notes that low porosity hair can be highly proteinized, which makes it more prone to breakage. "Because of the higher amounts of protein in the hair, the goal is to penetrate the cuticle and deposit layers of moisture throughout the hair fiber." To do so, try Mielle Organics Rosemary Mint Scalp & Hair Strengthening Oil as a hot oil treatment. The blend of rosemary and mint will help rebalance the excess protein in low porosity hair so that it's not so brittle. 

• Oil Treatment: Kreyol Essence Haitian Black Castor Oil

  Once you're able to get moisture to penetrate low porosity hair, castor oil is a go-to for thicker textures looking to seal in much-needed moisture as a final layering step. Kreyol Essence Haitian Black Castor Oil does this with the help of fatty acids and vitamin E. It’s also infused with lavender to soothe irritated scalps. 

Which moisturizer is best for low porosity hair?

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Should you moisturize low porosity hair everyday?

Does low porosity hair need moisture or hydration?