Growing your low porosity hair can be difficult if you get confused by the overwhelming number of hair care products.
Regular hair care remedies and products may not work as low porosity hair needs special care with topical applications.
The main motive of hair care products is to get moisture into your hair. Because low porosity hair struggles to get moisture and nutrients as the cuticles are tightly bound.
Basically hair grows about half a millimeter every day, which sums up to around half an inch every month or six inches in a whole year.
But sometimes, it might seem like your hair growth is stunted due to breakage and lack of proper care.
Don’t worry, I’ve been there too, and I’ve learned some fantastic tips on how to grow long, healthy natural hair, especially if you have low porosity hair like me.
On this page, I will discuss how you can grow low porosity hair naturally and share my research about this
How To Grow Low Porosity Hair Fast?
Low porosity hair is characterized by its inability to absorb moisture easily.
The tightly packed cuticles create a barrier, preventing water and products from penetrating the hair shaft.
As a result, low porosity hair tends to repel moisture, leading to dryness, frizz, and difficulty in styling.
Here are the 13 best actionable hair care tips to grow low-porosity hair effectively.
1. Use Clarifying Shampoo Or Other Clarifying Methods
Clarifying means the process of cleaning both hair and scalp.
You must use clarifying shampoo or any clarifying methods to clean your hair tidily. Because product and dirt buildup is so common in low porosity hair.
It doesn’t matter how much or how excellent a hair mask or oil you use; your hair won’t grow accurately. The products will remain on your hair without proper cleaning and block its growth.
2. Use Thin And Lightweight Oils
You can use light oils like Jojoba, Argan, Sunflower, Sesame Seed, Baobab, Hemp Seed, and Grapeseed Oils.
All of them are highly beneficial for low porosity hair.
They easily penetrate the tight cuticles and moisturize the hair appropriately.
3. Apply Pre Poo Treatments In Wash Days
If you hate to give extra time doing hair care, poo (pre-shampoo) treatments can be your most excellent choice. It doesn’t require much time or need to be done daily.
Apply oil or any moisturizing product as your pre-poo supplement, and then wash your hair with shampoo.
4. Use Bentonite Clay
Bentonite clay works as a magnet for dirt and product buildup. Applying it will moisten your hair and remove the dirt buildup when you rinse the clay.
You can make the clay mask with apple cider vinegar and water. Mix all three elements well and apply them to your hair.
You must cover each strand of your hair with clay. Wait for 30 minutes for the clay to dry, and then wash your hair with regular water.
After rinsing the clay properly, use a deep conditioner to moisturize your hair.
5. Deep Condition Instead Of Regular Condition
Switching from regular to deep conditioner can make a huge positive difference in your hair growth if you have low porosity hair.
Regular conditioners are known to all that you use after shampooing your hair.
Whereas deep conditioner is a product you use after shampooing, but wait 20 minutes after putting it on. Then rinse off. These products do not contain Silicone, Paraben, or Sulfate in them.
6. Use Water Based Moisturizing Products
No other hair care product can compete with water’s necessity in growing low porosity hair. This kind of hair lacks moisture and is dry and dull.
That’s why you must use water-based moisturizing products like serum or thin creams to keep your hair hydrated and moisturized.
7. Apply Steam Or Use Warm Water Before Any Topical Application
Heat assists in opening up the densely bonded hair cuticles and allows the topical application to get in. Use a steamer cap or warm water before applying any hair care product.
Especially when you’re deep conditioning, you can spray some warm water to dampen your hair. It’ll relax your hair cuticles; thus, the conditioning will be done perfectly.
One study found that regular styling with hot tools significantly decreased moisture content and increased breakage.
8. Use Humectants
Humectants are natural items that can absorb moisture and hold it. You need this moisture to grow your hair naturally. So use humectants like Honey, Glycerin and Aloe Vera gel on your hair.
9. Apply L.O.C. Method While Taking Care Of Your Hair
In the L.O.C. method, the L stands for liquid, simply damping or washing your hair. You can take water as the liquid and dampen or rinse your hair. Next, the O stands for Oil. Meaning you have to oil the hair after damping or washing it.
Later, the C stands for conditioning. You can use any deep conditioner or moisturizer to condition your hair.
Applying this method to perform any hair care routine can increase your chances of growing low porosity hair more quickly.
10. Use Plain Rice Water Or Apple Cider Vinegar As A Rinsing Agent
You must not use cooked rice water for low porosity hair. Instead, take half a cup of rice in a bowl, and pour water into it. Let it soak there for a while. Then take the starchy water and wash your hair with it.
You can also use A.C.V. (Apple Cider Vinegar) to rinse your hair. Mix A.C.V. with water and rinse your hair with the mixture.
Both methods will clarify your hair and scalp faster and eventually boost your healthy hair growth.
11. Moisturize Your Scalp & Hair
Just like our hair, our scalp needs to be moisturized in order to promote a healthy environment for our hair to grow. Oiling my scalp helped keep it moisturized and promoted hair growth.
Deep conditioning my hair, following up with a moisturizer and sealing with an oil locked moisture in my hair hence preventing dryness.
12. Less Manipulation, More Protection
Believe me, I love styling my hair too, but I’ve found that my curls thrive when left alone.
Limit combing or brushing, especially on non-wash days. Low manipulation styles like twists or braids not only protect your hair but also prevent breakage and moisture loss.
Bonus Tips
13. Use Silk Pillow Cover Instead Of Cotton Covers
Remember your regular companion, your pillow, while doing things for your hair care. Cotton pillow covers are usually rough on your hair, especially when there is friction.
Use silk or satin pillow cover to lessen hair breakage or fall during sleep.
Must Read : 8 Ingredients To Avoid For Low Porosity Hair
Things You Must Avoid To Grow Low Porosity Hair Faster
Understanding the don’ts for hair growth is as important as knowing the dos. Here are some essential factors to remember and not perform at all while growing your low porosity hair.
- Don’t Use Heavy Oils
Heavy oils like Castor oil or Avocado oil can’t penetrate through low porosity hair cuticles. So, applying these oils create product buildup more than providing moisture. That’s why you shouldn’t use them.
- Avoid Protein Based Hair Masks
Protein is the least needed item that low porosity hair needs. In fact, this hair type can’t let the product get in, as protein hair masks are super thick.
It only sits on your hair and creates dirt and product buildup.
- Stay Away From Sulfate Based Shampoos
Sulfate is too harsh for low porosity hair. It takes away the moisture and makes the hair dry. So, avoid using Sulfate based shampoos.
- Don’t Use Regular Or Leave-In Conditioners
Regular and leave-in conditioners are two of the greatest enemies of low porosity hair. They overly moisture low porosity hair, leading to massive hair fall and breakage.
- Avoid Using Too Much Commercially Marketed Hair Care Products
You can treat and grow low porosity hair healthily by using natural products. There is no need to use excessive commercial hair care products.
Doing one or two natural remedies is enough to grow your hair quickly.
Bonus
Lessen The Use Of Heat Styling Tools
Heat styling tools like straight or curl iron isn’t good for any hair, no matter its porosity. You must be extra cautious when it comes to low porosity hair.
The more you minimize their use, the healthier your hair will grow.
Final Thoughts
So there you have it. By recognizing your hair’s porosity level, whether it’s low, normal, or high, you gain valuable insight into how to best care for it.
Low porosity hair, in particular, demands special attention due to its tightly bound cuticle layer, making moisture absorption a challenge.
However, with proper techniques like regular cleansing, minimal manipulation, and silk or satin protection during sleep, even low porosity hair can flourish.
