When it comes to curls, understanding their porosity can go a long way in their overall care and maintenance. First, you need to understand what porosity is. Porosity refers to your curl’s ability to maintain moisture and can be categorized on a scale of low, normal, and high.
If you have low porosity curls, that means your curl’s shaft is close, making it difficult for it to absorb moisture However, once moisture does get inside your curl’s strands it stays locked in, which is a good thing for you and your curls! Here’s how you can manage your low porosity curls to make sure they’re healthy and you’re happy!
Indirect heat:
When styling your low porosity curls, you don’t have to completely forgo heat. Instead use indirect heat. Heat can help open up your curl’s pores, which will allow moisture to penetrate. You can do this by using a hair steamer, wrapping your head in a warm towel and allowing it to sit, or standing in a warm shower.
Deep conditioning:
Deep conditioning is absolutely essential for getting healthy curls, especially for low porosity curls. If you aren’t already, consider adding a deep conditioner to your weekly curl care regime. Apply it to wet curls (usually best after you’ve cleansed) and allow to sit for a minimum of 30 minutes. If not, your curls aren’t getting the most they can out of the product and you’re wasting your time, as well as your money. This is an excellent time to apply heat, as the warmth will open up your curl’s cuticle and allow the moisturizing ingredients to penetrate into the curl’s shaft.
Clarify:
Build up of oils, product and dirt can be a real issue for those with low porosity curls. The product, much like moisture, cannot easily penetrate into the cortex of your hair, which means it sits on top of the strands. Sitting product means your curls are going to be more prone to build up than other curls, which leads to dry, dull curls. Add a gentle clarifying treatment to your curl care routine about once a month (or more if your curls seem lifeless) to help remove excess build up and help restore your curls.