CurlsBot thinks you have: High Porosity Hair Guide and Best Products
High porosity hair has a raised or damaged cuticle layer, allowing moisture to easily enter and exit the hair shaft. This type of hair can become easily moisturized but also loses moisture quickly.
Retake Porosity QuizCharacteristics
- Absorbs water and products quickly
- Dries very quickly
- Prone to frizz and tangles
- Can become overly moisturized easily
- May look dull without proper care
Care Tips
- Use leave-in conditioners and oils to seal in moisture
- Deep condition regularly
- Look for products with positively charged conditioning agents that bond to damaged hair like behentrimonium chloride
- Use anti-humectants in humid weather
- Consider using protein treatments to strengthen hair
Build Your Routine
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1. Cleanse
Choose your cleanser based on your needs
For high porosity hair, we recommend: Use pre-poo to protect hair, then alternate between cowash and gentle shampoo. Clarify monthly.
pre-poo
These products are meant to be used before washing to help protect your hair from stress and damage.
Bond Curl Rehab Salve, Bond Building Strength Treatment for Weak, Damaged Hair
100% Plant-Derived Squalane
clarifying shampoos
Heavier shampoos meant to remove long-term buildup from oils, products, and hard water. Meant to be used occasionally, as they are much stronger than regular shampoos.
Gentle Clarifying Shampoo
A shampoo that clarifies without stripping your hair.
Curl Reset Detox Shampoo
This shampoo was recently reformulated to remove not just product buildup, but also mineral buildup from hard water.
Mud Pie Clay Clarifying Treatment
shampoos
Cleansers that remove buildup and oil from your hair. Essential for low-porosity hair and should be used on other porosity types at least occasionally.
Pure Silk Moisturizing Shampoo
Essential Moisture Cleanser
Full Body Weightless Cleanser
cowashes
Gentle, non-lathering cleansers that clean without stripping natural oils. Use these for daily wash if you have high-porosity hair.
Coconut Cowash Cleansing Conditioner
Hydra Drench Cleansing Conditioner
Curl Quenching Conditioning Wash
2. Condition
Choose your conditioner based on your needs
For high porosity hair, we recommend: Use conditioner every wash and deep conditioner every 1-2 months
conditioners
Products that add moisture and help detangle hair. Almost everyone needs conditioner!
Super Smooth Cream Conditioner
Big Energy Conditioner
Cream Conditioner
deep conditioners
Intensive treatments that restore moisture and repair damage. Essential at least weekly for high porosity hair and good for all porosity types occasionally.
Double Cream Deep Quencher
Banana Cream Deep Conditioner
Deep Conditioning Treatment
3. Protect
Choose a product that helps protect your hair
For high porosity hair, we recommend: Use a leave in and cream
leave ins
Light conditioners that stay in your hair to provide ongoing moisture. Most important for high-porosity hair. May weigh down low-porosity hair.
Moisture Balance Leave-In Conditioner
Hydrate & Plump Leave-In Conditioner
This has a small amount of isopropyl alcohol, which we mark as caution, but as it's towards the end of the ingredients list so it's unlikely to be harmful for hair.
Rice Pudding Leave-In Conditioner and Moisturizer
creams
Rich moisturizers that help define and shape curls, and provide a barrier to protect against moisture loss. Essential for high-porosity hair. May weigh down low-porosity hair.
Avocado & Rose Oil Clump & Define Cream
Light Hold Creme Gel
Weightless Air Dry Cream
4. Enhance
Choose a product that helps enhance your curls
For high porosity hair, we recommend: Choose either a gel or custard
gels
Styling products that provide hold and definition. Useful for all porosity types.
Curl Keeper® Original Liquid Styler
Wash and Go Flaxseed Gel
Jello Shot Curl Defining Gel
custards
Thick styling products that provide moisture and definition. Useful for all porosity types.
Orange Marmalade Flaxseed and Aloe Curl Definer
CurlsBot note: This is the main styling product I use on my own hair- Melissa
Gelebration Spray
Technically not a custard, but serves the same purpose
Rockin' Ringlets Styling Potion
5. Seal
Choose a product that helps seal in moisture, some gels from the previous step do this so if you already used a gel meant to seal, skip this step
For high porosity hair, we recommend: Use an oil or a spray
oils
Optional finishing products that can help seal in moisture. Best for high porosity hair.
Light Oil
Bonding Oil
Moonshine Hair and Body Oil
sprays
Optional finishing products that can help seal in moisture and lock in styles.
Hair Spray
6. Accessories
Choose your accessories
For high porosity hair, we recommend: Optional accessories
accessories
Useful items for anyone with curly or wavy hair.
Universal Diffuser
Turn any hairdryer into a diffuser with this attachment
Define EdgeLift Brush
The Define EdgeLift Brush is a unique brush that helps define your curls/waves
Volume EdgeLift Brush
The Volume EdgeLift Brush is a unique tool that helps you create voluminous curls/waves
Volume Root Clips
These clips are specially designed to help you create volume at the roots of your hair
Curl friendly soft headbands
These headbands are made by the creator of CurlsBot from soft, stretchy fabric that won't snag or pull on your curls. They're perfect for keeping your hair out of your face and creating lovely styles that won't damage your hair.
Pop-Up Curl Diffuser
Great for travel though I've used it at home for years because it's so easy to store
Curly Girl Microfiber Super Absorbent Anti Frizz Hair Towel
Help your hair dry faster and reduce frizz with a microfiber towel.