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.
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Characteristics
- 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.
Bonding Pre-Shampoo Treatment
Repairs bonds, prevents split ends, and reduces breakage by 70% while improving detangling by 90% after one use
Bond Curl Rehab Salve, Bond Building Strength Treatment for Weak, Damaged Hair
A protein-rich bond-building treatment that targets all 3 hair bonds to repair, strengthen, and reduce damage—formulated specifically for curls
No. 3 Hair Perfector
A pre-shampoo treatment to repair and strengthen hair from the inside out
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.
Clarifying Shampoo
Remove buildup from products, pollutants, and hard water with this salon-grade clarifying wash
Water Works Clarifying Shampoo
A strong, sulfate-based cleanser designed to deep-clean the scalp and hair, removing product buildup, oils, and residues.
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.
No. 4 Bond Maintenance Shampoo
Uses Olaplex’s bonding technology to gently cleanse, strengthen, and add shine while repairing damage
Hydration Shampoo
Replenishes dry, thirsty hair with a medium cleanse and a touch of protein for added bounce
Water Works Clarifying Shampoo
A strong, sulfate-based cleanser designed to deep-clean the scalp and hair, removing product buildup, oils, and residues.
cowashes
Gentle, non-lathering cleansers that clean without stripping natural oils. Use these for daily wash if you have high-porosity hair.
Curl Quenching Conditioning Wash
A 2-in-1 shampoo and conditioner that gently cleanses buildup, soothes the scalp, promotes healthy hair growth, and boosts shine
Coconut Cowash Cleansing Conditioner
A creamy, conditioning cleanser formulated to gently clean while deeply moisturizing.
Coil Infusion® Drink Up™ Cleansing Conditioner
A luxurious, multi-functional cleanser that deeply conditions and moisturizes while gently cleansing.
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!
Cream Daily Conditioner
This conditoner delivers the moisture your curls crave and leaves your strands silky-soft and easy to detangle and style
Illumin8 Conditioner
An oil-fusion treatment that infuses lightweight, non-greasy emollients to boost shine
Rehabilit8 Smoothing Protein Conditioner
Restores amino acids and proteins to strengthen damaged hair, improve elasticity, and prevent breakage
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.
Healing Moisture Moi Moi Hair Masque
A rich, hydrating masque to restore extremely dry, brittle hair.
Hydration Mask
Amazonian oils and protein-bonding sugars that deliver deep hydration for revitalized, shiny, and smooth hair
Omega 9 Hair Mask
Moisture and low protein penetrate deeply to strengthen, soften, and hydrate hair from root to tip
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.
Leave-in Detangler
Softens curls, controls frizz on no-cleanse days, and makes detangling and styling easy for all curl types
Curl Wow Flo-etry Vital Natural Serum
A lightweight curl primer that delivers deep moisture without buildup to leave hair feeling product-free
No. 9 Bond Protector Nourishing Hair Serum
Shields hair from pollution and protects against heat damage while adding satin shine and reducing static and tangles
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.
Curl Passion Curl Perfectionist
Tames frizz, enhances natural texture, provides light hold, and contains protein for added strength
Lemon Buttercream Styling Cream
A botanical-rich, moisturizing, and detangling cream designed to condition, soften, and support hair and scalp health
Curly Hair Cream
A multi-functional protective hair styling cream that helps protect and define curls
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.
No. 10 Bond Shaper Gel
A humidity-resistant gel with flexible hold that fights frizz, hydrates, and strengthens curl bonds
Aloe Vera Hair Gel
A soft hold, protein free hair gel that shapes strands; infusing hair with nutrients to promote optimal health
All About Curls High Definition Gel
A color-safe styling gel that delivers strong hold, locks in moisture, and enhances shine for firmly defined, frizz-free curls
custards
Thick styling products that provide moisture and definition. Useful for all porosity types.
Gelebration Spray
Technically not a custard, but serves the same purpose
Rockin' Ringlets Styling Potion
A unique liquid gel that moisturizes with natural film-forming humectants and helps enhance and define curls
Curl Enhancing Custard
A lightweight custard that provides hold, enhances volume, and adds moisture with seaweed and honey
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.
Neem Plant Silk Serum
A styling serum formulated to add softness and silkiness to dry, rough hair and protect from heat damage.
No. 7 Bonding Oil
Lightweight oil that adds shine, reduces breakage, controls frizz for 72 hours, and protects against heat up to 450°F
A Walk in The Sun Luxury Hair Oil
A lightweight, hair oil that locks in moisture (without the grease), unlocks beachy waves, and uplifts your shine.
sprays
Optional finishing products that can help seal in moisture and lock in styles.
Spray Gel
Spray gel that delivers the hold of a gel with added definition, volume, and shine—made with gentle, natural ingredients
Pamper My Curls All-in-One Moisture Mist
A lightweight, oil-free mist that moisturizes and refreshes curls without weighing them down
Hair Spray
A lightweight spray that helps set your style in place and resist humidity