If you’ve ever wondered why your gorgeous curls look and feel their best only when soaking wet, but dry out and frizz the moment your hair dries, you’re in the right place. I've talked a lot about low porosity hair before, but today's post is your personal shout out—especially for my Black girls rockin’ high porosity natural hair. This guide is all about showing your hair some real love, understanding what’s going on, and giving you a routine that genuinely works. You ready? Let’s get into it!
Table of Contents
- What Is High Porosity Hair?
- Why Does My Hair Absorb Water But Not Stay Moisturized?
- What Causes High Porosity Hair?
- Caring For High Porosity Natural Hair: The Basics
- The Perfect Wash Day Routine
Step 1: Cleansing
Step 2: Conditioning
Step 3: Deep Conditioning
Step 4: Leave-In & Sealing
Step 5: Styling
Step 6: Drying
- Products to Look For
- Emollient-Rich Ingredients
- Sample Product Routine
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Final Thoughts: Love Your Natural High Porosity Hair!
- Join the High Porosity Hair Conversation!
What Is High Porosity Hair?
Let’s break it down: High porosity hair basically means your hair loves absorbing water and products…but it’s not so great at keeping all that goodness inside.
Porosity describes how well your hair can absorb and keep moisture. While your hair might soak up conditioner like a sponge in the shower (and those curls, chile, are popping!), as soon as it dries, you’re stuck with frizzy, straw-like strands. Sound familiar? That’s high porosity hair for you.
“Y’all are walking around with hair that absorbs water beautifully, and you have the conditioner in it and you’re like, why can’t my hair stay like this?’”
Think of your hair shaft as a roof covered in shingles (that’s the cuticle). When those shingles are open, cracked, or raised, water flows right in—but it also escapes just as fast. That’s high porosity.
Why Does My Hair Absorb Water But Not Stay Moisturized?
Let’s get real—one of the most frustrating parts about high porosity natural hair is how quickly it can go from juicy to bone dry. You leave the shower with soft ringlets, but by midday, it feels like hay.
Here’s what’s going on:
- Moisture In, Moisture Out: High porosity strands have gaps or lifted cuticles, which let in water (and products) fast…but they can’t keep it locked in.
- Visible Signs: Hair feels amazing when wet, but dry, it’s frizzy, puffy, and can look dull. No matter how much product you layer, it never seems to stay moisturized for long.
What Causes High Porosity Hair?
You don’t have to mess up your hair for it to be high porosity—some folks are simply born this way. But there are a few major reasons your cuticles might be raised or damaged:
- Over processing: Bleaching, dyeing (especially going blonde!), relaxing, or any chemical treatments.
- Heat Damage: Excessive straightening, blow-drying, or using curling wands without heat protection.
- Everyday Wear and Tear: Life happens. Regular manipulation, tight styles, rough detangling, sun exposure, or even pollution.
- Genetics: Your cuticle structure might be naturally more “lifted” or what a chemist would call “disordered.” (Nothing wrong with you, boo—it’s just your hair!)
“There’s nothing disorderly about you. It’s just how it naturally is.”
Being aware of what caused your high porosity hair (if you even know!) helps you pick the right routine.
Caring For High Porosity Natural Hair: The Basics
The absolute best way to care for high porosity hair is to help your strands hold on to the moisture they absorb so easily. That means using products designed to fill in, coat, and smooth the cuticle—think thick, creamy, and rich.
Here’s the plan:
- Cleanse, but gently.
- Condition with emollient-rich, thick products.
- Deep condition often (more when your hair needs it!).
- Apply a thick, sealing leave-in or butter.
- Lay it down with a gel or mousse (optional).
- Dry with heat (not air dry).
Now, let’s get into each of these steps.
The Perfect Wash Day Routine
We know that a good wash day can be everything. Let’s build it step by step, with an eye on helping your hair RETAIN all that goodness.
Step 1: Cleansing
Don’t skip the shampoo! High porosity hair needs a clean base to absorb all those rich products you’re about to use.
Tips:
- Pick a gentle, non-stripping shampoo.
- Detox shampoos can be fine—just make sure they’re not leaving your hair feeling like straw.
“You always want to have squeaky clean hair.”
Pro Tip: Try a shampoo bar with moisturizing ingredients. It’s gentle and won’t strip your hair.
Step 2: Conditioning
This is where you start laying the foundation for soft, happy curls.
Look for:
- Restoring, emollient-rich formulas
- Butters and oils high on the ingredient list
“The Restoring Hair Treatment has avocado butter, shea butter, tamanu oil and olive oil. These are oils that are going to penetrate to help strengthen your hair and butters that help start smoothing down the cuticle.”
Step 3: Deep Conditioning
Deep conditioning is your hair’s best friend—especially if your strands feel dry, rough, or you’ve recently colored or heat styled.
How often?
- Severely dry hair: Once a week
- Regular maintenance: Once a month (or as needed)
Think of deep conditioning as:
- The “vitamins or antibiotics” of your hair routine
- Emergency rescue for dry, parched hair
Try a deep conditioner or a treatment mask after shampooing and before your leave-in.
Step 4: Leave-In & Sealing
This step is make-or-break for high porosity naturalistas!
What to use:
- Super rich, creamy, non-greasy hair butters and leave-in creams
“The Sealing Hair Butter is super rich, super creamy—think cake frosting. That’s just how thick it is, but it’s not greasy.”
How to use:
- Apply to clean, damp hair
- Focus on the ends and areas where you get driest
- Layer it under gel or mousse if you want more definition
Step 5: Styling
Do you want juicy twist-outs, poppin’ wash and go’s, or heatless curls? Your styler goes on top of your leave-in—never use gel or mousse by itself.
Recommended:
- Layer a gel (like the “Get Set Hair Jelly”) or a mousse over your butter/cream
- Twist, braid, or shingle as usual
Pro Tip: Always use your emollient-rich cream as your styling base.
Step 6: Drying
Let’s break some myths here—air drying isn’t always your best friend once your hair is high porosity.
“As usual, I always say heat dry your hair—never air dry. And I know some people say, ‘but my hair dries in like 10 minutes.’ You know what? Do what works best for you, but I always recommend heat drying over air drying.”
So, why heat? *
- It helps smooth down the cuticle a little more
- You get smoother, shinier results
- Less frizz and faster results
How to heat dry:
- Use a hooded dryer, soft bonnet attachment, or diffuser on low
- Don’t use the highest heat—aim for gentle, consistent warmth
Products to Look For
You don’t need a million products—you need the right ones. Here’s your high porosity product hit list.
Emollient-Rich Ingredients
Always scan those labels for the following:
- Avocado Butter
- Shea Butter
- Tamanu Oil
- Olive Oil
- Mango Butter
- Coconut Oil (if your hair likes it)
- Castor Oil
- Almond Oil
These ingredients help fill in gaps, coat the hair, and smooth the cuticle down so your hair keeps all that moisture!
Sample Product Routine
Morning / Wash Day:
- Use a gentle, moisturizing shampoo (bar or liquid)
- Apply a thick, restorative conditioner with butters and oils
- Deep condition with a rich mask (once a week or as needed)
- Apply a super rich, creamy leave-in or hair butter
- Layer with a styling gel or mousse (optional)
- Use gentle heat to dry
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Can you “fix” high porosity hair permanently?
Not really—if it’s caused by genetics, it’s just how your hair is! But damage-induced porosity can sometimes be helped over time with protein treatments and babying your hair.
2. Should I avoid all heat?
High porosity hair is often from heat damage, but using gentle heat to dry after washing is actually helpful. Just avoid high, direct heat (like flat irons and hot combs).
3. How do I know if my hair is high porosity?
- Absorbs water/products instantly
- Products don’t “sit” on your hair long
- Dries quickly (like 10 minutes or less)
- Feels dry or frizzy even after moisturizing
4. My hair is colored. Did that make it high porosity?
Very possible! Dyeing and bleaching can raise those cuticles. You may need richer products than before.
5. How often should I deep condition?
Start weekly if your hair is super thirsty, then move to monthly or as needed once things improve.
6. Can I layer oils or butters on dry hair?
Yes! On extra dry days, reapply a light amount of your butter to ends or edges for some revived shine.
Structured Sample Routine For Busy Weeks
Here’s an example weekly plan you can swipe:
Sunday (Wash Day)
- Cleanse with gentle shampoo
- Deep condition for 30 mins with heat cap or steamer
- Rinse and apply leave-in butter
- Style and heat dry
Wednesday (Midweek Refresh)
- Apply more sealing butter to dry spots/ends
- Put hair in chunky twists or bun
- Sleep in WC Hair Sock
Daily
- If needed, smooth a tiny bit of butter on edges or extra dry sections
Top 7 Tips For High Porosity Natural Hair
Steel these for your next hair routine—print ’em out and stick ’em on your mirror!
- Use gentle, moisture-retaining cleansers.
- Deep condition more often than you think you need.
- Layer thick, emollient-rich leave-ins and butters.
- Don’t skip the sealant step!
- Be gentle—avoid rough detangling or tight styles.
- Use heat to help close the cuticles after styling.
- Monitor your hair’s needs—every head is different!
Key Standout Quote
“You want to use products that coat the strands of your hair and temporarily fill in any of those holes. Helps to smooth down the cuticle so your hair can retain that moisture and it doesn’t become dry.”
Final Thoughts: Love Your Natural High Porosity Hair!
No more feeling like your hair is out to get you. Having high porosity hair is just a fact of life for lots of us—whether it’s from genetics or too many experiments with bleach. The key is working with your hair, not against it.
Moisture, sealing, and gentle products are your best friends. Once you start giving your strands that little bit of extra care, you’ll finally see those juicy curls last more than a couple hours. Remember: Your hair is supposed to be soft, healthy and beautiful—don’t settle for less!
Join the High Porosity Hair Conversation!
Tried these tips? Got a favorite buttery leave-in or shampoo bar? Drop a comment below with what’s working for you—or what struggles you’re still facing. Let’s help each other glow up!
And if you found this post helpful, share it with your squad so every naturalista can get their shine on.
Love your hair, love yourself. Your high porosity hair is worthy of all the care. 💖
Further Reading:
- Understanding Hair Porosity: A Guide to Healthier Hair
- Understanding and Caring for High Porosity Hair
Stay tuned for more deep dives and let me know what you want to see next—your hair journey deserves expert guidance and real talk, always!
