The Best Low Porosity Hair Treatment Options for Healthy Locks

Taking care of low porosity hair can be tricky—products tend to sit on your strands, moisture doesn’t seem to penetrate, and your ends may feel dry even after a good wash. But with the right approach and treatments, you can transform your hair into healthy, shiny locks. 

You could be into DIY treatments at home or looking to visit a professional hair salon in Singapore—this guide has got you covered. Let’s explore the best ways to care for low porosity hair and give it the moisture it needs!

What is Low Porosity Hair?

To treat your hair effectively, it's important to first understand what low porosity hair means. Hair porosity refers to how well your hair absorbs and retains moisture. When you have low porosity hair, the outermost layer of your hair, known as the cuticle, lies flat and is tightly packed together. While this helps lock in moisture and keeps your hair looking shiny, it also makes it difficult for your hair to absorb moisture in the first place. That’s why many products tend to sit on the surface of low porosity hair rather than soaking in.

As a result, your hair may struggle to get the nourishment it needs, often leaving it dry, prone to breakage, and difficult to style. Low porosity hair also tends to take longer to dry after a shower and may show product build-up more easily.

How To Know You Have Low Porosity Hair

If you’re wondering if you have low porosity hair, here are some telltale signs:

• Products build up. If you find that hair oils, conditioners, or serums just sit on the surface of your hair and don’t seem to penetrate, you may have low-porosity hair.
• Water beading. When you spray water on your hair, does it bead up rather than soak in? This is a common sign of low porosity.
• Dry ends. Despite regular moisturising treatments, your hair ends remain dry and brittle.
• Slow drying time. Low porosity hair can take a long time to get fully wet and also takes a long time to air-dry.

For a quick test, try the float test: Drop a clean strand of your hair into a glass of water. If it floats for a while before sinking, you probably have low porosity hair. If it sinks immediately, your hair is more porous.

How To Care For Low Porosity Hair: At Home

Caring for low porosity hair at home means focusing on moisture retention without overwhelming your hair with heavy products. Here are some tried-and-true tips:

Lightweight Oils and Serums

Heavy oils and creams can weigh down low porosity hair and cause buildup. Instead, opt for lightweight oils such as the new Kerastase Elixir Ultime Huile Oil with French Camellia, Marula and Wild Camellia Oil. These lighter oils are more easily absorbed and won’t leave your hair feeling greasy.

Serums such as Sérum Thérapiste from Kerastase can instantly repair hair fibres. They reinforce and smooth the surface of the hair fibres, helping to reinforce and resurface them and seal the ends of the hair to prevent split ends.

Sulfate-Free Shampoos and Conditioners

Sulfates are harsh detergents that strip hair of its natural oils, which isn’t ideal for low porosity hair. Instead, choose sulfate-free shampoos that cleanse gently while maintaining your hair’s moisture balance. Look for shampoos with hydrating ingredients like aloe vera or glycerin to give your hair the moisture boost it needs.

When it comes to conditioners, stick to lightweight, water-based formulas. Heavy conditioners can sit on your hair and cause build-up. Honey or silk proteins are great ingredients to look for in conditioners because they hydrate without adding unnecessary weight.

Effective Hair Salon Treatments for Low-Porosity Hair

While at-home treatments are great, a trip to a professional salon can take your hair care routine to the next level. Hair salons in Singapore, like Kimage Salon, offer specialised treatments that can deeply penetrate low porosity hair, giving it the hydration and care it needs.

Hydrating Treatment

One of the best salon treatments for low porosity hair is a hydrating treatment. The treatment uses the right products to ensure moisture penetrates the hair shaft more effectively. This makes your hair softer, shinier, and more manageable.

Kerastase Hair Treatments

Salons also offer targeted treatments that can work wonders to specifically target low-porosity hair. These treatments usually use specialised products, which help open the cuticles and allow the treatment to penetrate deeper. For example, the Fusio-Dose Hair Treatment from Kerastase uses a concentre and a booster to help address your specific hair concerns. With up to 6 Concentrés and 5 Boosters available, there are 30 different mix possibilities to truly address and target two unique hair concerns simultaneously.

You’ll leave the salon with hair that’s hydrated from the inside out, something that’s hard to achieve with just at-home treatments.

Tips To Prevent Common Mistakes

Even with the best intentions, it’s easy to make mistakes when caring for low porosity hair. Here are some tips to help you avoid common pitfalls:

Don’t Overdo Protein

Low porosity hair tends to be protein-sensitive, meaning it can get too stiff or brittle if overloaded with protein. Protein treatments are designed to strengthen hair, but if your hair’s cuticles are already tightly packed, adding more protein can do more harm than good. Look for protein-free products or use them sparingly.

Skip Heavy Products

As tempting as it is to slather on thick creams and butter, they usually aren’t absorbed well by low porosity hair. Instead of moisturising, they tend to sit on the surface and cause build-up. Stick to lightweight, water-based products that your hair can easily absorb.

Use the Right Amount of Product

More product isn’t always better. With low porosity hair, it’s easy to think that applying more will help lock in moisture, but it can actually make things worse by causing product build-up. Use a small amount of product and distribute it evenly for the best results.

Get Professional Advice and Service with Kimage Salon

For the best in professional hair care, Kimage Salon is your go-to choice for low porosity hair treatments in Singapore. With 10 hair studios across the island, Kimage has been offering top-tier services since 1994. Our team of skilled stylists understands that every client’s hair is unique, and they take the time to craft personalised treatments that suit your hair type and lifestyle.

At Kimage, you can experience treatments specifically designed for low porosity hair, like hair steaming and deep conditioning, which are applied with professional expertise to give your hair the moisture and care it needs.

If you’re looking for expert advice on caring for your low porosity hair, schedule a booking with Kimage Salon today. We offer tailored treatments designed to enhance the health and beauty of your hair.