9 Top Oils For Low Porosity Hair
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Have you ever noticed that it takes an unusual amount of time to thoroughly wet your hair? And does it also take a while for it to dry?
If you’ve experienced this every time you wash your hair, there’s a good chance that you have low-porosity hair.
Your hair’s porosity is crucial to determine the type of products you should use if you have dry, dull, brittle, and frizzy hair.
The significance of knowing if you have low-porosity hair cannot be understated, especially when you like applying oils to your hair.
And we’re here to tell you the right oils for low-porosity hair. So keep reading as we’ve also compiled a list of the top hair oils for low-porosity types!
- Intense moisturizing properties
- Nourishes hair follicles
- Easily penetrates the hair shaft
- Stimulates hair growth
- Reduces split ends
- Helps in maintaining a healthy scalp
- Stimulates hair growth
- Reduces split ends
- Helps in maintaining a healthy scalp
Table of Contents
- 1 What Is Hair Porosity?
- 2 What Is Low-Porosity Hair?
- 3 Why Lightweight Oils Are Great for Low Porosity Hair
- 4 Which Oils Are Top for Low-Porosity Hair?
- 5 9 Top Oils for Low Porosity Hair
- 6 Top Oils for Low-Porosity Natural Hair
- 7 Top Moisturizing Oils for Low-Porosity Hair
- 8 Best Oil for Low-Porosity Hair Growth
- 9 Top Oils for Type 4C Low-Porosity Hair
- 10 Frequently Asked Questions
- 11 Choosing the Right Oils for Low-Porosity Hair
What Is Hair Porosity?
Porosity indicates how well the hair absorbs moisture. To understand hair porosity, it’s important to know the layers of a hair shaft. These include the cuticle, cortex, and medulla.
The cuticle is the outermost layer that acts as a protective barrier for the hair shaft. It’s composed of separate cuticles formed like scales that overlap each other.
The cortex is the thickest and most fibrous layer that contains proteins and melanin, which gives the hair its pigmentation.
The medulla is the innermost layer, but it’s only present on thick hair. There is only so much information on what it does for humans.
What Is Low-Porosity Hair?
Normal (or medium) hair porosity means the cuticles overlap, but the shaft is porous enough for water and conditioning products to permeate.
Meanwhile, in low-porosity hair, the shaft has a smoother outer layer because the cuticles are tightly packed, so it doesn’t absorb moisture and hair products that well.
Hair with low porosity is more susceptible to being dry. And not having enough hydration leads to other hair issues, such as breakage, brittleness, and frizz.
This shows how important it is to test your hair’s porosity. Once you know whether your hair has low porosity or not, you’ll know the right products to get the nutrients and moisture needed for it to stay healthy.
Why Lightweight Oils Are Great for Low Porosity Hair
The fact that low-porosity hair doesn’t absorb moisture well is the main reason you should incorporate hair oils into your routine.
But it’s important to always choose the right oil, especially for less porous hair.
When looking for hair oils for low-porosity strands, the oils that penetrate low-porosity hair best are lightweight oils. Avoid heavy oils as much as you can.
One of the main differences between light and heavy oils is the saturated fat content, which tends to be higher for the latter.
For example, coconut oil’s saturated fat content is between 80% to 90%. But it’s only around 10% for grapeseed oil, so it’s one of the widely used lightweight oils for hair and skin.
Heavyweight oils do well in adding a sealing barrier to trap moisture for high-porosity hair. But if you have less porous hair, you’d want to prioritize adding moisture more than anything.
And you can achieve that through light oils that penetrate low hair porosity better.
Which Oils Are Top for Low-Porosity Hair?
The good news is there are many light oils that you can easily find online or in beauty supply stores.
You may opt for oils labeled as “100% pure” because they indicate that they’re not blended with other ingredients. But you should still always check the ingredients list on the label.
Many also favor the use of cold-pressed oils. Cold pressing is a common way to extract oil from plants without external heat, as heat often destroys the nutrients that the plant carries.
While the pressure applied in cold-pressing still produces heat, it usually doesn’t go beyond 49°C or 120°F. Most of the healthy benefits from plants are preserved through this process.
That said, there’s no harm in using low-porosity hair oils that went through refinement. This process takes away impurities and extends the oil’s shelf life.
Out of the many hair oils out there, the ones listed below are the most recommended hair oils for low-porosity hair:
- Argan oil
- Jojoba oil
- Sweet almond oil
- Grapeseed oil
- Baobab oil
- Apricot oil
- Camellia oil
- Pomegranate oil
- Avocado oil
- Sesame oil
- Rosehip oil
- Safflower oil
9 Top Oils for Low Porosity Hair
The oils mentioned above are known to work well on all types of low-porosity hair.
But we’ve also gathered some of the top products you can buy online if you’re looking for low-porosity hair oils to use for various purposes.
Top Oils for Low-Porosity Natural Hair
Deliver moisturizing benefits to each strand and anti-inflammatory properties for the scalp with the best argan oil for low-porosity hair.
Key benefits: Moisturizing; easily absorbed; nourishes hair follicles
Features:
- Organic argan kernel oil
- Rich in vitamin E and antioxidants
- Cold-pressed and unrefined
It’s the ultimate oil for natural low-porosity hair.
You’ll find argan oil listed as a key ingredient in countless products for hair and skin because of its powerful moisturizing properties.
But it’s also one of the widely available lightweight oils, whether by itself or infused in other products, making argan oil great for low-porosity hair. You’re sure that its nourishing benefits penetrate well in every strand.
Argan oil is also rich in vitamin E, so it does well in keeping your hair follicles healthy. This allows the follicles to produce healthy hair strands.
So if you’re looking to boost your natural low porosity hair, try this one.
It doesn’t just moisturize your hair; it also strengthens every strand to prevent further breakage.
Key benefits: Helps maintain hair moisture, reduces frizz, improves hair strength
Features:
- 100% Camellia japonica seed oil from Japan
- Cruelty-free
- Vegan and gluten-free
Your hair deserves only the best, so treat yourself with this natural oil extracted purely from Japanese camellia seeds!
Camellia japonica oil, also known as tsubaki oil in Japan, is commonly found in premium Japanese hair products due to its intense moisturizing effect.
It’s rich in essential fatty acids, antioxidants, and vitamins that contribute to its hair-conditioning properties. So it’s also known to improve damaged hair.
Remember, light oils work best for low-porosity hair. And this oil’s molecular weight is reportedly almost the same as the sebum naturally produced in the skin.
Top Moisturizing Oils for Low-Porosity Hair
One of the most lightweight oils that’s guaranteed to bring back lost moisture.
Key benefits: Intense hydration for the hair and skin; moisturizes dry scalp; helps control frizz
Features:
- Grapeseed oil
- Pure and undiluted oil
- Manufactured by combining cold-pressing and refinement
Feel free to make your grapeseed oil-infused DIY hair masks and conditioners for moisturized hair with Maple Holistics Pure Grapeseed Oil.
Without grapeseed oil, no list of the top oils for low-porosity hair would be complete. It’s very lightweight, so it is highly recommended when using oil that won’t weigh down your hair.
Grapeseed oil is a popular humectant, so it works well as a natural hair moisturizer and helps low-porosity hair retain water.
This hair and skin oil from Maple Holistics reduces frizz and split ends while making your hair shinier. So don’t skip this one when looking for a low-porosity hair oil.
Address your dry hair concerns while also nourishing your scalp.
Key benefits: Moisturizes hair and scalp; easily absorbed in strands and follicles; relieves itchy scalp
Features:
- From hexane-free and GMO-free baobab tree fruit
- Omega 3, 6, and 9 fatty acids
- Vitamins A, D, E, and K
Say goodbye to dry and damaged strands, and say hello to healthier hair that’s full of life!
With its vitamins and essential fatty acids, baobab oil does more than deeply moisturize low-porosity hair. It’s also known to strengthen hair strands and protect them from further damage caused by sun exposure and pollutants.
This baobab oil from Renewalize is recommended in hot oil treatments to hydrate the hair and reduce dullness.
By applying heat to this oil, you’ll get the most out of its scalp conditioning effects.
Low-porosity hair will have no problem soaking up the goodness of avocado oil.
Key benefits: Delivers intense hydration; can easily penetrate hair and scalp; can be used for a relaxing scalp massage
Features:
- 100% pure and natural avocado oil
- Cruelty-free
- Safe for sensitive scalp
Say goodbye to your dry hair problems once you incorporate avocado oil into your routine.
Avocado is one of the popular sources of “good fats,” so it’s not surprising that the oil extracted from this fruit can also do wonders for low-porosity hair.
It’s one of the popular moisturizing oils for low-porosity hair because of how well it penetrates the hair and scalp.
Aside from rehydrating the strands, it also does not clog follicles to maintain a healthy scalp.
You'll never go wrong with one of the best natural moisturizers for the hair, jojoba oil!
Key benefits: Improves hair’s shine; reduces split ends and scalp dryness; unclogs follicles for healthy hair growth
Features:
- Certified organic jojoba oil
- No additives and cruelty-free
- Cold-pressed and unrefined
Stop worrying about dry hair and a flaky scalp with this vitamin-rich oil.
This is another natural hair oil that only needs a little introduction as it’s widely used on many hair and skincare products.
But it’s worth repeating that jojoba oil is one of the top natural hydrators to moisturize your hair.
It’s rich in vitamins E and B-complex, so it’s also advised for people who want to strengthen hair strands.
Jojoba oil is also hailed for its antibacterial and antifungal properties. If you’re looking for a natural solution to dandruff, this oil is worth the try.
Best Oil for Low-Porosity Hair Growth
If hair growth is one of your goals, waste no time and start using sweet almond oil.
Key benefits: Promotes hair growth, reduces split ends, boosts scalp health
Features:
- Pure and certified organic sweet almond oil
- Vitamin E
- Rich in biotin (vitamin B7)
This vitamin-rich oil stimulates hair growth by helping prevent hair loss.
Sweet almond oil is rich in antioxidants, fatty acids, and vitamins that help strengthen strands to stimulate hair growth.
Because it’s lightweight, it quickly penetrates the hair shaft, making it an excellent oil for low-porosity hair.
Its nourishing properties also bring back moisture to the follicles, which helps boost hair strength.
With its conditioning effect, you can add sweet almond oil to your favorite shampoo and other hair products.
Top Oils for Type 4C Low-Porosity Hair
Here’s a blend of healthy, natural oils crafted for curly, wavy, and coily hair types.
Key benefits: Prevents breakage and reduces hair damage; reduces hair fall; promotes hair growth
Features:
- Argan kernel oil
- Citric acid helps keep a healthy pH level
- Black castor oil stimulates hair growth
With a mix of crowd-favorite carrier oils, Aunt Jackie's Argan Oil ensures you that you’re helping your hair grow healthier.
The structure of type 4 hair makes it more prone to breakage and damage than other hair types. So if you have wavy, curly, and coily hair, you’ll most likely benefit from oil blends that promote hair growth — like this!
Thanks to its key ingredient, argan oil, your hair and scalp are protected daily from damage — from pollutants, strong shampoo chemicals, or heat styling tools.
More importantly, argan oil has phenol compounds that act as antioxidants, which strengthen the hair follicles by making strands thicker and healthier and by promoting hair growth too.
Crafted for curly hair types, Carol’s Daughter Black Vanilla Moisture and Shine Pure Hair Oil features a blend that contains lightweight oils suitable for low-porosity hair.
Key benefits: Adds moisture layer; improves hair’s manageability; makes hair shinier
Features:
- Safflower seed oil
- Chamomilla recutita flower extract
- Sweet almond oil
Thanks to this hair oil blend, you can boost your curly hair's health without getting greasy strands.
Carol’s Daughter is known for outstanding products that do wonders for curly hair types. But this hair oil is also formulated to work on various hair types from 2A to 4C.
Its key ingredients include several light oils, such as safflower seed oil and sweet almond oil, making it a fantastic oil for low-porosity hair.
This blend is perfect for dry and low-porosity curly hair types because it creates an additional layer of moisture, so you can soon remove dry and brittle hair from the list of your concerns.
Aside from making your hair shinier, you’ll also have an easier time styling it because this oil blend helps improve unmanageable hair.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Coconut Bad for Low Porosity Hair?
Not really. Coconut oil is rich in fatty acids and nutrients that help moisturize the hair, reduce frizz, and minimize breakage. And you can still get these benefits, whatever your hair type is.
The fat saturation in coconut oil makes it heavier than hair oils recommended for low porosity.
So it’s not a commonly suggested product for hair types that are less porous because it doesn’t penetrate the hair shaft as good as lightweight oils.
But if you can’t let go of coconut oil, you can use fractionated coconut oil for low-porosity hair.
It’s produced through fractionation, which involves heating coconut oil above its melting point to remove lauric acid and long-chain fatty acids. This makes a type of coconut oil that’s more easily absorbed by the hair and skin.
Can I Use Sealing Oils on Low-Porosity Hair?
Yes. Some lightweight oils suitable for low-porosity hair can also function as a “sealing oil” because they have the properties to lock in moisture.
Grapeseed oil, apricot oil, jojoba oil, and even argan oil can be used as sealing oil to make sure your hair stays hydrated longer. After using moisturizing leave-in conditioners, you can apply these as sealing oils for low-porosity hair.
Choosing the Right Oils for Low-Porosity Hair
Regularly applying oil, even on low-porosity hair, can lead to great results. So keep the lightweight oils above in mind and choose which is best for your specific hair concerns.
Whichever oil for low-porosity hair you use, make sure you’re also diligent in washing and conditioning your hair. This ensures you’re removing product buildup and maintaining clear follicles to maintain healthy hair.
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