Hair issues could be a sign of protein deficiency or a protein overload. Hair porosity, for instance, could be a protein level issue, depending on the hair porosity. While low porosity hair is protein-sensitive, high porosity hair is in great need of protein.
Naturally, the hair is made of a protein called keratin. Too much or too little protein can affect the health and appearance of your hair. When the protein naturally present in your hair is no longer sufficient, it makes your hair limp. Moreover, this is a sign of high porosity hair.
High porosity hair has a lot of pores on the hair shaft. These pores make the hair absorb and lose moisture quickly. Consequently, the hair is always dry and very prone to breakage. However, this is manageable and eventually treatable.
Keep scrolling to see why your high porosity hair needs protein.
Does High Porosity Hair Need Protein?
Yes, it does. The many pores on the hair shaft of a high porosity hair make it take in moisture and lose it almost immediately. This is because high porosity hair has many lifted cuticles and damaged protein structures which is a result of frequent hair manipulation.
Using protein treatment on high porosity hair makes your hair more manageable. The protein fills the gaps in the cuticles and makes them appear smoother. It does this by penetrating the hair shaft, relaxing and aligning the raised cuticles, and making them smoother.
Moreover, while the protein does this, the molecules create a protective layer over your hair to shield it from environmental damage. Consequently, it improves the texture of hair that was previously limp and dry. It also adds shine to your hair.
Protein treatment reduces the rate of quick absorption and loss of moisture. With the relaxed and realigned cuticles, your hair will tangle less often and you’ll have fewer flyaways.
How Much Protein Does High Porosity Hair Need?
High porosity hair needs a lot of protein because it lacks it naturally. To make up for the protein deficiency, you should use products that contain protein once a week.
However, because the degree of porosity varies with even high porosity hair, you may have to treat your hair with protein once in two weeks. Before you use protein treatment, you should know the level of your hair’s porosity.
Additionally, although high porosity hair does need protein, you shouldn’t overdo it. Protein can be very drying when used in excess. The best way to use or start with protein treatment is once a week.
Most importantly, the reason for your high porosity hair determines how much protein treatment your hair would need. For instance, high porosity due to friction may not need as much protein as high porosity due to hair manipulation.
Does High Porosity Hair Need Moisture?
Every hair type thrives in the presence of moisture. High porosity hair, however, cannot hold down moisture because of the raised cuticles with holes that make moisture slip out quickly. When your hair lacks moisture, it is drier with frizzy, tangled, and limp curls.
To keep it moisturized, you’ll need to use products that are naturally moisturizing and can increase the ability of your hair to hold down moisture. This way, your hair will feel less dry, appear healthier and smoother. You do not only need to moisturize high porosity hair, it should remain moisturized.
Condition your hair regularly to keep it moisturized. Your conditioning regimen should include a regular conditioner, deep conditioner, and leave-in conditioner. In addition, heavy oils and hair butter are good hair moisturizers.
These products do not only help to condition your hair, but they are also moisturizing. More so, they retain the moisture and make up for the moisture loss.
What Are the Signs That You Have High Porosity Hair?
The first way to tell that your hair is becoming highly porous is in how it absorbs moisture and products. High porosity hair quickly absorbs moisture and products. However, it doesn’t retain them well. They evaporate as quickly as they were absorbed.
Furthermore, because moisture and products are not held down in your inner hair structures, your hair dries quickly. Another sign that you have high porosity hair is how well and quickly it tangles.
High porosity hair easily gets tangled and the curls are frizzy. The cuticles in high porosity hair are raised; this is why they cannot keep moisture in. The rough cuticles are the reason for the tangles in your curls. These signs are pointers to the need for protein treatment for your high porosity hair.
Why Do You Have High Porosity Hair?
High porosity hair is usually genetic. But there are other reasons why you have high porosity hair. Your hair care routine, the products you use, and the processes your hair frequently undergoes can also result in high porosity hair.
Too frequent heat styling can make your hair highly porous. Consistent application of heat damage the cuticles, thereby removing the protective layer over your hair. Also, prolonged and too frequent exposure to sunlight can result in high porosity hair.
In addition, chemicals in hair dyes, bleach agents, and relaxers also contribute to hair porosity. These chemicals are harsh and can damage your hair cuticles. Friction between your hairs during detangling, between your hair and cotton pillowcases, while you sleep, can also make your hair highly porous.
SEE: Hair Porosity Test: Simple Ways to Identify Your Porosity Level
What Does High Porosity Hair Need?
1. Pre-poo treatment
Pre-poo treatment like applying oils to your hair before you wash is very helpful for high porosity hair. This method of shampooing reduces the rate at which high porosity hair absorbs water. More so, the oil creates a seal over your hair to prevent moisture from leaving your hair too quickly.
2. Moisture enriching products
Every product on your high porosity haircare regimen should be moisturizing. You can follow the LOC (Leave-in-conditioner-Oil-Cream) method to give your hair intense moisture. The order of layering makes sure that every ingredient is sealed in and your hair is moisturized.
3. Regular conditioning
High porosity hair fares better with conditioning. Conditioners are a better replacement for water when it comes to hydrating your hair and keeping it moisturized. For your high porosity hair, you’ll need conditioners that contain protein to help strengthen your hair.
In addition, deep conditioning moisturizes your hair, seal and smoothen the open cuticles.
SEE: Best Conditioner Products To Boost Your Hair Growth
4. Heavy products
Heavy products like oils and butter are good for high porosity hair. They help to prevent the open cuticles from allowing moisture to escape quickly. These products lock in moisture and increase moisture retention capacity. Examples are shea butter, olive oil, cocoa butter, and castor oil.
5. Detangling
High porosity hair easily gets tangled; therefore, you need to detangle it properly before washing or styling. While you detangle, the utmost care is needed. Also, never detangle without conditioner or pre-poo treatment. When you detangle frequently, you reduce the chances of getting knots in your hair.
6. Protective hairstyles
If you have high porosity hair, your best hair styling options are protective hairstyles. Go for hairstyles that will put little to no tension on your scalp and hair. Braids with extensions or your natural hair and wearing wigs are protective hairstyles.
These hairstyles protect your hair and scalp from the tension of frequent styling. More so, it’s a good way to keep brushes, heat stools, and combing away for a while.
7. Sometimes, get a trim
Trimming your hair can help. The ends of high porosity hair are naturally weak and prone to breakage. You can have them cut off before they happen at their will.
SEE: Helpful Growth Tips For High Porosity Hair
What Should You Avoid if You Have High Porosity Hair?
1. Heat styling
Heat styling tools like blow dryers, curling, and flat irons are not good for high porosity hair. They damage hair cuticles and can worsen already dry hair that is prone to breakage. However, if you must use these tools, make sure you have them set in the coolest setting and use a heat protectant.
2. Chemicals
Avoid putting too heavy chemicals on your hair. Products that contain sulfates, silicones, and parabens are not good options for high porosity hair. Also, you should cut down on hair coloring and bleaching. The chemicals used in these processes are probably part of the reason for your hair’s porosity.
3. Too frequent washing
Although you have a mild shampoo on your high porosity hair regimen, you should cut down on washing frequency. High porosity hair absorbs moisture quickly and is not good for your hair. Keeping your hair in constant contact with water can make it drier.
Rather than washing to keep it hydrated, condition and moisturize more.
SEE: Is Rice Water Good for Low or High Porosity Hair? Find Out the Answer
DIY Protein Treatments for High Porosity Hair
Egg mask
Eggs are rich sources of protein. Combining eggs with kitchen ingredients like shea butter and mayonnaise provide a rich dose of protein and help to condition your hair.
- Take one egg and extract the yolk
- If your shea butter is too hard, you can warm it in a bowl of warm water
- Mix the egg yolk with one tablespoon of shea butter and one tablespoon of mayonnaise to make a paste
- Afterward, apply the paste to the ends of your hair and wear a shower cap over your hair for about 30 minutes
- You can rinse it off thereafter and wash your hair with shampoo
Coconut milk and oil
For coconut milk and oil, you may use either coconut oil or olive oil. Both oils work with coconut milk to nourish and condition your hair.
- Mix the milk and oil in a bowl
- Then, generously apply the mask to the ends of your hair and wear a plastic cap or shower cap over your hair
- Leave it in for about 45 minutes before you rinse and wash thoroughly with a shampoo
FAQs
Can high porosity hair get protein overload?
High porosity hair naturally lacks protein. It is very unlikely that it gets protein overload, unlike low porosity hair. However, if you go overboard with protein treatments, you likely overload your hair with protein.
This is why you should be sure of your hair’s porosity before you use protein treatment. Also, consult a hair expert who will tell you what and how to go about protein treatment.
Are humectants good for high porosity hair?
Yes, they are. Humectants are ingredients that can attract moisture from the atmosphere and retain it in inner structures. Hyaluronic acid, aloe vera, honey, glycerine, and silk are examples of humectants that your high porosity hair products need.
How do you know your hair needs protein?
Limp strands are a sign that your hair needs protein. High porosity hair shows limpness, weakness, and a lack of elasticity. If you also notice that your hair is gummy, it has high porosity and needs protein treatments.
Conclusion
High porosity hair is a sign of protein deficiency which comes with weak and dry strands that break easily. To replenish the protein deficiency, you need to include hair products that contain protein. Regular protein treatment is necessary to strengthen weak hair and improve texture.
If you have high porosity hair, you should replace your products with protein-rich ones. Protein conditioners and hair masks are some products you’ll need.
Most importantly, always carefully look at the ingredients list of your products for chemicals like sulfates, silicones, and parabens which are not a good idea for high porosity hair.
Thanks for reading.
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