What's good for low porosity hair?

blackcat10071 · 02-21-2011, 11:36 AM

So, I did the porosity test and it looks like I have low porosity. What are somethings that I can do to make my curly hair more bouncy? What are some good products to use for low porosity hair? Rigth now I use a gel when I first get out of the shower, then I plop my hair for ten mins, then I use a gel spray from Herbel Essences. What products do you use for your low porosity hair?

RacerWife7 · 03-01-2011, 03:37 AM

More bouncy??.... The only thing that makes my hair more bouncy is a good cut, to be honest with you. It isn't in the products, for me. I have to have a good, layered cut that allows my curls to form better.

Anyhoo... in the realm of products... I don't use any ONE set of products. I use a number of them and change it up a LOT. Right now (with the low dew points), I'm using a lot of the following (keep in mind, I have fine, dense hair, low porosity, and low elasticity):

Cleansing: CJDF or GTTTT
Conditioning: CJBSC or AOHR
Styling: KCCC or SS CEJ & CJAFL or HETT Mousse

kathymack · 03-01-2011, 04:52 AM

+ 1 on the cut. A good cut is the foundation for everything else.

My hair prefers the more natural products and I don't use gel, I use jelly type products. I think that makes it less producty, so it moves (not sure that's what you mean by bouncy.)

I thought the DVD that came with the new Curly Girl book was great in showing us how to "handle" curly hair. One of the things I didn't like is that they all used a ton of product and their hair didn't "move." It "shifted" as an entity--like it was "glued" together.

IAgirl · 03-03-2011, 10:04 AM

Blackcat, you look like a wavy

.
I am a wavy/curly and we wavies don't get a lot of bounce. Period. Some of us have hair with curls which spring back 2, 3, even 4 inches on a humid summer day.

A good cut will help (for example, layers which take the weight off the hair underneath). Using a diffuser to press the hair towards the scalp helps (plopping does too if that works for you). Lots of wavies do both! The weight of the water can pull your wave pattern out.

Protein treatments also help boost waves and curls, especially for us low-porosity types.

Curl-enhancers are a good bet. My favorites in no special order are Kiss my Face Upper Management, Lily of the Desert Aloe 80, FSG (with extra goodies added. These all have polysaccharides which are not only humectants, but also polymers -- trapping moisture (especially if used under another gel) and providing a little more hold. There are other curl enhancers too.

Come introduce yourself to the wavy (2s) board, we're a friendly and resourceful bunch and I think you'll find lots of helpful information!

blackcat10071 · 03-11-2011, 06:38 PM

Thanks for all the advice. Sounds like what I really need is a cut.. I really wish I could get a good hair cut. I haven't had it cut since I started wearing it curly. My hair is dying for change! :/IAgirl: I'll check out the board right away.