Best Oil for Low Porosity Hair: Nourish and Moisturize Natural Hair

If you have low porosity hair, your hair is structured differently than other hair types.  The hair cuticles of individuals with low porosity hair overlap and are packed in tightly together in the hair.  This makes it hard for water and conditioners to reach the hair shaft and keep it moisturized.  Because of this characteristic of low porosity hair, it is essential to choose hair care products that can help keep your hair healthy and moisturized.  Finding the best oil for low porosity hair is one way you can achieve this goal.

The oils we’ll share below are a good solution for low porosity hair. They will be absorbed by the hair and can deliver the moisture it so desperately needs.

Adding one or more of these oils for low porosity hair to your routine will deliver impressive results, and you’ll be so happy with your decision to give them a try.

Best Oils for Low Porosity Hair

Below, you’ll find the top 11 oils we recommend for low porosity hair.

Take some time to read through our recommendations and select the best product for dry hair that will help nourish and moisturize your low porosity hair.

1. Sweet Almond Oil – Viva Naturals Sweet Almond Oil for Skin and Hair
2. Safflower Oil – Esutras Organics Safflower Oil
3. Ylang Ylang Oil – H’ana Ylang Ylang Essential Oil
4. Shea Butter – Okay African Shea Butter
5. Grapeseed Oil – Honeydew Pure Grape Seed Oil Extract
6. Sunflower Oil – Maple Holistics Sunflower Oil for Hair Skin and Nails
7. Pomegranate Oil – Leven Rose Pomegranate Seed Oil
8. Coconut and Wheatgerm Oil – Oriental Botanics Organic Coconut & Wheat Germ Oil For Hair & Skin
9. Peppermint Oil – Difeel Premium Natural Hair Care Peppermint Oil
10. Argan Oil – VoilaVe ECOCERT Pure Organic Moroccan Argan Oil
11. Baobab Oil – Renewalize Certified Organic Baobab Oil

Viva Naturals Sweet Almond Oil for Skin and Hair

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Hair Oil Highlights:

• Linoleic acid to help hair retain moisture
• Softens and strengthens hair
• Fast-absorbing
• 100% natural and unscented

Sweet almond oil, like this organic oil from Viva Naturals, can be a great choice for individuals with low porosity hair.  It includes Vitamins A and E, potassium, zinc, proteins, oleic acid, stearic acid, and linoleic acid that can help soften low porosity hair and help it grow stronger.  These components, especially the linoleic acid, can also help low porosity hair absorb and retain moisture which makes this a top choice if you’re looking for the best almond oil for low porosity hair.

In addition to benefiting your low porosity hair, you can also use this sweet almond oil to improve skin health.

Esutras Organics Safflower Oil

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Hair Oil Highlights:

• Contains 100% safflower oil with no fillers
• Linoleic acid to lock in moisture in hair
• Can also be used to moisturize skin
• Also suitable for cooking

Safflower seed oil may be the best moisturizing oil for low porosity hair. Another benefit of using safflower seed oil on your hair is that it can help increase the flow of blood to the scalp.

Esutras Organics’ Safflower includes linoleic acid to help lock moisture into the hair shaft and improve the overall health of low porosity hair.

H’ana Ylang Ylang Essential Oil

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Hair Oil Highlights:

• Very hydrating
• Works as a natural conditioner
• Improves mental positivity

Ylang ylang oil for low porosity hair can act as a natural conditioner.  It works to provide stimulation for the sebaceous glands to produce more sebum to naturally condition hair. Ylang Ylang oil can also have a positive impact on your emotions and can boost positive thinking.

This ylang ylang oil from H’ana Essential oils is one of the best essential oils for low porosity hair.  The oil has a pleasant flora aroma with a hint of fruitiness.

Okay African Shea Butter

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Hair Oil Highlights:

• Seals in moisture
• Vitamins A and E can also improve skin health
• All natural
• Made from 100% pure raw African shea butter

Is shea butter good for low porosity hair?

Shea butter is a good choice if you’re looking for the best sealing oil for low porosity hair.  This shea butter from Okay includes essential nutrients and vitamins  such as vitamins A, E, K, and F.  The fatty acids (vitamin F) help it to function as a very effective sealant, allowing it to lock in moisture and keep your low porosity hair hydrated.

Honeydew Pure Grape Seed Oil Extract

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Hair Oil Highlights:

• Contain linoleic acid to lock in moisture in hair
• Helps moisturize the scalp
• 100% pure grapeseed oil

Honeydew’s Pure Grapeseed Oil should certainly be considered if you’re looking for the best light oil for low porosity hair.

Grapeseed oil can help strengthen hair.  It also contains linoleic acid to help seal in moisture in low porosity hair.  Some of the other beneficial components of grapeseed oil include oleic acid, palmitic acid, and vitamin E.

In addition to being a good choice for your low porosity hair, grapeseed oil can also help hydrate skin.

Maple Holistics Sunflower Oil for Hair Skin and Nails

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Hair Oil Highlights:

• Rich in vitamin E and vitamin A
• Includes linoleic and oleic acid
• Light oil that can penetrate hair to hydrate it
• Improves scalp health

A top pick for the best carrier oil for low porosity hair is sunflower oil.  Sunflower oil, like Maple Holistics’ Sunflower Oil, is very light and able to penetrate low porosity hair to hydrate it more easily than heavier oils.

In addition to keeping hair hydrated, sunflower oil can also help strengthen hair and prevent it from breaking.

Leven Rose Pomegranate Seed Oil

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Hair Oil Highlights:

• Penetrates low porosity hair
• Includes linoleic acid, vitamin C, and oleic acid
• 100% pure pomegranate oil
• GMO-, paraben-, filler-, and additive-free

Pomegranate oil like this one from Leven Rose, might be the best oil for fine low porosity hair.  It is very light and concentrated, so a little goes a long way.

Unlike heavier oils, pomegranate oil is able to penetrate low porosity hair and get absorbed by the shaft to hydrate it.  It is rich in linoleic acid, flavonoids, vitamin C, oleic acid, and punicic acid, which also allows it to help hair grow.

Since it increases the flow of blood to the scalp, pomegranate oil can also help reduce dandruff and prevent hair loss.

Oriental Botanics Organic Coconut & Wheat Germ Oil For Hair & Skin

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Hair Oil Highlights:

• Coconut oil to improve scalp health and help hair grow.
• Wheat germ to strengthen hair
• Sweet almond oil to help hair absorb moisture

Looking for wheat germ oil for low porosity hair?  This Coconut & Wheat Germ Oil from Oriental Botanics is a great option to consider.

This is a great option if you’re looking for the best hair growth oil for low porosity hair because the coconut oil can help improve the health of your scalp and allow healthy, new hair to grow.  Coconut oil can also add volume to your hair.  The formula also includes sweet almond oil to help hair absorb moisture.  Wheat germ oil for low porosity hair can help strengthen hair, soften hair, and improve its shine.

Difeel Premium Natural Hair Care Oil, Peppermint

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Hair Oil Highlights:

• Balances the hair’s PH to open up the cuticle
• Improves health of scalp
• Increase shine
• Strengthens hair

Now, you may be wondering, “Is peppermint oil good for low porosity hair?”

Yes, using peppermint oil on your low porosity hair can help balance the pH.

When the pH of your hair is more balanced, it can help normalize the cuticle to open it up and allow more moisturizers and conditioners to make their way to the shaft.  This is also a good choice if you’re looking for the best scalp oil for low porosity hair since pepper oil is an antifungal and anti-inflammatory that can improve the health of your scalp.

This peppermint oil for low porosity hair from Difeel can also prevent hair from breaking and increase its shine.

VoilaVe ECOCERT Pure Organic Moroccan Argan Oil

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Hair Oil Highlights:

• Locks in moisture
• Promotes hair growth
• Also very beneficial for moisturizing skin and improving its overall health
• 100% pure argan oil

VoilaVe ECOCERT’s Pure Organic Moroccan Argan Oil is the best argan oil for low porosity hair.

Argan oil is very moisturizing, making it a good oil to use with low porosity hair.  It works to lock in moisture in hair until the hair is washed again.  This makes argan oil a good option to use right after you have washed your hair.  Argan oil can also help hair grow and make it softer and easier to manage.

Renewalize Certified Organic Baobab Oil

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Hair Oil Highlights:

• Penetrates the cuticle to deliver moisture to the shaft
• Rich in vitamins A, C, D, E, and F
• Can be used to create a hot oil treatment for hair
• Moisturizes the scalp and helps with dandruff
• GMO- and cruelty-free

Wonder what the best penetrating oil for low porosity hair is?  Consider this certified organic baobab oil from Renewalize.

Oleic acid and saturated fats are found in baobab oil.  They work to make hair softer and allow moisture to penetrate the cuticle, which can be very beneficial for individuals with low porosity hair.

Baobab oil is also rich in Vitamins A, C, D, E, and F, which also makes it a good choice for those who need to strengthen their hair.  Using baobab oil can also make hair shinier.

What is Low Porosity Hair

Low porosity hair has a unique structure that prevents moisture from reaching and getting absorbed by the hair shaft.  Because of its structure and tendency to repel water and moisture, low porosity hair can be more challenging to style than other hair types.

All hair types consist of three layers.  The outer layer is the cuticle which is made up of overlapping cuticles.  The middle layer, the cortex, is made up of proteins and pigments of color; this is the thickest layer of your hair.  The inner layer of hair is called the hair shaft or medulla.

The cuticles on the outer layer of individuals with low porosity hair are much more tightly organized and more heavily overlapping.  This tighter design blocks water and moisture from conditioners and many oils from getting to the hair shaft to keep it moisturized and healthy.

While some may worry that the way they cared for their hair in the past or different chemicals they added to their hair caused them to have low porosity hair, in most cases individuals are born with low porosity hair since it is generally attributed to genetic causes.

Low Porosity Hair Characteristics

Below you’ll find a list of characteristics that many people with low porosity hair will identify with.  If you experience any of these signs of low porosity hair, it should let you know that you need to change up your hair care routine to make sure you are finding ways to nourish and care for your low porosity hair.

Washing or Drying Your Hair is Time-Consuming

When trying to wash your low porosity hair, you may notice that it takes you longer than you should.  This is because low porosity hair doesn’t easily absorb water, so you need to work harder to get your hair wet.  Likewise, after you have managed to wash your hair, low porosity hair also takes longer to dry than it should.

Your Hair Doesn’t Absorb Hair Care Products

If you’ve tried using deep conditioners or oils in your hair, you may notice that they don’t get absorbed well.  A while after applying some leave-in products, you may feel your hair and notice that it still feels like all of the product you put on is still sitting on the top of your head, rather than having been absorbed by the hair.  This is a big indicator of low porosity hair.

Hair Color Treatments Don’t Get Absorbed Well

For hair coloring treatments to be effective, they need to be absorbed into the hair.  If you have tried to color your hair and have noticed that the treatment isn’t coloring your hair like it should, it may be another indication that you have low porosity hair.

You Have More Dirt or Buildup or Dandruff in Your Hair

Since low porosity hair doesn’t properly absorb shampoos, conditioners, and other hair care products, it can be hard to properly remove dirt and buildup.  You may feel like you’re constantly washing your hair only to feel like it still isn’t as clean as you’d like it.  Dandruff can be a nuisance.  If you find yourself dealing with a dandruff problem, consider using coconut oil to clear up your dandruff.

How to Test for Low Porosity Hair

If you are wondering if you have low porosity hair, there are a few different ways to identify whether your hair does have low porosity.   Try one of the suggestions below to determine if your hair is low porosity.

Float Test

Fill a cup with water (at room temperature) and place a few hairs that have naturally fallen out of your scalp into the cup.  High porosity hair will quickly absorb water from the cup, making it sink to the bottom.  Low porosity hair will not be able to quickly absorb the water and will remain floating on the surface.  It is also possible that you have medium/normal porosity hair.  In this case, your hair will sink slightly and stay in about the middle of the cup.

Slide Test

You should perform the slide test with dry hair.  To do this test, take your fingers and slide them up their hair going in the opposite direction of the cuticles.  As you slide your finder, the hair may feel smooth, or you may feel lots of bumps.  Bumpier hair indicates a high porosity, while smoother hair indicates a lower positive.

Spray Bottle Test

For the spray bottle test, use a spray bottle to mist a portion of your hair. Observe the hair to see what happens to determine your hair’s porosity.  If you notice that the water you sprayed on the hair begins beading up or rolls off the hair, it is a good indication that you have low porosity hair.  If the water seems to be absorbed by the hair, then you likely have high or normal porosity hair.

How to Moisturize Low Porosity Hair

Moisturizing and sealing low porosity hair is important, but because of its structure can be very challenging.   Use the tips below to help you moisturize and care for your low porosity hair.

• Use heat to deep condition your hair:  When you use heat, such as a hooded dryer, for a deep conditioning, it can help open up the cuticle layers of low porosity hair.  This will allow the conditioner to be absorbed by the hair shaft.  When you apply your deep conditioner, try to evenly spread it out over the entire lengths of your hair to ensure it gets absorbed everywhere.
• Use clarifying shampoos to remove buildup:  Clarifying shampoos can be very effective at removing buildup, which is a common problem individuals with low porosity hair face.  If buildup isn’t removed, it can make it even more of a challenge for your hair to absorb moisture.
• Do a pre-poo with a light oil:  Using almond oil, grapeseed oil, or other light oils for a pre-poo can help protect your hair from harsh shampoos that could cause it to become even more dry.
• Moisturize damp, not wet, hair:  Applying moisturizing products to damp hair as opposed to very wet hair can allow the hair to absorb more moisture.
• Try ‘the greenhouse effect’:  The greenhouse effect refers to putting a shower cap over your hair right after moisturizing it.  This will produce some steam around your hair and lock in the heat to open up your hair cuticles and allow them to absorb more moisture.
• Don’t use heavy products:  Heavy hair care products should be avoided by individuals with low porosity hair.  They can lead to too much build up and may make the hair even more dry than it previously was.
• Take care when selecting styling products:  Since blow-drying can cause hair to become damaged or even dryer than it was before, choose a good blow-dryer for natural or low porosity hair.

FAQs

Are heavy oils good for low porosity hair?

No, heavy oils are not recommended for low porosity hair.  Olive oil, coconut oil, and castor oil for low porosity hair are not good choices because they are too heavy and won’t be absorbed by the hair.  This means the oil will stay sitting on the surface of the hair when used by individuals with low porosity hair.

When should I use oil for low porosity hair?

There are a lot of different ways that you can use oil with low porosity hair. Check out the video as it talks about it in detail more:

You can also use oil for low porosity hair when you deep condition your hair to help it reach the shaft and bring moisture.  Finally, you may also decide to try oil with low porosity hair after you have finished washing your hair to seal the hair and lock in moisture.

You can use it before, during, or after washing your hair.  If you want to use oil for low porosity hair before washing your hair, try it as a pre-poo.  Using it with heat will be most effective, so use a heating cap, sit under a dryer with medium or low heat, or even use a damp warm towel with a shower cap.

Best Oil for Low Porosity Hair: A Wrap Up

Having low porosity hair may be more challenging to care for, but once you learn the right oils and other hair care products best suited for your hair type, you should notice improvements in how moisturized and healthy your hair is.

We hope you’ve found this article to be helpful and that you’ve selected a few different oils you’d like to try for your low porosity hair.