Tips to Maintain Hair Moisture in the Summer Based on Your Porosity

With the arrival of summer, maintaining moisture in your natural hair becomes even more crucial. The combination of heat, humidity, and sun exposure can leave your locks feeling dry, brittle, and prone to breakage. However, by understanding your hair's porosity level and implementing the right strategies, you can keep your hair hydrated, healthy, and beautiful all summer long. If you looking to make sure your hair keeps its optimal moisture levels, let's explore effective tips and suggestions to maintain moisture based on different hair porosities.

Just in case you are new here or new to the term "hair porosity" let's take a pit stop and briefly describe what it is and why it is important to your hair's overall health. Hair porosity refers to your hair's ability to absorb and retain moisture. It is determined by the condition of your hair's cuticles, which are the outermost layer of each strand. There are three main porosity levels: low, medium, and high. If you don't know your porosity, check out our simple online quiz to get you started. 

1. Low Porosity Hair: Low porosity hair has tightly closed cuticles, making it challenging for moisture to penetrate the hair shaft. It tends to repel water and product buildup, often leading to product residue and ineffective moisturization. 

Tips for Low Porosity Hair:

• Pre-poo: Before shampooing, apply a lightweight, penetrating oil like argan or grapeseed oil to slightly lift the cuticles and enhance moisture absorption.
• Use a clarifying shampoo: Buildup can be a common issue for low porosity hair, so incorporating a clarifying shampoo once a month can help remove excess product residue and allow moisture to penetrate the strands.
• Deep conditioning: Opt for protein-free, water-based deep conditioners to provide intense hydration without weighing down the hair. Applying heat using the Glow by Daye Deep Conditioning Heat Cap or Soft Dryer Hooded Attachment, can help open the cuticles and enhance moisture absorption.
• Sealing in moisture: After applying leave-in conditioner or a moisturizer, seal in the moisture with a light oil or butter. This helps to prevent moisture loss and keep the hair hydrated for longer.
• Protective styling: Low porosity hair benefits from protective styles that reduce exposure to environmental factors and allow for better moisture retention. Try braids, twists, or updos during the summer months.

2. Medium Porosity Hair: Medium porosity hair has slightly raised cuticles, striking a balance between moisture absorption and retention. It is generally more versatile and easier to maintain moisture compared to other porosity types.

Tips for Medium Porosity Hair:

• Regular deep conditioning: Deep condition your hair at least once a week with a moisturizing conditioner or hair mask. Look for ingredients like aloe vera, glycerin, and shea butter, which provide excellent hydration.
• Leave-in conditioners: Apply a leave-in conditioner after washing your hair to help lock in moisture. Choose lightweight formulas that won't weigh down your hair.
• Protective styling: Opt for low-manipulation styles that protect your hair from excessive heat, sun, and humidity. Buns, ponytails, and twists are great options.
• Heat protection: If you use heat styling tools, always apply a heat protectant spray or serum before using them. This helps minimize damage and moisture loss.
• Regular trims: Regular trims help remove split ends and maintain the overall health of your hair, ensuring optimal moisture retention.

3. High Porosity Hair: High porosity hair has cuticles with gaps or raised scales, making it highly porous. It easily absorbs moisture but struggles to retain it, resulting in dryness and frizz.

Tips for High Porosity Hair:

• Moisturizing shampoos and conditioners: Look for products specifically designed for high porosity hair that contain hydrating ingredients like coconut oil, jojoba oil, or honey. Avoid sulfates and other harsh chemicals that can

No matter your porosity, making sure to never overwhelm your strands is key whether in the sun, with a protective style in for too long, or product build up. Particularly in textured hair moisture retention can be very challenging due to its tighter curl or coil pattern so once you have deeply conditioned and moisturized, it will be critical to protect from harsh elements that are in our everyday but can soak all your well intended added moisture from your cuticles. Make sure to lay on fabric that helps retain moisture such as satin lined caps, satin or silk pillowcases, or satin scarves/bonnets.