The diversity of the human race is such an amazing thing to see. Not only do we come in different colours, we all come in different shapes and sizes. Hair is also an important distinguishing factor with a tremendous amount of variation even within individuals of the same race. Different hair patterns can be seen, ranging from straight to wavy, curly, tightly curled, puffy and more. However, one thing we all have in common is the fact that we all get dry hair every once in a while and we all have the challenge of balancing the moisture level of our hair. The ability of your hair to absorb and retain moisture is known as hair porosity. It is therefore arguable to say that hair porosity is a very important determinant of the health and appearance of your hair.
The different hair patterns we see today are characterised by different degrees of porosity. This is one of the main reasons why a product may work for someone and not work for the other. This is often the case even when the hair types look relatively similar. In this article, we will show you how to use natural butters to manage the porosity of your hair.
Features of Low Porosity Curly Hair
• Hair takes a long time to dry.
• Products tend to build up on the hair rather than absorb.
• Natural oils don’t readily penetrate, but rather sit on your hair.
• Hair take much longer to get fully saturated when you wet them.
Natural butters for low porosity hair
Low porosity hair is known to be prone to product build up. The best natural butters for this type of hair are Murumuru butter and Tucuma butter. These butters are known to be light and fluffy. They do not clog the pores and have the ability to easily penetrate the hair without sitting on the hair like heavy butters and oils would. Most people want to be able to brush their hands through their hair without it feeling greasy and tangled. They both have amazing sealant properties that make them highly sort after butters for hair care and nourishment.
Features of Medium Porosity Hair
• Hair is full of bounce and elasticity.
• Requires relatively low maintenance.
• Easily accepts and retains moisture inside the cuticle.
• Holds styles well and can withstand colour satisfactorily with good results.
Natural butters for medium porosity hair
We should all be grateful to God for what we have got as far as hair is concerned because all types of hair is beautiful and amazing in its own way. However, if most people could choose what they were born with, they’d definitely choose medium porosity hair. It is very easy to maintain and retains moisture nicely. The best natural butters for this hair type are: Tamanu butter, Sal butter, Mango butter, Shea butter, Cupuacu butter and more. Tucuma and Murumuru butter can also work well on medium porosity hair when combined with relatively thicker oils. These butters are not too heavy and will not challenge the manageability of this hair type.
While most natural butters will work great, the best natural butter for medium low porosity is Mango butter in my opinion. Mango butter has medium moisturising properties when it comes to hair, particularly natural Afro hair. It is light but still packs a bit of punch when it comes to frizz control and hair maintenance. Its unique ability to aid in hair growth is an added bonus. This makes it a great butter for overall hair nurturing.
- Features of High Porosity Curly Hair
Hair easily absorb water, however, it requires more products.
Hair often looks and feels dry.
Hair is very prone to frizz and fly aways.
When washed, high porosity hair dries very quickly.
Natural butters for high porosity hair
High porosity hair can arguably be considered the most difficult hair type to deal with. It is amazing how fast this hair type dries. You probably do not need to own a hair dryer if you have high porosity hair. This is because it dries up very quickly after being washed. It gets even more difficult to manage in the colder months when the weather is extremely dry both outdoors and indoors (due to heating). The best natural butters for this hair type are Kokum butter and Shea butter. These are heavy butters that can tame high porosity hair by effectively locking in moisture. High porosity hair also needs heavy oils like castor oil in order to survive certain weather conditions, particularly winter. Â Other butters that can work on highly porous hair include: Sal butter, Mango butter, Tamanu butter and Cupuacu butter. It is important to also note that most natural butters will work well on high porosity hair when combined with heavy oils like Pumpkin seed and Castor oil. This hair type needs a lot of tender loving care. In the end it is all worth it. Because it is thick and luscious by nature, it is very beautiful when well maintained.
Having strong and healthy hair starts by understanding the porosity level of your hair and taking the necessary steps to manage and nurture it carefully. Natural butters are God’s gift to us to take care of our hair. Embrace them! You will find that we have a wide selection of butters and oils that are well suited for all hair types. Explore our collection and let us know how they work for you. We are always excited and encouraged to hear from our customers.
