Lifeless, Frizzy Hair? Flat Curls? You May Have Low Porosity Hair That's Over Conditioned
- OOF!
- Mar 6
- 5 min read
Updated: Oct 7
Curls lost their spring? This is for you.
I couldn’t figure out why my curls were frizzy and sad — until I discovered I was over-conditioning them.
If your curls have lost their bounce, seem limp, or refuse to hold shape, it might not be dry hair. It might be too much “good stuff.”
Low porosity hair has a tightly closed cuticle, so it struggles to absorb moisture. Instead, products sit on the surface. That buildup can lead to limp, weighed-down curls, flat volume, and frizz.
Finding the right balance of moisture and protein is key to maintaining healthy, bouncy curls.
In this guide, you’ll learn:
What low porosity hair is (and how to spot it)
The signs your hair is over-conditioned
A step-by-step rescue plan to restore bounce and shine
What Is Low Porosity Hair and How Can You Tell?
It's All About Hair Type
Hair porosity as well as structure, texture, and density all play a big role in what ingredients, products and styling techniques specific for your hair.
These make up your hair type. Knowing your hair type can be super helpful for giving your hair the ingredients it needs to look its best.
Want a shortcut? Try our Hair Type Quiz to learn your exact hair type and what you need to be using in your hair care routine.
Low Porosity Hair Explained
If you just want to know about low porosity hair, you're in the right place.
Low porosity hair has a tightly closed cuticle, making it more difficult to absorb water or products.
Once absorbed, it retains moisture well. Products may sit on the surface of the hair rather than being absorbed, leading to potential buildup.
How to Test Your Hair Porosity
1. Water Float Test
Take a clean, 2–3 inch strand of hair and place it in a tall glass of water. If it floats (or stays near the top) for a while, that’s a sign your strands resist water absorption. (video below)
2. Observe Your Hair’s Behavior
If it takes forever to dry
If products sit on top instead of soaking in
If your curls look weighed down
These are signs that you’re dealing with low porosity hair.
I Have Low Porosity Hair — Now What?
Having low porosity hair is definitely not a bad thing. You hold in moisture, which is great. But that also means it's hard for moisture and products to get in.
To keep your hair balanced, stick with lightweight shampoos and conditioners and clarify every month to prevent buildup. Look for ingredients that don't have heavy butters, waxes, or silicones.
Still, even with the best routine, low porosity hair can become over-conditioned — especially if you have been using products with heavy moisturizers.
But don’t panic — this is totally fixable! Let’s go through the key signs of over-conditioned hair and how to bring back the protein/moisture balance.
Signs Your Low Porosity Hair Is Over-Conditioned
1. Your Hair Feel “Mushy” When Wet
Over-conditioned hair often feels overly soft or even spongy to the touch especially when wet. Your curls may look stretched or shapeless.
2. Your Hair Looks Weighed Down
When too much conditioner builds up, it coats your strands instead of nourishing them. The result? Shiny, slippery hair that lacks volume or texture.
3. You’ve Lost Volume and Definition
If your roots are flat and your curls don't hold their shape, it’s usually a sign that your products are weighing your hair down.
4. Your Hair Takes Forever to Dry
Low porosity, over-conditioned hair resists absorbing water — and that means it also holds onto it longer. If your hair stays damp for hours, that’s a red flag.
How to Fix Over-Conditioned Hair — Step by Step
The first thing you will want to do is clarify, clarify, clarify!
Step 1 - Remove the Buildup
Use a deep cleansing clarifying shampoo or try a natural hair clarifier to remove product and moisturizer build up.
Use a scalp massager for at least one minute to lift residue and boost circulation.
💗 Tip: The OOF! Silicone Scalp Massager gives your scalp gentle exfoliation to clear buildup.
Step 2 – Use a Lightweight, Sulfate-Free Cleanser
After clarifying, switch to a sulfate-free shampoo or cleansing bar for regular washes. This keeps your scalp clean without over-drying your strands.
Step 3 – Skip Deep Conditioners for a Week (or Four)
It sounds scary, but your curls need a short moisture break. Avoid heavy masks and deep conditioners for a while to let your hair rebalance. Low porosity hair really does not need much deep conditioning to stay hydrated.
✨ Instead: Focus on light hydration — a small amount of leave-in or curl cream is plenty.
Step 4 – Add a Little Protein
Over-conditioned hair often lacks strength and elasticity. Incorporate a protein-balanced conditioner to rebuild your curl structure.
While protein can be beneficial for low porosity hair, a little goes a long way. Too much protein can lead to protein overload, causing the hair to become stiff, brittle, and prone to breakage.
Look for: Hydrolyzed keratin, rice protein, or collagen on your ingredient labels.
Step 5 – Dry Gently and Use Lightweight Styling
Terry cloth and microfiber (plastics!) cause cuticle friction that can mean damage to your hair. Switch to a t-shirt or t-shirt hair towel for removing moisture and if you blow dry, use a low heat setting.
💗 OOF! tip: The HALO t-shirt hair towel's smooth jersey-knit fabric helps dry hair gently and keeps your natural pattern intact.
Best Products to Recover from Over-Conditioned Hair
DIY Clarifying Rinses
Apple Cider Vinegar Rinse
A classic go-to for clearing buildup and restoring shine. It helps balance your scalp’s pH and smooth the hair cuticle. Dilute with water (about 1 part vinegar to 3–4 parts water).
Lemon Juice Rinse
Lemon juice is a natural acid that helps remove residue and adds brightness to dull hair. It can slightly lighten hair color if used often, so dilute it well (1 part lemon juice to 4 parts water).
Best Products For Clarifying
We’re Loving Oli G Pure Detox Clarifying Shampoo
Gently removes build-up
Gentle but mighty. It's perfect for low porosity hair
Heart-Shaped Silicone Scalp Massager
Designed with soft, flexible bristles that gently exfoliate and boost circulation, our Heart-Shaped Scalp Massager helps remove buildup while stimulating hair growth..
Best Products for Low Porosity Hair Maintenance
Shampoo For Low Porosity Hair
You will want to use sulfate-free shampoo with lightweight hydration like argan oil. Shampoo bars are a great choice for low porosity hair.
Conditioner For Low Porosity Hair
For moisturizing low porosity hair, think lightweight. Stick to products that contain lightweight oils such as argan oil, grapeseed oil, or jojoba oil because they can penetrate the hair shaft without weighing it down.
First Option? Our K.I.S.S. Daily Repair Conditioner
Lightweight, daily hydration
Curl-safe: no sulfates, silicones, or parabens
Low-protein formula for perfect moisture balance
For a Zero Protein Option? Texture ID Low Porosity Vitamin Conditioner
Protein-free formula — for hair that’s sensitive to protein buildup.
Lightweight oils like jojoba and grapeseed to hydrate without weighing hair down.
Infused with vitamins to nourish and strengthen hair.
Gentle Drying for Low Porosity Hair
Switch to a 100% cotton jersey knit t-shirt or t-shirt hair towel for removing moisture. Jersey cotton has 300% less surface area than microfiber for gentler drying.
Bring Balance Back to Your Curls
Healthy curls don’t happen overnight — they happen when you keep it simple, stay consistent, and love your hair through every phase. You’ve got this, curl friend.
We love to hear from you! Reach out anytime to anna@weareoof.com with questions, comments, or just say say howdy. You can also find us on socials @clearlyoof. Read more tips in the K.I.S.S. & Tell Mag!
