The 16 Best Products for High Porosity Hair

Bailey says that she always recommends Olaplex’s products for those with high porosity hair, and swears by this shampoo in particular for damage repair. The popular formula is perfect for both heat-damaged and color-treated hair, and is also suitable for all hair types and levels of thickness. The formula promises to stave off split ends, tame flyaways and frizz, and mitigate dullness and dryness by utilizing a bond-repairing formula that smooths out frayed strands and damaged hair cuticles.

Pros: expert-approved; repairs damage; color-safe

Cons: some reviewers claimed it made hair drier

Customer Review: "My ends truly look better, my hair dries shiny with less frizz, and after suffering from hair loss, my hairline is coming in and my hair feels thicker." -Sephora

Malin + Goetz is one of my favorite skincare brands—its products never fail to hydrate my skin quickly and effectively, and they always smell delightful but not overwhelming. That’s why I’m not surprised that this sulfate-free shampoo, which is formulated with panthenol and marine algae extract, has gained popularity among customers with dry hair for its ability to rejuvenate dull, processed hair. Its formula also incorporates peppermint extract, which is known for its ability to fight scalp irritation.

Pros: editor-approved; conditioning; soothes scalp; nourishes dry hair; large container; gentle scent

Cons: none found

Customer Review: "I have fine hair, sensitive skin (Aveda makes my scalp itchy), oily scalp and processed hair. I love this shampoo. It makes my hair feel clean, does not irritate or induce eczema that I have at the base of my scalp, rinses clean and my hair is beautiful." -Nordstrom

This shampoo from Tracee Ellis Ross’ beloved haircare brand PATTERN Beauty is well known for its ability to repair the appearance of damaged, especially on curly and natural hair. Because it’s so hydrating, it also smooths out and prevents frizz—even on the most humid days. Best applied to thick hair, it contains natural ingredients like aloe vera leaf juice, honey, and coconut oil, enabling the formula to strike that perfect balance between banishing buildup and providing lasting nourishment.

Pros: made with natural hair in mind; made with natural ingredients; color-safe; hydrating

Cons: not as suitable for straight and/or thin hair

Customer Review: "This shampoo is absolutely amazing! I have a mixture of 2C-3B waves and curls and my hair felt incredibly soft, smooth, and even detangled after using this product. I highly recommend." -Sephora

Trying Prose was a huge game changer in my haircare journey. The brand’s website allows you to customize all of your haircare products, including your shampoo, so that you can target issues like dryness, frizz, damage, and other characteristics of high porosity hair. You’re also able to select your scent of choice and to account for needs like color-safe formula, allergies, and the like, so you can ensure that your selection is the perfect fit for you. 

Pros: customizable; editor-approved; free of alcohol, sulfates, parabens, and phthalates; cruelty-free

Cons: none found

Although the only way to eradicate split ends is to get your hair trimmed regularly, you can avoid them by keeping your strands as thoroughly hydrated as possible. This option from Olaplex, which Bailey recommends specifically, is perfect for during so. You can run it through your high porosity hair around one to three times per week, depending on your hair wash schedule, and letting it sit for a few minutes before finally washing it out.

Pros: volumizing; clean; color-safe; prevents damage; expert-approved

Cons: contains some alcohol

Customer Review: "I love Olaplex No. 3. One of my MUST-HAVE hair products. I absolutely swear by it. My hairdresser recommended it and we always do it after bleaching my hair platinum blonde. It brings my natural curls back!" -Sephora

I use this conditioner for my high porosity hair, and it works wonders in reducing frizz and making my hair feel soft and smooth. Infused with hair-strengthening keratin, it also contains saw palmetto, coconut oil, and marula oil, which go a long way nourishing hair from the inside out so that it detangles more easily and breaks less frequently. And unlike other thick conditioners that leave buildup on the hair and scalp, this option supports scalp health (and therefore hair growth) with ingredients like peppermint oil and Vitamin B5.

Pros: editor-approved; supports healthy hair growth; supports scalp health; softening; contains natural ingredients

Cons: strong scent

Customer Review: "I was also experiencing heavy, dull, brittle hair and it always needed a lot of oil and stuff to give it a shine to "make" it look healthy. My scalp was at times very itchy and would even burn... The first time I used Hair La Vie shampoo followed by the conditioner, I noticed such a relief on my scalp. The burning sensation was gone, and stayed gone! Also, my scalp is no longer itchy. I can easily go a week or longer without washing my hair. My hair is at its happiest and best looking when I wash it only once a week. My hair does not look oily and does not even feel heavy at all after washing. Even when wet, it is super easy to comb! And it still feels very soft and clean when it is almost due to be washed. The smell is great! Very energizing." -Hair La Vie

This is a protein treatment rather than a traditional conditioner, but it goes a long way in treating and reducing breakage as well as in reinforcing the strength of strands made weak from color treating and/or heat. Every six weeks, simply apply the treatment evenly throughout strands, let sit (applying heat will make the treatment even more effective), and then rinse out after only two minutes. The result is stronger, less frizzy hair that will have your friends thinking you got a luxury salon treatment.

Pros: strengthening; long-lasting; repairs and prevents damage; visible, quick results

Cons: some users say the process is messy

Customer Review: "Saved my hair! I had stringy, gummy hair from a salon mishandling and over-bleaching my hair. I did a ton of research and stumbled upon this, and I'm so happy I did. I can actually run a comb through my hair now." -Walmart

While it’s necessary to invest in a high-quality hair conditioner for your average wash days, incorporating a hair mask into your routine once to twice a week (depending on your individual needs) goes a long way in improving the look and feel of your hair. In particular, this mask from Amika uses vitamin-rich jojoba oil as well as sea buckthorn, which is rife with fatty acid omega-7. Both enhance shine and soften hair no matter the hair type, thickness level, or curl pattern.

Pros: works on all hair types; contains natural ingredients; clean; vegan

Cons: strong scent

Customer Review: "I love this product! It brings my frizzy hair back to life when it’s dehydrated, and it works great for my curls. I mix it with a conditioner for curls and leave it in while I do the rest of my shower. You get lots in the container and it lasts a long time!!" -Sephora

This leave-in from Briogeo is wildly popular, and with good reason. Its milky consistency strikes the perfect balance between thick and thin, conditioning hair without resulting in buildup. Its plant-based formula is based in rosehip oil, argan oil, and coconut, too, so you can rest assured that it’s thoroughly moisturizing your hair and keeping it free of frizz throughout the day. For best results, apply it to damp, clean hair, and comb to distribute evenly. It’s also great to use as a quick moisturizer and de-frizzer on a non-wash day when you’re in a pinch.

Pros: clean; gluten-free; frizz-fighting; shine-enhancing; cruelty-free

Cons: strong scent

Customer Review: "Really good stuff. I have high porosity hair so anything that's rich and helps with frizz is my best friend. This is really good for a leave-in. Helps with frizz and keeping my hair soft and bouncy for days after wash day." -Sephora

If your high porosity hair is as curly as mine, you may find yourself dealing with stubborn knots and tangles—especially if you’ve forgotten to sleep with your silk or satin bonnet. This product uses smoothing coconut oil to detangle knots and tangles whether hair is wet or dry. It simultaneously tames frizz and allows for easier styling, and its amino acids strengthen the hair cuticle so you experience less breakage during and after combing.  Plus, it’s lightweight enough to be paired with other conditioning and styling products. 

Pros: free of sulfates, parabens, and gluten; detangling; lightweight; minimizes breakage; vegan

Cons: contains silicones

Customer Review: "Absolutely love this detangling spray. My hairdresser recommended it to me and it’s absolutely amazing! I have thick and wavy hair and this tames down the frizz." -Dermstore

There’s a reason this Mielle hair and scalp oil has gone viral time and time again: It really is that good. I personally use it after I’ve washed my hair all over the top of my scalp, which is where all people naturally experience sparser hair growth compared to the back of the head. To distribute, I make multiple parts spaced an inch apart, from ear to ear, distributing the oil along each part line as I go. The formula fosters hair growth, decreases shedding, smells brilliant, and conditions hair beautifully.

Pros: editor-approved; award-winning; supports hair growth; cruelty-free; free of sulfates and parabens

Cons: dropper leaks a bit

Customer Review: "This hair oil fixes my split ends and makes my hair smooth and shiny. Great for detangling hair and preventing frizz." -Target

This shea butter has saved my hair on multiple occasions, though it does require a little work. Some users love to whip their raw shea butter so it can easily be used as a lotion for hair and skin, but I like to melt it into an oil by spooning a dollop into a small bowl and placing that bowl into a larger pot of hot water. In about a minute, the raw shea butter becomes a rich, spreadable liquid that coats hair (and can be used on skin!) for optimal moisture, easy styling, and prime curl definition.

Pros: natural; vegan; affordable; editor-approved; great for curls; quick results

Cons: laborious

Customer Review: "I’ve had color damage to my mixed hair for about a year now and I’ve been so upset about losing my curls. I bought this for my dry skin, but I kept hearing about its healing properties and how it’s good for hair. I put it in my hair and slept on it and had an OVERNIGHT difference. Not only did I have curls, but full, thick, bouncy curls that I haven’t had since bleaching my hair. My friends and family noticed immediately. I thought it was a fluke, but it happens every time! I seriously thought I’d destroyed my curls forever and I’d have to cut it super short and never color it again. I have a blond balayage and it’s bouncing with the rest of my natural color now. 100% a miracle worker. Skip the expensive keratin treatments and try this first." -Walmart

Some curl-defining stylers leave hair feeling stiff and crunchy, dry strands out, or are nearly impossible to wash off. This curl butter, however, is infused with agave nectar, honey, and avocado oil for bouncy, moisturized, and defined waves, curls, and coils of all kinds. The formula also leaves curls soft and malleable rather than crunchy and inflexible, so you can twist and style with ease. Customers add that the product has a sweet smell that lingers all day long. 

Pros: free of silicones, parabens, and petroleum; moisturizing; frizz-fighting

Cons: strong scent

Customer Review: "Because of a health condition and medications, I have been battling dry dull hair. I decided to try Hair Milk and I was especially looking for a hair butter to give me the moisture and softness I had lost in addition to defining my curl pattern... I must say the curl defining butter has done the trick." -Walmart

Miss Jessie’s Multicultural Curls was made with curls in mind, of course, but it was the first product I tried that catered to my in-between curl pattern, which hovers around type 3A. Before trying this styling butter, most gels and stylers I’d tried were either so thick that they weighed my hair down or they were too thin to make a difference. This product keeps my curls defined and my hair moisturized without fail all day long, and its subtle scent never interferes with my perfume or other haircare products.

Pros: editor-approved; free of sulfates, parabens, aluminum, and phthalates; cruelty-free; made with curly and textured hair in mind

Cons: none found

Customer Review: "This is such a good wash and go product for both wavy and curly hair. It’s heavy enough to prevent frizz in extremely curly hair but not too heavy that it weighs it down. My daughter is biracial (Black & Asian) and this is the first product that tames her curls when both air dried or dried with a diffuser. I have wavy hair and it also works well for me. I have tried other products to find something new and we always come back to this." -Target

No matter your hair porosity, buildup and toxins from tap water (which can be a significant issue, depending on where you live) can weigh down your curls, cause scalp irritation, exacerbate frizz, and cause buildup that prevents moisture from penetrating your strands. This popular showerhead from Jolie Skin Co. filters all those nasties out and softens hard water, resulting in a better experience for both your hair and your skin. Simply replace your normal showerhead with this one, remember to change the filter every three months, and you’re on your way to shiny, buildup-free hair.

Pros: editor-approved; easy to use; easy to maintain

Cons: expensive

Customer Review: "I love the showerhead! Super easy to install and change, and I do notice a difference in my hair." -Jolie Skin Co.

This silk hair wrap from fan-favorite brand Slip has gone a long way in saving my curls. It’s made from premium, double lined, long fibre mulberry silk for optimal comfort and moisture retention. It also keeps hair from breaking and getting frizzy—something that cotton pillowcases are nearly always guilty of. The hair wrap is so chic that I actually look forward to wearing it and often admire how it looks while on. Finally, it strikes the perfect balance between tight enough to stay on all night and loose enough to keep my head from feeling constricted. Some reviewers complain that it's too big for their heads, but I loved the size because of its ability to fit all of my thick, waist-length hair.

Pros: editor-approved; made from premium silk; fits a lot of hair; comfortable; looks chic

Cons: runs slightly large

Customer Review: "I sleep with it every night. I wear it when I have my tape ins installed and without them. Honestly noticed a difference in just a month with my hairdresser mentioning it as well." -Sephora