Is Hibiscus a Good Choice for Low-Porosity Hair?

Keeping moisture locked in the hair is one of the issues faced by people with low-porosity hair. Low porosity makes the hair impermeable, leading to easy breakage and slow-paced hair growth. The texture of such hair is bristly and dry.

People with overprocessed hair, curly hair, and even natural hair can have low-porosity hair.

For people with low-porosity hair, using hibiscus can be a potential solution. Hibiscus is rich in amino acids, antioxidants, vitamin C, mucilage fiber, flavonoids, and moisture, as indicated in the Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research.

Hibiscus can benefit low-porosity hair by penetrating the hair shaft and keeping in moisture. You can add hibiscus to your hair care routine and see the results. (1)

Read on to know more about the goodness of hibiscus for low-porosity hair and much more.

What Are the Perks of Using Hibiscus on Low-Porosity Hair

Using hibiscus on low-porosity hair offers the following advantages. 

1. Conditions the hair deeply

The ultra-emollient properties of hibiscus trap moisture in the shafts of your hair, restoring hair strand elasticity. Its mucilage fibers make your hair silky smooth by preventing breakage, storing water, and conditioning the hair. (1)

2. Regulates the sebaceous glands

The sebaceous glands produce sebum (an oily substance) to provide lubrication to your hair. Hibiscus helps to sustain this natural hair moisture. (1)

3. Protects the scalp from surface damage

Loaded with resilient properties, hibiscus protects your scalp from external stressors.

It also shields your hair from UVB rays by acting as a sunscreen, fights oiliness, prevents dandruff, balances the natural pH of your scalp, and sets your hair follicles to motion. (1)

4. Promotes hair growth and strengthens hair roots

The leaves and flowers of hibiscus are abundant in amino acids and flavonoids. Amino acids trigger the production of keratin in the cells of your hair follicles and stimulate healthy hair growth. (1)

Flavonoids help in retransforming dormant follicles (hair follicles with no hair growth) into active hair follicles and encourage new hair growth by enhancing blood circulation in the follicles.

Using hibiscus can add beauty to your hair by nourishing it, promoting hair growth, and creating a satin-soft hair texture.

Note: Hibiscus products are lightweight and are suited for hair with low porosity. These products quench the thirst of your hair and scalp without causing buildup, provide shine, and enhance your curls. Therefore, products with hibiscus as an ingredient are highly beneficial for low-porosity hair.

How to Use Hibiscus

You can use hibiscus in the following ways.

1. Hibiscus and aloe vera to condition/moisturize the hair and scalp

Aloe vera acts as an intense-repair conditioner and provides moisturization to your hair. A mixture of hibiscus and aloe vera can soften and hydrate your hair while adding shimmer.

How to use:

1. Blend a bunch of hibiscus leaves and petals into a smooth paste.
2. Mix this paste with a freshly squeezed aloe vera gel.
3. Evenly spread this mixture on your scalp and hair from top to bottom, and leave it on for 45 minutes.
4. Rinse it off with lukewarm water and wash your hair with a herbal shampoo.
5. Repeat this process before every hair wash. (1)

2. Hibiscus shampoo to prevent buildup

Hibiscus helps cool down your scalp while also providing a soothing sensation. It removes the buildup of chemical residue and pollutants without stripping away your hair’s natural moisture.

How to use:

1. Take hibiscus petals and a doubled amount of hibiscus leaves.
2. To a bowl of water, add the leaves and petals, and bring it to a boil. Make sure you have enough quantity to make a shampoo.
3. Let the mixture cool down, and then add 1–2 teaspoons of gram flour.
4. Use this herbal blend with natural foam, instead of your regular shampoo, to wash your hair from top to bottom.

Ways to Look After Low-Porosity Hair

Take care of your hair with low porosity in the following ways.

1. Apply a lightweight oil

Low-porosity hair has tightly closed cuticles that inhibit the motion of moisture.

Using lightweight oils, such as argan oil and almond oil (2) or their products, is your best bet to let moisture pass through your cuticles and nourish your hair.

2. Wash your hair with warm water

Using warm water on hair with low porosity opens up the cuticles and lets your hair strands soak in moisture. (3)

3. Look for water-based products

Water-based products can penetrate through tightly bound cuticles as they are lightweight.

4. Say no to protein

Protein has the ability to make your cuticles stronger and is mainly used in hair-repairing products. Using products with protein can make your hair fragile and stiff and more prone to breakage as low-porosity hair is protein-sensitive.

5. Try a pre-poo treatment

You deserve a day to care for your hair. Treat your hair with pre-poo treatment. Also referred to as pre-shampoo, pre-poo is a treatment that conditions your hair deeply before shampooing.

Following this treatment is helpful for curly hair with low porosity to keep the moisture locked in without stripping the hair’s moisture from the use of shampoo.

General Queries

Final Word

According to the studies, hibiscus provides nourishment to the hair and seals in its natural moisture content.

The leaves and flowers of hibiscus have high mucilage content that works as a natural conditioner; they are also abundant in vitamin C and amino acids, which stimulate hair growth and boost blood circulation. (1)

Thus, hibiscus can be a good option for people with low-porosity hair.