Thirsty Curls? High Porosity Rizos Routine
(and Why It Works!)
If your curls drink up water like a sponge but still feel dry minutes later, you have high porosity hair. Understanding your hair’s porosity is a huge game-changer — especially when it comes to choosing the right products and building a curl care routine that works. Let’s break down a simple yet effective high porosity curly hair routine using Rizos Curls and help explain why each step matters. Going through the motions is one thing but understanding the why helps you commit to what’s best to you (performance) and for you (quality). The more you know, the better you can care for your hair!
What is High Porosity Hair?
High porosity hair has cuticles on the hair strand that are lifted or damaged, allowing moisture to enter quickly — but escape just as fast. This hair type is often the result of chemical or color processing, heat styling, or genetics. The result? Frizz, dryness, tangles, and breakage if not properly cared for.
To care for high porosity curls, your routine should focus on these key things:
• Moisture retention
• Protein balance
• Cuticle sealing
• Frizz control
The Rizos Curls Routine for High Porostiy Hair
Step 1: Gentle Cleanse
Product: Rizos Curls Hydrating Shampoo
Why It Works:
This sulfate-free cleanser removes buildup without stripping natural oils — a must for high porosity hair. It contains moisturizing shea butter and strengthening moringa oil to nourish while gently cleansing the scalp.
💡 Pro Tip: Use lukewarm water and focus on massaging your scalp — not your ends. Use Rizos Curls Scalp Massage brush in a circular motion to gently lift flakes and dirt.
Step 2: Deep Condition for Strength & Moisture
Product: Rizos Curls Deep Conditioner
Why It Works:
Packed with olive oil, coconut oil, and sunflower oil, this rich conditioner deeply penetrates to hydrate and help reduce protein loss. Coconut oil especially helps reinforce weak spots in the hair strand — great for strengthening high porosity curls.
🕒 Use once a week on wash day for 10–20 minutes. Add heat like a steam cap or bonnet dryer for deeper penetration. Using Rizos Curls Vitamin C Hair Repair Mask in place of conditioner every other wash day, will help deeply moisturize and repair damaged, brittle high porosity strands that crave moisture.
Step 3: Leave-In for Lasting Hydration
Product Options:
• Rizos Curls Refresh & Detangle Spray (lightweight)
• Rizos Curls Multivitamin Heat Protection Leave In (vitamin rich with heat protection)
Why It Works:
Leave-in hydration is essential for high porosity hair, which tends to dry out fast. These products help soften and smooth strands, reduce frizz, and prep your curls for styling.
💧 Spray or smooth through damp hair before applying creams or gels.
Step 4: Define & Seal
Product Options:
• Rizos Curls Curl Defining Cream
• Rizos Curls Curl Custard
Why It Works:
Always lean towards stylers, especially creams or hybrids, that lock in moisture and add curl definition while reducing frizz. Rizos Curls Curl Defining Cream contains aloe vera and shea butter to coat each strand and protect against moisture loss — key for sealing the cuticle. Rizos Curls Curl Custard gives all the benefits of a rich cream styler with the hold and shine of a gel.
✋ Use the praying hands method to apply in sections for even coverage. Always finish by scrunching upward towards the scalp to encourage definition.
Step 5: Lock It In With Gel
Choose your hold level:
• Light Hold Gel – for soft, flexible definition
• Strong Hold Gel – for long-lasting definition and frizz protection
Why It Works:
Gel forms a cast around your curls, helping them hold their shape while locking in moisture. For high porosity hair that loses hydration quickly, gel is the final seal that keeps curls bouncy all day without the break through frizz that can ruin your best efforts for perfectly defined curls.
💨 Air dry or diffuse, then scrunch out the crunch with Rizos Curls Nourish Oil
for soft, defined curls with a light layer our oil to seal in moisture and enhance shine.
BONUS: Nightime & Refresh Routine
Product: Rizos Curls Refresh & Detangle Spray
Why It Works:
Use this daily or between wash days to rehydrate and smooth curls. It's perfect for reviving moisture and reducing tangles overnight or on-the-go.
💤 Sleep with a satin bonnet or pillowcase to minimize moisture loss while you sleep.
How to Tell If You Have High Porosity Curls
When it comes to curly hair, porosity matters just as much as curl pattern. It determines how well your hair can absorb and retain moisture — which ultimately affects how your curls look, feel, and respond to products. So, how do you know if your curls are high porosity? There are easy ways to tell by noticing the signs, tests, and science behind high porosity curls — so you can treat your hair the way it truly needs.
What is Hair Porosity?
Porosity refers to how open or closed your hair’s cuticle layer is. The cuticle is the outermost layer of the hair strand, and it controls how moisture enters and exits the hair shaft.
There are three porosity types:
• Low Porosity: Cuticles are tightly closed — moisture gets in slowly and stays in.
• Medium (Normal) Porosity: Balanced moisture absorption and retention.
• High Porosity: Cuticles are lifted or damaged — moisture enters quickly but escapes just as fast.
If you have high porosity hair, your strands may:
✅ Absorb water instantly but dry quickly
✅ Feel dry, rough, or brittle — even after moisturizing
✅ Frizz easily in humidity
✅ Require lots of product but still feel dry
✅ Soak up hair dye or treatments quickly
✅ Be prone to breakage and split ends
✅ Tangle and knot easily
✅ Look dull or lack shine
If most of these sound familiar, you’re likely in the high porosity club.
Why Does High Porosoity Happen?
High porosity can be genetic, but it's also commonly caused by:
• Heat damage (frequent flat ironing or blow-drying)
• Chemical processing (bleaching, coloring, relaxers)
• Harsh shampoos or sulfates
• Environmental stress (sun exposure, chlorine, pollution)
These factors lift or weaken the hair cuticle, creating tiny gaps and holes in the strand that let moisture leak out.
How to Test Your Hair’s Porosity
The Water Test
• Fill a clear glass with room-temperature water.
• Place a clean, dry strand of your hair into the water.
• Wait 2–4 minutes.
Results:
• Floats = Low porosity
• Sinks slowly = Medium porosity
• Sinks quickly = High porosity
⚠️ Tip: Do this test on freshly washed hair with no product to get accurate results.
The Slip ‘n’ Slide Test
• Slide your fingers up a single hair strand, from tip to root.
• If it feels bumpy or rough, the cuticle is lifted = high porosity.
• If it feels smooth, the cuticle is tight = low porosity.
The Drying Time Test
After washing, how long does your hair take to dry?
• Dries in under an hour (especially without products) = likely high porosity.
• Stays damp for hours = likely low porosity.
Knowing your porosity is only the first step — the next is adjusting your hair routine.
High porosity curls need:
• Moisture-rich and protein-balanced products
• Creams and gels to seal the cuticle
• Deep conditioning treatments weekly
• Avoiding heat and sulfates
• Protective styles and silk/satin at night
Understanding your porosity helps you decode your hair’s behavior. If your curls are always thirsty, frizz-prone, and fast-drying, they’re probably high porosity — and they’re asking for moisture and protection.
Don’t worry — with the right care, high porosity curls can be strong, shiny, and beautifully defined. Start by choosing products that hydrate, strengthen, and seal, and your curls will thank you.
Still not sure about your porosity? Try a few of the tests above or be sure to follow us on Instagram @rizoscurls for Custom Curl Consultations near you, where a Rizos Curls curl specialist will be able to tell you exactly what products will give the best results based on your hair type. Explore the full Rizos Curls collection — made for every twist, turn, and texture.