High porosity curls can be quite difficult to manage & look after.
Many products cater towards curls with lower porosity as this porosity level is more common in people with curly hair.
To combine this struggle of having high porosity type 3a-3b curls does not make it any easier.
Sometimes, with high porosity type 3a-3b curls, our hair is left looking weighed down due to the nature of both the heavy products and our natural curl pattern (having looser curls).
This ends up leaving us with waves instead of our natural curl pattern. Not to mention the loss of volume and grease.
If you can relate to this then I would advise you to read on because here is how you can fix that problem.
But first, do you know whether you have high, medium or low porosity?
Do I have high porosity hair?:
It’s crucial to know which type of products to use in your hair depending on its porosity and curl pattern.
This post is aimed to inform you of the essential products that those with type 3a & 3b curls with high porosity need in order to nourish, protect and preserve their curls.
Porosity is how quickly your hair tends to absorb moisture. High porosity hair tends to look frizzy, break easily and dry quickly as it absorbs moisture the quickest.
Take a strand of your hair and put it into a glass of water. If the strand sinks to the bottom of the glass instantly; you have high porosity hair.
This is a test to see the level of porosity of your hair.
If it floats at the top of the glass for a long time; you have low porosity hair as your hair is unable to absorb the moisture.
If it floats in the middle of the glass for some time without sinking, then you have medium porosity hair.
Do I have type 3 curls?:
If you are still unsure as to what curl type you have, then that’s okay!!
It’s more than normal to have more than one different curl pattern in your hair making it very confusing as to which curl type you fall under.
Take a look at the image below to see which resembles your curls the most.
- Type 3a has curls about the circumference of a chalk and sometimes takes the shape of an ’s’ which is typically known as loose curls
Type 3b has curls about the circumference of a sharpie and appears more tighter and ‘curlier’ then 3a curls, producing ringlets. - Type 3c has curls about the circumference of a pencil and takes the shape of a tight corkscrew.
These Shampoos & Conditioners are great for type 3a high porosity hair:
Type 3a:
Type 3a curls can lose its shape and definition when wet as it is being held down so be sure to check if you can’t see your curls spiralling when wet.
3a curls can be weighed down when applying heavy, rich products as the curls are naturally quite loose compared to type 3b & 3c.
I make sure to use gentle cleanser shampoos that are not as thick and creamy to preserve my 3a curl pattern and ensure my hair isn’t being weighed down.
When picking the right conditioner, I make sure to choose one which completely moisturises my hair as high porosity hair tends to frizz up and dry quicker.
– Some shampoos to use on type 3a high porosity hair are: Shea Moisture Jamaican Black Castor Oil Strengthen and Restore Shampoo,As I Am Curl Clarity Shampoo & Shea Moisture Coconut and Hibiscus Curl and Shine Shampoo.
– Some conditioners to use on type 3a high porosity are: Shea Moisture Coconut and Hibiscus conditioner, Shea Moisture Hydrate + Repair Manuka Honey and Yogurt conditioner & Maui Moisture Shine + Awapuhi Moisturizing Vegan Shampoo with Coconut Oils
Type 3b:
This curl pattern is tighter than type 3a meaning it does not lose its shape when being weighed down.
However, the curlier your hair; the more prone it is frizz and lack of moisture. If you have type 3b curls with high porosity hair (meaning it absorbs moisture quickly); ensure to use thicker and creamer shampoos and conditioners.
– Some shampoos to use on type 3b high porosity hair are; Cantu Coconut shampoo, Shea Moisture Hydrate Manuka Honey & Yogurt Shampoo , Maui Moisture & Nourish Coconut milk Shampoo.
– Some conditioners to use on type 3b high porosity hair are; Cantu Shea Butter Conditioner, Not Your Mother’s Natural Coconut Milk
Deep Conditioners:
Type 3a & type 3b:
As we all know by now; deep conditioning is a restorative treatment to help nourish your curls and reduce frizz.
Click here to learn about deep conditioners for type 3a-3b hair.
As high porosity type 3a & 3b curls are prone to frizz, thick and creamy deep conditioners are vital in order to define curls and eliminate frizz.
– Some deep conditioners for type 3a & 3b high porosity curls are; Shea Moisture Hydrate & Repair Protein Mankua Honey Deep Conditioner, Cantu Shea Butter Deep Conditioner & As I Am Hydration Deep Conditioner.
Leave-In Conditioners:
Leave-In Conditioner is another essential product us girls with 3a & 3b high porosity curls.
Leave-in conditioners give extra moisture and definition to curls after its natural oils have been stripped away after a wash causing it to be dry and frizzy.
As previously mentioned above, type 3a curls often lose shape and definition after application of thick and heavy products so going with a light leave-in is ideal.
However, this is where it gets a bit tricky; As high porosity hair tends to absorb moisture quicker causing it to be more dry.
It’s important you find a balance between a light weight product and a creamy moisturising, frizz eliminating product.
After months of trying to find the right leave in conditioner for my high porosity 3a & 3b type curls, I found out that the most effective leave-in was the shea moisture jamacian caster oil leave in.
I would totally recommend it to those with 3a/3b curl type with high porosity hair as it worked amazingly at bringing definition and keeping the curl pattern whilst moisturising my curls.
I personally do not use Cantu’s leave in products as it elongates my curls which sometimes causes it to lose its shape due to it weighing it out my 3a curls.
If you have 3b & slight 3c curl type, then I would recommend Cantu leave in conditioner as its much more creamer and thicker.
With this being said everyone’s curls are different so the only advice I can give you iis based of my own personal experience with different brands and products.
I would 100% recommend to try out and experiment with different brands and products to see what works best in your hair.
Styling Products:
Choosing the right styling products for your hair is very important as it has a tremendous effect on how your curls come out.
Styling products such as creams and mousses are ideal for defining and reducing the frizz but for those with 3a curls, I would recommend using light creams such as the shea moisture coconut & hibisucus curl enhancing smoothie.
Cantu Coconut Curling Cream elongates and pulls down on curls so if you have type 3a curls and definition and bouncy curls are what you’re looking for, it wouldn’t be best suited for you.
With this being said, if elongated, wet curls are what you’re looking for, then Cantu Coconut Curling Cream would be the best fit for you.
It is also super affordable. Another alternative to creams are styling milks as they are much more richer and moisturise the hair well.
Gels:
Gels are used to hold the curls in place to prevent it from moving and creating frizz. People with type 3a & 3b curls with high porosity hair are prone to dryness and frizz (as mentioned above).
Especially type 3a curls have a tendency to lose shape so using the right gel is key to getting the perfect curls as it could weigh it down.
– A few example of gels would be: ECO gel Argan oil, Cantu Styling Gel, Olive Oil Style & curl Smooth & Curl
Conclusion:
In conclusion: When dealing with gorgeous 3a & 3b high porosity curls; ensure to use well moisturising products in order to tame frizz and prevent dryness from your hairs’ tendency to absorb moisture.
It’s important to know that everyone’s hair is different and you’ll never know what works best for your curls unless you experiment and try out different things.
But one thing we should all be doing is ensuring we don’t use products that contain sulphates, paraffin and sodium as it damages our curls.
The essential products listed above are products that I use and trust and seem to work for me.
You never know unless you give it a try so experiment first with the products I’ve mentioned above.
Disclaimer: Some of these products contain affiliate links so that means that I do get a small percentage of the purchase but does not mean you pay any additional fees and none of these products are sponsored. These are all products I love and totally recommend for you to use.
Did you find this informative? Is there anything you liked or I missed out? leave a comment below and let me know what you’d like me to talk about in my next post.