Why Does My Hair Dry So Fast

By: | Last Updated: February 19, 2022

Having hair that dries quickly can be convenient for days when you don’t have the time to style it.

But it can also be frustrating how easy it gets greasy and flat on days when you do want to make it look nice.

So if you’re wondering, “Why does my hair dry so fast after showering?”, it may have to do with your hair’s porosity.

To know more about what it does to your hair, you might want to read on.


Why does my hair lose moisture so quickly?

Why does my hair lose moisture so quickly

If your hair takes no time to dry when you’ve just gotten out of the shower, then you might be the envy of many. Think of all the extra minutes saved from blowdrying!

The time it takes to dry your hair has to do with its porosity.

Just like the skin, your hair has ‘pores’ that lets it absorb and retain moisture. How porous your hair is can be differentiated into 3 levels: low, normal, or high porosity

So how do you know which porosity level your hair has? One way of determining is how long it takes to dry your hair.  

If it takes only an hour or less to air dry your hair, you have low porosity hair. But if it takes your hair twice as long to completely dry, you have high porosity hair.

Another way of identifying your hair’s porosity level is through its speed of absorbing moisture. 

You can check this through the water droplet test

It’s where you put a drop of water on some of your hair strands and observe how fast it absorbs into your hair.

If it absorbs quickly, you have high porosity hair. But if it takes a while to soak up, you have low porosity hair.


Does low porosity hair dry fast?

As mentioned above, low porosity hair dries faster compared to hair with high and normal porosity. 

This is because low porosity hair has flat and closely-bound cuticle layers. This makes it difficult for moisture to penetrate, so it takes longer to get your hair fully drenched.

Since low porous hair is also naturally water repellant, it doesn’t store water in its hair shaft for a long time. That’s why your hair dries quickly. 


Is it good if your hair dries fast?

Now that you know the different levels of hair porosity, is it good or bad to have low porous hair?

Typically, we like to aim to have normal porous hair, but it’s also not necessarily bad to have low porosity.

It’s actually an indication that your hair has the least bit of damage because of its closed hair shaft.

The downside is low porosity hair can appear greasy as your hair does not completely absorb natural oils. This also goes for thick and creamy hair products.

They tend to sit on the outer layer of your hair, weighing it down. That’s why it’s sometimes close to impossible to give your hair volume. 

Low porosity hair is also prone to product build-up. Since it can’t soak up all the products, the more you apply, the more they accumulate on top of your hair cuticle. Creating a sticky feeling when you run your hands through them.

But just because you have low porosity hair doesn’t mean you’re cursed to have greasy and non-voluminous hair. You just need the proper tools and products to make your hair feel its best.  


How to care for low porosity hair

How to care for low porosity hair

Every hair porosity level requires different care depending on how they absorb moisture and products. 

So if you want to give your low porosity hair the proper TLC it deserves, you can follow these tips:

Wash your hair more often

Accumulated hair products create a barrier on top of your low porous hair. Making it even more difficult for moisture to seep into your hair shaft.

You can avoid this by washing your hair more often to remove old hair products. Just make sure to use a sulfate-free shampoo, as sulfates dry your hair further. 

You can also incorporate a clarifying shampoo into your hair routine. Using a clarifying shampoo once or twice a week can also clean up your scalp. Removing old hair products that make your scalp itchy.

Also, apply shampoo before your conditioner to open up your hair cuticles. This allows your hair to absorb more conditioner giving your low porosity hair the hydrating boost it needs.

Use heat when conditioning

Since low porosity hair has a naturally closed hair shaft, it’s difficult to let moisture in. But using heat can help lift up your hair shaft, allowing it to absorb moisturizing ingredients.

One way to do this is by using warm water to wash your hair. Once your hair shaft is open, you can then apply your conditioner. But remember to rinse your hair with cold water to close your hair shaft back. This helps to seal in the moisture, reducing dry and frizzy hair.

Another way to use heat is by using a shower cap. After applying conditioner, you can gather your hair into a shower cap and leave it on for a few minutes.

The shower cap traps in the heat from your head, creating a warm environment that helps open your hair shaft. Just remember to use cold water to rinse out the conditioner after.

Lastly, you can also invest in a good hooded dryer. The dryer blasts heat onto your hair, temporarily opening up your hair shaft.  

Avoid heavy ingredients

Since low porosity hair has difficulty absorbing and retaining moisture, using lightweight ingredients can prevent product build-up.

So cream hair products are an absolute no for low porosity hair. They’ll just sit on your hair’s outer layer and create product build-up.

The best products for low porosity hair contain humectants and emollients. 

Humectants are ingredients that help your hair stay hydrated by pulling moisture from the environment. They are small enough to penetrate your hair shaft, helping your hair become softer and reducing frizz. 

Common humectants to look for in hair products are glycerin, collagen, hyaluronic acid, glycogen, or panthenol.

On the other hand, emollients are ingredients that form a protective layer on your hair to keep moisture in and add shine. 

The usual emollients found in hair products are fruit or plant-derived oils and butters. These include shea butter, mango butter, argan oil, avocado oil, coconut oil, or jojoba oil.

Give your hair some extra moisture 

Give your hair some extra moisture

Lightweight leave-in conditioners are great for retaining moisture to low porosity hair. It’s even better if you choose one that contains a humectant or emollient.

The trick to making sure your hair absorbs your leave-in conditioner is by applying it when your hair’s still damp. Since your hair has already soaked up some water, it doesn’t take long for your leave-in conditioner to be absorbed, too.

Another great way of boosting your hair’s hydration is by applying a hair mask or deep conditioner. They have a thicker formula compared to a regular conditioner. So you can apply this once or twice a month when you feel like your hair needs extra nourishment.

To get the most out of your hair mask, gather your hair into a shower cap or use a hooded dryer. The heat opens up your hair shaft, allowing your hair to get the most out of your hair mask.

Use a silk or satin pillowcase 

Surely, you’ve heard of this trick before. Using silk or satin pillowcases during bedtime can help low porosity hair as they don’t absorb moisture from your hair. 

Silk or satin also doesn’t have a rough texture that cotton pillowcases tend to have, so your hair just glides through. This prevents damaging your hair, helping you maintain its smoothness and shine in the long run. 

You can also use a silk scarf or headwrap to cover your hair at night. It works the same way as a silk pillowcase, and it also prevents your hair from getting tangled

CHECK OUT: How to Dry Your Hair without Making it Frizzy


Final Thoughts

Who knew how fast your hair dries is related to your hair’s porosity level. 

Having low porosity hair is not so bad when you don’t want a complicated hair care routine. Although it can get dry from its water-repelling characteristic, using humectant or emollient-rich hair products can bring back its shine. 

It might be tough to moisturize your hair all the time. But once you get the hang of taking care of your hair properly, you’ll see how much effort you put in will all be worth it.  

2 thoughts on “Why Does My Hair Dry So Fast”

  1. Low porosity hair takes forEVER to dry. High dries fast bc the cuticles are open & moisture escapes as fast as it gets in.

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