Why does my hair take hours to air dry?

My hair is really thick. Thick enough that hair stylists, colorists, and blow dry bar stylists tend to cringe when I sit down in their chairs, resigned to the fact that the appointment will probably take twice as long as usual. I always assumed this was why my hair takes forever to dry, too — but recently, I learned that I actually have low-porosity hair, which makes strands more likely to hold onto water. It only took a few product swaps — and some expert advice — to cut my dry time in half.

In case you don't know,porosity is the hair’s ability to absorb and retain water, and it's defined by the state of the hair cuticle. “If your hair has low porosity, that means that you have smaller cuticles and that it [resists] moisture,” Ashley Streicher, a celebrity hair stylist for Mandy Moore and Sarah Paulson (and R+Co’s newest Collective member), tells TZR. High porosity hair, on the other hand, is quick to absorb moisture — and quick to lose it, too. The ideal drying process — along with the products you use on your hair — varies depending on your hair’s texture, and the more you know, the better you’ll be able to avoid damage and keep your locks looking hydrated (without increasing drying time).

Why Low Porosity Hair Takes So Long To Dry

“Porosity levels differ from person to person depending on certain variables,” Ebony Bomani, the lead stylist and product educator for The Mane Choice, tells TZR. “Genetics is one of them.” She adds that highly-textured hair types, like curls and natural coils, are likely low porosity, as is Asian hair. There are three main ways to assess your low porosity: “It takes forever for water and products to penetrate, the hair resists chemical processes, and — the most annoying one — it takes forever to dry,” Bomani says.

Low porosity is a funny thing that way. First, the cuticle blocks water (so beads of moisture will initially roll off the top of your head in the shower), then, once it’s in, the cuticle won’t let go of it. When hair finally does dry, strands can feel brittle and fried — because even though hair was moisture-logged, it wasn’t actually moisturized. “Also, low porosity hair can be prone to product buildup,” Streicher says (since the cuticle is bloated with water, conditioners and stylers just sit on the surface instead of absorbing). This is all due to the fact the layers of the hair cuticle lie flat, like shingles on a roof, making it difficult for water or product to get in and out.

To add insult to injury, hair that’s always a little damp — like mine, which typically takes around three or four hours to air-dry — is more prone to breakage. Just compare it to your fingernails being soaked at the salon pre-mani: Water softens the protein (which hair is made of, as well) to make them easier to clip and file.

Avoid the Blow Dryer

Unfortunately, blasting strands with a blow dryer isn’t the answer — my hair can’t take the heat damage (and neither can yours, probably). Instead, rehabbing low porosity hair comes down to technique and timing, with a few key products thrown into the mix. “Use slightly warmer water when shampooing to raise the cuticle layer,” Bomani instructs. “Also, incorporate deep conditioning steam treatments to lift the cuticle and shove that moisture in.” For example, apply The Mane Choice Heavenly Halo Soy Milk Deep Hydration Mask and use a heated cap to make hair more receptive to its hydration.

Both pros note it can be helpful to look for hair products made with humectants, like glycerin and honey, to lock in moisture (not water); and to avoid protein treatments (those will only strengthen the outer cuticle — which low porosity hair doesn’t need).

As far as stylers, products “lower in molecular structure are more effective when it comes to quickly absorbing into tightly-closed cuticles," Bomani tells TZR. Ditch the heavy oils, like pure coconut oil and castor oil — they won't soak in, so hair will look greasy — in favor of lightweight options. Argan oil and black seed oil are both low porosity approved.

Finally, don’t apply products to your hair when it's soaking wet; let your hair dry a bit first. As water evaporates, it makes space for the active ingredients in your hair care products to penetrate. Twist wet strands into the Aquis Rapid Dry Hair Turban, which is made out of the brand's proprietary moisture-wicking material, Aquitex, as opposed to traditional terry cloth or cotton. It's been shown to cut drying time in half and cut down on frizz — and I'll attest to that. Finally, a spritz (or five) of leave-in conditioner fortified with amino acids and lightweight oils provides all the moisture my curls need. I’m certifiably obsessed, if you couldn’t tell.

Ahead, here are nine ways to keep low porosity hair healthy, hydrated, and dry in no time.

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This article was originally published on March 26, 2019

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