The 5 Best Conditioners for Low Porosity Hair

Most natural hair bloggers like to emphasise routines over products.

​But if you have true low porosity hair, you already know products make all the difference. Especially when it comes to conditioners.

Here's our guide to the top 5 conditioners and treatments that penetrate and smooth  the surface of low porosity hair.

Low porosity hair: the right conditioner changes everything

The right conditioner can make your low porosity hair. The wrong one can literally break it.

If you have low-po hair and have already gone through the circles of conditioner hell, from the formulas that did nothing, to the ones that made your hair feel worse than your shampoo, to the ones that literally broke little pieces of your hair off right before your eyes, then you more than know this.

Low porosity hair is famously finicky about what it'll let into its strands - which is why so many products flop and so few actually get to work on this hair type. This means that, while the right routine is important, it's a non-starter unless you're using decent products that can perform on your very unique hair.

Good conditioners are the cornerstone of natural haircare - the performance of every other step in your routine depends on how effective your conditioner is.

​Combine the right routine with the best conditioners and a good dose of consistency (very important) and it's golden.​

On low porosity hair, choosing the right conditioner makes all the difference. Image by The Collab.

​The best conditioners for low porosity hair

Here are the 5 best conditioners for low porosity hair types. All of our top picks are superconditioners - read here for what exactly those are, and 4 of the 5 are treatments or hair masks. To compile this selection, we tested our shortlist on a range of low porosity hair types, from moderately low porosity to super low porosity hair that barely takes in water.  

We've chosen these 5 for their ability to penetrate into resistant low porosity cuticles, but also to cling smoothly yet weightlessly to the surface. That way, when you rinse your hair is silky and - so important for compact, tightly-closed strands - there's no residue that gets in the way of the next steps in your regimen.

Low porosity hair conditioners. From left: atrActiva Multivitamin Treatment; Halka Baba de Caracol Moisturizing Hair Mask; Silicon Mix Bambu Treatment and atrActiva Keratin Rich Conditioner.

​Keep reading to see how we break each of the 5 conditioners down by their main benefits, too - including moisture, detangling, protein levels, strengthening, and curl definition.

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atrActiva Multivitamin Treatment

This deep conditioner is hands down the most hydrating treatment we have tried. It penetrates quickly and silkens, even on extremely low porosity hair that won't absorb anything. Try this, especially if you've been told you have "hard hair" all your life and nothing works. This one will.

atrActiva Multivitamin Treatment has a universal formula that has worked on every hair type and texture we've tested it on, from straight 1A hair to supercurly 4C hair, high porosity to super low porosity. It's designed to works on every one because it has a formula that adjusts automatically to your hair's needs. ​

atrActiva Multivitamin Treatment is all moisture: it softens deep down into the strand, giving your hair loads of stretch, and it smooths the cuticle so your strands feels slippery to the touch, even after you've rinsed and dried.  ​This treatment  adds shine by the kilowatt and even enhances curl definition. The intense hydration it delivers also has a strengthening benefit because it makes hair less brittle.

You'll notice a change in your hair from the first time you use this. To truly transform your texture, use it back to back, 3-4 times in a row, spacing your treatments no longer than a week apart. It's great for moisture training resistant, dry hair, fast.

atrActiva Multivitamin Treatment: 

Type: High moisture
Main benefits: Intense hydration, softening, flexibility, breakage prevention, shine, curl definition.
How to use: Start with a clean base for best results. Use a clarifying shampoo to clear any surface residue that could block its penetration. Be generous, especially the first time you use it, so you get the most dramatic results upfront. Work it in well and leave it on to work before rinsing. Here are our blow-by-blow instructions on how to use atrActiva Multivitamin.

Capilo La Aplanadora Treatment

This treatment brings protein (keratin) and moisture in one, so it's great for maintaining your protein-moisture balance in a single step. The hydration is what hits you first: the moisture penetrates strands almost instantly, then after a few minutes you feel how the protein packs out your strands so they look and feel fuller.

Capilo La Aplanadora Treatment is an excellent detangler, too. Once it absorbs into your hair it will melt some of the roughest knots apart - the slip is that intense. Since it's also moisturising, there's no need to follow up with a moisture conditioner;  you can skip this part of your routine and just go straight to your leave in.

Capilo La Aplanadora Treatment:

Type: High protein, high moisture
Main benefits: Dramatically strengthens damaged hair. Moisture and protein balance in one. Powerful detangler. Stretches hair. Leaves strands feeling and looking fuller.
How to use: 1-2 times monthly, if you're maintaining healthy hair. If your hair is damaged try this: Apply La Aplanadora Treatment 3 weeks in a row, to build up strength fast. As the protein is so intense, switch to an all-moisture treatment after your 3 weeks. Follow with a few weeks of moisture only, then start using La Aplanadora 1-2 times a month - don't be afraid to tweak the frequency to your hair's response. For step-by-step details on how to use La Aplanadora Treatment, read here.

Silicon Mix Bambu Treatment

Silicon Mix Bambu Treatment is the most penetrating formula in the Silicon Mix line, which means it works really well on low porosity hair.  Bambu has a more golden hue and a lighter consistency than the original Silicon Mix Treatment, while still conserving that characteristic glossy cream texture. 

This treatment smooths away roughness on the surface and also absorbs well into the cuticle.  Bambu does some light strengthening work too, thanks to its mix of bamboo extract, ceramides and keratin.

Silicon Mix Bambu Treatment:

Type: high moisture, light protein
Main benefits: softening and protecting hair; smoothing
How to use: Apply as a conditioning treatment right after shampooing. Brush, comb or fingercomb in, leave on to work, then rinse thoroughly with warm water. 

atrActiva Keratin Rich Conditioner

Need to strengthen your hair but can't stand protein? Then try atrActiva Keratin Rich Conditioner. Despite the "keratin" in the name, it doesn't actually contain any proteins; instead it strengthens your natural keratin by plugging in the little holes left by damage, using tiny ingredients known as ceramides.

This is a light, fluid conditioner, which makes it super easy to work into resistant strands and completely weightless on fine hair.  While it doesn't pack the immediate strengthening punch of an intense protein treatment like Capilo La Aplanadora, the cool thing about atrActiva Keratin Rich is the way, with repeated use, your strands gradually become more flexible and resilient, and the surface smooths out as it gets filled in.

atrActiva Keratin Rich Treatment:

Type: Moderate strengthening (protein-free), light moisture
Main benefits: Exceptional penetration on even resistant, low porosity hair. Good at delivering moisture to stiff, dehydrated hair that has not been moisture trained. Enhances elasticity and curl definition. Great for protein sensitive hair.
How to use: Use weekly to slowly build in elasticity and smooth strand surface. Expect changes from 3-4 weeks of weekly use. You can layer this under a moisturising deep treatment, like atrActiva Multivitamin from the same line or Silicon Mix Bambu Treatment for maximum hydration. For the nitty-gritty onatrActiva Keratin Rich and how to use it, see this page.

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Halka Baba De Caracol Treatment

If you speak Spanish, then you already know: this treatment contains snail slime. That's right, the mucus secretion of ​​Helix aspersa, aka the common garden snail, is the star ingredient in this powerful treatment. Don't worry; the light floral fragrance and creamy texture give very little hint of it.

​Snail slime has been used for centuries as a skin treatment and beauty aid. It has documented skin regenerative properties, and contains natural humectants like allantoin,  plus glycolic acid, which can help your scalp exfoliate. On your  hair, its natural proteins and polysaccharides work by filling in the gaps that make your strands weak, and then creating a slippery smooth layer that protects them and locks in moisture. Oh and it adds a ton of shine, too.

Halka Baba de Caracol Treatment:

Type: Moderate protein, high moisture
Main benefits: Hydrates and smooths. Increases curl definition. Reduces breakage at ends.
How to use: On low porosity hair, applying the matching conditioner, Baba de Caracol Rinse first is a must. It prepares the hair surface and makes it easier for the treatment to absorb. There's no need to rinse in between; just apply Baba de Caracol Rinse on freshly shampooed hair, and layer on Baba de Caracol Treatment. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to use this​.

How to apply conditioners on low porosity hair

Once you've matched your low porosity treatment to your hair's needs, you need to apply it properly to get best results. On low porosity hair, products need to be worked in so they absorb or adhere to the hair strands properly, and don't just sit on the surface.

Don't be afraid to use a seamless wide tooth comb, or a silicone or polished all-wood brush to work your conditioner in. You can also do some serious work just using your fingers to rake and smooth it into your hair. You'll know it's all the way in when your hair starts to feel seaweedy and your curls start to pop a little bit. Then just cover and leave it in for a few minutes to soak right into your low porosity hair and give it the pampering it's been waiting for.