Understanding hair porosity
What is hair porosity?
Porosity refers to the hair’s ability to absorb and retain moisture. This also includes the rate at which water and / or topical products that are applied to the hair are absorbed into the strands. The more porous your hair, the more moisture it can hold, making it healthier and easier to manage. During the course of life, porosity can change.
There are three levels of hair porosity, so let’s look at this in more detail.
1. HIGH POROSITY
If someone has high porosity, it means that they have a hard time keeping their hair hydrated. And, even with regular care, the hair’s texture and overall appearance can appear dry … controlling frizz is also more difficult. This is because the hair cuticle itself has signs of damage. The cuticle is the outermost layer of the strand. If you examined it very closely, you would see cracks, cracks, and an uneven texture. A person with high porosity hair can absorb moisture quickly, but can also lose it just as easily. For the hair to retain moisture, the follicle must be “closed”, but in this situation the process is a struggle. As hair ages, it naturally tends to develop a higher level of porosity. Things that speed up this process are the prolonged use of chemicals and exposing the hair to high levels of heat from blow dryers, flat irons, curling irons, etc.
2. NORMAL POROSITY
If you have normal porosity in your hair, you are winning! Balanced hair is generally healthy and the follicle can absorb and retain moisture with minimal fuss.
3. LOW POROSITY
When you are young, your hair generally has a lower level of porosity. Having low porosity means that the hair follicle does not absorb moisture as quickly as high porosity hair. This also means that water and topical products do not easily penetrate the hair and have little to no effect. Even if the cuticles are healthy, the hair can look dry.
There is a test you can do to determine your level of porosity. Get a clear glass and fill it halfway with water. Place a section of your hair in the water and wait 5-10 minutes. If your hair floats on water, you have LOW porosity. If it hangs in the middle of water, it has NORMAL porosity. If your strand is sitting at the bottom of the glass, it has HIGH porosity.
Regardless of your hair type or texture, hair porosity can be determined in the same way.
If you have high porosity, try applying a deep conditioner or protein treatment to your hair once a week. It will also provide some relief to brittle and damaged hair. Wash the conditioner in cold water, this helps to close the follicle and seal in moisture.
If you have low porosity, try using a steamer and apply products rich in moisturizers.
Once the cuticle has been damaged, the focus turns to preventing further damage. We know that excessive heat and chemical processes contribute to this damage, if possible begin to eliminate or reduce the frequency of those routines. Try letting your hair air dry overnight. If that’s not possible, invest in a hair dryer that you can sit under. You usually have three temperature settings, choose low or medium if you can. It may take longer for your hair to dry, but hair health should be the priority.
Also, limit sun exposure – too much direct sunlight on your hair can also take away moisture. If you must be outdoors for an extended period, cover it with a scarf or hat.