You have done all the tips that bloggers and hair care experts have suggested to keep your hair supple and moisturised, and yet you notice that your strands become dry and dull quickly. It is a frustrating scenario to be dealing with frizzy hair all the time even when you are sure you’ve followed all the recommended treatment procedures. But have you taken into consideration that your hair’s porosity could be the culprit behind all these? Find out important details about hair porosity and how it affects the overall state of your hair (as well as your hair care strategies).
Hair Porosity 101
Hair porosity refers to your strands’ ability to absorb and hold moisture. There is a wide range of porosity level, although it is normally classified into the following: low, normal and high. Although there are a number of factors such as exposure to chemical treatments, heat styling and use of harsh hair products, it is also possible for porosity in hair to be impacted by genetics. And yet, porosity is crucial in determining how well your hair absorbs products used and whether or not you have dry and brittle hair or shiny and smooth locks.
About the Porosity Test
Hair care experts suggest that you need to pay close attention to your hair’s porosity level in order to use the right treatment and hair care routine. You can perform a simple test at home to determine your hair’s natural porosity level.
To perform a test, grab a strand of hair when you wash it. Then, drop the hair onto a glass of water. Observe how the hair strand behaves when you put it into the water. Does it sink to the bottom? If yes, then your hair has high porosity level. If it floats, however, it means that your hair is of normal porosity level. When your hair remains afloat and does not go down to the bottom, then your hair strand has a low porosity level.
Tips for Hair Care Regimen
Now that you understand the different ways wherein your hair could react to moisture based on their porosity level, it is important that you also determine the proper way to care for it.
Women with low porosity hair are ones with tight cuticles that do not open up and absorb moisture. When you have this type of hair, look for products that contain alkaline ingredients as it will help your cuticles to lift and open up. Make sure you undergo regular treatments using baking soda because it facilitates in keeping hair moisturised. On the flip side, stay away from hair products heavily laden with oil because they serve as sealants and can aggravate your efforts at making the cuticles open up.
Women with a normal porosity level are the luckiest. The hair strands respond well to moisture and keeps them inside. In addition, women with normal porosity get the best results from colour or perm treatments. This ensures that your hair remains shiny and lustrous for as long as possible. The key to your hair care maintenance should be to preserve the integrity of your hair cuticles with regular conditioning and moisturising.
Lastly, if you have high porosity level in your hair, your hair cuticle is very delicate. It has gone through extensive damage from heat styling and chemical treatments, which means that it absorbs moisture quickly and releases that moisture just as quick. For this type of porosity, you should invest in products that contain lots of oils to help seal moisture inside and act as a protective layer from further damage. The sad truth about a highly porous hair strand is that it cannot be repaired. But efficient care, detoxification and use of leave-in treatments can make it more manageable.
What is your hair porosity level? Are you taking the right measures to repair the problem (if any)?
Thanks for sharing tips for low porosity hair. I am looking for such an explanation of Low Porosity Hair. for a long time. My head is so dry. I am facing low porosity of hair. Thanks, for writing like this.