Porous means full of holes. Hair porosity is the ability of your hair to absorb and retain moisture. It is determined by the structure of your hair follicles.
If your follicles are wide, your hair is more likely to be high-porosity. This means that your hair absorbs water easily but loses it quickly, leaving your hair frizzy. It can also be more prone to tangles and breakage.
On the other hand, if your follicles are small or closed, your hair is more likely to be low-porosity. This means that your hair does not absorb water as easily but it retains moisture better.
You can also have somewhere in between, which is called normal porosity.
What causes low or high hair porosity?
There are a few things that can cause your hair to be either high- or low-porosity.
If you have ever had your hair colored, permed, or straightened, you may have damaged your hair follicles. This damage can cause your hair to be high-porosity.
Another cause of high or low hair porosity is genetics. You may have inherited high or low-porosity hair from your parents.
Lastly, the environment can also affect your hair porosity. If you live in a dry climate, your hair is more likely to be low-porosity. If you live in a humid climate, your hair is more likely to be high-porosity.
How can you determine your hair porosity type?
To determine your hair porosity, there are a few methods.
One way is to do the float test.
To do this, you fill a bowl with water and then drop a strand of clean, dry hair into the water.
If your hair floats, you have low-porosity hair.
If your hair sinks, you have high-porosity hair.
If your hair floats for a few seconds and then sinks, you have normal porosity hair.
The characteristics of high porosity hair
– Easily absorbs moisture from the environment
– Often feels dry, even after shampooing and conditioning
– Can be frizzy and difficult to manage
– Tends to be more porous at the ends than at the roots
– May be more susceptible to damage from heat styling and chemical processing
– Can benefit from products that contain humectants, oils, and proteins
The characteristics of low porosity hair
– May be difficult to wet because it repels water
– Tends to resist absorption of moisture and products
– May feel oily at the roots and dry at the ends
– Tends to be more resilient and less prone to damage
– Can benefit from products that contain silicones and oils
– May require heat to open the cuticle and allow products to penetrate
You may also like: The Ultimate Guide to Identifying Your Hair Type
how to care for your hair based on its porosity
Products for High Porosity Hair
If you have high-porosity hair, you should use products that are light in weight and moisture. These will help to avoid build-up on your hair.
We recommend the following products:
- Use leave-in conditioners and sealers to help your hair retain moisture.
- Try products with hydrolyzed protein to help repair damage and give your hair strength.
- Use a light oil to help seal in moisture without weighing your hair down.
- Use a diffuser when you style your hair to avoid further damage.
Products for Low Porosity Hair
If you have low-porosity hair, you should use products that will help your hair absorb moisture.
We recommend the following products:
- Use products with humectants to help your hair absorb moisture.
- Try products with oils to help seal in moisture.
- Apply heat when you use conditioner to open up your hair follicles and allow the product to penetrate your hair.
- Do deep conditioning treatments regularly to help moisturize your hair.
Products for Normal Porosity Hair
If you have normal porosity hair, you are lucky because your hair is not as prone to damage as high-porosity hair or as dry as low-porosity hair. However, you still need to use products to help protect and moisturize your hair.
How can you take care of your hair to ensure it is healthy and strong, regardless of its porosity type?
Below are some tips:
– Use a clarifying shampoo periodically to remove build-up from your hair.
– Be careful not to over-wash your hair as this can strip it of its natural oils.
– Use a conditioner every time you wash your hair, and leave it in for several minutes to help hydrate your hair.
– Avoid using heat styling tools too often as this can damage your hair.
– Consider using a leave-in conditioner or serum to help protect your hair from damage.
– Use deep conditioning treatments regularly to help moisturize your hair.
– When styling your hair, use products that contain natural oils to help seal in moisture.
– Try to avoid using products that contain alcohol as this can dry out your hair.
– Use a wide-tooth comb or brush when detangling your hair to avoid damage.
– Be gentle when handling your hair to avoid breakage.
– If you color your hair, use a color-safe shampoo and conditioner to help protect your hair.
– Get regular trims to help keep your hair healthy and free of split ends.
– Eat a healthy diet and drink plenty of water to help keep your hair hydrated from the inside out.
By following these tips, you can keep your hair healthy and strong, no matter what its porosity type is. So, don’t let hair porosity get in the way of having healthy, beautiful hair! Try these products and tips to help care for your hair based on its porosity. Your hair will thank you for it!
Do you have any tips for caring for hair based on its porosity type? Share them with us in the comments below! And, if you liked this post, be sure to share it with your friends!
Sources: An Overview on Hair Porosity
