Hair porosity: What is it, and how do you take care of your hair?

Understanding hair porosity is an important key to taking care of your hair in the best way. Hair porosity affects how your hair absorbs and retains moisture and products. Let's dive into what hair porosity is, how you can determine your hair type, and what products and techniques work best for each level of porosity.

What is Hair Porosity?

Hair porosity describes how well your hair can absorb and retain moisture. There are three main types of hair porosity: low, medium (normal) and high. The outer layer of the hair, called the cuticle, plays a crucial role here. How tight or loose these cuticle layers are determines your hair porosity.

1. Low Porosity: The hair's cuticle layers are tightly packed, making it difficult for moisture and products to penetrate the hair.
2. Medium (normal) Porosity: The cuticle layers are slightly open, allowing the hair to easily absorb and retain moisture.
3. High Porosity: The cuticle layers are wide open or damaged, causing the hair to quickly absorb moisture but also quickly lose it.

How do you see what hair porosity you have?

There are some simple tests you can do at home to find out your hair porosity.

1. Test #1:

   • Take a clean strand of hair and place it in a glass of water.
   • Let it sit for 2-4 minutes.
   • If the hair floats on the surface, you have low porosity. If it drops slowly, you have medium porosity. If it quickly sinks to the bottom, you have high porosity.

2. Test #2:

   • Spray some water on a section of hair.
   • If the water beads on the surface, you have low porosity. If the hair absorbs the water fairly quickly, you have medium porosity. If the hair directly absorbs the water, you have high porosity.

The right care for your porosity

Low Porosity:

• Products: Use lighter products that do not weigh down the hair. Look for moisturizing products with ingredients like glycerin and honey.
• Technique: Heat can help open the cuticle layers, so use a steam treatment or cover your hair with a plastic cap when applying deep conditioners. Avoid protein-rich products that can build up on the surface of the hair.

Medium (Normal) Porosity:

• Products: Most products work well for this hair type. The balance between moisture and protein is important, so use both moisturizing and strengthening products.
• Technique: Regular care with deep conditioners and avoid over-treatment with chemicals to preserve the natural balance.

High Porosity:

• Products: Use heavy, moisturizing products like butters and oils to help hair retain moisture. Protein-rich products can help strengthen hair.
• Technique: Try to seal in moisture by using a leave-in conditioner followed by an oil. Avoid heat and chemical treatments that can further damage the cuticle layers.

Final Tips for All Hair Types

Regardless of your hair porosity, here are some universal tips to keep your hair healthy:

• Protect your hair: Wear a hat or scarf in the sun, and avoid harsh chemical treatments.
• Avoid heat: Reduce the use of heating tools and always use heat-protecting products.
• Know your hair: Listen to your hair's needs and adapt your hair care routine accordingly.

Understanding your hair porosity can revolutionize your hair care and help you choose the right products and methods to make your hair look and feel its best. Good luck with your hair journey!