Hey Boo! Topic for today is hair porosity. What is porosity and is it important for your haircare goals? I see it everywhere, so let's discuss.
What is hair porosity?
Porosity is the measure of how well your hair can absorb and retain moisture. If the porosity of your hair is too high, it will be more prone to breakage, dryness, and tangling. If the porosity of your hair is too low, it will be difficult to style and won't hold moisture very well. Knowing your hair's porosity is important for selecting the right products and treatments for your hair type.
How to figure out what your porosity is.
Testing your hair porosity is easy and can help you find the best care regimen for your hair. The simplest way to test your hair porosity is to take a single strand of your hair and place it in a cup of water. If your hair floats, you have high porosity hair, which means your hair absorbs moisture easily. If your hair sinks, you have low porosity hair, which means it takes longer for your hair to absorb moisture. If your hair sits in the middle, you have medium porosity hair. Knowing your hair porosity can help you choose the products and treatments that best suit your hair type.
Low Porosity Haircare tips
- Use lighter products such as water-based and oil-free styling creams.
- Avoid using heavy products such as thick oils or butters as they can weigh down the hair.
- Deep condition regularly with a light protein-rich conditioner and use a source of heat to help the conditioner penetrate the hair shaft.
- Use cool water when rinsing out your conditioner to help close the cuticles.
- Use a wide tooth comb to detangle your hair and avoid excessive tugging or combing which can damage the hair.
High Porosity Haircare Tips
- Avoid using heat styling tools on your high porosity hair as much as possible. Heat can damage and dry out the hair even more.
- Use a deep conditioning treatment once a week to help keep the hair hydrated and sealed.
- When shampooing, use a gentle shampoo and use lukewarm water to avoid over drying the hair.
- Use a leave-in conditioner to help detangle the hair and protect it from further damage.
- Use a wide-toothed comb to detangle your hair and avoid using brushes or combs with metal teeth, as these can cause further breakage.
If you have healthy hair goals to reach, consider testing your porosity and applying porosity specific techniques to your regimen.