Hair Porosity 101: How to Test Hair Porosity & Its Management!

Hair Porosity

If you’ve lately heard the term “hair porosity” and are perplexed by it, don’t worry, you’re not alone! 

We understand; that all of these phrases can be confusing. We’re going to simplify another confusing phrase related to hair care, hair porosity, to make things easier for you.  

The phrase “hair porosity” is one of many that are used to characterize the type, texture, and health of hair. Many would tell you that the first step in creating a successful hair care regimen is determining your porosity, and I completely agree. The difficult part is usually figuring out how to evaluate the porosity of your hair.

There are various hair porosity tests you may take to discover whether your hair falls into one of three categories: low porosity, medium porosity, or high porosity hair

In this article, we as professional hair stylists will review the basics of porosity, some of the common hair porosity tests, and other things around. Let’s dig down. 

What is Hair Porosity? 

Hair porosity refers to your hair’s capacity to absorb and retain liquids or moisture in the cuticle. Your strands appear to be a single, long, smooth strip, but they are actually made up of several layers known as cuticles.

If your cuticles are exposed and elevated, they will lose moisture faster, making your hair frizzy and dry. When your cuticles are close together, they resist absorbing liquids, making it tough to nourish your locks.

Porosity is usually inherited, however, environmental factors such as pollution, chemicals, and heat can all have an impact.

Therefore, knowing the porosity of your hair will help you choose hair care products and treatments that work well for your hair, sparing you the trouble of experimenting with different regimens.

Three general categories are commonly used to categorize hair porosity:

  • Low porosity hair: Cuticles that are close together have low porosity.
  • Medium porosity hair: Cuticles with medium porosity are less firmly bonded.
  • High-porosity hair: Widely spread cuticles are indicative of high porosity.

In this post, we’ll examine, how to identify your personal porosity type and discuss the optimal hair care practices based on your porosity.

How to Test Hair Porosity? 

  • The floating hair porosity test

The float test is the simplest method for determining the porosity of your hair. To carry out this examination: 

What to do?

Hair porosity test

  • As usual, give your hair a good shampoo wash, and then make sure it is completely dry.
  • Pick up a glass of water.
  • Put a hair strand in the water and see if it floats or sinks.

The results: 

  • If the strand floats before sinking, you have low-porosity hair.
  • If the strand floats in the middle, your hair is medium-porosity.
  • If the strand sinks quickly, then you high porosity hair.

  • Features and attributes

Low-porosity hair has the following characteristics: 

  • Low-porosity hair products don’t easily penetrate into your hair 
  • It builds up on the surface.
  • It takes a while for your hair to become wet or dry.
  • You need extra water to completely saturate your hair when washing it.
  • Chemical therapies have a lower success rate.

Features of hair with a medium porosity: 

  • Styling your hair is a breeze.
  • Your hairstyle endures for an extended period of time.
  • It looks like your hair is shiny and healthy.
  • The hair dries rapidly.

Features of hair with a high porosity hair: 

  • Your hair absorbs water quite quickly.
  • Your hair is prone to breaking.
  • High-porosity hair products and chemical treatments start to show results immediately.
  • Straight hair is less porous than textured, wavy, curly, or coily hair.

The Strand Test

Pick up a single hair strand with your fingers. Move your fingers upward towards the strand’s root, starting at the bottom.

What It Means:

  • If the strand snaps feels uneven, or feels harsh, your hair is highly porous.
  • If the hair feels silky, it has a medium porosity level.
  • If the thread slips through your fingers with ease and feels firm or dense, then you have low-porosity hair.

To get better and more accurate results, you can consult with the best hair-care professional. 

How to deal with hair with different porosity? 

High porosity hair 

High porosity hair requires special attention and care because it is prone to tangling, frizziness, dryness, damage, and breakage. 

Here are some things you may do to nurture and safeguard it:

  • Apply oil to your hair and scalp frequently to provide hydration and nourishment. Make use of oils like olive, coconut, jojoba, avocado, or coconut.
  • Preserve moisture by using a high-porosity hair product such as a leave-in conditioner. 
  • Avoid using heat-styling tools, serums, and hairsprays.
  • Wet your hair once a week or every two weeks.
  • Test out some protein therapies.
  • For shampooing and conditioning hair, lukewarm or cold water works best.

Low porosity hair-care

Low-porosity hair is nearly water-resistant and has poor moisture retention. 

Here are your options:

  • To remove low porosity hair product build-up from your hair and scalp, apply a clarifying shampoo once a week.
  • Apply masks for conditioning hair.
  • Use hair oil for low porosity hair treatments, such as coconut, avocado, and olive oils.
  • Try low-porosity hair product conditioners without protein. They absorb quickly into your hair and are less prone to lead to product build-up.
  • Select lightweight low porosity hair care products.

Hair Care For Hair With A Medium Porosity

Hair with a medium porosity keeps enough moisture in it. Additionally, it responds favorably to chemical treatments like dyeing and style. Don’t overdo these treatments, though, as they might lead to damage and hair loss.

To Conclude 

This blog is a complete guide about hair porosity. We have covered the basics, some of the common types of hair porosity, how to test hair porosity, and some of the treatment options as per the type. And, we hope this guide has helped you in determining your hair porosity and how to effectively treat it. 

If you are still confused and looking for professional guidance, you can book an online consultation with Greg Decker Hair. He is a leading hairstylist in Houston, who will understand your needs and guide you. If you are willing to visit in person, then we have got you covered.

Consult With Me

 

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