The Science Behind Hair Porosity: Why it Matters for Your Hair Care Routine
Hair porosity refers to how easily your hair can absorb and keep moisture. Your hair strands are built up of layers, with the outer ones called the cuticle, and their condition determines the porosity. If the cells are close together, this means low porosity hair. This type struggles to absorb moisture to begin with, but retains it well. If the cuticle cells have more space between them, your porosity will be normal, which means it will both absorb and retain moisture easily. If the cuticle cells have large spaces between each layer, that’s high porosity. This type absorbs moisture the easiest of all three types, but also loses that moisture easily.
Low porosity hair is generally genetic. High porosity hair is typically normal porosity that’s been damaged. This can be through bleaching, too much high heat use, or environmental damage from the sun and pollution. Knowing your porosity can help you style your hair more easily and reverse damage where possible.
How to Discover Your Hair Porosity
If your hair is frizzy, particularly when it’s humid, and is dull rather than shiny, you probably have high porosity hair. If you’re not sure, there is a simple test you can do to check. Take a few strands of hair, you can collect the ones you lose naturally rather than pulling any out. Drop the strands in a glass of water and leave them for a couple of minutes. If the strands are floating, you probably have low porosity hair. If they’ve made it to the middle of the glass or are sinking slowly, you likely have normal porosity hair. If they’ve sunk to the bottom, you probably have high porosity hair.
The best way to check your porosity and overall hair health is to have a detailed consultation at your salon. They can also tell you how damaged your hair is and give you the best repair tips.
Choosing the Right Hair Care Products and Steps
If you have low porosity hair, it’s best to stick to light-weight products as your hair will struggle to absorb them, so it’s easily weighed down. Doing a scalp scrub once a week will help break down product buildup, as this can make absorption even harder. If you want to do a deep conditioning treatment, using mild heat such as steam or hot towels with them can open the cuticles for better absorption.
Normal porosity hair is the easiest to look after. To avoid damage, focus on products that offer hydration and strengthening, or swap between the two regularly. Ensure you always use heat and UV protection to prevent damage and steer clear of frequent bleaching. If you want fun colors, speak to your salon about the best options to preserve your hair health.
High porosity hair is the one that needs the most attention. It’s best not to wash every day as you’ll risk further breakage, and when you do wash your hair, use gentle shampoos. Introducing oils into your routine can be a game-changer. Apply other forms of hydration first like a creamy conditioner and/or a mist then the oil can help seal that moisture into the cuticle. Look for quality products containing proteins and amino acids that can start to rebuild your damaged strands.
At Indulge Salon, we can work with all hair types and porosities to help you look and feel your best. Find out more about our conditioning treatments to help you lock in moisture.
