How To Treat High Porosity Hair
- Opt for moisture-rich products. High porosity hair tends to be thirsty, so look for words like ‘hydrating’ and ‘moisturizing’ on the labels of your products.
- Get regular trims.
- Don’t shampoo too often.
- Read ingredient lists.
- Suds up with the right shampoo.
- Never skip conditioner.
- Use a detangler.
- Skip tight styles.
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Contents
- 0.1 How can I fix high porosity hair?
- 0.2 What is bad for high porosity hair?
- 0.3 Does high porosity hair grow faster?
- 0.4 Which oil is best for high porosity hair?
- 1 Is it rare to have high porosity hair?
- 2 Does Olaplex change hair porosity?
- 3 Can you go from high porosity to low porosity hair?
How can I fix high porosity hair?
Do: Lock in Moisture – The L.O.C. hair method can be a great system for hydrating high porosity hair. If you aren’t familiar with the method, L.O.C. stands for Liquid, Oil, Cream. It’s simply an easy acronym to help you remember to hydrate your hair in three steps.
- After you wash, condition, and rinse (hydrate), applying an oil to your hair will help the strands retain the water molecules from step one.
- Our Moisture Rx Leave-In Conditioner is perfect for step two in the L.O.C.
- Method because it’s formulated with avocado oil, almond oil, and ginger oil that will boost hydration and eliminate frizz.
After applying an oil, go with a cream to lock in the moisture and seal the hair’s cuticle. For high porosity hair, you can use thick creams and butters such as shea butter, coconut oil, or our Moisture Rx Hawaiian Ginger Moisturizing Hair Butter that contains coconut oil and avocado oil to help seal in moisture and boost shine.
What is bad for high porosity hair?
Tip #7: Avoid excessive heat styling and chemical treatments. – As previously mentioned, styling your hair using heat and harmful chemicals can make your hair more porous. If you don’t want to worsen your hair’s condition, try to cut down on heat styling.
Can high porosity hair reversed?
With the proper care, high hair porosity can be reversible. If your hair is overly porous, moisture-rich, protein filled products are the way to go. Reach for masks and conditioners with ingredients like coconut, grapeseed oil, and plant-based butter.
Does high porosity hair grow faster?
Formulate user Jean is having some problems with growing out her high porosity hair: I haven’t treated my hair very well in the past and now it’s stuck at it’s current length. I just can’t get it to grow any further. I have a lot of breakage and parts of my hair are obviously shorter than others.
It looks like I have some really funky looking layers which is. unfortunate. I know that my hair is very damaged and porous. How can I get my high porosity hair to be longer? I don’t want to continue to look like I have layers. Are there any tricks that work to make my hair grow faster, or do I just need to be more careful about protecting the hair that I have so it doesn’t further break off? Thanks for writing, Jean! High porosity hair is notoriously tough to grow.
It’s typically a pretty slow process, since high porosity hair often breaks off faster than it grows in. On the brightside, it’s not impossible, as long as you’re willing to put in the extra effort. Here are our top science-backed tips for growing out high porosity hair.
How often should high porosity hair be washed?
How Often Should You Wash High Porosity Hair? – Well, the most effective healthy hair routines allow for a gap between washes of 4-5 days to one full week. In between, you can co-wash your hair using only conditioner to keep it healthy. If you live an active lifestyle, there are a few tricks to keeping your curls fresh.
- Always carry a spray bottle of DIY refresh serum to touch up your hair after a workout.
- Coconut oil, aloe, and a spritz of your favorite essential oil are a great combination.
- Protective styles are also an excellent way to protect your natural curls without sacrificing your look.
- Seasonality is a primary concern for high porosity hair.
The winter months are especially damaging as environmental dryness leads to extra brittle hair, shedding, and frizz. It is especially important to minimize heat during this time. In addition to reducing heat styling, you can lessen the stress on your curls by adding an air purifier to your home.
- This will counteract the dry indoor heating known for aggravating frizz and breakage.
- Consider swapping out your pillowcase with a frizz-resistant silk alternative or wrap your hair before bed.
- High porosity hair is among the most stunning hair types.
- The texture, the volume, the curl shape – this hair has it all.
Learning to care for your curls empowers you to love your hair even more when it’s at its healthiest and most radiant. The RevAir team has compiled the best products, tips, and tricks from our community to make your natural hair care journey a little less tangled.
What does high porosity hair look like?
High Porosity vs. Low Porosity – First, you might be wondering, ” What is hair porosity? ” The porosity of hair is how porous it is. The more porous hair is, or the higher porosity, the more it will absorb moisture. The less porous hair is, or the lower porosity, the less it will absorb moisture.
- If you looked at your hair under a microscope, you would see your hair cuticle, which is the hair’s outermost layer that protects the hair shaft.
- In high porosity hair, the cuticles appear open and spread apart.
- In low porosity hair, the cuticles look closed and tight together.
- This explains why moisture can easily penetrate high porosity hair but not low porosity hair.
However, because the cuticles of highly porous hair are far apart, moisture can also easily escape. Each hair type comes with its own potential pitfalls. While those with low porosity hair may struggle with how to retain low porosity hair, those with high porosity hair may be wondering how to fix high porosity hair that has been damaged.
Which oil is best for high porosity hair?
Hair Porosity: What You Need To Know
• Hair easily absorbs water, however, it requires more products • Hair looks and feels dry • Hair often looks frizzy • Hair dries quickly • Hair loses its color or toner quickly Hair Care Tips for High Porosity Hair Parched, thirsty hair needs products to help it retain as much moisture and color as possible, so follow these tips to increase hydration and strength.
1. Use minimal heat, It’s best to air dry your hair, if possible. We know this is difficult, so at a minimum turn down the temperature on your styling products. We love our Babyliss curling irons! Heat makes the cuticle open and color escape so monitor how much you use.2.
- Incorporate regular deep conditioning or Olaplex 0 and Olaplex 3 treatments into your hair care routine.
- Twice a week, Use Olaplex 3 or Evolvh Ultra Repair Reconstructing Masque to begin to repair the bonds and porosity of your hair 3.
- Rinse with cold water to seal the cuticle and prevent color from sliding out. Hot, hot showers aren’t good for your skin or hair. They are drying and open the cuticle to let the color escape. Can’t take a cold shower? No problem.
Wash your hair with cold or tepid water, then bag it in a shower cap and crank up the heat.4. Detangle gently with a wide-tooth comb or our Tangle Teezer Detangling Brush for Fine or Fragile Hair to prevent hair loss and reduce hair breakage. Use a detangling spray like O&M Know Knott Detangler when combing through.5.
- Avoid tight ponytails and top buns.
- The hair can get stress fractures from over pulling and tugging causing your hair to break and come highly porous in those areas.
- Try doing a low bun or even wearing a French braid.
- Change it up.
- When you do a pony or bun, use a anti-breakage hair tie like one of our Goomee Hair ties.6.
The best oils for high porosity hair include omega-6 acids, like grape seed oil, sunflower seed oil, pumpkin seed oil, safflower oil, walnut oil, soy oil, corn oil, wheat germ oil, etc. You should also try oils rich in omega-3 acids, e.g. linseed oil, strawberry seed oil, raspberry seed oil, blackberry seed oil, etc.7.
Is high porosity hair healthier?
What to Know About High Porosity Hair Reviewed by on November 25, 2022 There are many ways we can categorize our : curly or straight, thick or thin, fine or coarse. One aspect that’s important to your hair health but not talked about as often is your hair’s porosity.
- Hair porosity can affect the way your hair looks and feels and its overall health.
- Having high porosity hair can lead to damage, but proper care can give you happy and healthy hair.
- Hair porosity refers to how much or how little water your hair absorbs and retains.
- Your hair’s porosity depends on the integrity of your hair cuticle.
Each hair shaft is made up of two or three layers:
Medulla: In the center of some hair shafts is spongy tissue called the medulla. Fine hair is less likely to have a medulla than coarse hair.Cortex: The cortex of your hair is made of proteins that allow the hair shaft to stretch. This is also the layer that holds your hair color.Cuticle: The cuticle is the outer layer of hair. It’s made of flattened cells that overlap each other like tiles on a roof. When these cells are lying down flat, the hair is smooth. Cells that are sticking up may allow moisture loss and damage.
Hair porosity can be impacted by your genetics or your hair grooming routine. It’s possible to have hair strands of multiple porosity levels on your head and even have different levels of porosity within a single strand of hair. Hair with “normal” levels of porosity will absorb 75% of the maximum water possible within four minutes.
- People with normal porosity hair usually have an easy time getting their hair to hold bleach, hair dye, or relaxer, and the results tend to be predictable.
- Low porosity hair has cuticles with skin cells that lay flat and are reinforced, making it more difficult for water or chemical treatments to penetrate into the cortex.
People with low porosity hair may notice that:
It takes a long time for their hair to get wet and to dry.Products build up on the surface of the hair instead of being absorbed by the hair.Protein treatments make their hair feel stiff.Chemical treatments don’t work as well as they expect.
For people with high porosity hair, the hair cuticle is compromised in some way. Often, this may simply be caused by the texture of your hair. The twists in curly or coiled hair can disrupt the layers of cells. The more curly or coiled the hair fibers are, the more disrupted the cuticle may be.
Absorbs water quickly and dries quicklyFeels dryLooks frizzyBreaks easily
If you’re unsure which type of hair you have, there are a few experiments you can try at home to get a general idea of whether you have low, average, or high porosity hair. Remember that different hairs on your head can have different levels of porosity.
High porosity hair will sink right away.Average porosity hair may float for a minute or two before starting to sink.Low porosity hair will float for some time before slowly sinking.
Spray test. This test is harder to observe but still can give you an idea of how porous your hair is. Spray water on clean, dry hair. If your hair is highly porous, it will absorb the water right away. Low porosity hair may have visible beads of water and take a long time to dry. Laboratories also perform more technical low and high hair porosity tests. These include:
Dynamic vapor sorption: Hair weight is measured and recorded as humidity increases and decreases.Fiber swelling: The dimensions of hair are measured as the hair is exposed to water.Gas adsorption and pore size analysis: Scientists expose hair samples to nitrogen, then look to see how many pores the hair has and where on the hair they are.
The most pressing concerns for high porosity hair are damage and loss of moisture. Some people with textured hair use a technique to seal in hydration called the LOC method, which stands for leave-in conditioner, oil, and cream.
Leave-in conditioner is applied to wet hair and isn’t rinsed until the next time you wash your hair. Choose a lightweight product meant for your hair texture.Oils are a great method for sealing in moisture, but remember that a little goes a long way. You can purchase hair oils or use something like avocado oil. oils seem to work best for hair.Creams are available for a wide variety of hair types. Choose the one that works best for you.
People with high-porosity hair should try to limit things like heat and chemical treatments. These can further damage cuticles, making it even harder for your hair to retain moisture and nutrients. If you live in an area with high humidity, avoid products with,
- Humectants are products that draw in moisture from the environment.
- In high-humidity climates, this can lead to hair becoming poofy and frizzy.
- Protein treatments can help repair the hair cuticle and reduce hair porosity.
- Hair is made from a protein called keratin.
- Using a protein treatment can help fill in the areas in your cuticle that have damaged cells.
This can help smooth the cuticle down and create a protective coat over the hair shaft. © 2022 WebMD, LLC. All rights reserved. : What to Know About High Porosity Hair
Is it rare to have high porosity hair?
Porosity grades or types – You may have heard of porosity defined as “low, medium, and high”. While that is somewhat correct, porosity is actually measured on a scale that displays your porosity “grade”. What does this scale mean? What does it mean to have low, medium, or high porosity hair? What causes hair to be a certain level of porosity? Have no fear, we have all the answers. Simply put, low porosity hair have a tight cuticle that does not allow water or product in easily. To understand more, let’s start with what the grades of porosity really mean. Grade 1 | Extremely low porosity This form of porosity is very rare. This is usually virgin hair which means the hair has not been exposed to any chemical treating, heat styling, manipulation or harsh environments.
This hair type has not been color treated at all. The cuticle is so tight that it does not let water in easily. This hair type is difficult to hydrate and moisturize. Product and water tend to sit on top of the hair as the cuticle doesn’t let it in easily. Natural oils also do not penetrate the hair shaft and tend to sit on top of it.
These hair appear to be smooth and healthy. This is a rare grade to be in as most people do have exposure to sun and other environmental factors that can change the porosity of the hair. Grade 2 | Low porosity These are virgin hair that have occasionally been exposed to heat, chemical treatments, colouring, and of course, environmental factors like sunlight.
The hair may have been coloured up to 3 shades lighter than natural color. The cuticle is slightly opened and lets some water in. The rest sits on top of the stand. This hair type has good elasticity and can be detangled without a conditioner. Grade 3 | Medium porosity (sometimes known as normal or balanced porosity) This hair porosity is usually the easiest to maintain.
The hair cuticle has just enough openings to allow moisture to enter and to escape. This type of hair has had moderate exposure to chemicals, heat, and coloring. The hair color may be 5 shades up from the natural color. Grade 3 hair needs regular conditioning and requires a leave-in.
- It also requires a balance between protein and moisture.
- Grade 4 | High Porosity Grade 4 porosity is natural but it can be a result of excessive chemical treatments, heat, and coloring.
- This hair could have been lightened over 7 levels from the natural color (for eg., jet black to blonde).
- The cuticles are lifted, allowing moisture into the hair shaft.
This means water and moisture also escapes very quickly. Hair is easy to hydrate but not for long as moisture tends to escape easily. These type of hair need a leave-in at all times or else it becomes frizzy and dry. Protein works well for this hair type.
Grade 5 | Extremely high porosity We hate to say this but this hair type is not natural. These hair are damaged due to over exposure to chemical treatments, heat, and coloring. The hair has been striped of moisture and the follicle may have been damaged. There is most likely no cuticle left on the hair.
When wet, the hair feels gummy and can be pulled apart. This hair is mostly beyond repair and needs to be chopped off or shaved off to start afresh!
How do you sleep with high porosity hair?
2. Avoid knots and tangles – High porosity hair tangles easily, and can then break when you try to detangle. It also tends to stick to itself, which can also contribute to detangling challenges. Avoiding tangles in the first place is key. Put your hair in protective styles, and sleep with a satin sleep cap.
Does Olaplex change hair porosity?
When it comes to hair color, nothing is more important than having healthy hair. When hair is damaged, the cuticle is wide open meaning any time color is applied, it washes right out. With healthy hair, the cuticle is closed, allowing the color to adhere and thus last longer.
Today, in the hair world, Olaplex and healthy hair have become synonymous– meaning it’s your new best friend for healthy, long-lasting color! Getting your hair done is an investment, and we want to ensure your investment is protected. When Olaplex relinks broken bonds in the hair, it creates more bonds for the color to latch on to.
Olaplex also helps lower porosity in the hair. Porosity is an important factor, as when the hair is very porous, color rinses out easily. This is part of the reason why hair color tends to fade away quickly when clients wash at home. Depending on the frequency of cleansing during the week, this can mean a completely different, lackluster color in as little as a couple weeks. Photo via @tigerpup Using Olaplex within the color process, as well as at home, results in longer lasting, more resilient, shiny hair. We’ve seen so many gorgeous before and after photos from clients amazed by the wear they get out of a single color session! In addition to Olaplex, there are other tips to ensure you get the most out of your color, such as washing the hair with cooler temperatures.
Warm to hot temperatures strip color out of the hair much like a colored poster would fade if left out in the sun for an extended period. Another helpful tip is to rinse the hair in between washes rather than shampooing every time. Olaplex Ambassador, Justin Anderson, has a fantastic product in his DP Hue line called ACV Rinse that is a gentle alternative to shampoo.
When you do shampoo, use Olaplex No.4 Shampoo to relink the bonds in the hair while cleansing. Lastly, use a thermal protectant daily, not just when applying heat tools to the hair, but for going outside in the sun. Oils and serums provide a fantastic coat to the hair, protecting it from environmental damage. Photo via @justinandersoncolor The post (Not So) Secrets To Long Lasting Hair Color appeared first on Olaplex,
Does Olaplex help high porosity hair?
Discover Olaplex for Black Hair Candour Beauty Guide: Discover Olaplex for Black Hair Olaplex is a haircare range that’s used by stylists all over the world to repair and protect hair from damage. It uses patented bond-building technology to give the hair structure, strength and stability – this means healthy, shiny hair, even if you can’t let go of your heat or chemical styling.
- Its patented ingredient ( bis-aminopropyl diglycol dimaleate ) is a protein source that penetrates into the hair and supports its natural structure.
- Studies have shown that it’s extremely close to the structure of your actual hair and actually improves its structure – it “glues” hair back together after it’s been damaged by heat and processing.
When it comes to repair, Olaplex packs a punch. It repairs all types of hair damage, whether it’s been caused by heat, styling, chemical treatments, lifestyle and environment or ageing. It’s the best treatment for damaged hair and has won countless awards around the world for a reason! Olaplex is safe for all types of hair, whatever your texture or curl pattern. Curly, coily and wavy hair tends to be drier than straight hair as it’s harder for natural oils to reach all the way through the hair: Olaplex can help you with that. It’ll leave your hair feeling soft, shiny and moisturised, whether you have low porosity or high porosity hair.
- It’s also different to other types of protein treatment and won’t leave a build-up on your hair.
- If you’ve tried protein treatments before and found that it messes with your curls, coils or waves then it’s time to try Olaplex.
- It’s safe for chemically-treated or heat damaged hair but works just as well on natural hair too.
Even protective styles and natural hair needs protection from the environment. Styling and the environment can take its toll on black hair – especially relaxers, chemical treatments and heat – so adding Olaplex into your routine can give it a boost of much-needed TLC. Olaplex used to be a salon-only treatment but the great news is you can now use it at home. It can also be completely tailored to fit in with your own routine. Let’s take a closer look at each product and how it works
Should you brush high porosity hair?
Use special brushes for your hair type – It may take some time and experimentation to find the type of brush that fits you perfectly. Still, bear in mind that hair with high porosity requires soft bristles that can easily detangle knots and improve natural gloss.
- If your hair is prone to tangling, brushing it when it’s wet might seem like an easy way to control it.
- However, it’s vital to avoid combing high porosity hair before it dries.
- Wet hair might look “more obedient” than dry hair, but in fact, it bends and breaks without us even noticing the damage.
- The solution? Hydrate your coarse, wavy, curly or frizzy hair with leave-in detangler spray that will make it silky and more manageable for dry brushing.
High porosity hair = higher maintenance. By hydrating your hair and introducing the above recommendations to your routine, you will improve its elasticity, making it more manageable, shinier and less susceptible to damage. By staying consistent in providing your scalp with nourishment, vitamin intake, and rejuvenating regimens, you can improve hair features and transform the state of your strands forever!
Does high porosity hair mean it’s damaged?
How to care for high porosity hair – High porosity hair is also highly sensitive, so take these care tips seriously:
Skip the harsh treatments and hot tools: “Just like the texture of hair is genetic, so is the porosity of hair. However, there are also other ways to alter your hair’s porous ability (porosity) and zap away its moisture—using products with drying agents, chemical relaxer treatments, overuse of heating tools (i.e., blow dryers, flat irons, etc.), and damaging sun exposure,” says Branch. “When you have high porosity hair, it can easily become damaged, dull, broken, tangled, weak, and frizzy from all this.” This is because when you use harsh treatments or daily high heat, you can actually damage and remove some of that outer layer of the cuticle, making it more porous. Only use low heat or air dry: “Freshly washed, high porosity hair will absorb the moisture very quickly—and dry very quickly,” says Branch. Take advantage of this key characteristic. Since it dries easier and quicker, you likely won’t need to blast it with high-wattage blow dryers to get the job done. Frédéric Fekkai, founder and CEO of FEKKAI Brands, agrees: “For high porosity hair, you should use low heat, so, therefore, best to let hair air dry,” Protect the strand: Because the hair’s outer is so fragile, don’t subject it to too much wear and tear via overstyling, brushing, and washing. And regularly coat the hair with hydrating products to help reinforce that outer cuticle. “Three words: moisturize, moisturize, moisturize. Locking in that much-needed protective moisture to strengthen high porosity hair results in stronger, supple, shiny, healthy, and super happy hair,” says Branch. Use color-protecting shampoos and conditioners: “Porous hair is difficult to color,” says Fekkai. It makes sense: When you dye hair, the formula is depositing pigments between the circles into the hair shaft, resulting in your new hue. When your cuticles are dense, these pigments stay nestled in there; on the other hand, when the cuticles are looser, the pigments fall out (yes, literally fall out) easier. Keep color-safe products on hand to keep your color vibrant longer. Stick to creamy, dense products: “The challenge of having high porosity hair is that since the outer layer is fragile, the hair is unprotected,” says Branch. “This type of hair requires super-creamy, nutrient-rich hair care products that seal in moisture—from cleansers and conditioners to leave-ins and deep treatments to everyday styling.” Use a pre-shampoo treatment: “The good news is that when you have high porosity hair, essential proteins and hydrating oils are also easily absorbed—so take advantage of it,” says Branch. Essentially, the gaps in the cuticle are able to suck in all the goodies in your products that lower porosity hair will often block or keep out. For this reason, “Put a treatment mask on before shampooing,” says Fekkai. He agrees that you should be opting for one with dense nutrients, oils, and butters: “More porous hair requires use of products with less water,” he says. Opt for low-effort styles close to your natural pattern: This is more about effort put in for lasting payoff: “Porous hair does not hold style as long,” says Fekkai. Given you know that your hair likely won’t hold shape for hours on end, perhaps stick as close to natural as possible—it will save you a headache later when your hair is falling flat or out of shape. Or for a special occasion, in which a ‘do seems in order, consider using higher-hold styling products.
Should I cut my high porosity hair?
You Must Trim the Ends – Although I desperately tried to hold onto my thinning ends, it was time for them to be cut off! No matter how much progress you make with your high-porosity hair, regular trims are essential to keep it healthy and growing. I’ve noticed that as my hair grows, the ends become more and more tangly.
Should I wet high porosity hair everyday?
How often should high porosity hair be washed? – High porosity hair absorbs oil very quickly so any hair products you use won’t sit atop your strands as in the case with low porosity hair. So there is a lesser chance of product buildup on high porosity hair.
Does drinking water help with hair porosity?
I am often asked, “why is my hair dry?” Or, “what should I do to moisturize my hair?” The reason it is almost impossible to answer those questions directly is because hydration varies per person and hair type. In almost every case, porosity plays the most significant role in hydration for naturals.
Porosity Scientifically, porosity is the measure of empty spaces in a material. When referring to hair, it is how your hair absorbs liquid and holds moisture. This is determined by the flexibility of your cuticle layer (the outermost layer of each strand of hair). Like other hair characteristics, porosity is genetic.
The only way it is altered is from over-exposure to harsh elements like extreme amounts of sun, or over-processing/damage with chemicals such as dye or relaxers/texturizers. If you recall your relaxed days, when you went to the salon, your stylist was probably using the same products on everyone.
Relaxers leveled us all out! We all had very similar porosity levels as the relaxer altered the cuticle making hair more porous, but being natural changes the moisture game significantly. When a liquid substance comes in contact with your hair, the cuticle opens allowing it to pass through. How porous your hair is determines how much of that substance will go into the hair shaft and how quickly it penetrates.
To understand how your hair absorbs, the first thing you need to do is conduct a water porosity test:
Fill a medium-sized cup or bowl with room temperature water. Take a couple strands of hair from different areas of your head, one from the crown and one from the back. Lay the strands on the water in the bowl and set a timer for two minutes Watch the strands during this timeif they quickly sink to the bottom, you have high porosity. If they do not sink at all, you have low porosity. If the strands begin to sink, but still float or wiggle around, you have medium porosity.
What does all this mean? Curly girls with low porosity often feel their hair is dry to the touch. The reason is because the cuticle is tightly closed, causing the hair to repel moisture, making it hard for products and chemicals to penetrate. This is why hair dye results vary so greatly, as it is hard to predict how fast the color will process.
- Build-up on the hair can also be an issue as products are not able to pass through very easily.
- The best way to combat this is by installing as much moisture as possible when your hair is wet.
- Once your hair is dry, the cuticle is closed and is not likely to absorb additional product.
- That’s why piling on extra butters and creams in the days after washing seems to be a very short-term fix.
Deep conditioning is what will give you lasting moisture. In addition to products, hydrating through your diet is extremely important. For every level of porosity, drinking lots of water and eating water-filled foods like cucumbers, watermelon, tomatoes and others will keep your body hydrated, which makes for healthy, hydrated new hair growth.
When it comes to products, you want to avoid drying alcohols, harsh sulfates and extreme amounts of protein. While some protein is necessary to maintain proper elasticity, you don’t want to overdo it with full protein treatments because protein is a building block, it makes hair sturdy. If you have medium porosity, you probably feel that your hair is moisturized and holds well after styling.
This is because the cuticle is loose and accepts moisture fairly easily. Deep conditioning with every wash and rotating in repairing treatments every other week is usually enough to maintain moisture-protein balance. With products, because almost anything can easily penetrate and absorb into the hair, you will find that most styling products “work,” and will mostly be a preference of how much hold, definition or volume you are seeking.
- For high porosity hair, you probably find your hair gets frizzy very easily because your cuticle is almost always open.
- Virtually every bit of moisture in the air is able to pass through.
- If this level of porosity is inherited, you can try regular protein treatments and repairing conditioners as a way to block some of the moisture coming through the cuticle.
If your hair has high porosity due to chemical processing (especially color-treated hair), you need to be extra careful with manipulation, as your hair is more susceptible to breakage. While leave-in conditioners are important for all levels of porosity, it is extremely important for high porosity as you may find it difficult to retain moisture without frizzing after styling.
When styling, you may find it helpful to use products classified as anti-humectants that repel water. In most cases, these are silicone-based products. They keep external moisture out, which ultimately reduces frizz. Notice how each porosity level has a lot in common with the others. Everyone’s hair needs moisture through deep conditioning and treatments as well as through proper diet.
We all have to work to install and retain moisture, but may have different methods of doing so. It’s something you figure out with trial and error! You may also find that you fall somewhere in between where your hair needs a mix of suggested methods across porosity levels.
When should I moisturize my high porosity hair?
Key Steps to Taking Care of High Porosity Hair – ● Keep your High-Porosity Hair clean and hygienic. ● Always wash them with a sulfate-free shampoo. Never wash with a sulfate shampoo. ● Dry them quickly after washing, never leave them wet for long. ●A deep moisturizing treatment is a must, at least twice a week.
Can I change the porosity of my hair?
Low porosity hair is not very absorbent. It is less able to take in water and hair treatments, so products may accumulate on the surface. The above information is from the New York Society of Cosmetic Chemists (NYSCC), Low porosity hair allows less moisture to sink in, but it also allows less moisture to escape.
And compared with with high porosity hair, it is less prone to breakage. A person cannot increase the porosity of their hair without damaging it. However, people can care for their hair in a way that suits this hair type. The goal is to increase hydration and avoid any substances that keep moisture from entering hair shafts.
Keep reading to learn more about spotting and caring for low porosity hair. First, it is necessary to understand the structure of the hair. It has three layers :
The cuticle: This is the outermost layer of a strand of hair, and it consists of dead cells that overlap in a scale-like pattern. This layer protects the hair. The cortex: This is the middle layer. It contains most of the hair’s fiber mass. The medulla: This is the innermost layer of the hair.
The cuticle determines hair porosity. If the “scales” are very smooth and have few gaps, less water can penetrate to the deeper layers, and less water can escape. This means that the hair is less porous. If there are gaps between the scales, more moisture can get through.
Can you go from high porosity to low porosity hair?
Hair’s porosity changes as it grows, generally from low to normal/high, and then to low again. – All hair grows out of our scalps as low porosity, and as it gets longer, it is exposed to environmental stressors such as dry indoor air, hard water, and sunlight. It generally experiences some damage, and tends to undergo a change in its porosity. Some hair, however, is less resistant to this damage, and is, consequently, less likely to see a change in its porosity. This is wholly determined by genetics, so if you see someone on YouTube with coarse, straight, thick, tailbone-length hair that reflects light and is rarely prone to breakage, don’t think they have a miracle regimen. They got it from their mama. For most of us, as our hair grows out, porosity will increase, but still remain in the normal range. When we wait a little too long to get a trim, suddenly, our ends will become frizzy and difficult to manage. They will become resistant to hydration from conditioners, and not want to clump. They will want to pull away from each other, too. The mid-shafts of the hair, however, will be heavy, as they are of a higher-porosity, so they will readily accept the moisture that is provided (think of a sponge absorbing water and weighing more when it is fully saturated than when it is dry”>.
How do you balance hair porosity?
How to Determine Your Hair Porosity Once and For All “Hair porosity” is a term you’ve likely heard before, but perhaps you’re not familiar with the role it plays in your hair care routine. Getting to know your hair’s porosity (aka its ability to absorb and retain moisture) can tell you if your hair is damaged, in need of moisture, or perfectly healthy.
- is a medical scientist, hair trichologist, and the founder of Alodia Hair Care.
- is the founder of Atlanta-based Too Groovy Salon and an African Pride Brand Educator.
Essentially, porosity determines how your hair can retain and absorb moisture. “Porosity can be broken down into three categories: low, normal, and high,” says Groover. “Low porosity hair has cuticles that are bound very close together, normal porosity hair has cuticles that are slightly less bound, and high porosity hair has cuticles that are more widely spread out,” There is a simple way you can test your hair’s porosity at home.
You just need two things: a glass of water (use a clear glass) and a strand of hair. It is recommended that you try this after washing the product and build-up from your strands to get the most accurate reading. “Start by combing your hair to release strands that are shedding, and then take those stands and drop them into your glass of water,” says Groover.
“Hair that is low porosity will float. Hair that is ‘normal’ porosity will float and then begin to sink slowly. Hair that is high porosity will sink immediately.” If you have hair, Chambers-Harris says that it means your hair is technically in a healthy state, which goes against the common myth that low porosity hair is unhealthy.
- I love to tell people,” she shares.
- Low porosity is actually healthy hair that is not being moisturized correctly,
- The cuticle layer is intact, but you’re not moisturizing it properly, so it becomes dry and tangled.” Chambers-Harris likes to use a straw to explain low porosity hair.
- If you have a straw and put holes in it, you can take in the liquid easily, but you can’t retain the liquid.
Once you take it out of the liquid, it’s all going to run out of the straw.” One of the easiest ways to ensure your hair is getting the moisture it craves is to wash and condition it once a week (twice a week tops). “When you’re thirsty, you don’t drink conditioner or oil—you drink water.” Aside from washing your hair weekly, she shares a pro-tip that can help get your wash day off to a good start: “Use an oil that can actually penetrate your hair strands before you shampoo.
If you look at ancient cultures, they always tended to oil their hair before,” We like Alodia Hair Care ($20). She says pre-pooing can not only help moisturize the hair, but it can prevent nicks in your strands. “It’s called hygral fatigue,” she explains. “When you just jump in the shower, and you’re putting warm water on your hair, your hair swells and will contract really quickly, which causes nicks to happen in your strands.” Be sure to select a oil that won’t sit on top of the hair.
Dr. Chambers-Harris recommends Naturall Club ($12). “It’s an amazing emollient oil, and it actually will penetrate the hair strands, and it helps to moisturize it from within.” Hygral fatigue is a breakdown of the hair cuticle caused by excessive moisture entering and exiting.
- Hair that has experienced hygral fatigue may feel gummy or mushy when wet.
- Normal porosity hair is the easiest hair type to maintain because the hair cuticles tend to be looser, and because of that, penetrates the hair with ease.
- If you’re lucky enough to have medium porosity hair, Groover recommends a deep conditioning mask to maintain your hair health.
“Incorporating deep conditioners in your regimen to maintain hair health and increase product absorption is key to achieving the best styling results,” says Groover. She recommends a mask that balances and moisturizes like African Pride’s ($9). “The Moroccan clay works to balance the hair by removing impurities and product build-up, while the shea butter works to strengthen and replenish moisture.” If your curls are experiencing excessive dryness, frizz, and snap easily, these may be a sign that you have high porosity hair, or hair that has a raised and porous cuticle.
With high porosity, you can take in water, but you can’t retain the water,” explains Chambers-Harris. “Because the protein structure of your hair, the cuticle layer is damaged from coloring, relaxing, etc. and you can’t hold onto it.” Chambers-Harris says how you treat your hair can affect your hair’s porosity.
“Let’s say you have dyed your hair, you have a relaxer, or you’re out in the sun a lot, then tends to be high porosity.” She says that doing anything that is damaging the cuticle layer often—even coloring the hair once or getting too much sun or chlorine—could leave you with high porosity hair.
- No matter the porosity of your hair, Chambers-Harris has four tips for all hair types.
- Use an oil before you shampoo, use a non-sulfate shampoo, use a deep conditioner with equal amounts of protein and moisture to balance out your hair strands, and follow up with a water-based moisturizer.” She leaves us with one more word of advice: ” You always have to remember your hair strands are dead,
You really have to help to keep them from getting damaged.” Keeping your routine consistent and simple is a great way to keep the hair moisturized and looking its best. Byrdie takes every opportunity to use high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles.
- An overview on hair porosity. NYSCC.
- Gavazzoni Dias MF., Int J Trichology,2015;7(1):2-15. doi:10.4103/0974-7753.153450
- Hessefort Y, Holland BT, Cloud RW. True porosity measurement of hair: a new way to study hair damage mechanisms. J Cosmet Sci,2008;59(4):303-315.
: How to Determine Your Hair Porosity Once and For All