POROSITY
What Is It Anyway?
Porosity is key in determining which products will work best for you.
Porosity refers to how well your hair is able to absorb and hold moisture. It is affected by the flexible outer hair layer called the cuticle, which determines how easily moisture and oils pass in and out of your hair. This is the balance that healthy hair finds, it allows water to pass through , holds it within the strand so the body can utilize it, and then releases it when ready.
How Do I Know My Porosity?
There are two methods you can use to find out how porous your hair is. If you experience product sitting on your hair when you try to apply, you most likely have low porosity hair. If you find that no matter what you do or try, your hair just will not stay hydrated and moisturized, then you most likely have high porosity hair.
1) The Float Test
Take a couple of strands of hair from your comb or brush and drop them into a bowl of water. Let them sit for 2-4 minutes. If your hair floats, you have low porosity. If it sinks, you have high porosity.
2) Blurred Lines
Take a strand of hair and slide your fingers up the shaft (toward the scalp). If you feel little bumps along the way, this means that your cuticle is lifted and that you have high porosity. If your fingers slip smoothly, then you have low porosity hair.
LOW POROSITY HAIR
This porosity type is usually genetic, but it doesn't mean that your hair can't get moisture.
Low porosity hair is characterized by extremely tight hair cuticles that are very resistant to opening for water and other forms of moisture, think of the cuticles as shingles on a roof. Curly haired folk with low porosity often complain of products merely "sitting on their hair." This is not typically something that can be reversed or changed, as it is a genetic trait, but it does not mean that your hair can't take in moisture. We just have to help it out a little bit to get it there.
OKAY.. NOW THAT WE KNOW WHAT IT IS...
How Does This Help Us Buy Our Products?
Best Ingredients
For low porosity hair, there are two main types of ingredients that will help your hair best.
Utilize products with humectants.
Utilize product with oils that are lighter in consistency and nature.
Best Haircare Practices
Implement these practices in your haircare regimen to best repair your high porosity hair.
Apply your conditioning products with heat.
Use water or cream based products that are lighter in consistency.
Ensure your hair is properly cleansed before you apply your hydrating products.
A New Guide for Buying
The right product, the first time
Keeping which ingredients, regimens and products work best for your porosity in mind while you are shopping is crucial in making the right buying decision, as you are able to determine the best possible option for yourself.
RECOMMENDED PRODUCTS FOR LOW POROSITY HAIR
HIGH POROSITY HAIR
This porosity type is one that is usually created by bleaching, chemically altering or damaging the strand.
High porosity hair is characterized by the hair cuticle becoming highly raised or even chipped which in turn causes it to quickly absorb moisture. The downside is that because itβs raised and remains raised, you can lose the moisture just as quickly as it was absorbed. Oftentimes this hair type is damaged from harsh chemicals, dye or bleach, high heat, or harsh shampoos that strip the hair. Because the cuticles are aggressively raised, the strands catch onto each other and become easily tangled.
Best Ingredients
For high porosity hair, there are three main groups of ingredients that will help your hair best.
The first are keratin proteins.
The second are water-based ingredients that provide your hair with moisture, such as aloe, fruit extracts, flower extracts, and honey.
The third are heavier oils and butters that help to seal in the moisture ad trap it within the highly porous strand where moisture can easily leave, such as shea butter, castor oil, mango butter, olive oil and coconut oil.
Best Haircare Practices
Implement these practices in your haircare regimen to best repair your high porosity hair.
Since protein is so essential to rebuilding the hair strand, utilize protein treatments twice a month, and deep condition for moisture twice a month.
Try to utilize lighter, gentler, water-based products for your shampooing, masking/deep conditioning and leave-in conditioning processes, and utilize products with heavier oils and butters for your sealing/moisturizing and curl defining products.
A New Guide for Buying
The right product, the first time
Keeping which ingredients, regimens and products work best for your porosity in mind while you are shopping is crucial in making the right buying decision, as you are able to determine the best possible option for yourself.