Hair Porosity: How Does Your Hair Hold Moisture?
BY TRYBELLO
MAY 30, 2024
Today, I'm here to drop a little-known gem that could absolutely change your life.
Okay, okay, maybe not too dramatic… But it will fundamentally change the way your hair will look and feel.
Have you ever had hair that is just so frizzy and unruly that no matter what product you use it just won't budge? Or maybe you’re on the other edge of the spectrum (you lucky, lucky girl!) and have salon-worthy hair no matter what you use.
Well, I'm here to tell you that this happens due to how porous your hair is. The term is “Hair Porosity” and there are three levels that your hair could be.
Hair Porosity determines how much moisture your strands are able to hold and absorb.
This is important because it can serve as an important guide to what products to use, or an indicator of your hair’s health.
Think of porosity like tiny little holes in your hair’s shaft. The more holes, the less moisture, color, and oil it can hold.
There are three levels of porosity that your hair could potentially have…
- The first is medium. This is the ideal and most common porosity type. Hair with normal porosity can absorb and hold water reasonably well. Medium porosity types dry quickly and have a natural shine and smooth texture. Also, Medium porosity can hold color better, and styles will last much longer, which is great in humid climates.
- On the other hand, low porosity types deal with product build-up and excessively oily hair. Basically, this porosity type has a closed hair shaft… meaning little to no holes. It is also harder for the hair to hold on to color, and may require more product to get the color to cling onto the follicles. It also takes low-porosity hair a long time to get fully wet and dry. Low-porosity hair can appear smooth and shiny in texture due to the hair shaft being shut.
- Last but not least is high porosity. High porosity individuals experience high levels of frizz and dryness. High Porosity types have an open shaft, which can absorb water fast, but lose it just as quickly. These types benefit from protein treatments to seal the cuticle to reduce frizz and dryness.
There are two ways to find out your hair’s porosity and you can do these tests right from the comfort of your own home.
First up is the float test….
Choose a strand of hair and place it in a container full of room-temperature water. If it sinks quickly, the hair is porous; if it floats over time, it is likely to have low porosity.
Next up is the spray test….
Spray water on clean, dry hair. High-porosity hair will absorb the water quickly, while low-porosity hair will have visible water beads and a longer drying time.
Whether you have medium, low, or high porosity, it is important to know what type you are so you can find products that can be better suited for your hair time.
And, If you need a frizz-defying ally that can help heal your hair shaft, don’t worry— we’ve got you covered.
Our line has a variety of products packed with proteins to close the hair shaft and fight frizz with each application!
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