Knowing your hair porosity will enable you to customize a care routine tailored specifically for the needs of your strands. No matter if they have low, medium, or high porosity; using products tailored specifically to each can give strands the balance and moisture they require for healthy locks.
To test the porosity of your hair, fill a clear glass or bowl with water and drop one strand of newly washed hair into it. Watch how long it takes before it becomes saturated.
High Porosity
High porosity hair tends to lose moisture quickly due to leakage between its outer cuticles and your strands absorbing water from its surroundings and products you use.
Due to this, it’s essential that you incorporate deep conditioners and hair butters into your routine for proper hydration. Furthermore, protein treatments can fill in gaps in your cuticle while simultaneously reducing frizz and strengthening strands – an added boost that’s worth looking into!
Don’t over-aggressively brush or wash wet hair; to preserve its integrity invest in a shower filter or water softening treatment to eliminate chemicals in hard water that could further harm it and lead to dryness and breakage. Regular trims and regular appointments with your stylist for healthy ends is another effective strategy that helps prevent breakage as is sealing with nutrient-rich oils such as coconut (which has been shown to restore broken cuticles) or olive oils as these contain nutrients essential for hair health.
Medium Porosity
Your medium porosity locks can easily take in moisture and store it, as well as withstanding heat without damage to their outer layers.
Unintentionally, overexposure to heat, overwashing, and harsh products may cause your cuticles to raise and open, making your strands susceptible to frizz, breakage and dryness in due course.
To determine your hair porosity level, perform a simple float test: Fill a glass with optimal temperature water and drop one of your strands into it; if it sinks to the bottom, this indicates high porosity while if it floats to the middle, this suggests normal or low porosity levels.
To maintain healthy locks, regularly using products containing humectants and natural oils can be extremely beneficial in maintaining optimal conditions for the hair. Our Bounce Hydrating Curl Refresher & Leave-In Spray can add moisture without making your locks heavier or crunchy strands!
Low Porosity
Low porosity hair tends to absorb moisture and treatments less effectively than other hair types, causing them to sit atop of each strand instead of penetrating into its cuticle layer. This can result in product build-up that prevents moisture from penetrating through.
Misting a section of your dry hair with water may help determine whether you have low or high porosity; simply observe what happens. If the hair strands quickly soak up all of the liquid, this indicates high porosity while if they float on top for several minutes after misting then low porosity has been achieved.
Low porosity strands often struggle with frizz and dryness, yet this is easily treatable. Lightweight products should be used when styling with hair oil to minimize product build-up. Furthermore, regular trims will ensure healthy strands without tangles forming; try our Mizani 25 Miracle Milk Leave-in Conditioner or Born to Repair Reviving Oil with Shea Butter as leave-in treatments for optimal results.
Combination
Your hair has an invisible protective layer made up of cuticles resembling roof shingles that act like tiny pores to let moisture in and then seal back up again when moisture escapes, providing moisture into the shaft of your hair before sealing back up once moisture returns – these open and close periodically depending on its porosity type.
One of the easiest and fastest ways to determine hair porosity is with a water test. Simply grab a clear glass of water, drop some dry and product-free strands of hair into it, and see whether they float to the top or sink to the bottom – low porosity would mean floating; high porosity means sinking at the bottom.
Chemical damage, genetics and how often you wash your hair all have an effect on its porosity. To maintain healthy locks, deep condition frequently with products rich in humectants (products that attract moisture) like honey and glycerin to keep the porosity at a manageable level.https://www.youtube.com/embed/yGSxHtzG2Ak