Are you tired of hair fall, damage, and unhealthy hair overall? The right products and personalized care routines can be a game changer for anybody looking for healthy hair.
Many people start their journey to improve hair health, but most often neglect to learn about a crucial aspect—Hair Porosity.
But Wonder Curl, with a team of hair experts, doesn’t want you to miss out on hair care based on your hair porosity.
In this blog, we’ll help you know everything about hair porosity, including what it is, how to understand your type and care tips.
So, without any delay, let us start to understand our hair better:
What Is Hair Porosity?
“Hair porosity is the ability of hair to retain or absorb moisture.”, explains Scarlett Rocourt, a hair expert. Let’s make it easy for you: In hair care, porosity refers to how well your hair soaks up and holds moisture or products.
Our hair has a cuticle that looks like shingles on a roof. When moisture is present, the cuticle lifts to absorb it. Then, it smooths down.
The porosity levels can depend on various factors, including genetics, damage, UV exposure, and hair styling.
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Remember: If hair has holes, that is a sign of damage, which results in different porosity levels in individuals. |
Why is it important to know how porous your hair is? Knowing about it helps you choose the right products that don't negatively affect your hair. It also helps you select the right hair-care and styling techniques that suit your hair.
Now, let’s switch to tests that help you determine how porous your hair is.
What Type of Porosity Do You Have?
Here are two tests to determine how porous your hair is:
Water Test
Take a few strands of clean hair and place them in a glass of water. If your hair floats on the surface for a long time, it indicates low porosity. On the other hand, if your hair sinks quickly, you have hair with high porosity.
In addition to this, get your hair wet and pay attention to how it absorbs water. If it takes a long time to soak up water, it's low-porosity hair. Low-porosity hair takes sips of water, while high-porosity hair takes gulps.
Strand test
Take a single hair strand and run your fingers towards your scalp. If you feel any bumps or unevenness, you have high-porosity hair. If the strand feels smooth and slippery, it indicates low porosity. Note that the strand test is not an efficient way to determine hair porosity for people with afro-textured hair.
People with afro-textured hair can rely on the water test or consult with Wonder Curl professionals to determine their porosity levels.
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Remember: One can have different porosities on one head naturally. |
Are you still trying to decide what category your hair falls under? Contact our hair experts for guidance!
Let us now know more about different porosity levels in the coming section.
Low Porosity Hair
Low-porosity hair has tightly closed cuticles, making it harder for moisture to penetrate the hair shaft. This can cause moisture to build up outside the hair rather than being absorbed into the strands. Hair with low porosity tends to be more resistant to hair treatments and can take longer to dry.
Characteristics of Low Porosity Hair
- It takes longer to wet and dry hair: Low-porosity hair repels water, so it takes longer to dampen and dry. This can be frustrating when trying to wash or style your hair.
- Product buildup: Low-porosity hair is prone to product buildup due to closed cuticles. This means that products may have more difficulty fully penetrating the hair shaft, resulting in a heavy or greasy feel.
- Difficulty absorbing moisture: One of the biggest challenges for low-porosity hair is getting moisture to penetrate the shaft. This can make it harder to keep the hair hydrated, leading to dryness and frizz.
- Heat and chemical damage: Low porosity hair is more resistant to damage from heat styling tools and chemical treatments. However, moisture can also be more difficult to escape from the hair shaft, leading to potential damage if not properly cared for.
Check out our informative video for women with low-porosity hair.
Tips for caring for low-porosity hair
- Use lightweight products: Opt for lightweight products easily absorbed by the hair. Avoid heavy oils and creams that can weigh down the hair and leave a residue.
- Incorporate heat: Gentle heat, such as a hair steamer or warm towel, can help open the cuticles and allow moisture to penetrate the hair shaft more easily. This can be especially beneficial when deep conditioning or applying treatment products.
- Use warm water: When washing your hair, use warm water instead of hot water. Warm water can help open the cuticles and allow for better product absorption.
- Avoid heavy styling products: Heavy gels, creams, and butter can weigh down low-porosity hair and lead to product buildup. Opt for lighter styling products that provide moisture without overwhelming the hair.
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Medium Porosity Hair
Medium-porosity hair has a balanced structure, allowing moisture to penetrate and retain within the hair shaft without much difficulty. This makes it easier to manage and less prone to damage compared to low and high-porosity hair.
Characteristics of Medium Porosity Hair
- Balanced moisture absorption: Medium-porosity hair can absorb and retain moisture effectively without becoming too dry or oily.
- Holds styles well: This type of hair holds styles and treatments well, making it versatile for various hair care routines.
- Less prone to damage: The cuticles of medium-porosity hair are slightly raised, allowing for adequate moisture retention and reducing the risk of harm.
- Drying time: Medium-porosity hair dries at a moderate rate, not too quickly, not too slowly.
Hair Care Tips for Medium Porosity Hair
- Cleansing Routine: Choose a cleansing shampoo such as our Detoxifying Shampoo Bar that cleanses your scalp without damaging essential moisture. Wash your hair 2-3 times weekly to avoid over-drying or weighing down your strands.
- Emollient-Rich Conditions: Using heavier conditioners will help maintain moisture balance. Look for products with natural oils, such as shea butter or olive oil, to nourish your hair without leaving it greasy.
- Heat Protection: Always use a heat protectant before styling with heat tools. Although medium-porosity hair can handle moderate heat styling, protection is crucial to prevent damage.
High Porosity Hair
High-porosity hair has more open and raised cuticles, allowing moisture to enter the hair shaft and escape just as quickly. This makes high-porosity hair prone to dryness, frizz, and damage. It also absorbs water and hair products quickly but struggles to retain moisture.
Characteristics of High Porosity Hair
- Dries quickly: High-porosity hair tends to dry quickly due to its open cuticles. This quality causes the hair to lose moisture rapidly, leading to dryness, frizz, and a lack of shine.
- Quickly absorbs products: One of the benefits of high-porosity hair is that it readily absorbs moisture and hair products. This can be advantageous in getting the desired results from styling products and treatments.
- Prone to damage: The raised cuticles of high-porosity hair make it more susceptible to damage from heat, chemicals, and environmental factors. This can result in split ends, breakage, and overall weakened hair.
- Requires more maintenance: Due to its tendency to lose moisture quickly, high-porosity hair requires regular moisturizing and sealing to maintain hydration. It also benefits from protective styling and gentle handling to minimize damage.
Don’t forget to find the best hair conditioner based on your porosity level!
Tips for caring for high porosity hair
- Choose Heavier Conditioners: Heavy conditioners are best for restoring hair treatments, helping replenish moisture and nourish the hair. Look for products specifically formulated for high-porosity hair and incorporate them into your hair care routine. Check out our conditioners made to care for your hair!
- Seal in moisture: After applying leave-in conditioners or moisturizers, seal in the moisture by using oils or butter. This helps to create a barrier that prevents moisture from escaping too quickly.
- Limit heat styling: High-porosity hair is already prone to damage, so it's important to minimize heat styling as much as possible. Avoid excessive use of flat irons, curling irons, and blow dryers, as they can further dry out the hair and cause breakage.
- Use protein treatments: High-porosity hair often lacks protein, essential for maintaining hair strength and elasticity. Incorporate protein treatments into your hair care routine to help repair and strengthen the hair.
- Protect from environmental factors: High-porosity hair is more susceptible to damage from external factors like sun exposure, wind, and pollution. Protect your hair by wearing hats or scarves, using UV-protectant products, and avoiding extended exposure to harsh weather conditions.
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Conclusion
Understanding the difference between low- and high-porosity hair is essential for determining the best hair care routine.
Low-porosity hair requires lightweight products and gentle heat for proper moisture absorption. In contrast, high-porosity hair needs regular moisturizing and protein treatments to keep it hydrated and protected. You can achieve healthier, more manageable hair by tailoring your hair care routine to your specific porosity level.
Read more stories from Wonder Curl to retain your hair’s shine forever!
