You might think that people with healthy hair have some natural talent for taking care of their hair or have been gifted by genetics, but most of the time that isn't the case at all. They just found out the missing puzzle piece to unlocking healthier hair. Their porosity.
Knowing your hair's porosity will change the way you care for your hair. Giving your strands what they crave will get you healthy, growing hair fast! Lets find yours.
Hair Porosity Type Overview
Hair porosity refers to how well your hair absorbs and retains moisture. This also affects how well moisture and oils pass in and out of the outer layer of your hair, the cuticle.
When classifying different hair porosities, it is typically categorized into three main types: low porosity, medium/normal porosity, and high porosity.
Low Porosity
This is when the cuticle is packed too closely. Making it difficult for moisture to pass in and out of the cuticle. The hair tends to repel water and is also prone to product build up. It is not uncommon for the hair to feel continuously dry.
Medium Porosity
This porosity is when the hair cuticle allows the right amount of moisture in and out. Even though this hair type is believed to need the least amount of maintenance it is also important to make sure there is a balance of moisture and protein or the hair can begin displaying different porosity qualities.
High Porosity
The hair’s cuticle with this porosity type has gaps and holes which allow too much moisture into the hair leaving it susceptible to damage. The common signs are frizz and tangling when exposed to humidity. Protein treatments with this porosity help strengthen the cuticle.
Changes
Porosity is usually hereditary but can change throughout a person’s lifetime. It depends on a variety of factors such as exposure, chemical treatments, heat exposure and even environmental changes. Correcting these changes has a lot to do with your current hair routine and right product match for your porosity.
Importance
The question often asked is, “why is it important to know my hair porosity”? As mentioned previously, our hair’s porosity has everything to do with our hair’s ability to absorb and retain moisture; without this basic function the hair is weakened. Weakened and damaged natural hair becomes brittle, tangles easily, breaks and its ability to grow or retain length becomes stunted.
In all that we do to care for our hair, it is also important to get back to the basics of understanding the health of our hair and nourishing it back to health.
Not sure what your porosity is yet? Take my Porosity Type Quiz and get customized care tips for your hair and tips sent directly to your inbox monthly.
What's your hair porosity? Share in the comments.
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