So...What IS Hair Porosity...Exactly???
When explaining need-to-know information in an effort to promote retention, I like to give descriptions that encourages mental visualization. I feel that it makes way for that coveted "Ahh Moment".
So here goes...
Imagine that you've just washed your hair. It is now a clean slate. Before it dries up into the Bill Cosby holiday sweater that it has the potential to look like, you are sure to apply evenly your favorite moisture promoting product. You look in the mirror and is not all that impressed. It looks nothing like the fellow curly girl's curls on Instagram and she used the same exact product! Her curls were shiny and full, bouncy and well...beautiful. Yours, however, is limp and weighed down as if you used the entire bottle of Kinky Curly Knot Today Custard. There is no shine whatsoever. An hour later, after your frustrations led you to get a work-out in, you look in the mirror and there's that Bill Cosby sweater hair to greet you. "How did I go from the deep blue sea to the Sahara Desert...just like THAT??", you ask yourself, looking all puzzled. Well curly girl, I think it is safe to say that your hair is 'High Porosity' hair. This means that your cuticle layer is raised so high that it absorbs too much moisture, and quickly! What's worse is that because the cuticle layer is so raised, it let's the moisture out just as fast as it allowed it in, leaving your hair dry. No shine, no luster.
On the flip side, if after washing your hair and adding your favorite moisturizer, it seems to 'sit' on top of your hair...no penetration whatsoever, your hair is 'Low Porosity' hair. Your cuticles are pretty much closed, not allowing any moisture in at all. If moisture manages to make its way in, it will be there for a while, as the closed cuticle won't allow it to escape. Your hair will look like it is thriving, but in reality, in most cases it lacks the main trait of healthy hair: ELASTICITY!
Hair that is of 'Normal Porosity' has cuticles that are open, but not WIDE open. It lets in and lets out the right amount moisture in the right amount of time. The hair is healthy, full of body and shines beautifully.
So here goes...
Imagine that you've just washed your hair. It is now a clean slate. Before it dries up into the Bill Cosby holiday sweater that it has the potential to look like, you are sure to apply evenly your favorite moisture promoting product. You look in the mirror and is not all that impressed. It looks nothing like the fellow curly girl's curls on Instagram and she used the same exact product! Her curls were shiny and full, bouncy and well...beautiful. Yours, however, is limp and weighed down as if you used the entire bottle of Kinky Curly Knot Today Custard. There is no shine whatsoever. An hour later, after your frustrations led you to get a work-out in, you look in the mirror and there's that Bill Cosby sweater hair to greet you. "How did I go from the deep blue sea to the Sahara Desert...just like THAT??", you ask yourself, looking all puzzled. Well curly girl, I think it is safe to say that your hair is 'High Porosity' hair. This means that your cuticle layer is raised so high that it absorbs too much moisture, and quickly! What's worse is that because the cuticle layer is so raised, it let's the moisture out just as fast as it allowed it in, leaving your hair dry. No shine, no luster.
On the flip side, if after washing your hair and adding your favorite moisturizer, it seems to 'sit' on top of your hair...no penetration whatsoever, your hair is 'Low Porosity' hair. Your cuticles are pretty much closed, not allowing any moisture in at all. If moisture manages to make its way in, it will be there for a while, as the closed cuticle won't allow it to escape. Your hair will look like it is thriving, but in reality, in most cases it lacks the main trait of healthy hair: ELASTICITY!
Hair that is of 'Normal Porosity' has cuticles that are open, but not WIDE open. It lets in and lets out the right amount moisture in the right amount of time. The hair is healthy, full of body and shines beautifully.
Why Is Knowing Your Hair's Porosity So Important?
Knowing if your hair is high porosity, low porosity, or normal porosity allows you to cater to your hair according to it's needs. It is a fact that every curly girl doesn't require the same hair care regimen. Moisture is the #1 necessity in maintaining healthy, bouncy curls that possesses perfect shape and definition. When you know how your hair retains moisture, you are able to determine what ingredients you need, and definitely the ones that you don't need. Your hair will thrive without having to waste money on products that your hair simply doesn't benefit from.
Testing Hair Porosity
There a quite a few methods out there that in which you could use to determine your hair porosity, but the one that has worked for me is the 'Cup of Water Assessment'. This method requires freshly washed, conditioned and detangled hair... free of any product. Take a single strand for your detangling comb or pick and place it in a cup of water. After one minute of observation, take note. Did the strand sink? If so, your hair is porous. If it floats, which is what it is supposed to do, then your hair is of normal porosity.
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My hope is that you take the next step to assess your hair porosity and lean towards products that brings out the very best of your beautiful, natural hair. Please be friendly with the comment box below!
CoCo♥
CoCo♥