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How Do I Care for My Low-Porous Hair

With these tips, you will never again have to worry about choosing the right hair care product

Determining the porosity of your hair will make it much easier for you to take proper care of your hair. Now that you know how to determine your hair’s porosity, you can take even more care of your hair to keep it healthy and looking nice. With these tips, you will never again have to worry about choosing the right hair care product.

How do I Know if my Hair is Porous? Is low porosity hair really healthy, problem-free and easy to care for? There is a lot of misinformation out there about low porosity hair. We debunk the myths! We show you the truth about low-porous hair and what you can do to make sure that your hair does not become greasy, does not break, and looks beautiful. We tell you how to care for your hair with low porosity easily and effectively.

Do you want to have beautiful hair?

What is hair porosity?

Hair porosity is a critical aspect that impacts how hair absorbs and retains moisture, as well as how it responds to various hair care treatments. Understanding the structure of hair scales is essential to determine the porosity and subsequently tailor the appropriate hair care routine.

Under magnification, hair reveals a fascinating arrangement of overlapping scales, resembling the appearance of a pine or spruce cone when observed under a microscope. These scales play a crucial role in determining hair porosity, as they regulate the passage of moisture and substances into the hair shaft.

Low porosity hair is characterized by closely-fitting scales that create a smooth texture. This type of hair has a compact cuticle layer, making it resistant to external moisture. As a result, it can be challenging for products to penetrate the hair shaft, and excessive product build-up may occur. To care for low porosity hair, gentle moisturizing products and the use of heat during deep conditioning are recommended to open up the cuticle and allow better moisture absorption.

Medium porosity hair exhibits slightly open scales, striking a balance between low and high porosity. This hair type tends to hold moisture relatively well and is less prone to damage. Medium porosity hair is generally more manageable and adaptable to a wider range of hair care products and techniques. Regular moisturizing and protein treatments are recommended to maintain its health and balance.

On the other hand, high porosity hair has widely open scales, resulting in a rough and frizzy texture. This type of hair readily absorbs moisture, but it also loses it just as quickly, leading to dryness and increased vulnerability to damage. High porosity hair requires extra care to maintain its moisture balance and prevent breakage. Deep conditioning treatments, leave-in conditioners, and sealing techniques are beneficial to help lock in moisture.

Determining hair porosity is crucial for crafting an effective hair care routine. Once the porosity level is established, individuals can select products and techniques that suit their hair’s specific needs. It’s important to note that hair porosity can vary along the length of a single strand, with the tips potentially exhibiting higher porosity due to exposure and damage.

Regular trims, gentle detangling, and minimizing heat and chemical treatments are beneficial for all hair types, regardless of porosity. Embracing natural oils and avoiding harsh ingredients can enhance hair health and promote a lustrous appearance.

That said, understanding the fascinating microscopic structure of hair scales and their impact on porosity allows individuals to make informed choices about their hair care. Whether it’s low, medium, or high porosity hair, adopting a tailored approach to hair care can transform locks from lacklustre to vibrant, ensuring optimal moisture retention and overall hair health.

How do I determine my hair’s porosity?

To make sure you have low-porosity hair, do a quick test to determine your hair type. Take one of your hairs (hair should be clean, preferably after washing) and place it in a glass of water for 10 minutes. If it stays afloat in that time, it means it’s low-porous. If it partially sinks, you have medium-porous hair; if it sinks to the bottom, you have highly-porous hair.

Low-Perflected Hair – Which Products Should I Use?

Low-porous hair is usually considered smooth, healthy and trouble-free. But is that really so? Sometimes, low-porosity hair can cause a few problems, too. Low-porosity hair has a tendency to clump and therefore quickly lose volume, even shortly after shampooing. This situation can also be observed at the roots, when heavy and sleek hair is not bounced back.

Another “worry” of seemingly perfect low-porous hair can also be the phenomenon of so-called “podding,” or the clumping of hair into unsightly “pods.”

Appearance:

  • smooth and naturally shiny,
  • It is often straight but not always stiff,
  • Sometimes stiff.

Characteristics:

Low-porous hair is generally considered healthy and resistant, and the scales adhere to the hair shaft, so:

    • penetration of substances may be impeded,
    • They absorb water for a long time and then give it up for a long time, so they take a very long time to dry and it is often necessary to dry them with a hair dryer,
    • The larger molecules of active ingredients cover the length of the hair with a “film”, which makes this type of hair prone to overloading and “frizz”, i.e. loss of volume,
    • Rich and complex hair care regimens and even one too many conditioners or masks can overload the hair,
    • An excess of emollients (i.e. oils and silicones) causes the so called “donutification”, i.e. hair forming longitudinal colonies – “pods”,
    • The hair in this group of strands is resistant to styling, which makes styling hairstyles and updos problematic,
    • often even the elastic band slips out of the hair…

Images from BEAUTY SCENE EXCLUSIVE: Volume by Alejandra Vzqz – See the full story here

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