Hair porosity is one of the most important criteria that characterizes hair. It is strictly correlated with the structure of the hair and with the spaces formed at the level of the hair cuticle layer. Hair porosity provides a wealth of information on how hair reacts to care procedures and what type of products should be used to keep hair healthy, strong and beautiful.
Why is knowing the porosity of hair so important?
Porosity is crucial if you plan to start applying oils to your hair. It has been proven that adjusting the oils according to the porosity of the hair can bring the best possible results. The best effects are ensured as long as the care suits the structure and needs of the hair. Applying the right oil will not only give better results, but will also prevent hair overload. Overloading the hair is only possible if we use the wrong oil. Therefore, it is worth defining the porosity of our hair in order to treat it effectively.
How to find your hair porosity?
METHOD 1
Fill a glass or bowl with water at room temperature. Take a few hairs (for example the ones left on the comb) and put them in the glass. Wait 2-4 minutes. When you do this test, your hair must be clean. Otherwise, the products you have already applied may affect the result.
If the hairs sink immediately, it means you have high porosity. The hair quickly absorbed the water and that’s why it reached the bottom of the bowl. This means that the cuticles are very inclined and the hair dries very quickly. It easily absorbs moisture from the air and is dry, often damaged. The same happens with moisturizers, but the effect is not as expected. The hair remains dry. It is easily tangled and prone to frizz.
If the hairs float to the surface after four minutes, it means you have low porosity. The cuticles are practically glued together, which makes the hair extremely difficult to dry and difficult to arrange. It does not have much elasticity or volume.
If the hairs have not reached the bottom of the container, but do not float to the surface, you have normal porosity. The cuticles are slightly inclined and the hair is easy to handle.
METHOD 2
Grab a piece of hair with two fingers. Slowly run your fingers along it, from the tip to the scalp. If you feel slight unevenness, the porosity of your hair is high. If the hair is fine, it means that you have low porosity.
METHOD 3
Choose a section of hair. Spray some water on it.
If the water remains on the surface of the hair in the form of beads, you have low hair porosity.
If your hair absorbs water quickly, you have high hair porosity.
If the water remains on the surface of the hair for a few minutes, then it is absorbed, you have normal hair porosity.
Which hair oil to choose?
Determining the hair porosity is the essential aspect in choosing the right oil. Only a product that is well suited to the structure of the hair will not overload the hair and will provide immediate and long-lasting effects. It is worth noting that:
Hair with low porosity prefers butter and oils with a high amount of saturated fatty acids such as coconut oil, Shea butter, Babassu oil;
Medium porosity hair prefers oils rich in monounsaturated fatty acids, omega-7 and omega-9, such as sweet almond oil, argan oil and avocado oil;
High porosity hair prefers oils high in polyunsaturated fatty acids, omega-3 and omega-6, such as grape seed oil, sunflower oil and black seed oil.
