Nowadays, most people experience hair problems, and one of them is hair porosity. Hair porosity determines the ability of hair to absorb moisture. You may have heard from many people that their hair dries and absorbs moisture quickly. On the other hand, others’ hair remains wet for hours, even after being wet. People experience these problems due to hair porosity. In this blog, we will learn more about low porosity hair. If your hair does not absorb water and hair care products properly, remains stuck on top, feels heavy, and sticky, you may have hair with low porosity.
Table of Contents
What is Hair Porosity?
Most of us do not know what hair porosity actually is. Even when they are already suffering from it. Let us clear that. Hair porosity is described as the ability of hair to absorb moisture, water, oil, and products, and how long it retains them. The outer layer of each hair (called the cuticle) is made up of tiny, tile-like layers. These layers are either tightly closed or slightly open. If these layers are open, the hair absorbs moisture easily. If they are too tightly closed, they prevent moisture or products from entering. And if the layers are too open, the hair absorbs moisture but cannot retain it.
Causes of Hair Porosity
Porosity can be natural and can also happen due to lifestyle, hair treatments, or external factors such as:
- Natural Causes: Some people are born with low porosity hair. This depends on genetics.
- External Causes: Excessive and Frequent use of heating tools on hair, like straightening, curling, and blow-drying machines, damages the cuticle.
- Chemical treatments: Chemical products like hair dyes, colors, bleaches, and rebonding have harmful substances in them, which damage the natural structure of hair.
- Hard water: If you wash your hair with water that has high salt and mineral content. It can make a layer on the hair.
- Incorrect products: Chemical products such as heavy conditioners or silicone-based serums can smooth or clog the hair cuticle.
- Aging: Hair structure also changes with age.
Types of Hair Porosity
There are three main types of hair porosity:
Low Porosity Hair
This is a type of hair porosity in which the cuticle is very tightly closed. It does not allow moisture or products to go inside. Moreover, hair remains wet for a long time and does not dry quickly.
Medium (Normal) Porosity Hair
In medium porosity hair, the cuticle remains balanced. It allows moisture to go inside and retains it. This hair is generally easy to manage.
High Porosity Hair
In high porosity hair, the cuticle is widely open. Hair with high porosity absorbs moisture quickly but does not retain it. This mostly happens with damaged or chemically-treated hair.
Characteristics of Low Porosity Hair
You can find hair with low porosity easily. Here are some signs you have to notice:
- Hair remains wet: Even after leaving the hair open for hours to dry, it remains wet after shampooing.
- Products sit on the hair: Conditioner or oil sits on the hair even after washing it properly.
- Sticky and heavy hair: Hair remains sticky or heavy even after washing properly with products.
- Tends less frizz: Hair has less frizz, but less shine.
- Dandruff: Dandruff-like flakes appear quickly because products are not absorbed properly.
- Dry hair: Hair becomes hard and dry quickly after protein treatments.
How to Care for Low Porosity Hair
The biggest problem with low-porosity hair is “closed cuticles.” This means the cuticle is so tight that no moisture or product can go inside. Therefore, special care is required.
- Choose the Right Shampoo: Use a clarifying or sulfate-free shampoo 1-2 times a week to remove buildup.
- Lightweight oils and products: Such as argan oil, jojoba oil, and grapeseed oil. Coconut and castor oil can be too heavy.
- Use of Heat: Low-porosity hair absorbs heat better. Wrap your head with a warm towel when deep conditioning. You can use a steamer or a hooded dryer.
- Water-Based Products: Choose conditioners and leave-ins that list “water” as the first ingredient.
- Avoid Protein Treatments: Low-porosity hair already contains a lot of protein. Too much protein will make it stiff and dry.
- Detangling: Detangle your hair with a wide-toothed comb to open the knots while it is still wet.
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How to Test Hair Porosity
You can determine your hair porosity with a simple test at home.
- Float Test (Most Popular): Take a clean, dry strand of hair. Dip it into a glass of water. See what happens if it floats to the top; then the hair has low porosity. If it sinks to the bottom, then the hair has medium porosity.
- Spray Test: Spray a little water onto your hair. If the water remains in droplets on top, your hair has low porosity.
- Dynamic Vapor Sorption: This test is done to measure the weight of the hair in humidity. It can’t be tested at home.
- Fiber Swelling: This test is performed to measure the dimensions of the fiber of hair in exposure to water. It also can’t be tested by your own at home.
- Gas Absorption and Pore Size Analysis: This test is done to measure how much nitrogen hair absorbs and to see the size of cuticle pores.
- The Slide Test: This test is done by sliding the fingertip on the hair towards the scalp. Low porosity can be noticed if it feels hard. Your hair has average porosity if it feels smooth. And, if it feels rough, then your hair has high porosity.
Precautions to Prevent Low Porosity Hair
Here are a few things to remember when managing low-porosity hair:
- Avoid excessive oiling.
- Avoid silicone and heavy butter-based products.
- Washing your hair every other day is not necessary.
- Use heat sparingly, not with straighteners/curlers, but with steam and a hot towel.
- Always choose light, water-based, and moisturizing products.
Conclusion
Low porosity hair looks healthy and beautiful, but it can be a serious issue for some. To get rid of this problem, you should have the right shampoo, light oils, and a little patience. Length and texture of the hair matter, but understanding your hair’s porosity is also an important part of your hair care. This will help you choose the right products for your hair when you understand your hair properly.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Ans. Low porosity hair refers to hair with a tightly closed outer layer (cuticle). This prevents moisture, oil, and products from easily penetrating the hair.
Ans. You can do a float test at home. Place a clean hair in water. If it floats, your hair has low porosity. Additionally, if your hair remains wet for a long time after shampooing or if products don’t absorb, these are also signs.
Ans. Lightweight and easily absorbed oils are best, such as argan oil, jojoba oil, and grapeseed oil. Heavier oils, such as castor oil or coconut oil, can make hair feel sticky and heavy.
Ans. Wash your hair with a clarifying shampoo 1 to 2 times a week. Use heat (such as a hot towel or steamer) when deep conditioning. Choose mild, water-based products. Avoid protein treatments.
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