If you’re newly natural or you’ve been natural a long time, next to hair type another common term you may have heard is hair porosity. If you’re like me, after a while you just get inundated with all the terms and start to dismiss some of the “noise” that you hear. But today I want to talk with you about hair porosity and why you should give a damn!
I’ll be honest and let you know that I just recently started to actually pay attention to my hair porosity and how to better take care of Sybil. I’ve been natural for almost 4 years and I can definitely notice a difference in my hair and styles when I use products that are geared toward my low porosity hair.
What the heck is hair porosity? To put it simply, it’s your hair’s ability to absorb moisture, liquid…basically any products into the hair shaft. Once I learned that I had low porosity I made a concerted effort to pay closer attention to the types of products I used and what worked best for my hair type as well.
How do I determine my hair porosity level? Figuring out your porosity level is as easy as dropping a strand of (clean) hair in room temperature water.
Leave the strand of hair in the cup of water for 2-5 minutes to get the best results. If you hair stayed at the top you have low porosity hair. If you hair floats around the middle, then you have normal porosity hair. If you hair sinks to the bottom, you have high porosity hair. I have low porosity hair so this basically means that my hair has a harder time retaining moisture. A lot of things can contribute to this such as genetics, how we treat our hair and even coloring our hair! High porosity hair can easily hold on to moisture but it can just as quickly lose the moisture. And normal porosity hair is basically just that…normal! It can hold and retain moisture very well on it’s own.
For high porosity hair, using a deep conditioner to repair any damage and sealing with an oil such as coconut or jojoba oil will help it to retain that moisture longer. ACV (apple cider vinegar rinses) are also an excellent way to close the pores a few times a month for high porosity hair. Low porosity hair LOVES being pampered with deep conditioning and a hair steamer. If you don’t have a hair steamer, your body heat is just as good. I use a conditioning cap that basically looks like I’m about to whip up some jiffy popcorn. LOL
In addition to looking like an alien when I do my deep conditionings, I also like to use products that are high in humectants. These types of products help promote moisture retention. Tomorrow I’ll be sharing a new pre-poo product that has also proven to give Sybil some new life. No one wants to walk around with an ashy fro…that ish is just tacky. Tacky I say!
Now for all of you out there with normal porosity, you still need to pamper those tresses. Weekly deep conditionings and low manipulation are key to having healthy hair.
Since I’ve been using these tips for my hair I’ve noticed a decrease in shedding and my hair looks and feels healthier. Have you geared your hair care regimen to match your hair’s porosity? Share your successes and what you’ve learned.
*Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. I will use the money made to buy nail polish…and more wine!*
Thanks girl for clarifying this. I had no clue.
Good explanation. I am a low porosity girl, too. My hair does not like conditioning products with coconut oil, it just seals all the moisture out! lol
i have a question? if i use warm water on my hair and then i use some oil and then i use cold water on my hair. its good for my hair to moisturizing. i want your opinion.
HI Emily! The oil is good at sealing the hair but not so much for moisturizing it. Cold water also helps seal the cuticles of the hair. I like to combine an oil and cream based styler to add moisture to my hair.