What are the types of hair porosity?
It’s essential to know what kind of porosity your hairs have in order to understand their structure. Your hair may look the same as everyone else’s, but the disparity is noticed when the same hair solutions that work for others do not work for you. There are three levels at which your hair can absorb hair solutions, namely low, normal and high. If your hair can absorb products but struggle to retain them, allowing for better penetration, then you have high porosity. In cases of low porosity, your hair struggles to hold on to the solutions because the hair cuticles are too close together, making it difficult for it to reach the scalp.
What we want is normal porosity where the cuticles are perfectly spaced, allowing you to retain solutions and retain them for optimal penetration.
The hair porosity also hinders their capacity to absorb and penetrate alternative treatments such as laser hair therapy. The penetration depth of light of the laser is affected by the type of hair structure you have and how other treatment works along with it.
What signs indicate the type of porosity?
Normal porosity: the spacing of cuticles in normal porosity hair allows hair solutions to penetrate easily and can retain it for a longer period of time. You have normal porosity if:
- Styling is easy, and your hair can manage those styles for a long time.
- Your hair can be dyed easily.
- Hairs look healthy, glossy, or shiny.
- It doesn’t take a too long a time for your hair to air dry.
High porosity: owing to genetics or hair damage, high porosity hairs are able to absorb moisture, but due to the cuticle spacing, the moisture leaves just as easily. You have high porosity hair if:
- Water and other hair solutions are swiftly absorbed into your hair.
- Your hair breaks easily.
- You have frizzy and dry hair.
- It doesn’t take much time to air dry your hair.
Low porosity: hairs with low porosity have little to no chance of absorbing moisture and hair solutions, let alone penetration into the hair shaft. You have low porosity hair if:
- Hair products are not absorbed and just sit on your hair.
- It’s challenging to saturate your hair while washing.
- Air drying hair takes a long time.
How can hair porosity be changed?
There are several way to tackle each type of porosity, and with consistent efforts, they will be fruitful.
For low porosity hair:
- Using protein-free conditioners are easily absorbed into these hair structures and reduce the chances of build-up.
- Apply conditioner to wet hair since that makes it easier to be absorbed.
- Avoid any hair products with oils, and look for ingredients like honey and glycerin.
- Use heat treatment when conditioning your hair by using a steamer or a shower cap.
For high porosity hair:
- Use products that contain oils and butter as they will keep your hair moisturized.
- Try leave-in conditioners, for they may help your hair absorb more moisture.
- Apply a heat protectant whenever using a heating tool to safeguard against heat damage.
- Use lukewarm water when shampooing or conditioning.
Normal porosity: these hairs are ideal and need no fixing, which is why people with low or high porosity air need to develop a regime that gets them closer to normal porosity. People with these hairs can enjoy their high absorption coefficient and penetration capacities for any type of coloring or styling. The primary point to keep in mind is not to overdo these hair trends; with time, they can lead to serious damage and harm your hair.
Our hair speaks volumes about our health, and from dry and brittle to soft and silky, it reflects what we’re feeling. We can use our hair to tell a story and convey what we want without saying a word. Even with all the attention, hair can change unexpectedly, which could be indicative of underlying imbalances. This is why knowing your hair is integral, especially when seeking treatments for hair loss. This includes PRP and laser treatment with an effective penetration depth of light so that you are aware of your chances of success at re-growing your hair. Knowing your hair can keep you ahead of any risk of damage and help you understand how to treat, manage and care for your hair.