Diagnosis: Porosity Test

    So there I was, left with a mystery. Why were none of the high end hair product lines in my bathroom working?? Why was it that when the women around me used same products, their hair always looked better?? Clearly there was something wrong with my hair.

Porosity

        What is hair porosity? Simply, it is how porous your hair cuticles are. This property is key, as it determines how the cuticles absorb/retain moisture and nutrients. Or in my case, how well my hair could absorb and retain the benefits of the products I used... 

As such, knowing your hair's porosity type is crucial for picking out care, treatment, and products that suit it best, and in turn, deliver greatest health and lushness boost.  

Typically the cuticle's porosity is broken down into 3 categories: Low, Normal/Medium, and High:

How can you tell which porosity type are you??

    FLOAT TEST:

    I found that this seems to be a pretty controversial test. Many claim it doesn't perfectly characterize the porosity type. Personally, I've done it twice and felt the results were pretty accurate. The test is done as follows:

1. Wash the hair with your fave shampoo, do NOT condition or style. 

2. Air dry. 

3. Fill a glass or a small glass jar to 75% full with room temperature water.

4. Pluck a strand of hair.

5. Drop into the water.

4. Leave undisturbed for 15 minutes. 

5. After 15 minutes, observe glass closely... What of the below do you see?

INTERPRETATION:

Hair floats at the top/upper water level. Low Porosity. The cuticle is flat and tight. Reminiscent of shingles on the roof. Water and treatments of choice cannot be easily absorbed, when are in fact deflected. This hair type is usually very dry, and because of the cuticle's tight structure, use of protein-rich products can often result in a surface buildup. 

 

Hair floats in the middle. Medium Porosity. The cuticles are looser while still fairly tight. A solid mix of of absorption and repulsion. Therefore, this hair is manageable, can retain moisture for extended periods, holds shape longer.  Generally the healthy hair type. 

Hair sinks. High Porosity. The highly damaged, raised cuticle. Moisture and nutrients go in and out freely. The hair does not keep shape easily and is often found flat. Because of its broken and raised composition, the cuticle has holes which leave it highly frizzed, flat, and straw-like. Hair type lacks both moisture and nutrition and requires repair. 

Which type of hair are you??

If you've read my prior post, you need not wonder the hair type the Float Test revealed me to be.... you got it. High Porosity. The kind that needs special intervention. Stay tuned....