Are you hearing more and more about hair porosity, but you still don't really understand what it is?

Your hairdresser tells you that you have porous hair but you don't know what that means?

You've come to the right place!

In this article, we will take a detailed look at what hair porosity is, and you will discover all our tips for taking care of your porous hair.

Understanding Hair Porosity

What is hair porosity?

Hair porosity is the hair's ability to absorb and retain moisture . This characteristic depends on the structure of the hair's scales.

For low porosity hair , the cuticles are tight and closed, which means the hair has a hard time absorbing moisture, and therefore hair products. However, the advantage is that once moisture is absorbed, it is better retained because the tight cuticles prevent water from evaporating.

For normal hair , the cuticles are arranged regularly, which allows for optimal absorption and retention of water.

Finally, for porous hair , the scales are spaced or damaged, which allows water to penetrate easily but makes it difficult to retain, because the water evaporates immediately.

It is therefore important to know the porosity of your hair in order to choose a suitable hair routine.

Identify your hair porosity level

You've probably heard of the glass of water test to determine whether your hair is porous or not. We don't recommend this test because it's not very accurate and the results can be easily skewed.

The easiest way to know the porosity of your hair is to observe its behavior.

Low porosity hair will take a long time to get thoroughly wet in the shower because the water will have difficulty penetrating the fiber, and will also take a long time to dry after being washed. In addition, low porosity hair will tend to become weighed down easily and become sticky if the hair products used are not suitable, because they will not penetrate the fiber well.

On the contrary, high porosity hair gets wet very easily in the shower, and also dries very quickly because it does not retain water well . Since hydration is not maintained, it will therefore tend to be dry, dull and prone to frizz . It will also tend to tangle easily.

Be aware that it is entirely possible to have different porosities in your hair . In fact, the hair at the back of the head can sometimes have a different porosity than the hair on top of the head.

Symptoms of porous hair

Common Causes of High Porosity

Several factors can influence the porosity of your hair over the course of your life.

Your natural hair type first impacts hair porosity. In fact, very curly, frizzy, and coily hair will naturally tend to have high hair porosity, due to the structure of these hair types.

Additionally, chemical treatments, such as bleaching or straightening, will damage your hair fiber. Your hair cuticles will become less closed, and your hair's porosity will increase.

Excessive use of high-heat appliances (straighteners, hair dryers, etc.) will also degrade the quality of your hair fiber, and therefore the scales of your hair. This will also increase the porosity of your hair.

Finally, brushing too hard can cause friction and rubbing of your hair. This will therefore modify your scales and make your hair more porous.

Signs and symptoms

If your hair absorbs hair products very easily , dries very quickly after showering, or is almost instantly soaked when you wash it, you probably have porous hair !

Your hair will then be rather brittle and dry , and it will tend to swell in humid weather .

However, don't panic! All you need to do is find the right hair routine to seal in moisture , and your hair will regain shine and softness.

Caring for porous hair

Adapted hair routines

Since your porous hair lacks moisture, choose thicker hair products , such as rich creams or masks , to deeply moisturize and nourish your hair. Since these products are thick, your hair fiber will retain them better.

Instead, avoid products that are too light , such as lotions or hair milks. Your hair will absorb them very quickly, but the moisture will evaporate immediately, and your hair will quickly dry out.

Also use protein hair products to repair and protect your hair fiber.

For styling, use moisturizing jellies or creams, then seal in the moisture with a few drops of oil , such as broccoli oil or camelina oil .

One last little tip: choose hair products with a slightly acidic pH ! This helps to coat the hair fiber and close your cuticles, which will help maintain hydration.

LAO Care Shampoo: an ally for high porosity hair

Our Nourishing Hemp Protein Shampoo will be ideal for gently washing your scalp while protecting your hair from external aggressions, and the hemp oil present in this product will be perfect for coating your fiber and retaining hydration .

As for our Conditioner , it is ideal for fine to normal hair, it allows you to gently detangle without damaging it. but above all to leave the hair light and soft from the first application !

Furthermore, these two products both have a slightly acidic pH, and are therefore particularly suitable for closing your scales and reducing the porosity of your hair .

The keys to success

The key to avoiding frizz or dry hair when you have porous hair is to seal in moisture.

To do this, use and abuse masks and oil baths .

Oil baths, to be done before your shampoo , will have the effect of nourishing your fiber in depth.

Masks, to be applied after shampooing on wet hair, will be essential to maintain good hydration.

Specific techniques for porous hair

If you have porous hair, these few simple tips will help you significantly improve the condition of your hair.

First of all, avoid heat at all costs ! Avoid washing your hair with water that's too hot, and instead wash it with lukewarm water . If you're brave and can wash your hair with cold water, even better!

Dry your hair naturally or with cold air , and leave your straighteners in your cupboards, because they will tend to damage your cuticles and therefore increase the porosity of your hair.

When drying your hair, also choose a microfiber towel over a cotton towel. Microfiber will dry your hair gently and won't absorb all of your hair's moisture.

Limit bleaching or chemical treatments as much as possible, because, as seen earlier in this article, these treatments will attack your hair fiber and damage your cuticles, which will increase the porosity of your hair.

Finally, when sleeping, use a silk pillowcase instead of a cotton one. Silk won't absorb moisture from your hair, so your hair will be less dry and dull .

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you know if you have porous hair?

To know if you have porous hair, observe its behavior.

If your hair gets wet very easily in the shower, dries very quickly after washing, swells in humid weather, and feels dry and coarse, there's no doubt about it! You have porous hair.

How to care for porous hair?

To care for porous hair, it's important to use hair products tailored to your high porosity to best seal in moisture. Choose protein-rich shampoos and rich creams and masks. Finally, don't hesitate to use oil baths to deeply nourish your hair.

Which oil for very porous hair?

For porous hair, choose rich plant oils, such as avocado oil, shea butter or coconut oil, which will further help the cuticles close.