Is Porous Hair Damaged Hair

Is Porous Hair Damaged Hair?

In healthy hair, the outer cuticle layer scales lie flat and gently overlap one another. Porous hair, however, is hair that has endured chemical, mechanical or physical trauma that has caused the cuticle scales on its outermost layer to lift.

What is Porosity?

Porosity refers to the hair's ability to absorb moisture. Porous hair readily absorbs moisture, but releases it just as fast. This leaves the hair feeling dry. While hair is naturally porous, various environmental factors can damage the hair and increase its porosity.

Causes

Hair porosity is caused by mechanical or handling damage from blow-dryers, flat irons, harsh shampoos, and chemical damage from permanent colors, relaxers, the sun and chlorinated water.

Porous Hair & Chemical Processing

Porous hair has lifted cuticles that allow it to process chemical treatments at a faster rate. Great care should be taken when chemically treating porous hair.

Correcting Porosity

Porous hair can be corrected by using acidic or acid-balanced conditioning treatments. Acidic treatments constrict the cuticle and cause the cuticle layers to lie flatter.

Porosity Test

Hair porosity can be felt along the hair strand. Dull, rough, straw-like hair is typically porous hair. Sleek, smooth, shiny hair is typically non-porous.

Tags: Porous hair, damage from, Damaged Hair, Hair Damaged, Hair Damaged Hair, Hair porosity