Hair Porosity

[henné]

I've read a lot about texture, thickness, wave type, but not so much about hair porosity on this board. I did a simple search for 'porosity' and I couldn't find any thread with it as the main topic (maybe I just didn't look hard enough).

I've read, that one can test their hair porosity by putting a strand of hair in a glass of water and seeing whether or not or how fast it will sink. If it doesn't sink = low porosity, if it sinks slowly = 'normal' porosity and if it sinks fast = high porosity.

Well, I tried the test last night with one of my shed hairs and first, the hair was just floating on the surface of the water, but as soon as I helped it under the surface of the water, it started sinking somewhere between slowly and fast (medium speed :D) - or what do I know ...

So that leaves me baffled.

Does one just throw the hair on the surface of the water or should the hair be under the surface of water for this test to make sense? Maybe I'm just slightly dense, but I'm definitely a perfectionist :o

Btw, what is your hair porosity??? :cheese:

[auburntressed]

I've never done this test, though personally I would think it tested density - not porosity. Density would determine how heavy hair is, which is why it would sink or float more quickly. Porosity is how open to moisture it is. The two may be close enough that the test works for both, but I'm sure there is at least some difference between the two things.

[henné]

Hm, interesting! That did not occur to me! I wonder if there's another porosity test out there?

[irisheyes]

I think I have high hair porosity. My hair soaks up humidity, creating a puffy, frizzy mess. My hair frizzes when i wash the dishes! Lately I've had a problem with low humidity - my hair becomes very dry and I can hear snapping when I comb it. I tried the strand test but my hair just floated on the surface of the water. Maybe the hair being tested has to be product free for accurate results.

[brave]

Here's another test. (http://www.curlynikki.com/2012/02/how-can-i-test-my-hair-porosity.html) I may have to try this although I suspect my hair is super normal. We'll see!

Edit: well it's basically the same test with more explanation, I guess!

[dollyfish]

Never tested, but I'm pretty sure I have high porosity. Despite having pretty dark hair my hair has always taken dye extremely well.

Crossing my fingers for henna to do the same!

Then again, my hair was probably super porous as a teen BECAUSE I damaged my hair so often with things like dye... Ha!

[furnival]

I've never done this test, though personally I would think it tested density - not porosity. Density would determine how heavy hair is, which is why it would sink or float more quickly. Porosity is how open to moisture it is. The two may be close enough that the test works for both, but I'm sure there is at least some difference between the two things.

I think the idea is that porous hair, being absorbent, will soak up water and sink. Density doesn't have much to do with whether or not a substance will sink- there are some very heavy, dense woods that float, and at the other end of the scale, think what happens if you put a sheet of kitchen roll into water. It's not dense at all, but very absorbent, and will soak up water and sink. :)

[lilliemer]

Here is another test (at the bottom of the page):

http://livecurlylivefree.com/curly%20hair%20basics.htm

According to both this and the float test my hair is low porosity. It squeaks when I run my fingers up it. It is also coarse, and so it's fairly difficult to moisturize. Some of the strands feel a bit 'textured' but I think this may be due to curls and the coarseness of it. I have also read that porous hair is usually caused by chemical treatments like perming/relaxing and bleach, so virgin hair is probably medium to low porosity, but I'm not sure exactly how true that is either. Nor is it clear what effect heat styling has on porosity but it's probably not good.

Anyone with low porosity hair care to share their moisturizing routine? I'm just learning about this so I'm starting with weekly SMTs.

[ladylowtide]

I voted cheesy because my hair falls into two categories. Most of my hair that is virgin with henna on it is low porosity. But the ends that have been bleached to hell and back are extremely porous.

[Mononoke]

My hair is low porosity according to both tests. It also explains why it hardly holds any dye.

[Littlewing13]

ends were lightened so they are very porous, but roots are virgin so non-porous. Annoying really, means my ends are always dry & roots often oily