Hair Porosity

After a wonderful conversation with fellow bloggers Shelli of Hairscapades and M of hair and other stuff, I got really interested in discovering the porosity of my hair. I still have to do the water test (which I will explain after I do it and figure out my results), but in the meantime I did some research so I could have a better understanding of hair porosity, so I thought I'd share that here. :)


What is hair porosity?
It is how easily your hair is able to absorb and retain moisture. This depends on how the cuticles are arranged on your hair shafts. The closer and more tightly situated they are, the lower the porosity of your hair and the more difficult it is for your hair to absorb and retain moisture. On the opposite end of the spectrum, the farther apart the cuticles, the higher the porosity of your hair.


How does knowing the porosity of your hair help you care for it?
The lower the porosity of your hair, the more you have to do to help your hair absorb and retain the moisture that you give it. I read that you do this by using warm water on wash days and using heat during deep conditioning treatments. 


The higher the porosity of your hair, the more it is prone to frizzing. This porosity of hair benefits from protein-rich products which give it more structure.


So what is my hair's porosity like? Thanks to Shelli I learned that, just as a head of hair can have different textures, it can also have varying levels of porosity. My guess is that the crown of my head is the most porous because it tends to frizz the easiest, and the front is similar, while the nape and sides of my head seem to have normal porosity. 


I'm going to put my research results to the test by finding and incorporating a protein conditioner into my regimen to see if I notice an improvement in my highly porous areas. Stay tuned ;)

Apple Cider Vinegar Rinse

Before you read any further, I already know what you're thinking. Please tell me she is NOT going to suggest that I put that smelly stuff in my hair. I know, it's okay. Trust me, I thought the same thing before I tried it. And yes, the smell is pretty strong. But here's the good news: it goes away when you condition your hair! Want more good news? It leaves your scalp squeaky clean while getting rid of any product build-up or residue. After massaging the rinse into my scalp with my fingertips (never scratch your scalp with your nails), I rinse it out with water. Afterwards, my scalp tingles all over with joy, and my scalp and hair are so clean!

Not only are ACV rinses good for cleansing your scalp, they're also good for smoothing down your cuticles. ACV is more on the acidic side, and is close to the pH of our hair. Therefore it causes the cuticles on the hair shaft to lay down, resulting in smoother, shinier hair.

I really love doing apple cider vinegar (ACV) rinses. I mix one part ACV with three parts water and apply with a squirt bottle to my wet hair. After massaging it into my scalp and squeezing it down my hair, I rinse it out then apply my Satinique Moisturising Detangler Conditioner and proceed with the detangling process.

If you haven't tried an ACV rinse yet, you definitely should. You won't regret it!