The Impact Porosity Has On Your Hair

Your hair’s porosity is defined by how well your hair absorbs and retains moisture. It is essential to have an idea about how porous your hair is to better grasp ideal treatments and home care products. We chatted with Keune Technical Ambassador Amber Skrzypek to gain expert insight on the subject. For the most part, porosity can be impacted by genetics. However, Amber notes that “what we do to our hair — coloring, lightening, chemical straightening, and other services can disrupt the cuticle later, causing your hair’s porosity to behave differently than it normally should.” Keep reading to learn about various porosity types and how it impacts your hair.

TYPES OF POROSITY:

High – The cuticle layer is raised to a high degree with this type. While this allows products to easily enter the hair strand, the hair has trouble holding on to them. Clients who color their hair will notice their shade fade prematurely.

Medium – This is also known as average porosity. This is the ideal porosity for hair to adequately absorb moisture and products without losing it too quickly.

Low – This type of porosity has a very tight cuticle layer and can be difficult to get moisture or product to enter the hair. Amber notes that this type can appear drier and be harder to color or treat.

HOW POROSITY IMPACTS YOUR HAIR

While other factors such as moisture significantly impact hair color, your hair’s porosity also affects this. Porosity levels can change throughout the head and even throughout a hair strand. Amber notes that colorists often have a hard time when it comes to coloring high and low porosity clients. 

AMBER’S TIPS FOR LOW POROSITY HAIR: 

Low porosity can be challenging to get the product into the hair. When this is the case, alkalinity will open the cuticle allowing hair color to penetrate.

• For color: choose a more alkaline product — like permanent hair color to help get the product into the hair. 
• For moisture: try a steam treatment or place your client under the drier to help open the cuticle layer and allow the product to enter. 

AMBER’S TIPS FOR HIGH POROSITY HAIR:

 High porosity is encountered more often with compromised hair. When dealing with high porosity hair, color can appear uneven. 

• For color: Choose acidic products to lower the pH level and help close down the cuticle layer to lock color in.  
• For moisture: Look for formulas that contain protein. Protein will fill in porous areas to give off a more even and

HOW POROSITY IMPACTS YOUR HAIR

Care Vital Nutrition Protein Spray is the ideal choice for dry, damaged hair to even out porosity, prep, and treat the hair in need. A multi-purpose conditioning spray also helps protect hair against chemical and heat damage while adding shine and moisture. 

• Use this product before any color service to help even out the hair’s porosity for predictable end results. Spray the hair section by section and comb through to evenly distribute. 
• Following lightening services, apply Care Vital Nutrition Protein Spray to prep hair for toning services. 
• Care Vital Nutrition Protein Spray can also be used before perms to even out the hair’s porosity and lead to better end results.