Depending on your genes, you can be born with naturally higher or lower porosity hair. Due to their dry nature, all
Whereas high porosity strands have more space between the cuticles or less layering, high porosity is often the driest of the bunch because water just flows in and right back out. Medium porosity is most ideal since moisture is able to penetrate but doesn't easily escape — essentially it's the best of both worlds.
If your hair is High Porosity by nature, there's nothing wrong with it. Porosity does NOT determine your hairs health and growth potential. You can have healthy high porosity hair if you follow these 4 tips!
There is no such thing as a rare hair porosity. Hair porosity is a measure of how easily hair can absorb and retain moisture, and it can vary from low to high.
It can be more vulnerable to certain scalp problems and tends to be dryer and more prone to breakage, whereas Asian hair usually has higher porosity levels, absorbing and retaining moisture more quickly.
Type 1A: The rarest hair type, this one is very straight and fine with a “wispy” appearance. It's very difficult to get it to hold a curl. Type 1B: Though still straight, this type has a medium (rather than fine) texture and a little more volume.
We often get asked this and yes, frizzy hair is usually a sign of high porosity.
Grade 1 Porosity: Virgin hair that has been exposed to little or no environmental damage. This is very hard to find, and it's more common in straight hair. The cuticles on this hair type are extremely tight, and they don't allow moisture in or out.
This can lead to hair that is dry, damaged, and has a tendency to tangle easily. When you have high porosity hair, there is an imbalance. Your hair is porous enough to let the moisture out but not porous enough to let the moisture in.
Kinky hair types lock up the easiest whereas straighter hair types take more effort and care. For twist and rip, backcomb, palm rolling, and free form methods you should expect 12-18 months to lock up and reach maturity.
While wavy and straight hair tend to dry faster, curly and coily textures will take longer.
Having High Porosity hair means your hair cuticles are fully open and can absorb moisture easily but it does not retain moisture very well. So easy in, easy out! This porosity type loves protein.
High porosity: This is where frizz and tangles begin. Widely spaced, high keratin scales on the hair shaft allow lots of moisture to penetrate the cuticle. These strands tend to lack protein and hold on to excess moisture, which can lead to frizz in humid weather.
Additionally, your hair's natural oils struggle to travel from the roots to the ends due to the tightly packed cuticles. As a result, low porosity hair tends to be: Dry and/or frizzy, especially at the ends. Prone to product build-up, resulting in weighed-down or limp hair.
High porosity hair tends to absorb moisture quickly but also loses it just as fast, leading to dryness and frizz. This means that regular moisturising is essential to keep the hair hydrated.
High Porosity Hair
This is because the hair cuticle is open, making it susceptible to frizz and breakage. As a result, you should also be cautious to not overexpose your hair to sun or chlorine as it can severely damage the hair follicles.
The Strand Test:
If you feel small bumps along the way, you may have high porosity. If the shaft is smooth, your cuticle is bound tight and you may have low porosity hair.
Type 1: Straight Hair
If you have type 1 hair, you have naturally straight locks, which are often on the shinier side (congrats). Because of the lack of curls, natural oil can flow easily from the scalp, which helps your hair get the nutrients it needs. Type 1A is 100% pin-straight with not one curl or wave in sight.
Low porosity hair is typically considered healthier, whereas high porosity hair is more damaged. Depending on what you currently have, your haircare routine may or may not be making matters better or worse.
High Porosity hair: High porosity Afro hair tends to absorb moisture quickly but also loses it just as fast. This can lead to hair often feeling dry and frizzy. First things first, you need be gentle with that mane of yours!
High porosity hair : dry within 2-4 hours. Medium porosity hair : dry between 4 and 6 hours. Low Porosity Hair : Needs more than 8 hours to dry.
It absorbs moisture quickly: High porosity hair absorbs water and products rapidly due to the raised cuticles. It's prone to frizz and dryness: The lifted cuticles allow moisture to escape quickly, resulting in dry, frizzy hair that lacks shine.