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Hair Porosity 101: Decoding the Science of Hair Care
Let's get scientific (but not too scientific). Think of our hair shaft like a roof with shingles – those are our cuticles! Hair porosity is all about how easily moisture can pass through those shingles. Whether you have low porosity hair, medium porosity hair, or high porosity hair, understanding your hair's unique needs is the key to achieving your best hair ever.
The Porosity Crew: Which Hair Type Are We?
• Low Porosity Hair: This hair type is like a tightly sealed roof. Moisture struggles to penetrate, leading to product buildup, difficulty absorbing color, and hair that feels stiff, heavy, and resistant to styling. Low porosity hair needs a little extra help to unlock its full potential.
• Medium Porosity Hair: The Goldilocks of hair types! Medium porosity hair absorbs and retains moisture like a champ. It's healthy, shiny, manageable, styles effortlessly, and color looks vibrant and long-lasting. It's the hair we dream of – #hairgoals achieved!
• High Porosity Hair: This hair type is like a roof with gaps – moisture gets in, but it escapes just as quickly. Think frizz, tangles, breakage, dry hair, and color that fades faster than our summer tan. High porosity hair craves protection. It's time to give it the TLC it deserves!
Problems: Common Culprits and How to Combat Them
Genetics influence our natural porosity, but these factors can also impact it:
• Chemical Treatments: Hair coloring, perming, relaxing, and other chemical treatments can lift the cuticle, increase porosity and potentially cause damage. Reparative hair treatments are essential for maintaining healthy hair.
• Heat Styling: Love our hot tools? We get it! But excessive heat can damage the cuticle and raise porosity. Moderation and heat protectant sprays are key for minimizing damage and maintaining healthy hair.
• Environmental Factors: Sun exposure, pollution, and harsh weather can dry out our hair, damage the cuticle, and affect porosity. Protective hairstyles and leave-in conditioners can help shield our hair from the elements.
• Rough Handling: Aggravated by porosity, aggressive brushing, and tight hairstyles can cause physical damage to the hair shaft, leading to breakage. Gentle detangling and looser styles are essential for minimizing damage and maintaining healthy, manageable hair. See Redken's tips for repairing dry, damaged hair.
The Float Test: A Simple Way to Determine Your Hair Porosity
1. Take a clean, dry strand of your hair.
2. Drop it in a glass of water. (It's a science experiment for our hair!)
3. Observe what happens:
a. High Porosity: Sinks quickly.
b. Medium Porosity: Hangs out in the middle.
c. Low Porosity: Floats on top.
Product Power: Choosing the Right Redken Products for Your Porosity
Knowing your hair porosity is like having a VIP pass to the best hair products:
High Porosity Hair Products:
Hydrate and seal! Humectants (like glycerin) attract moisture, while sealants (like oils and butters) lock it in. Protein treatments can repair damaged cuticles. Redken's Acidic Bonding Concentrate range is our secret weapon for healthy, hydrated, high-porosity hair.
Medium Porosity Hair Products:
Maintain balanced moisture with lightweight, moisturizing products. Avoid heavy products that can weigh hair down. Redken's All Soft line provides just the right amount of hydration for healthy, manageable hair.
Low Porosity Hair Products:
Lightweight, water-based products are your go-to. Heat (like a steamer or warm towel) can help open up the cuticle, allowing for better product penetration. Clarifying shampoos can remove product buildup, while Redken's Extreme line strengthens and fortifies hair.
Hair Goals? Achieved with Redken!
Unlock your best hair ever with a porosity-focused hair care routine. With the right knowledge and the right Redken products, you'll have healthy, shiny, manageable hair that's ready to take on the world (and look amazing doing it).
Find Your Porosity Match
Acidic Bonding Concentrate Duo
Acidic Bonding Shampoo & Conditioner
