Porous hair: know what it is and what treatments to do – 01/07/2023 – Equilíbrio

If your hair is frizzy, dull and dry, maybe the problem isn’t just with the cut or the products you use daily. All of these are characteristics of high porosity hair strands, which can be the result of an inadequate care routine and affect all hair types.

This condition can be easily identified through home tests and, according to experts, it is also, most of the time, reversible with an adequate treatment routine.

What is porosity?

Hair is considered porous when there is damage to the cuticle, the outermost layer of the hair shaft. According to dermatologist Michele Monteiro, member of the SBD (Brazilian Society of Dermatology), when this layer is worn out or even removed, the hair absorbs water and other substances very easily.

“It has high, low and medium porosity”, says Monteiro. “Low porosity hair does not absorb water, hydration.” Already those with high porosity absorb substances more intensely than normal.

The greater the damage, the more fragile the hair becomes and, consequently, the more prone to breakage. In addition, the hair lacks shine or movement and often has a rough texture.

How do I know if my hair is porous?

To find out your hair’s porosity level, Monteiro recommends a simple home test.

A clean, dry strand of hair, free of product residues, should be placed in a glass of water. After ten minutes, it should be observed whether the thread sinks, floats or remains in the middle of the glass.

If it floated, the porosity is low. If it is at the bottom of the glass, the thread has high porosity. If it stays in the middle, its characteristic is medium, considered healthy.

What causes high porosity?

Hair can be naturally more or less porous. Monteiro, however, points out that care must be taken with the constant use of heat sources, as this habit facilitates cuticle wear and can increase the porosity of the hair.

According to hairdresser Dandara Liége, naturalist trichotherapist and owner of Guima Salon, specialized in curvatures, straightening chemicals can also change this characteristic.

“Often, I see that people who have very porous hair naturally start using straighteners and relaxers very early on, sometimes even before puberty”, he points out.

Also, some daily care habits can cause high porosity. Liége recommends avoiding washing your hair with very hot water and using very aggressive shampoos.

How to take care of porous hair?

In most cases, changes in hair porosity, when caused by bad habits, can be reversible.

In the case of very porous hair, the recommendation is to adhere to a treatment routine with reconstruction and nutrition products, which contain amino acids, proteins and enriching oils. Acidifiers found in perfumeries are also indicated.

For low porosity hair, lighter products, but with high hydration potential, are the most recommended.

In addition, to prevent damage, it is important to use thermal protectors when using heat sources on the wires, such as a dryer, flat iron or curling iron.

Liége warns that it is essential to use the correct products for each type of hair, in addition to avoiding homemade recipes, which do not have the necessary technology for the compounds to be absorbed by the hair.

Although most cases are resolved with the correct treatment routine, on some occasions, it may be necessary to seek out a specialist to treat the porosity of the hair and possible damage to the scalp.