High Porosity Hair. Stuff You Should Know

High Porosity Hair. Stuff You Should Know

It absorbs water and nourishing substances like a sponge. Yet, this doesn't mean that it's an easy task to nourish it. This can be observed by looking at high porosity hair, which is a group of extremely damaged strands. High porosity hair is incredibly weak, brittle and dry, even stiff. It has the tendency to get frizzy and is easily affected by static. If you find your hair in a miserable condition - find out how to regenerate it and learn what things you should stay away from.

High Porosity Hair: Profile

Hair's high porosity equals the last stadium of its deterioration. This type of hair is brittle, rough, with split ends, matte, dehydrated from ear-level downward, frequently very stiff and either faded due to the sun or because the pigments are fast to wash down. Moreover, high porosity hair is often highly sensitized. This means that it has increased tendency to deteriorate. Frequently, just a single use of a flat iron or hair dryer is all it takes to break the sulfur bridges located in inner hair structures. As a consequence, hair becomes incredibly dry (no ability to lock moisture in), rough, brittle and easy to break.

How does highly porous hair look like? Its damaged condition should be analyzed under a microscope to understand this better. Then, you will notice that the hair surface isn't smooth. The cuticles are lifted and widely-open, and therefore there is nothing that could protect the inner hair structures from toxins, temperature and aggressive substances delivered with ill-matching hair care products.

Infographic for High Porosity hair listing the following: damaged due to hairdressing treatments; dry, rough and stiff; frizzy and unmanageable

What Makes Hair Increase Its Porosity Level?

Of course, people aren't born with naturally highly porous hair. In most cases, it takes some time for hair to increase its porosity due to frequent exposition to damaging hairdressing procedures, e.g. bleaching or perm. Also, hair gets more porous as the consequence of improper care. Ill-matching cosmetics, long hours spent in air-conditioned rooms, sleeping with wet hair, wearing too tight updos and lack of any type of protection (occlusion) are the direct causes responsible for hair deterioration.

It's worth being aware of the fact that one of the factors contributing to increasing hair porosity are scalp ailments and systemic diseases (e.g. vitamin shortage), diseases and strong medication that weaken hair bulbs. Naturally, the tendency to dehydration might be inherited. This mainly affects curly and frizzy hair since its structure impedes distributing sebum along hair shaft evenly. As a result, hair is deprived of natural protective coat that prevents water loss. Therefore, improper hair care firstly destroys the superficial hair coat made of keratin cuticles and then negatively influences inner hair structures, which is cortex.

High Porosity Hair Care: How to Take Care of Distressed Hair?

The main issue connected with high porosity hair isn't its miserable condition and the absolute necessity to rebuild the strands. What really makes high porosity hair care troublesome is its hypersensitivity to the external factors. To clarify, this means that it doesn't take much to weaken the strands condition, for example by frequent blow-drying. So what steps should be taken to deliver the right care to high porosity hair?

First and foremost, high porosity hair should be treated with gentle preparations, free from destructive detergents and substances that might worsen hair structure. 'Gentleness' is, so to say, the key word of the entire high porosity hair care.

The most important is to choose the hair care products that are gentle, deprived of heavy and irritating silicones and other comedogenic substances. Monohydroxy alcohols, which are the heaviest ones and easy to find in numerous hair care products, dehydrate the high porosity and fragile strands the fastest. For that reason, before getting a hair care product, scan the list of ingredients to eliminate the following substances: alcohol denat, benzyl alcohol, grain alcohol or isopropyl IPA.

Refrain from exposing the wisps to chemical treatments that disturb hair condition: bleaching and dyeing negatively influences the state of hair. Therefore, it's definitely better to spare synthetic dye or bleacher and go for natural herbal colorants, such as henna.

Instead of the above-mentioned hairdressing procedures, it's definitely better to carry out hair oil treatment. After all, many of natural oils aren't only able to fix the inner hair structures and reinforce hair bulbs but also intensify hair colour and boost its shine. Also, on daily basis try to use protective hair mists and sprays dedicated to high porosity hair - light and at the same time full of active substances that leave hair stronger and shielded against aggressive external factors. An oil-based hair mist should do the job too.

Taking care of high porosity hair is a never-ending battle not only with dryness and far-from-perfect looks but also it's entailed with making sure that hair loses neither hydration nor nourishment. Therefore, every time you carry out a beauty procedure, do your best to create so-called occlusion - a protective coat (best if made of emollients) that blocks nutrients from escaping from the inner hair structures.

High porosity hair gets along with all types of keratin treatments, no matter if professional ones carried out at a hairdresser's or home treatments and cosmetics with high keratin content. This protein is a natural constituent of hair and effectively fills in all gaps that happened to appear in the hair structures. In view of the fact that high porosity hair ends are severely damaged, bear in mind to shield these hair parts with either greasy and protective lanolin or the right hair end serum.

If possible, cut down on using a blow dryer and let your hair air dry. However, if blow-drying is required, always apply heat protection conditioners or lotions. Additionally, make sure that the air stream generated by this hair styling tool is low, best if you use cool air stream since it's able to close the hair cuticle, smooth hair and leave it shiny.

What's more, it's a good idea to braid wet hair or arrange it in a loose ponytail. Thanks to this you will prevent further damage and frizz. Lavish rich in nourishing substances hair masks and once in a week you can go for vinegar hair and scalp rinse - it'll restore scalp's pH and help your cuticle close naturally. Another highly advisable method to apply is the right way of hair washing: CSC or SCSC. In short, both methods depend on using double the portion of a conditioner during washing hair or double shampooing combined with intensive nourishing treatment carried out by using rich conditioners displaying deeply regenerating properties.

It also turns out to be beneficial to support the hair 'from inside,' which translates into preventing nutritional deficiency and reaching for high quality dietary supplements. High porosity hair needs a huge portion of proteins, vitamins (mainly A, E and B5), minerals (zinc, copper, silicon) and amino acids.

In order to combat excessive hair deterioration, get your hair trimmed regularly (at least 4-6 times a year).

An infographic stating: What to treat high porosity hair with? Balanced hair care; keratin, proteins and amino acids; conditioning shampoos

Shampoo for High Porosity Hair

Did you know that in terms of high porosity hair care the frequency of hair washing is crucial? Therefore, wash it only when the strands need it but don't do this too often because this might encourage further dehydration. Once in a while, you can turn to a gentle kids shampoo. It neither nourish nor cleanse hair so well as the regular shampoos do, however, it delivers delicate care that high porosity hair craves for.

It's also suggested paying attention to the way you wash the hair in. This procedure should depend on delicate scalp massaging, avoiding tugging or energetic hair rubbing. Also, you shouldn't spread a shampoo all over the hair. Instead, apply it to the scalp only while securing the hair ends with a conditioner. When it comes to rising the lather, use only lukewarm water that closes hair cuticles of high porosity hair. Finally, this hair type will be grateful if you wash it with milky, thick and emollient-rich shampoos filled with rebuilding substances.

Conditioner for High Porosity Hair

Conditioner for high porosity hair should focus on rebuilding and improving hair. This type of hair is seriously damaged therefore even delicate silicone preparations serve their purpose - mainly in split ends care. Protein conditioners and humectants should be used in moderation since their excessive amount might weaken hair structure. Best if combined with oily emollients that know how to maintain hair protective coat. It must be also born in mind that too much of herbal washes or too frequent hair washing might do damage to hair structure especially if the product features too little emollients or delicate silicones.

Once or twice a week (if your hair's extremely damaged), find the time for the intensive-repair treatment. The Nanoil Hair Masks are made for this purpose - professional enhancers for the easy use at home. Highly-porous hair will surely love the Nanoil argan mask and the best-seller for damaged tresses: keratin-based mask

Oil for High Porosity Hair

High porosity hair requires being treated with oils definitely more often than other hair types. Therefore, carry out hair oil treatment even every 2-3 days until you notice improvement in its looks and condition. The finest blend of well-balanced oils serving damaged hair is Nanoil for High Porosity Hair.

Hair ends might be treated with single beautifying oils. The most important thing though is to use only unrefined and cold-pressed oils.

Vegetable oils with high unsaturated fatty acids content (omega-3 or omega-6) should be used to treat highly porous hair. This type of oils are made of molecules which size is big enough to adjust themselves to match the widely-open hair cuticles of high porosity hair.

It's also worth bearing in mind that saturated fatty acids with small molecules such as coconut oil or shea butter don't serve high porosity hair well. The reason for that is the fact that such oils aren't able to keep hair moisturized but instead they leave the strands frizzy.

Oils and Cosmetic Butters Recommended for High Porosity Hair

  • Cotton seed oil - protects hair ends, displays softening and moisturising properties, perfect to treat dry hair with extremely damaged ends.
  • Linseed oil - flaxseed oil contains precious vitamins B and E. Stimulates hair and bulb self-regeneration processes and protects hair against thinning, getting brittle and split end by accelerating hair growth.
  • Grape seed oil - perfect for the summer, shields hair and scalp against solar radiation, chemical and mechanical damage and the adverse effects of frequent hairdressing procedures (dyeing, blow drying, straightening).
  • Wheat germ oil - displays regenerating properties, fixes the inner hair structures, reconstructs hair natural protective coat, smooths its surface and closes the cuticles.
  • Maracuja oil - a potent antioxidant exhibiting rejuvenating properties. It makes hair nourished and boosts elasticity. The oil leaves strands shiny and protected against urban pollution. Also, it tames unruly strands and eases detangling. Maracuja oil counteracts frizz by making hair soft.
  • Evening primrose oil - improves the condition of scalp, positively affects skin and hair bulb cells. Moreover, it prevents water loss, removes toxins, eases irritations and aids in curing various skin ailments.

What Are Other Things That High Porosity Hair Likes?

In most cases such hair requires being exposed to an array of regenerating proteins and substances that don't only protect but also reconstruct hair as well as maintain hydration. The beneficial substances to treat high porosity hair with are:

  • Keratin - a natural constituent of hair responsible for filling in gaps in damaged hair structures. Rich in sulfur keratin improves elasticity and hair's resistance to aggressive external factors. Also, keratin leaves strands smooth and shiny.
  • Other proteins and amino acids - smooth out and protect hair against worsening its condition. Also, they fill in the gaps in all hair structures. The most popular proteins to treat hair with are milk, silk, wheat, soy and collagen.
  • Apple vinegar - it can be used as the final rinse once a week. Such hair rinse closes lifted cuticles of high porosity hair, smooths out hair structure and balances scalp's pH. Remember to make apple vinegar a light hair rinse, thinned with water so as to make it less acidic.
  • Humectants (e.g. glycerin, honey, urea, sodium lactate, fructose, aloe, hyaluronic acid) - are also needed by high porosity hair, yet they have to be used in moderation. What's important though, once applied, humectants must be prevented from evaporating by following with emollients (oils and waxes such as lanolin).
  • Light silicones - they also belong to the group of emollients. They are known as film-forming polymers that should be included in damaged hair care. In short, they condition damaged strands as well as beautify dehydrated hair.

High Porosity Hair - Things to Avoid

Undoubtedly, during high porosity hair treatment, you have to continuously pay attention not to expose hair to the factors which might damage the already-weakened hair structure. Therefore, you must stay away from:

  • hair dyeing, bleaching, perm
  • high temperature
  • salty and chlorinated water
  • direct and long exposure to the sun, wind and cold weather
  • rough towels, thin hair ties and metal hair grips (mechanical damage)
  • intensive combing (jerking and tugging hair, weakened scalp condition)
  • layering isn’t also advised, it's better to get the hair trimmed regularly instead
  • high acidic pH (e.g. vinegar hair rinse with high vinegar concentration)
  • high base pH (e.g. bleaching)
  • too much of herbs, alcohols and humectants
  • excess of paraffin - this is a pretty snaky emollient that might leave hair shiny but at the same time very dehydrated and frizzy

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