Have you ever stopped to consider the porosity levels of your curls? If not, now might be the time. By checking your curl’s porosity, you can better understand how to take care of your curls. Here’s how to test your curl’s porosity. Once you know, you can be better informed about what to do at your strands.
How to test your curl’s porosity
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Take a cup and fill it with water, then allow it to sit until it comes up to room temperature. Remove a strand of clean, product-free hair from your head, and place it into the water. Set a timer for 5 minutes, and leave the hair until the timer goes off.
If the hair immediately sinks:
This means you have high porosity hair. Your curls have natural holes and gapes in the strands, which means that while your hair can easily take in moisture, it’s also difficult to retain it. You’ll need extra help to lock moisture in. You may also need more moisturizing treatments as well, and your curls are more likely to become frizzy in humid weather.
If the hair slowly sinks:
This means you have normal porosity. With your curls, the cuticle layer is loose, but not too loose. There are no holes and gaps, meaning your strands can absorb the right amount of moisture. Your curls won’t need a whole lot of maintenance to keep their moisture.
If the strand floats:
Your strands have low porosity. Your cuticle is tight, making it hard for water to absorb into your strands. Your curls repel water, and therefore it will take much longer for your strands to absorb moisture. Your products aren’t going to be easily absorbed, and will sit on top of your strands. You’ll most likely develop product build up, and will need to be clarified regularly.