Yoo, I'm Kianna. So, I've really been inspired to write this book because of all the things going on it the Black/POC community. I've seen a lot of books but I wanted to start my own and give my own perspective. I will give opinions as well as facts...
Hair Porosity - how much moisture your strand of hair can take in and keep in.
This is definitely related to how dry your hair is, for obvious reasons. Dryness impacts hair growth (because dry hair can break easily especially if manipulated), so for those of you (including myself) seeking hair growth, check out the moisture of your hair.
So with porosity there are three easy to remember types of it, low porosity, high porosity, and then medium/normal porosity. Medium/Normal porosity is obviously the best one for retaining moisture, hence the name it obtains moisture and holds it in at a pretty normal amount.
Low and high porosity are both the "bad" ones if I had to group them into one simplistic term. Either one causes dry hair, it's just the way that happens that is different. All low, high, and medium/normal ones have a different look so I'll show you what they look like.
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With LOW Porosity, the strand and cuticles are just about "sealed" as I like to call it. Water cannot penetrate this follicle very easy at all. Water just literally just sit on top of your hair. If water can't get in what ends of happening? Your hair gets dry.
With HIGH porosity, the strand and cuticles are "open". So, you think how can this be bad, how can this make your hair dry as well. Well, sure, water gets in, but oops, now it got back out. So yeah it gets dry.
With MEDIUM/NORMAL porosity, it's just right. Enough gets in and out.
Now this reminds me of isotonic, hypertonic and hypotonic, with tonicity, in biology with cells. Isotonic, MEDIUM/NORMAL, Hypotonic, HIGH, and Hypertonic, LOW. I never really researched it but it was weird how similar it was.
So, I found out I had low porosity hair. If your wondering how I figured it out, I'll give out two test I learned.
The first one is the cup test. You fill a cup with room temperature water. Then you would take a piece of hair and place it gently into the water.
Wait a couples of minutes. To tell which type you have, look at the place of your hair in the water.
LOW POROSITY: If floats at the top HIGH POROSITY: If it sinks to the bottom MEDIUM/NORMAL POROSITY: If it's floating around the middle of the water.
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The second test is kind of reassurance. What you need to do it wet your hair, preferably with a bottle of water. You just wet or spray your natural hair. I
LOW POROSITY: If the water is beaded/sits on top of your head. HIGH POROSITY: If the water is absorb very quickly. MEDIUM POROSITY: If the water sits on your hair and is then absorbed minutes later.
This then leads into products you use. Mainly for low and high porosity, you have to be careful.
Low porosity means the cuticles are sealed and protein is definitely in your hair. So protein is a big need for your hair. When you use conditioner, you should probably heat it up. That's what I do, eat it up opens up the cuticles allowing moisture in. It can be a big pain if your lazy about doing your hair but it's worth it. TRUST.
Also another thing about low porosity hair is HELLLAAAAAAAA product build up. I am telling you! If you noticed you have a lot of product build up compared to someone who does the same exact style as you. You either are doing something a little different, you hair is DEFINITELY different, or you could have low porosity hair.
High porosity means the cuticles are open. You're gonna need them proteins. So getting conditioner with proteins and other things with proteins is a big help. Now I don't know if this is true but I wonder if using cold conditioner is good. IDK, it may make so sense but cold water seals your hair so IDK. Maybe try it if you have high porosity hair and tell me. Just don't go around saying it's true.
So that's the end. That's all I know about that topic. All this stuff may not seem important but it you care about your hair it all matters and it goes around in a cycle.
ANY QUESTIONS?? DM or COMMENT NOW. (They are always open! 🙌🏽)
love,
black girl ki. 👸🏽
(ANOTHER GOOD PICTURE)
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