In the previous article, we looked at what hair porosity is all about and how you can gauge whether your hair has low porosity or not. We also looked at how low porosity of hair can cause trouble for your entire head of hair.
In this article, we will continue to look at the same topic, but here we will look into what can be done to correct the condition and how the porosity can be improved.
From the moment you start working towards the improvement of your hair porosity, you will notice that hair that had seemed dull and lifeless for so many days, will start looking and feeling healthy. Ensuring better hair porosity will become all the more important, when your hair does not respond to treatments and breaks off easily. When your hair has the right level of porosity, it will feel healthy, shiny and thick.
Let us first look at how an imbalance in porosity can cause trouble for your hair:
Porous hair might look like it is very dry, however, the fact is that it can still absorb a large amount of water. Studies have shown that hair can absorb almost 30 percent of its actual weight and if your hair is overly porous, it can absorb ten to twenty percent more! While many people might think that more the moisture absorption, the better it is, but the fact is far from it. If hair is absorbing that much moisture, it will lose the same with just as much ease. Let’s go back to the example of a sponge – a sponge can absorb large amount of water in one go, but the moment you wring it, all the water will be lost too.
When your hair absorbs too much water, the actual structure of the hair is compromised and makes it weak. The excess moisture stretches the hair by more than 30 percent, which is what makes it weak and prone to breakage. If the process continues over an elongated period of time, there can be irreversible damage to the first two layers of the hair. This is why you should not leave your hair wet for too long. Allow it to dry naturally or use a hair dryer with settings that are on the lower side.
If your hair is not absorbing as much moisture, it could possibly be because of the cuticles are raised and there is damage to the scales as well. When the cuticles are in a raised condition, the moisture is able to escape much more easily, which is why hair becomes dry. So, the easiest way of controlling hair porosity is to repair the cuticles.
When the hair absorbs moisture, quite obviously, it becomes longer and your hair feels heavier. However, it is important to remember that like any sponge, when there is constant absorption and removal of water, hair too will start to become saturated. Eventually, your hair too will start to wilt and lose the original structure. This is when you will need to take corrective measures for your hair.
Now, let’s look at methods by which the hair porosity can be improved:
- Perhaps the best way to treat low hair porosity is to increase the amount of protein, both in hair as well as in your diet. The easiest way would be treat your hair to regular protein treatments. Hair is essentially made up of keratin, which is actually a type of protein and when there are gaps in the hair, protein can fill the same up, quite easily. Protein is able to bind with the gaps in the hair and offer the same a chance to heal on its own. When you use protein regularly, the hair will be able to hold the right amount of moisture and make its way to becoming healthier.
However, you need to take care of the amount of protein you use, because too much protein and you will end up with hair that is dry and ready to break. Just because protein is good for your hair does not mean that you should overdo the same. The protein treatments should be spaced over time and should be done with proper gaps. Alternately, you could follow up each protein treatment with proper moisturising or use hair reconstruction products. Such deep conditioning will assist greatly with the improvement of porosity of the hair.
- If you have hair that is coloured or are planning to do so, it would be best that you follow up each protein treatment with a conditioner that is meant exclusively for coloured hair. It is also important your hair conditioner is one that suits your actual hair type. The conditioner will allow the hair cuticles to close and retain the moisture within. In addition, the conditioner will also help with the maintenance of the pH levels of your hair.
- Yet another method of bringing hair porosity to normal would be to use hair glazes, at least once in a month. This should be done after you have completed your protein treatment, and you can decide whether you want a coloured glaze or a clear one. If you have coloured your hair, you can use a hair glaze that matches the same and this will also allow you to enhance the current hair colour. Glazes will not only protect your hair but also help with the recovery process.
- It is also important to clarify your hair once in a while, and you could simply purchase a clarifying shampoo for your local stores. It is also easy to make a clarifying rinse at home – combine a small amount of apple cider vinegar with some tap water and use that as the second last rinse. Once you have shampooed and conditioned your hair, use this concoction and finally rinse with normal water.
When your hair is back to being properly porous, you will notice how healthy and shiny it looks and feels!
