If you are searching for natural hair care tips, you might be having issues with your hair being dry or not retaining moisture. One of the biggest factors that affects hair retaining moisture is the porosity of the strands.
Healthy hair is just porous enough, but is not too porous. To understand porosity, you can think of how a sponge works. A brand new sponge has just the right porosity so that it holds a maximum amount of water and does not dry out too quickly. Over time the sponge becomes more porous and will not hold as much water.
Factor | How It Affects Hair Porosity | Treatment Methods |
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Chemical Treatments | Can lead to high porosity. | Limiting chemical treatments, using protective products. |
Sun Exposure | Can dry out hair and increase porosity. | Using UV protection products, wearing a hat. |
Heat Exposure | Excessive heat can damage hair and increase porosity. | Using heat protection products. |
Hair Care Products | Using the wrong products can affect porosity. | Using products suitable for your hair type. |
Hair Masks | Proper masks can nourish hair and improve porosity. | Using natural masks suitable for your hair type. |
Kinky/curly hair tends to be very porous and holds on to much more moisture than straight hair. This is why kinky and curly hair gets frizzy when it is foggy or when the hair is exposed to moisture. On the other side of this, kinky hair also dries out faster than straight hair because of the extreme porosity. With natural hair your goal is to retain moisture!
If your hair is damaged from, for instance, using heat, over processing, or coloring, you might notice that it tends to be dry and does not hold moisture. Like a sponge, when damaged hair gets work out and damaged, it tends to hold less moisture. If you find that no matter what you do your hair feels and looks dry, this could be the issue.
It is possible to correct porosity problems with different commercial or natural hair care products and treatments, however it is not possible to repair damaged hair. For this you have to allow healthy hair to grow out and cut off damaged ends.
Despite the fact that you cannot completely repair damaged hair, there are a few ways to improve hair porosity and help your hair retain moisture by shrinking or closing the cuticle on the hair shaft. Rinsing with apple cider vinegar (ACV) and or using products with higher acidity will cause the cuticle to close. You can also use protein treatments which effectively seal off the cuticle and close up gaps in your hair. Look for natural protein treatments such as one made from eggs or an AVC rinse.
Natural Hair Care Tips: Hair Care Regimen
Here is a great natural hair care regimen to follow to keep your hair shiny, soft and hydrated.
Clean – Use a natural shampoo with no detergents or a co-poo method. An occasional ACV rinse will close the cuticle and add shine.
Moisturize – Deep condition with a humectant and or protein based conditioner. We have some great egg recipies that provide a nice protein conditioner that you can use. Experiment with using the whole egg, yolk only, or whites only depending on how your hair responds.
Seal – Seal in moisture using an oil based seal in product. Home made hair butter or castor oil works well
Natural Hair Care Tips: Home Made Deep Conditioner (Protein)
- 1/4c Coconut Milk (full fat)
- 1/4c olive oil
- 1 avocado
- 1 egg
Mix in the blender. Apply to hair and leave on with a heat cap for up to 45 minutes.
Natural Hair Care Tips: Protein Conditioner
- 3 eggs
- 1/4c water
- 1/4 vodka or gin (for clarity and shine)
Mix in the blender. Apply to hair and leave on with a heat cap for up to 45 minutes.
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What type of hair care products should I use to reduce or improve hair porosity?
To reduce or improve hair porosity, you can use moisturizing shampoos, conditioners and hair masks.
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How can I protect my hair if it has high porosity?
If your hair has high porosity, it’s essential to protect it from the sun, avoid excessive heat exposure and use moisturizing products. Regular trims can also prevent further damage.
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How should I care for my hair if it has low porosity?
If your hair has low porosity, use lightweight moisturizing products, and ensure regular cleansing. Hair masks and lightweight oils can be used to nourish low-porosity hair.
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