How to do a simple hair health check
Updated: Jul 22, 2022
Each week we take an issue that you have brought into the salon and we provide help on how to solve it. This weeks topic is porosity and working out what your hair needs.
We see so many of you who just aren't sure what their actual hair problem is. Is it dry, is it damaged, is it greasy. Is it a combination of everything.
We know you want to treat your hair well, so we wanted to share a really easy hair test that you can carry out at home that will absolutely change how you treat your hair and the products you use. its quick and free to do and you can do it as often as you want.
Check your porosity.
Shampoo and rinse your hair (you need clean hair to do this) Once your hair is clean and dry, pluck a strand out and drop it into a bowel of water. Leave it for a few mins and see if it sinks or floats.
High porosity will sink
Medium porosity will hover midway
Low porosity will float
So now you know, what does it mean?
Low Porosity
If your hair floats (like mine) your hair has low porosity. Your cuticle layer is tightly bound. This type of hair repels moisture when you try to wet it, which means it’s prone to build-up from deep conditioning products. Choose lighter, liquid-based products like hair milks that won't sit on your hair and leave it oily or greasy. For years I used really heavy deep conditioning treatments and wondered why my hair just felt greasy. I've recently started using Olaplex No 4c once a week. This makes sure all the products I use through the week are removed leaving my hair feeling lighter.
Medium Porosity
If you have medium porosity hair, it means your cuticle layer is a little looser, allowing just the right amount of moisture to enter while preventing too much from escaping. Although hair with normal porosity tends to hold styles and colours well, be careful not colour your hair too much as it can increase its porosity over time. Make sure you protect your hair before using heat. Use occasional deep conditioning treatments with protein conditioners to maintain its hydration levels. Olaplex No4 Shampoo and Conditioner are a great duo. They provide everything you need to keep your hair balanced and nourished.
High Porosity
If you have high porosity hair, it means your hair loses moisture easily. Your cuticle is damaged and has gaps in the cuticle, letting too much moisture into your hair and leaving it prone to frizz. Restoring hydration is a must, so leave in conditioners, hair oils, sealers, and hair butters to help fill the gaps in your damaged cuticles and help it hold on to the moisture you're giving it. If you colour/bleach your hair you need to be using No1 Bond Multiplier and No2 Bond Perfecter as it helps fill in the gaps in your cuticle so it starts repairing the hair from the inside. So many of you tell us how great your hair feels after a full head of foils, and this is because you are already seeing the impact of filling in those cuticle gaps.
The water test is completely universal and works for all hair types, making it a great place to start. Once you know where your hair sits you can then think about the products you use. Adjusting your products can have an immediate impact.
So before you do anything else, do the porosity test and let us know if your Low, normal or high.