Does Your Hair...
- Take forever to dry after washing it?
- Have a hard time absorbing moisture, but retains moisture really well once it's accepted?
- Have a difficult time absorbing deep conditioners?
- Feel as though products just sit on top of your strands? They don't penetrate fully?
- Tend to resist chemical services i.e. relaxers, colour etc.
Low Porosity Hair is when your cuticles are tightly closed preventing the absorption of moisture into the strands. The cuticle is quite resistant to opening and readily accepting water. Opening the cuticle may be troublesome, but once it's open, it will accept, hold on/ retain moisture for a long period of time. The main focus with low porosity hair is to get the cuticles open! Low Porosity hair is easy to take care of once you understand how!
Quick Tips:
- Steam frequently - Warm steam vapours help to raise the cuticles and allow the deep conditioner to absorb easily into the hair shaft.
- Moisturize on damp hair - This allows the cuticles to raise slightly thus giving your moisturizer the chance to penetrate the hair strands. Once the hair receives the moisture, it will hold on to it very well.
- Baggy your hair often - Baggying will help raise the cuticles drawing moisture into the hair
- Always use heat when you deep condition - Heat allows the hair cuticles to raise/open. The deep conditioner can then easily penetrate into the hair cortex giving nutrients i.e. moisture, protein etc. to the hair strands.
- Clarify often - 2-3x/month will help lift the hair cuticles allowing any deep conditioners, leave-ins, moisturizers to penetrate easily.
Does Your Hair...
1. Dry very quickly after washing it?
2. Tangle easily, even after you've thoroughly detangled it?
3. Always feel dry and/or brittle after moisturizing?
4. Absorb products easily? Is it thirsty?
5. Have a low shine/sheen?
Porosity is the hair's ability to absorb moisture. This is determined by the condition of the hair's cuticle layer (the overlapping scales of the hair shaft), and is rated as low, normal, and high.
Hair that has a high porosity tends to have raised cuticles and the hair too-readily absorbs moisture. Overly-porous hair also releases moisture easily, thus; becoming dry and prone to damage. Perms and straighteners will process much faster in high-porosity hair. Having highly porous hair does not mean your hair is damaged, it just means you have to use different methods when taking care of it :)
Quick Tips:
- Add a mixture of Water and Aloe Vera Juice in a spray bottle (1/4 AVJ, 3/4 Water). Use this before adding your leave-in conditioner.
- Add 1-2 tsps of Aloe Vera Juice in your deep conditioner to lower the pH balance of the conditioner.
- Do an Apple Cider Vinegar Rinse 1-2x/week after you shampoo or co-wash your hair. Apple Cider Vinegar is known to lower the pH balance in the hair and close the cuticles allowing your hair to hold on to moisture.
- Use Roux Porosity Control Conditioner weekly as a quick condition or 1 tbsp in your moisturizing deep conditioner.
After posting up a photo, on Instagram, of me t-shirt drying my hair, I got a comment from a user wanting to know the benefits of using a t-shirt verses a towel to dry your hair. Although, someone answered the question before me, on the comments, I thought I would explain it in detail on my blog.
The T-Shirt Method is when you dry your hair with a t-Shirt instead of using a towel.
What are the Benefits?
We all know that hair in a wet state is extremely fragile and vulnerable to breakage. Towels tend to be made from fabric with thick fibers which quickly absorb moisture from the hair and body. Using this harsh/abrasive fabric, while the hair is in it's weakest state, can cause over-drying and unnecessary breakage. However, t-shirts have a much softer and smoother texture, therefore; it is gentler (less friction) on your tresses preventing unnecessary breakage and over-drying. In addition, when using the T-Shirt Method, the hair remains smooth, allowing the cuticles to remain flat thus retaining moisture in the hair. Drying your hair with a t-shirt requires less manipulation, less friction and less damage (over drying/breakage).
How do you do the T-shirt Method?
Very simple. While the hair is wet/damp, place the T-shirt (grab an old one from your closet) on your head (make sure it's hanging down covering your hair), wrap/twist it around the length of your hair, then bring it forward to your hairline, and tuck it in the front (under the T-shirt) to secure it. That's it. Leave it on for 15-20 mins. Remove the wrap and your hair will feel soft and smooth. Follow up with your leave-in conditioner!
Heat is a great source to use while deep conditioning as it allows the hair cuticle to raise and accept the deep conditioner.
During this time the conditioner then binds to the hair. To put it simple, the heat source allows a greater amount of conditioner to bind to the hair i.e. better penetration and absorption!
I use various sources of heat when deep conditioning my hair. I'm a huge fan of steaming as it leaves my hair extremely soft, fluffy and moisturized. However, the hooded dryer and heating cap are very convenient and just as good.
What about you? What do you use?
During this time the conditioner then binds to the hair. To put it simple, the heat source allows a greater amount of conditioner to bind to the hair i.e. better penetration and absorption!
I use various sources of heat when deep conditioning my hair. I'm a huge fan of steaming as it leaves my hair extremely soft, fluffy and moisturized. However, the hooded dryer and heating cap are very convenient and just as good.
What about you? What do you use?
Started: Saturday September 28th, 2013
Ended: Saturday December 28th, 2013
Winner #1
Anita L. participated in the Castor oil challenge at the Advance Level, which involved applying Castor oil to her scalp every other day and applying 1 tsp of Castor oil in her deep conditioner (using heat). Congrats on your growth Anita!
Winner #2
Eureka U. joined at the Ultimate Level in the Castor oil challenge, which involved applying Castor oil to her scalp every other day, applying 1 tsp of Castor oil to her deep conditioner (using heat) and sealing her ends with Castor oil after moisturizing her hair. Congrats on your progress Eureka!
Thank you both and EVERYONE for your participation in the Castor Oil Challenge Part 8. We appreciate your commitment and enthusiasm in the challenge. Your progress is inspirational and well deserved. Congrats again ladies.
The wonderful people over at Tropic Isle have supplied the winners with generous prizes for having the most improved hair!
Prize #1:
Tropic Isle Living Relaxed Hair Care System
8oz JBCO
Coconut JBCO Hair Food
JBCO Shampoo
JBCO Conditioner & Detangler
JBCO Protein Conditioner
Tropic Isle Living Relaxed Hair Care System
8oz JBCO
Coconut JBCO Hair Food
JBCO Shampoo
JBCO Conditioner & Detangler
JBCO Protein Conditioner
Prize #2:
Tropic Isle Living Natural Hair Care System
8oz JBCO
JBCO Shampoo
JBCO Conditioner
JBCO Protein Conditioner
JBCO Hair Food
Thank you Tropic Isle Living :)
Enjoy your wonderful prizes Anita and Eureka!
Please email your mailing address to: progress@hairlista.com to receive your prizes as quickly as possible.
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NOW until Tuesday January 14th 2014.
The promo code to enter at checkout is MONEY20 [CAPS]
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Coconut oil is one of those "must have" oils for any hair regimen for the simple fact that it can penetrate the hair cortex up to 90% (Cortex- The middle layer that gives your hair elasticity and holds majority of the hairs strength) as opposed to Olive oil at 25%. No other oils can do that! As a result, this oil can help moisturize, condition and strengthen your hair with continued use.
Coconut oil has a strong attraction to protein (hair is made up of protein/keratin); therefore, it has the ability to penetrate deeply into the cortex reducing damage to the hair cuticle during regular manipulation i.e. combing, brushing, styling etc. Most importantly, Coconut oil is known to prevent Hygral Fatigue. Hygral Fatigue can damage the hair due to the expansion and contraction of the hair during the uptake and loss of water. As a result, this process can eventually weaken the hair by causing damage to the hair cuticle and cortex i.e. . Swelling and de-swelling of hair is one of the causes of hair damage. If the cuticle is constantly under stress, it will expose the cortex leading to porosity issues and breakage.
With the presence of Coconut oil, the swelling of the hair shaft is reduced. Coconut oil can be used as a pre-wash treatment (great for preventing protein loss) to prevent the hair shaft from swelling and taking up too much water. This will help prevent the cuticle from being raised and exposing the cortex = less damage.
Facts To Remember About Coconut oil:
- Can penetrate the hair cortex up to 90%.
- Has a high affinity to protein, meaning that it binds easily to the natural proteins that can be found in our hair (Keratin).
- It can help reduce cuticle damage due to regular manipulation i.e. brushing, combing, styling.
- Coconut oil as a pre-poo/pre-wash treatment (applied to dry unwashed hair) can prevent the expansion and contraction of wet hair preventing weak, damaged hair.
Use Coconut Oil As A Pre-Wash Treatment:
- Get your hands on Virgin or Extra Virgin Coconut oil (unrefined is best). Take a few tablespoons, rub it in your hands until it melts and coat your scalp and hair with the oil. Focus on your ends. Be sure to gently massage it into the hair and scalp.
- Apply a plastic cap and let it sit for 15 mins with heat or 30 mins/1 hour without heat. The longer the better!
- Follow up with your favourite SLS free shampoo or Co-wash conditioner. Be prepared to notice softer, smoother, stronger hair!