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Highly porous hair is hair where the cuticles are open. Cuticles? Yes! Hair consists of cuticles, and under a microscope, these cuticles look like overlapping roof tiles. The degree of porosity tells us something about your cuticles and how these tiles lie. With low porosity, there is little to no space between the tiles, while high porosity means there is a lot of space between them.
Alright, now that we know exactly what hair cuticles are, let’s continue with highly porous hair :)
Hair cuticles are extremely important for your hair; they are a protective layer made of keratin (a natural protein). What problems result from open hair cuticles?
Porous hair can be caused by many things. Everyone combs or brushes their hair. If you have porous hair, too much hair comes loose during this process. And that’s not without reason. This is due to poor elasticity and your beautiful hair becoming weak. But how does this happen?
Not quite sure yet if your hair is highly porous, or maybe medium porous? Read on quickly and find out if your hair is highly porous:
If you have high porous curls, you work on temporarily repairing your curls. Truly restoring damaged hair is not possible; of course, you can cut it off and start fresh, but that is quite drastic.
Your porous curls are already damaged, so it’s important to be as gentle as possible. You want to repair your curls, not damage them further. A shampoo with sulfates is definitely a no-go. It’s best not to use shampoo at all, because it demands quite a lot from your hair. As you may know, or maybe not... shampoo causes your hair cuticles to lift so the hair can be properly cleaned. Even the mildest shampoo does this. You have high porous hair, so your cuticles are already open, they are damaged and can no longer close.
To really cleanse well, it is advisable to wash your curls with a very mild shampoo. If you don’t wash your curls at all, you will eventually get build-up and things will get clogged. This prevents your hair and scalp from breathing and causes blockages. As a result, you can even experience hair loss, which is definitely not what you want. You want to get new, healthy hair :)
And what do you do the rest of the month? The rest of the month you can wash your curls with a conditioner that has cleansing properties.
A protein shampoo to start with is the Design Essentials Natural Almond & Avocado Moisturizing & Detangling Shampoo.
Highly porous hair needs care, lots of care. And love! That’s why a hair mask is extremely important. A mask ensures your hair gets hydrated. A highly recommended good hair mask that is Curly Girl Method proof and suitable for highly porous hair is the L'Oréal Professionnel Curl Expression Rich Intensive Moisturizer Mask. This deep moisturizing mask doesn’t contain protein, but that’s not what you use this mask for. You use this hair mask to hydrate intensively. If you’re looking for a hair mask that also contains protein, it’s important that it states it strengthens your curls. Makes sense, because healthy hair mainly consists of keratin (protein).
If the rest of your curl routine consists of protein-rich hair care, then go for a hair mask that is purely developed for moisture. Ultimately, it’s about achieving the ideal balance between moisture and protein in your hair. That way, you get the perfect curl that bounces back, shines, and basically just dances.
Tip for highly porous hair ♡
It’s very important that about every 2 weeks, especially at the start of your curl journey, you do the “water test” and stretch test. The composition of your curls naturally changes due to the hair products you use. This way, you’re not only consciously working towards healthy and radiant curls but also figuring out if you need a bit more protein or moisture.
Highly porous hair is damaged hair; your hair shaft is affected and defective. You want to repair these damaged spots, just like you would put a bandage on a broken skin. That’s how a protein treatment works. Why? Because your hair is mostly made up of protein (keratin). A protein treatment consists of various protein components that repair your hair shaft for several weeks. Again, you need to keep an eye on the moisture and protein balance in your hair. You don’t want either to be too much; you want them balanced. That’s why -> you always keep an eye on your curls and keep testing. This is an adventure you embark on, especially at the beginning. You get to know your curls better and better, and as a result, you learn what works and especially what doesn’t :)
If your curls are so damaged that they are basically beyond repair, then you start using a reconstructor. A reconstructor, which consists of protein, ensures that all damage to your curls, such as hair breakage, damaged cuticles, etc., is repaired. A hugely popular and best-selling reconstructor is the Olaplex No.3 Hairperfector Treatment.
Absolutely! Your hair needs moisture, and a leave-in conditioner is the step you should never skip. After washing and conditioning your hair, use a leave-in conditioner. Only then do you continue with care or styling. A leave-in conditioner is actually the moment for extra hydration, and that is exactly what your hair needs. You have highly porous hair, so it is important to use a leave-in conditioner that contains protein. Protein strengthens your hair, so always look out for words like “repair” or “strengthening”.
Your curls absorb everything super easily, but lose it just as quickly. How can you ensure that you get hydrated and strong curls afterwards, but especially how do you maintain this?
We all know hair oil, but did you also know that there is something What is the difference between sealer oil and penetrating oil? There are different types of oil, which means they have different properties. Below you will find the difference between these 2 types of oil:
Penetrating oil is an oil made up of smaller molecules that can penetrate your hair. Moisturizing oils are:
Sealer oil consists of larger molecules, so it cannot penetrate your hair. It stays wonderfully on your hair and thus forms an extra barrier. Sealer oils that provide some hydration are:
Pure sealers:
That’s why the order of products is also very important. You can use all kinds of oils and still have dry hair. Your hair feels greasier but at the same time gets drier... What’s happening? You’re sealing your hair without first adding moisture. That’s why a good leave-in conditioner is so important! If you hydrate intensively first and then ‘seal’ it, your hair finally stays hydrated! Yessssss! We can go one step further, and then you arrive at the LOC/LCO method.
For ladies and gentlemen with thicker hair types from curl type 3a to 4a, the LOC/LCO method is very interesting.
What exactly do the LOC method and the LCO method stand for?
LOC stands for liquid (leave-in), oil, and cream.
LCO stands for liquid (leave-in), cream, and oil.
L - liquid or leave-in is known for its hydrating properties. That’s why it’s important to always use a leave-in.
O - oil has sealing properties, as you read above. It locks the hair so the hydration stays well inside your hair.
C - cream is thick and often based on butters, like the well-known Shea Butter. Butters also have a sealing effect. However, a cream is used in your hair as a styling product; the cream is reversed with the oil to get the LCO method. It’s a matter of trying what works best for your curls :)
If you have fine curls, it is advisable to avoid heavy curl products and go for lighter products.
Have you just started breathing new life into your curls? Give yourself and your curls time; your hair also needs to get used to new products. Just pay close attention to what works for your curls and it might be helpful to write down the results of certain products on your curl. It’s a bit of a puzzle at first, so we recommend starting with as few products as possible and after a few weeks, try adding one new hair product. This way you can best see the results.
Ready to get started? Go to the article "The Curly Girl Method: From A to Z" and find and order the ideal hair care for your beautiful curls!
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