Gosh, this is a late hour to be posting, so I guess it’s pretty evident that I cannot sleep!

I was just reading through some of the blogs that CrystalTips has kindly posted and it got me thinking of porosity again. The way my hair feels when I do the strand test differs to the way in which it behaves in reality. When I do the strand test, my hair doe feel quite rough and bumpy - not ‘slick’ in anyway so I assume that that is the open shafts in my hair ‘catching’ against my fingers.

So that would technically mean that my hair would not be able to retain any moisure, and get wet and then dry very quickly and easily. But it’s the opposite for me. Although it still gets wet quickly, my hair can take upto 8 hours to dry if I leave it to air dry, and though I have suffered from a bout of dryness recently, it is usually not that bad (and if aything I have a problem with it being greasy more often - but that could just be the products maybe???). Also, I’ve noticed my hair to be really absorbent with products - I can handle a lot pink boots (on wet hair) without it feeling lank or the feeling of it setling on my hair, which I think not many curlies can. Oooh, also I can be plopping for about 3 hours and my tshirt/towel will not be significantly wet and my hair will not be considerably dryer…argh confusion!
So basically, my hair is quite absorbant and gets wet quickly, but still retains the moisture considerably well, sort of proving the hair strand test wrong (for me atleast). Any ideas on why my hair is so abnormal?

:/

edit: as my hair is course and feels quite rough going down, surely it would also feel rough going up too? So is it just the natural ‘roughness’ I’m feeling when doing the porosity strand test and not an open hair shaft? But then that still doesn’t explain how my hair is able to absorb moisture and yet still able to retain it? Of course I’ll assume this is quite a good thing to have but I’m still confused as to how? Gah!...that’s enough questions for one night. TIA

Maybe you’re not porous TTS - I think the fact that it doesn’t dry quick and can retain moisture.  I would go with how it actually is and not on the strand test.  I haven’t got time just now but I’ll look for more on porosity later today .

Update
When doing the porosity test TTS (the one where you take the strand of hair) the hair must be free from all products so you need to do it after cleansing - don’t know if this is what you did or not.  If not, you could maybe try it again after a low poo?  I still think though, you should go by how you feel your hair retains moisutre - if it is retaining moisutre well, then chances are it’s not that porous.  HTH (Nice avi TTS!!)

Yes, I was just about to ask, if you were to air dry it with no product on, would that take as long?  My hair is porous.  It takes ages to get fully wet (because it is so dried out), then it dries really quickly if there is no leave-in on it sealing the moisture in.

hmn, I’ve never really tried airdring without any products…well I maybe I did when I was younger and I think even then it took ages to dry, but back then my hair was a lot finer as well (my mum used to plait my hair at night ad in the mornings before school untie the plait and flare my hair oyr just I get some volume! How things have changed!) but anyway back on topic, I’ll dry airdrying today without much product (I’m planning straightening today anyway)

I just tried the strand test on clean, wet hair and it’s still nbasically the same (apart from a few around my parting…) hmn…I think that I’ll keep my current routine anyway and just steer clear of protein heavy products anyway. Thanks for the advice.

(ps, CHM, it took me an age to figure out TTS meant me! I even went into the abbreviations thread to see what it meant! :/ )

Hi TTS,

I’m a bit confused about my hair porosity too.  It soaks up water quite well, and dries fairly quickly but really heavy products are a no-no for me as my hair just can’t take it. 

Personally, I think my hair is reasonably porous, but its also quite fine.  So it can absorb water ok, but because each hair shaft is quite skinny it can’t actually absorb very much so therfore dries out relatively quickly too.  Its all a bit too complex for me, and I have several different textures all over my head too so I do as chm suggests, and go with how it behaves rather than trying to force it into a category that is just doesn’t want to go into!  Good old trial and error works best for me!

I also read on the natural haven blog that your fingertips running up or down your hair shaft won’t be able to detect any cuticle roughness as the dimensions of the cuticle are so small.  Mine can feel rough when I do this, but I think its more little kinks or more significant colour related damage on some parts rather than just a bit of cuticle lifting.

ToTheSky - 22 January 2010 02:00 PM

hmn, I’ve never really tried airdring without any products…well I maybe I did when I was younger and I think even then it took ages to dry, but back then my hair was a lot finer as well (my mum used to plait my hair at night ad in the mornings before school untie the plait and flare my hair oyr just I get some volume! How things have changed!) but anyway back on topic, I’ll dry airdrying today without much product (I’m planning straightening today anyway)

I just tried the strand test on clean, wet hair and it’s still nbasically the same (apart from a few around my parting…) hmn…I think that I’ll keep my current routine anyway and just steer clear of protein heavy products anyway. Thanks for the advice.

(ps, CHM, it took me an age to figure out TTS meant me! I even went into the abbreviations thread to see what it meant! :/ )

sorry ToTheSky or TTS (just my laziness)! Protein tolerance is more if you have fine, medium or coarse hair - coarse hair tends not to like too much extra protein as it can hang on to its protein.  Medium texture will prob be ok with protein and fine texture usually loves it.

TallGirl - 22 January 2010 03:07 PM

Hi TTS,

I’m a bit confused about my hair porosity too.  It soaks up water quite well, and dries fairly quickly but really heavy products are a no-no for me as my hair just can’t take it. 

Personally, I think my hair is reasonably porous, but its also quite fine.  So it can absorb water ok, but because each hair shaft is quite skinny it can’t actually absorb very much so therfore dries out relatively quickly too.  Its all a bit too complex for me, and I have several different textures all over my head too so I do as chm suggests, and go with how it behaves rather than trying to force it into a category that is just doesn’t want to go into!  Good old trial and error works best for me!

I also read on the natural haven blog that your fingertips running up or down your hair shaft won’t be able to detect any cuticle roughness as the dimensions of the cuticle are so small.  Mine can feel rough when I do this, but I think its more little kinks or more significant colour related damage on some parts rather than just a bit of cuticle lifting.

I agree TG plus if your hair is fine its hard to feel at the best of times and if the tips of your finger have any snags on them that’s another thing that makes it hard to tell.

I hadn’t though of that chm!  Maybe I’m feeling my fingertips rather than my hair shaft! 

I break all the rules when it comes to protein, as I have fine, porous hair, but it seems to hate protein!  The reason for it seems to be that it easily becomes over-conditioned.  This happens when I leave conditioner on too long too, as well as every time I use protein.  The result is that my hair looks dry, fluffy and awful, but feels really soft.

pelicano - 22 January 2010 10:37 AM

Yes, I was just about to ask, if you were to air dry it with no product on, would that take as long?  My hair is porous.  It takes ages to get fully wet (because it is so dried out), then it dries really quickly if there is no leave-in on it sealing the moisture in.

Highly porous hair is normally quick to wet and quick to dry:
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/367189/hair_porosity_help_for_dry_damaged_pg3.html?cat=69

CrystalTips - 24 January 2010 12:09 PM

pelicano - 22 January 2010 10:37 AM

Yes, I was just about to ask, if you were to air dry it with no product on, would that take as long?  My hair is porous.  It takes ages to get fully wet (because it is so dried out), then it dries really quickly if there is no leave-in on it sealing the moisture in.

Highly porous hair is normally quick to wet and quick to dry:
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/367189/hair_porosity_help_for_dry_damaged_pg3.html?cat=69

Well then I have no idea what my hair is!!  Takes ages to get wet then dries in record speed.

pelicano - 24 January 2010 12:13 PM

CrystalTips - 24 January 2010 12:09 PM

pelicano - 22 January 2010 10:37 AM

Yes, I was just about to ask, if you were to air dry it with no product on, would that take as long?  My hair is porous.  It takes ages to get fully wet (because it is so dried out), then it dries really quickly if there is no leave-in on it sealing the moisture in.

Highly porous hair is normally quick to wet and quick to dry:
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/367189/hair_porosity_help_for_dry_damaged_pg3.html?cat=69

Well then I have no idea what my hair is!!  Takes ages to get wet then dries in record speed.

Maybe you’re not that porous, Pelicano - porosity can be confusing! Basically, porous hair will let in moisture easily but will not retain it well so will dry quickly. However, your hair may be quick to dry as you don’t use a lot of styling products. Stylers will lock down moisture in the hair and so the hair will dry more slowly. My hair, for example is a mix of porosities - highly porous on canopy (in my case due to chemical damage from colour) and more ‘normal’ underneath. If I were to air dry my hair without stylers - my canopy would dry super quick (within half an hour) the underneath layers would take a little longer (1 hour plus). When I use stylers (always - lol!) then air drying can take several hours as the products have sealed in the much needed moisture. HTH! 

Would explain the protein thing (ie my hair not liking it)...  My hair is pretty damaged though.  Oh it’s all too confusing!!  When I’ve done the hair floating test, approx half the hair floats (the youngest half) and the other half sinks.

pelicano - 24 January 2010 01:00 PM

Would explain the protein thing (ie my hair not liking it)...  My hair is pretty damaged though.  Oh it’s all too confusing!!  When I’ve done the hair floating test, approx half the hair floats (the youngest half) and the other half sinks.

Mine too - most adult hair will be a mix of porosities - even if driers/straighteners haven’t been used or chemicals of any kind applied, the hair will be affected by weather/pollution etc - which can all take their toll. I say go with your instincts on what your hair likes/needs and take it from there.

when I only used a leave in my hair still took about 6 hours to dry? Is that an average amount of time?

ToTheSky - 28 January 2010 07:56 PM

when I only used a leave in my hair still took about 6 hours to dry? Is that an average amount of time?

Everyone is different - it depends on texture/porosity/product etc - and weather of course! You have gorgeous hair!