How Much Hair is Normal to Lose in the Shower?

Table Of Content

• How to Check If You're Losing Too Much Hair
• How much hair loss is normal in a day
• Understanding the Difference Between Normal Shedding and Treatable Hair Loss
• I want to get healthier

Although this can be unsettling to see all at once in the hairbrush, it is normal in small amounts. Chemical dyes, heated curlers and straighteners, and excessive hair brushing can all lead to extra hair shedding or breaks in the hair. Only about 1 to 2 percent of your hairs are in the catagen phase at any given time. During the catagen phase, the hair strand stops growing. This April marks Stress Awareness month in the US, a calendar moment designed to raise awareness of the pervasive and damaging nature of stress.

How to Check If You're Losing Too Much Hair

Hair loss occurs when new hair doesn't replace the hair that has fallen out. Dramatic changes in the body can cause temporary hair loss. Giving birth, rapid weight loss, surgery and certain illnesses may cause more hair loss than usual, typically in the resting phase. The authors of a more recent study from 2019 claim that 40% of women experience excessive hair shedding when shampooing their hair.

How much hair loss is normal in a day

Of course, it’s normal to regularly find some hairs on the shower floor, but an increased amount on a consistent basis may warrant a call to your doctor. This is a sign where attention to detail is important, because you need to be aware of your baseline before you can determine whether or not you’re losing more hair than normal. Other medications that can increase your chances of hair loss include retinoids and antidepressants.

Understanding the Difference Between Normal Shedding and Treatable Hair Loss

Towards the end of the telogen phase, new hair begins to grow in the same follicle, pushing out the old hair. Losing hair each day is completely normal, Dr. Kuhn says, because it's part of the normal hair cycle. Understanding just a bit about routine hair shedding can help you embrace some of those strands showing up in your brush. Some chemical ingredients in shampoos can be harmful and cause breakage or increased hair loss.

What’s Normal When It Comes to Daily Hair Loss?

Hormonal imbalances before, during and after menopause can lead to more permanent hair loss, Dr. Simpson says. Anyone who notices that they are losing much more hair than they usually do should see their doctor to help determine the underlying cause. Learn more about traction alopecia, which is hair loss due to tight hairstyles, in this article. In some cases, excessive brushing may lead to other issues in the hair, such as breaks.

This usually happens because of radiation treatment or chemotherapy. For the purposes of this article, we use “male” and “female” to refer to a person’s sex assigned at birth. Hair loss can occur if you wear pigtails, braids or cornrows, or use tight hair rollers.

Some Medical Conditions

It’s typical to lose between 50 and 100 hairs a day, according to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD). With about 100,000 hairs on your head, that small loss isn’t noticeable. New hair normally replaces the lost hair, but this doesn’t always happen.

Loose strands of hair all over your sink or in your shower may not be an immediate cause for concern though. Some hair loss is normal, says Dr. Deirdre Hooper, a board-certified dermatologist based in New Orleans. We talked to Hooper to find out the difference between normal hair loss and something greater.

Hairdresser reveals why it’s ‘completely normal’ for your hair to come out in the shower and when you shoul... - The Sun

Hairdresser reveals why it’s ‘completely normal’ for your hair to come out in the shower and when you shoul....

Posted: Sat, 23 Oct 2021 07:00:00 GMT [source]

Free Healthbeat Signup

If you can’t live without these styling tools, use a thermal spray to coat the fibers in the hair to help protect it. Sun can also damage hair so opt for a hat when it’s sunny and you’ll be outdoors. Both the CDC and the FDA warn against treating this common childhood condition on your own with non-prescription treatments. Newer treatments that are also being explored include some forms of laser therapy, microneedling with PRP, as well as other oral medications. Many of these treatments are still in the early testing phases though, and more research will be necessary.

This is true for damaged hair follicles from too-tight hairstyles, damaged hair follicles from chemicals applied to the hair, and damages caused by certain autoimmune diseases. It’s important to keep in mind that hair growth is a complex process and multiple tests may be needed to understand what is causing your hair loss. A biopsy may also be taken if it is initially very unclear what the root causes may be. Hair loss related to androgenic alopecia tends to happen gradually. While some people might experience hair loss as early as puberty, others might not notice symptoms until their middle ages.

You take this medication daily to slow hair loss, though some experience new hair growth when taking finasteride. Female-pattern baldness typically starts with scalp hairs becoming progressively less dense. Many women first experience hair thinning and hair loss where they part their hair and on the top-central portion of the head. Baldness typically refers to excessive hair loss from your scalp.

Hair pulls tests help determine if the shedding is within the normal range or if there is an underlying hair loss condition. In a non-randomized study involving 14 women over a four-week period, participants were instructed to brush their hair with varying frequencies each week. The amount of hair lost during each week was recorded, and comparisons were made to determine the average hair loss for different brushing frequencies. While the terms "male-pattern hair loss" and "female-pattern hair loss" may sound outdated, they're the best terms to describe what's going on with your scalp.

Typically, most people notice excessive hair shedding a few months after experiencing the stressful event. For instance, new mothers may observe this shedding approximately two months after giving birth, with the peak occurring around four months postpartum. Telogen is where hair follicles enter into the resting phase and fall out. This is where the "normal-for-you" hair loss comes from each day. Hair loss is frequently due to your sensitivity to circulating androgen. Chemotherapy, certain other drugs and radiation treatments can prompt hair loss, mainly in the growth phase.

How Much Hair Loss Is Normal: Brushing, Washing, and More

Table Of Content

• How can I tell if I am losing too much hair?
• Hair loss symptoms
• Avoid harsh products
• How to Reduce Hair Shedding
• What is the prognosis (outlook) for people with hair loss?
• How to Tell If You’re Losing Too Much Hair

At some point, most adults have probably looked down at the bathroom or shower floor after getting ready for the day and noticed the amount of hair everywhere. Shedding hair is common, but how much hair loss is normal? If you’re concerned by the amount you’re shedding, there are ways to tell if you’re losing too much hair.

The Connection Between Celiac Disease and Hair Loss - Verywell Health

The Connection Between Celiac Disease and Hair Loss.

Posted: Fri, 15 Sep 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]

How can I tell if I am losing too much hair?

The average person loses somewhere between 50 and 100 strands of hair per day, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. Yes, that’s a lot, so don’t panic if you see a few strands in your bathroom. Maybe you brushed or detangled your hair one day and discovered that there were a few more stray hairs left behind in your paddle brush than the usual. Or maybe you glanced at the perimeter of your scalp one day and realized that your hairline has gotten slightly thinner since the last time you really took a look at it. Whether permanent or temporary, hair loss happens to the best of us—even celebrities.

Hair loss symptoms

If you find about ten hairs, you're likely losing a normal amount. If you find more than ten, you might want to reach out to your doctor. It’s common to lose less hair than usual while you’re pregnant, and for the hair to begin to fall out about two months after the pregnancy ends.

Avoid harsh products

If you’re losing more hair than you would expect, and you think it may be related to medication, discuss the situation with your doctor. There are also medical conditions that can cause hair loss, like the autoimmune disease alopecia areata. If you are concerned by the amount of hair falling out, you don’t need to suffer in silence. These doctors specialize in diagnosing and treating the skin, hair, and nails. A dermatologist can tell you whether you have hair loss or excessive hair shedding. "For instance, if you count your hair over a few weeks and notice that about an average of 90 hairs fall out, you might decide that this is okay, because it fits nicely in the 'normal' range," he explains.

The Catagen Phase (Transition)

"Light shedding is normal and part of the hair's life cycle," affirms Amy McMichael, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and the spokesperson for the Reflections of Alopecia Areata campaign. "You may see this type of hair shedding when you shower or brush your hair." If any of these symptoms are present, it is recommended to reach out to a healthcare provider who can assess your condition and provide appropriate diagnosis and treatment options. Seeking medical attention in such cases can help identify any underlying causes or medical conditions contributing to hair loss and ensure timely intervention. The anagen phase is the active growth phase of hair follicles. It typically lasts for several years, ranging from two to six years on the scalp.

Hair Loss in Women: When Should You Worry?

It’s best to see a healthcare professional for any unexplained hair loss so they can determine the underlying cause and best course of treatment. If you’re currently losing hair, use a gentle baby shampoo to wash your hair. Unless you have extremely oily hair, consider washing your hair only every other day or less.

How to Reduce Hair Shedding

The unexpected sight of a brush, pillow, or drain full of hair can be jarring. It may even prompt you to wonder how much hair loss is normal. The good news is that everyone with long enough hair is bound to spot some strands in those common catchall spots, but there is a point when shedding can become abnormal.

What is the prognosis (outlook) for people with hair loss?

Factors like stress, medication, and underlying medical conditions can all aggravate hair loss. Traction alopecia is the result of environmental factors, such as wearing your hair in tight hairstyles, Agbai says. Telogen effluvium refers to the excessive shedding of hair follicles, and it occurs when hair follicles prematurely skip to the end of the hair growth cycle, she adds. Experts say the average number of hairs shed by men and women per day is about the same. However, women or people with long hair are more likely to notice hair loss, explains Andy Goren, M.D., board-certified dermatologist, trichologist, and chief medical officer of Daniel Alain. Goren says 60% of women who suffer from the most common form of permanent hair loss, androgenic alopecia, exhibit excessive shedding of more than 400 hairs per day when washing their hair.

How to Tell If You’re Losing Too Much Hair

Here are some clear signs you’re losing too much hair to watch out for. After the telogen phase, the hair follicle re-enters the anagen phase, hence why it's called a cycle. As Dr. Kinler notes, hair loss becomes a bigger concern "when there is an imbalance in the growth cycle, leading to excessive shedding or a failure of new hair to replace the old." It's typical to lose some hair every day as part of your hair’s usual growth cycle. For most people, the lost hair grows back, and you maintain a full head of hair.

But shedding—even a lot of it—is often normal and happens to everyone. However, if you notice excessive hair loss or significant thinning, it is advisable to consult your healthcare provider for further evaluation and guidance. The catagen phase is a short transitional phase that signals the end of the active growth phase. During this phase, the hair follicle shrinks, and hair growth stops. The lower part of the hair follicle attaches to the hair strand, and the blood supply to the hair is cut off.

By Sarah Jividen, RNJividen is a freelance healthcare journalist. She has over a decade of direct patient care experience working as a registered nurse specializing in neurotrauma, stroke, and the emergency room. "Usually, people are pretty savvy about knowing how much shedding is typical for them," dermatologist Paradi Mirmirani, MD, an AAD faculty member, tells LIVESTRONG.com. Not getting enough iron, protein or vitamin B12 in your diet can also cause your hair to thin. If this happens to you, talk to your doctor about supplements. If the increase is sharp, it may be best to see a doctor or dermatologist.

According to board-certified dermatologist Stephanie Saxton-Daniels, MD, "hair shedding is the amount that comes out daily, whereas hair loss occurs when something prevents the hair from growing." If you're pregnant, you may start to notice more or less hair shedding than typical and that can change throughout your pregnancy. This cause of hair loss can triple the amount of hair you lose each day, increasing the number of strands lost from around 100 to around 300, says Kingsley.

It is normal to naturally shed around 50 to 100 hairs every day. However, when an individual experiences a substantial increase in daily hair shedding, it may be classified as excessive. Medically referred to as telogen effluvium, this condition signifies an abnormality in the hair-shedding process.

High-Porosity Hair: An Expert-Approved Care Guide

Table Of Content

• Can you change your hair porosity?
• Suds up with the right shampoo
• Cut Down on Styling
• What Type of Hair Porosity Do You Have?
• Cantu Flaxseed Smoothing Cream Gel
• How to Take Care of High Porosity Hair

This can cause your hair cuticles to become raised and open, which may make it harder for your hair to retain moisture. "High porosity hair usually needs more protein or oil to help seal in moisture. Some conditioners have more protein in them, so look for conditioners with keratin, wheat, or silk protein for added strength," she explains. Stevens suggests using an egg, which is packed with proteins, to help strengthen weakened strands. Cleansing, on the other hand, isn't based on any porosity but how much build up in on the hair.

What Is Hair Porosity? - POPSUGAR

What Is Hair Porosity?.

Posted: Mon, 21 Oct 2019 07:00:00 GMT [source]

Can you change your hair porosity?

“Remember that all hair is already dead, so it’s important to nourish it as much as possible, especially if you’re doing damaging treatments that can lead to high hair porosity,” Dr. Kahen says. This shampoo specifically targets damage so that users observe a significant improvement in their hair after each wash. Highly moisturizing yet cleansing, it’s suitable for all hair types and textures and is color safe to boot. Customers love the formula for how soft it leaves hair feeling, with one reviewer calling it the best shampoo she’s used in her life. The formula also eschews harsh cleansing ingredients like sulfates, opting instead for mild surfactants that thoroughly cleanse the scalp and strands of buildup, sweat, and pollutants without stripping hair of its natural oils.

Suds up with the right shampoo

High-porosity hair differs from other hair types in that it quickly absorbs and loses moisture due to a raised or open cuticle layer. This stands in contrast to low-porosity hair, which has a tightly closed cuticle layer that makes it more resistant to moisture absorption. Medium-porosity hair falls somewhere in between, with a moderately receptive cuticle layer. High-porosity hair can be a bit of a diva—it does a great job of soaking in moisture that’s applied to the hair, but then loses that moisture too quickly. “The cuticle, or outermost layer of the hair, has what would best be described as scales coating it,” explains Paul Cucinello, a celebrity stylist, beauty expert, and founder of Cucinello Beauty.

Cut Down on Styling

Its clean formula is packed with natural ingredients, too, such as coconut oil, moringa leaf extract, and false daisy extract, each of which support healthy hair and a balanced scalp. Consistent use of moisturizing hair-care products tailored to high-porosity hair types is key. Our experts also recommend regularly incorporating deep-conditioning treatments or hair masks into your routine. “These treatments should be applied weekly to replenish moisture and restore the hair's elasticity and vitality,” says Powell.

Unlike low porosity hair, which has an extremely flat cuticle layer, making strands less likely to absorb water and products, high porosity hair has a more open cuticle layer. However, it's harder for high-porosity hair to retain moisture due to the cuticles' openness. To learn more about how to care for high porosity hair, we turned to top dermatologist Joyce Park, MD, as well as hair specialists Alicia Bailey of Design Essentials and Leigh Hardges of Maxine Salon. This conditioner (and its corresponding shampoo) is made with high porosity hair in mind, specifically targeting concerns like breakage, split ends, frizz, and damage from heat tools and hair color. It promises to smooth out dreaded frizz in even the most humid locales, and to improve elasticity so you can find less hair in your comb after each brush.

DIY Jo Nourishing the low porosity hair Flair - Jamaica Gleaner

DIY Jo Nourishing the low porosity hair Flair.

Posted: Thu, 20 Apr 2017 07:00:00 GMT [source]

What Type of Hair Porosity Do You Have?

Protective styling involves braiding your hair, wearing wigs or adding hair extensions to your hair. Anything that reduces constant manipulation of your hair is basically protective styling. Natural hair clip-ins, for example, help you to have fuller, longer hair without much manipulation. Deep conditioning treatments are especially helpful for adding moisture, nourishment, and softness to highly porous hair. High porosity hair can be genetic, which means that it runs in your family. Many times, though, it’s caused by hair processing and styling treatments like straightening, blow-drying, bleaching, and other chemical applications.

Products with those types of chemicals are a big NO NO as they pull essential moisture from your hair. The most popular way to confirm if you have high porosity hair is to do a strand test on clean hair. All you have to do is take a strand of your hair and drop it in a glass of water. If your hair sinks very quickly to the bottom, you have high porosity hair.

How to Take Care of High Porosity Hair

As high porosity hair is fragile and subject to breakage, incorporating protein will help to fortify it. Processing your hair or styling your hair like straightening, blow-drying, bleaching or using other chemical applications can all  lead to high porosity hair. Individuals with high-porosity hair encounter several challenges when striving to maintain hair health.

How High-Porosity Hair Responds to Hair-Care Products

Heat damage and other chemical processes can cause normal porosity hair to change over time. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but that high ponytail may not be worth it. “For hairstyles, try to avoid ones that cause further damage or breakage like tighter hairstyles that can pull at the hair,” Dr. Kahen says. It’s also best avoid excessive heat styling and go easy when brushing your hair. Use a wide tooth detangling comb or a gentle brush to prevent breakage. “It is best to avoid sulfates when possible as these can be drying,” Dr. Garshick says, so opt for a sulfate-free shampoo at the very least.

He recommends plant-based oils like coconut and sea buckthorn oil, which are hydrating to the hair, as well as moisturizing ingredients like shea butter and manuka honey. Dr. Garshick suggests Andalou Naturals Argan Oil Conditioner, as it contains a blend of argan oil and avocado oil, as well as shea butter and vitamin E to both moisturize and condition the scalp. If you have highly porous hair, you can expect lots of frizz, especially during humid weather, dullness and tangles. Your hair will also likely be prone to breakage and damage, and may look and feel dry. There are multiple factors that can cause high-porosity hair—the biggest one being genetics.

These cuticles protect the inner layers of your hair by controlling how much moisture, as well as products and chemicals, can be absorbed. Hair with “normal” levels of porosity will absorb 75% of the maximum water possible within four minutes. People with normal porosity hair usually have an easy time getting their hair to hold bleach, hair dye, or relaxer, and the results tend to be predictable. After a few minutes of allowing the hair to rest in the water, take a look. And if the strand is somewhere in the middle of the water, you have medium to normal porosity hair. "High porosity hair has many gaps in the hair shaft because the cuticles are raised. Adding protein will reduce breakage, make your hair thicker and improve the elasticity of your hair."

“These products are intentionally formulated to be acidic in order to preserve color or make your hair feel smoother by lowering the pH,” he explains. Black hair requires a lot of moisture when it's healthy, so when it's high porosity, it needs it even more. The goal here is to manage your damaged tresses while promoting healthy new growth that doesn't become high porosity. Bailey recommends using the Design Essentials Almond & Avocado Wash Day Deep Moisture Masque ($16). To help nourish, moisturize, and repair highly porous hair, you may have to use certain hair care products that include “heavier” ingredients like oils or butters.

Additionally, be sure to steer clear of products that are clarifying or high alcohol content sprays, since these also zap moisture. "Spritz a section of clean, dry hair with water," Park says, "If the water beads up and takes a while to be absorbed, your hair may have low porosity. If it quickly soaks in, it suggests high porosity." Here are some examples of conditioners that may be especially helpful for highly porous hair. These types of treatments can damage your cuticles, causing them to lift or separate. This can create gaps between your cuticles and, as a result, your hair may be more porous than it would normally be. If you’re unsure which type of hair you have, there are a few experiments you can try at home to get a general idea of whether you have low, average, or high porosity hair.

Hair Porosity: How to Care for High Porosity Hair

Table Of Content

• What Type of Hair Porosity Do You Have?
• How to Care for High Porosity Hair, According to the Pros
• How we vet brands and products
• Hair Care Tips for High Porosity Hair
• Try a treatment

An intense treatment like this only needs to be applied once, and you must follow all directions carefully to avoid further damage. Less severe damage can be managed with maintenance protein products like Ouidad's Curl Quencher Moisturizing Conditioner ($24). Protein may strengthen your hair, but it might also be drying—apply a protein mask once a month to condition without breakage. "Products that restore moisture, reduce frizz, seal in moisture, and protect the hair from heat are great products for high porosity hair." To revive your hair, drastically minimize your heat usage, and having chemicals applied only (if at all) in a salon setting can be a great help.

What Type of Hair Porosity Do You Have?

“If your parents have high-porosity hair, then there is a likelihood that you might, too,” explains Butcher. Both heat damage (from excessive use of hot styling tools) and mechanical damage (from vigorous brushing or wearing tight styles) can also cause high-porosity hair. "High porosity hair should be treated very gently because it is so fragile," says Hardges. She recommends detangling and combing with a wide-tooth comb working from the ends of the hair working upward, and taking an extra step to care for your hair before bed. Any drying ingredients will further strip your hair of the moisture it needs and can cause breakage.

How to Care for High Porosity Hair, According to the Pros

Remember that different hairs on your head can have different levels of porosity. If you have high or low hair porosity due to genetics, you may not be able to change it. However, according to hair care experts, there are things you can do to make your hair healthier, more manageable, and easier to style. With low porosity hair, the cuticles are tightly packed and very close together. So, if low porosity hair runs in your family, there’s a good chance you’ll have low porosity hair, too.

How we vet brands and products

Have you ever noticed that your hair seems to absorb moisture super easily, but then struggles to maintain that moisture? While high-porosity hair might be a little bit more high-maintenance, it’s certainly not impossible to effectively treat, maintain, and grow, too. You can easily test your hair porosity using a dry, freshly washed strand of your hair and a clear glass or bowl of water. In addition to hair treatments, too much ultraviolet exposure can also increase the porosity of your hair. To protect your hair from the sun, wear a hat or some type of head covering when you’re outdoors.

Hair Care Tips for High Porosity Hair

The 20 Best Low Porosity Hair Products for Healthier, Shinier Strands - WWD

The 20 Best Low Porosity Hair Products for Healthier, Shinier Strands.

Posted: Tue, 09 Feb 2021 08:00:00 GMT [source]

Protein treatments can help repair the hair cuticle and reduce hair porosity. Using a protein treatment can help fill in the areas in your cuticle that have damaged cells. This can help smooth the cuticle down and create a protective coat over the hair shaft. People with high-porosity hair should try to limit things like heat and chemical treatments. These can further damage cuticles, making it even harder for your hair to retain moisture and nutrients. I personally swear by this hair mask from Act+Acre, which is meant to repair damage by providing intensive hydration.

Try a treatment

“These scales are raised when the pH level of the hair is high, and sealed tight when the pH of the hair is low.” High porosity hair has a noticeably dull appearance, a higher pH than average, and a more coarse texture, too. High porosity hair has a more openly sealed cuticle layer, making it receptive to moisture absorption yet prone to moisture loss. "This type of hair may feel rough and is prone to frizz," according to Park. Whether due to genetics or hair damage, high porosity hair allows moisture to be absorbed into the hair shaft easily, yet it isn’t able to retain moisture for long. Therefore, having high porosity hair means hydrating strands, doing damage control, and ameliorating frizz and breakage. Protein treatments are also important to add to your routine, when you have highly porous hair.

Cut Down on Styling

Celia Shatzman (she/her) is a Brooklyn-based writer and editor who has penned stories on topics ranging from beauty to fashion, travel, celebrities, health, entertainment, finance and more. Good Housekeeping participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites. Our experts continually monitor the health and wellness space, and we update our articles when new information becomes available.

What products are best for high porosity hair?

“Limit the use of heat styling tools, and always use a heat protectant spray before styling. Additionally, using a silk or satin pillowcase can help minimize friction and breakage while sleeping,” says Groover. If you have high-porosity hair, you should aim to deep-condition your hair regularly to maintain optimal hydration and nourishment. Groover says that you should always saturate the product evenly root-to-tip and hydrate under steam for 15 minutes. Following both these steps helps replenish moisture lost due to the hair's raised cuticle structure, which allows moisture to escape more easily.

What High Porosity Hair Is (And How to Care for It)

Hair porosity can be impacted by your genetics or your hair grooming routine. It’s possible to have hair strands of multiple porosity levels on your head and even have different levels of porosity within a single strand of hair. You can also test your porosity level by running a finger down a strand of your hair. Low porosity hair will feel smooth, whereas high porosity hair will feel rough and bumpy because the cuticles are open. Washing your hair with clay is another delicate way to clean high porosity hair. Clay pulls dirt and build-up from your scalp like a magnet, but at the same time really nourishes your hair and defines your curls.

In addition to using nourishing, hydrating hair care products, the following tips may help cut down on hair breakage. If you want to know what types of products and ingredients tend to work well for high porosity hair, here are some suggestions. Some people with textured hair use a technique to seal in hydration called the LOC method, which stands for leave-in conditioner, oil, and cream. Hair porosity refers to how much or how little water your hair absorbs and retains.

If you have high-porosity hair, it’s important to take lifestyle factors and environmental elements into account in order to maintain its health and hydration. “Firstly, exposure to harsh weather conditions such as sun, wind, and humidity can exacerbate dryness and damage to high-porosity hair. Therefore, protecting the hair from these elements by wearing hats or scarves can help minimize moisture loss and prevent further damage,” says Powell. If so, you may have high-porosity hair, and understanding the unique characteristics of your strands is essential to crafting an effective regimen.

This affects how well oils and moisture pass in and out of the outermost layer of your hair, known as the cuticle. If going natural taught me anything, it's that I don't know everything there is to know about my hair—no matter how many YouTube videos I watch. According to YouTube, I have a 4c hair type, and according to how coarse and dull my hair gets after some time (mainly due to my laziness), my hair veers toward the dry side. But what I didn't realize is that I could adopt different methods and use a bevy of products to give my hair its best life, but none of that matters if I don't understand my hair's porosity. Other maintenance of this hair type revolves around combatting dryness and ensuing breakage.

The most pressing concerns for high porosity hair are damage and loss of moisture. Because hair porosity isn't visible to the naked eye and can't necessarily be felt through the tips of your fingers, it can be difficult to understand whether you fall on the low or high end of the spectrum. But luckily, there's a tried-and-true test that can be done in minutes to test the porosity level of your hair. For an even bigger boost, you can ask your stylist for a repair treatment add-on when you visit the salon. For example, the Kérastase In-Salon Fusio Dose is custom created by your stylist to target your specific needs.

Alicia Bailey is a licensed master cosmetologist and the CEO and Global Hair Education Director at Iman Yvonne Beauty with over 30 years of experience. She is also an author, life coach, and public speaker, and has owned salons such as Flawless Sessions Hair Salon in Georgia and Flawless Unisex Hair Salon in Hampton, Virginia. She has also worked as an educator for McBride Research Laboratories since 1999, and has worked with a number of women's magazines to promulgate education about black haircare.

“Look for products that offer intense hydration and nourishment.” Groover adds that steam therapy is another way to create moisture miracles so that products are able to connect to the strands. High porosity hair is prone to frizz because it’s more damaged and cannot retain moisture as well. If you have high porosity hair, it means that water, oils, and other types of products can be easily absorbed by your hair. On the flip side, because your hair is highly porous, it may not be able to retain moisture as well as other types of hair.