We all have/had that one friend with luscious curls and we ask the inevitable question “What products do you use in your hair?” Assuming that whatever products she uses in her fine,curly hair will have the same effects on our kinky coils. WRONG! Yet and still we track down the products she mentions and use them. After driving ourselves insane trying to figure out why it didn’t work, you dare come to the horrific conclusion.. “maybe my hair is not like hers.” Ding! Ding! Ding! Once you see your hair for what is instead of what you want it to be, you can now began caring for it properly.
THE TEST:
Most Black Women have low porosity hair. Our hair has a hard time retaining moisture, therefore caring for it takes more effort. To test this, take a few strands of clean hair and place them in a cup of water. Wait about 4 minutes then, check to see if your hair is still floating at the top or has it sunk to the bottom. If your hair is at the bottom of the cup, you have high porosity hair and the battle half won. If your hair is still sitting at the top of the water, you have low porosity hair, do not collect $200, do not pass go!
Ok, ok! It’s not the end of the world. In the case that you have deducted through scientific reasoning that you in fact have low porosity hair, heat is your bestie! Steam and warm water open up the hair so that it accepts the moisture from the products you are using. Always make sure to use cold water on the last rinse so that the hair seals the moisture from your products in. I recommend washing your hair once a week with alcohol free products to insure it receives as much moisture and care as possible.