Our clients know we are all about healthy hair and one thing you’ll hear our team talk about all the time is HAIR POROSITY – but what does that even mean?
The porosity of your hair is the ability of your locks to accept and retain moisture, and this is maintained by the flexibility of the hair cuticle which easily allows oils to pass through the hair or blocks them from being accepted.
LOW Porosity hair is typically healthy and shiny, though hard to process since chemicals and treatments don’t easily pass through the cuticle. Clients with Low Porosity will find that their hair takes forever to dry, and usually experience product buildup and dryness. We like to start with a Hydration Steam Treatment to allow your stubborn locks to soak in as much moisture as possible. We also try to avoid using too many protein products in the hair which can lead to extreme dryness.
HIGH Porosity hair is common in clients with over-processed hair or clients who frequently use heat tools. The hair shaft in this condition has lots of cracks that allow too much moisture or product into the hair cuticle and cause stress. Clients may experience problems with frizz and tangles as the hair begins to connect through the slices in the shaft, and find that they have to use large amounts of product. We will commonly recommend a demi-permanent color or Clear Shine service for these clients to help seal the cuticle and smooth the hair shaft. Leave-In Conditioners are also helpful for regular use in creating a moisturizing layer over the broken hair shaft that promotes healthier locks.
Our Top Tips for Normal Porosity + Healthy Curls:
1. Maintain a regular schedule of steam treatments to ensure you are avoiding heat, tending to your hair’s unique needs, and maintaining good product absorption
2. Always use cold water when washing your hair to seal the cuticle and prevent any desirable product from escaping and sitting on the top of the hair
3. Air dry your hair when you can and if you can’t, air dry for as long as possible before using your diffuser
4. Use a Detangling Brush to gently detangle without pulling on your hair and causing stress
5. Use a Leave-In Conditioner / Primer after washing to seal and protect your cuticle and encourage healthy product absorption
In short – yes. But “regularly” is usually different for everyone based on the condition of your hair and your ultimate goals!
With the rise of Youtube stars and Beauty Bloggers, there is an overwhelming wave of information that is currently available regarding healthy hair care and tips. We wanted to remind our readers that although these can be helpful sources of information, the advice of these influencers should not replace your regular visits to the salon for healthy hair maintenance.
Here’s Why:
#1 : Licensed Cosmetologists are required to pass state board exams that ensure they are proficient in skills that are crucial to ensuring our clients receive quality care and service. This includes sanitization, the thorough understanding of chemical products and how to use them safely, and the anatomy of your hair/scalp. This knowledge is crucial for ensuring hair is cared for using safe techniques and products. We are not only concerned in the look and feel of your hair, but also the porosity and condition of your scalp.
#2. Not all hair tips are created equally. What works well for one client may not work at all for another. We all have unique qualities and histories with our hair that are important in determining a Healthy Hair Plan. Your stylist is essential in offering you tips and tricks that are unique to what you need based on their professional knowledge, and are a consistent measure of your progress over time.
#3. Salon Professional Products truly are unique from most drugstore offerings. We choose products for our salon based on what we feel will offer the most benefit and health to our clientele. We go through months-long trials with product lines to ensure we are offering a level of service that looks and feels good long after your salon appointment. Lots of beauty store and drug store products available contain fillers or sulfates that dry and damage the hair over time. You truly get what you pay for with hair products!
While we’re all still recovering from our holiday and New Year celebrations, it can be easy to forget that Valentine’s Day is just around the corner! We’re helping you prepare by offering tips on what we think would be great gifts for your loved ones! We also strongly encourage you to take full credit for any of these borrowed ideas ;)
Gift Idea #1 - A DevaTowel for the Curlista in your life
Don’t be fooled by the silliness of gifting a hair towel for Valentine’s Day - this tool is a must-have for anyone with natural curls! This towel saves so much time when preparing for your date night, and it’s oversized which is ideal for those big hair dreams! It’s the little things…
Gift Idea #2 - A luxurious Shampoo and Conditioner
The Rosemary Shampoo and Conditioner duo by Influance Hair Care is our top-seller and we watch clients fall in love every single day after using this product! The Rosemary extract stimulates the scalp and helps promote growth while Peppermint Oil offers a delicious tingle as it exfoliates dry scalp. It’s the perfect time of year for this duo as the weather becomes colder and drier. We promise your Cupid is bound to love this gift!
Gift Idea #3 - A Custom Versus Gift Kit
If your loved one is always filling the bathroom vanity with hair products galore, it’s because they are on their Healthy Hair Journey and your support would mean the world! Instead of groaning over the time it’s taking to get ready for date night, surprise your beloved beauty guru with a custom gift kit containing all of their favorite hair products. Next time they run out and don’t have to panic, you’ll be the automatic hero!
Gift Idea #4 - Versus Salon Gift Card
Self-Care is the most important and forgotten aspect of an aspiring beauty expert, but you can help remind them to TREAT THEMSELVES to a day of pampering. We fully believe the saying - look good, feel good. A gift card is a foolproof way to show your loved one that they are important to you. Your significant other can use their gift card to purchase their favorite haircare products or use on pampering services that get them feeling brand new!
We encourage you to casually share this post and start dropping those hints with your Valentine’s dates <3
