Having healthy and shiny hair often requires more than just common hair care products. Two common issues that can affect the appearance and texture of hair are roughness and porosity. Let’s explore each of these problems in detail and discover how to treat them to achieve stunning hair.
But first, to better understand the subject, it’s essential to know the hair strand structure and its main parts, especially the cuticles, which play a crucial role in the health and appearance of hair.
Hair Structure Human hair consists of three main layers:
- Medulla: The central layer, mainly found in thick hair. It’s not present in all hair strands and doesn’t play a significant role in the hair’s structure or overall health.
- Cortex: Located between the medulla and the cuticle, the cortex is the thickest layer of the hair and contains most of the pigmentation, determining the hair’s color and elasticity. It also influences the strength and flexibility of the hair.
- Cuticle: The outermost layer of the hair, composed of overlapping cells like scales. Cuticles are responsible for protecting the hair’s cortex and medulla. They play a crucial role in moisture retention and protection against external damage.
Function and Structure of Cuticles
Cuticles are formed by multiple layers of overlapping cells, resembling fish scales. The structure of cuticles is designed to protect the hair’s interior (cortex and medulla) from mechanical and chemical damage, as well as regulate moisture absorption and loss.
Key Functions of Cuticles:
- Protection: They shield the hair’s interior from physical damage such as friction and external aggressors like chemicals and UV radiation.
- Moisture Control: Cuticles regulate the absorption and loss of moisture in the hair strands. Damaged cuticles can lead to excessive moisture loss, resulting in dry and brittle hair.
- Shine and Smoothness: When cuticles are aligned and flat, they reflect light more evenly, resulting in shinier and smoother hair.
Relationship with Issues like Porosity and Roughness
The porosity and roughness of hair are directly related to the condition of the cuticles:
- Porosity: Hair with very open or damaged cuticles tends to be more porous, absorbing and losing moisture quickly.
- Roughness: Raised or damaged cuticles can result in a rough texture and uneven light reflection, making hair look dull.
Rough Hair: Understanding Texture and Causes
Rough hair is characterized by a coarse texture and often appears dull. Causes may vary but typically include:
- Lack of Hydration: When hair strands don’t receive enough hydration, especially if exposed frequently to elements like sun, wind, and chemicals, they tend to become rough.
- Mechanical Damage: Excessive use of heat tools, rough brushes, or aggressive styling techniques can damage the hair cuticle, leading to roughness.
- Inadequate Care Products: Some shampoos and conditioners contain ingredients that can dry out the hair over time, contributing to rough texture.
How to Treat Rough Hair:
- Deep Hydration: Regularly use hydrating hair masks containing natural oils (like argan, coconut) and butters (shea, cocoa) to restore lost moisture.
- Thermal Protection: When using heat tools, apply a thermal protectant to prevent additional damage.
- Regular Trimming: Regularly trimming split ends helps remove damaged parts, improving overall hair texture.
Porous Hair: Identification and Main Causes
Porous hair is characterized by raised cuticles that are prone to absorbing excess moisture quickly but also losing it rapidly. Common causes include:
- Chemical Damage: Frequent chemical treatments such as coloring, perming, or straightening can damage the hair cuticle, making it porous.
- Sun Exposure and Pollution: Prolonged exposure to sun, saltwater, chlorine, and air pollution can damage the hair cuticle, increasing porosity.
- Lack of Nutrients: Imbalanced diets or nutritional deficiencies can affect overall hair health, making it more porous.
How to Treat Porous Hair:
- Sun Protection: Use hair products that contain UV protection to shield strands from sun damage.
- Deep Conditioners: Opt for conditioners that help seal the cuticle, such as those containing proteins and ceramides.
- Natural Oils: Regularly applying natural oils like jojoba or argan can help maintain moisture and smooth the cuticles.
Is Roughness Related to Porosity?
Rough hair and hair porosity are related but distinct characteristics that can occur separately or together, depending on hair conditions. Let’s clarify:
- Hair Porosity: Refers to the hair’s ability to absorb and retain moisture. Porous hair has raised cuticles that allow rapid water absorption but also rapid loss, which can lead to issues like dryness and frizz.
- Hair Roughness: It’s the coarse texture of hair strands. This can be caused by irregular or damaged cuticles that don’t reflect light properly, giving a dull and rough appearance to hair.
While porous hair tends to be more prone to roughness due to its ability to easily lose moisture and essential nutrients, not all porous hair is necessarily rough. Similarly, rough hair can be caused by factors other than porosity, such as mechanical damage, lack of adequate hydration, or inappropriate products.
Therefore, while porosity can contribute to roughness, it’s not the sole cause. It’s important to correctly diagnose your hair’s needs to implement proper care that will help improve both porosity and rough texture, if necessary.
What about Curly Hair? Does it relate to these problems?
Yes, curly hair can be more prone to porosity and roughness due to its unique structure. The structure of curly hair tends to be more fragile due to the natural curvature of the strands, which can affect the distribution of natural oils along the hair.
To care for curly hair and minimize issues like porosity and roughness, it’s important to adopt a hair care routine that includes:
- Deep Hydration: Regularly use moisturizing masks and conditioners to help seal the cuticle and retain moisture in the strands.
- Damage Protection: Avoid excessive heat use and protect hair from environmental damage such as sun and pollution by using products with UV protection and antioxidants.
- Proper Nutrition: Opt for products formulated for curly hair that help maintain strand structure and promote overall hair health.
When dealing with issues like rough and porous hair, it’s essential to adopt a hair care routine that includes deep hydration, protection against external damage, and the use of suitable products to restore the health and beauty of your hair.
Consistency is key to achieving noticeable results. Hair care schedules are great allies in this regard. With these simple practices, you’ll be on the right path to smoother, shinier, and healthier hair.