Getting Moisture into Low Porosity Hair

So you did the water test and placed your clean hair into a cup  of water and your hair did not sink! If you read the blog on  the-porosity-of-your-hair., your now know you have Low Porosity hair. I am sure your next thought is why? Low Porosity hair is when the cuticle layer is tightly-bound and closed.  Because of this, it is very difficult to get moisture into the hair.  But once it is moisturized properly, it holds moisture really well.   Low Porosity hair can be hereditary or from straightening damage.

The best was to get moisture into the hair is to slightly raise the cuticle. By adding warm water,  the hair the cuticle will raise. But as we discussed in our Understanding PH Balance blog we know that alkaline products will open the cuticles. Now let’s understand how the principles of PH can help get moisture into the hair.

Potential of Hydrogen, or pH, is the measurement of how acidic or alkali a substance is. It is judged on a scale between 0 and 14. Anything between 0 and 6.9 is acidic, 7 is neutral, and anything between 7.1 and 14 is alkaline. Human hair and scalp oil, sebum, has a pH balance of between 4.5 and 5.5.

Baking Soda has a PH balance of 9. A small amount of baking soda dissolved in warm water will help to open the cuticle. You only need about 1 teaspoon in a pint of water. Take the PH strips that we discussed in our last blog, and make sure that the rinse is between 7.5 and 8. Pour this rinse onto the hair and rinse with warm water. 

Now that the cuticles are slightly open add a good DC and oils and sit under the dryer or steamer for 20 minutes, once you have completed this,  rinse the hair. Take Apple cider vinegar  and cold water (1/4 tbsp. of ACV and 16 oz. cup of water) and pour over the hair. Rinse hair in warm water.  ACV is acidic, If you use cold water to make a rinse,  this process will close the cuticles. The ACV  rinse will also give you a great shine. Now Apply your LOC (Liquid/oil/cream) and you are ready for great moisturized hair! Below is a chart showing the PH Balance of products.

PH Value		Example
0		battery acid
1		concentrated sulfuric acid
2		lemon juice, vinegar
3		orange juice, soda
4		tomato juice, acid rain
5		black coffee, bananas
6		urine, milk
7		pure water
8		sea water, eggs
9		baking soda
10		Great Salt Lake, milk of magnesia
11		ammonia solution
12		soapy water
13		bleach, oven cleaner
14		liquid drain cleaner