It just soaks it up

[tatje]

What do you do when your hair just soaks up every moisturizer so quickly and becomes dry again? erplexed

 

[InnerSoul]

to me it just means that your hair really needed it. I would just reapply it more often and also I sometime spray with water first if my hair is just too dry if I am not washing it that day... then apply moisturizer and seal with just a dab or two with oils.

 

[NantanYah]

I'd add my leave-in (I like Abba nourishing), then use my homemade spray of EVOO and distilled water, to constantly spray as needed. I have natural 4b hair that loves this concoction!

 

[tatje]

The crazy thing about it is that I don't really have crazy breakage or even normal breakage. I'm good when it comes to that but my hair will look and feel dry. It's like I just gave you some moisture now calm down......that's my conversation with my hair.

 

[tiffers]

Have you tried ORS Olive Oil? That's really good. I've also read good things about Hollywood Beauty Carrot Cream and Elasta QP Mango Butter. Do you seal with oil? Maybe you could carry a small spray bottle with water and conditioner and spritz throughout the day.

 

[tatje]

I did the whole water thing before and my hair just dries out after that and I baggie. I feel like my hair is spoiled and such a baby. All this money and time I spent on it, it wants more. But I still love it though.

 

[InnerSoul]

I did the whole water thing before and my hair just dries out after that and I baggie. I feel like my hair is spoiled and such a baby. All this money and time I spent on it, it wants more. But I still love it though.

well whatever u are doing... u r doing something right.. because your hair in your avatar is pretty!

 

[tatje]

well whatever u are doing... u r doing something right.. because your hair in your avatar is pretty!

Thank you, even though it's dry.

 

[PinkPebbles]

Try the C-C-O-W-C Method...Cinnabuns thread. This really worked for me and a lot of other ladies on this forum.

 

[SohoHair]

What do you do when your hair just soaks up every moisturizer so quickly and becomes dry again? erplexed

It means your hair is too porous, although it's soaking up moisture it's also not holding on to this moisture well. Think of an old sponge. I would reccomend an ACV rinse or using Porosity Control.

 

[tatje]

It means your hair is too porous, although it's soaking up moisture it's also not holding on to this moisture well. Think of an old sponge. I would reccomend an ACV rinse or using Porosity Control.

What does porous mean? Is that the same thing as clarifing? Thanks.

 

[destiny616]

What does porous mean? Is that the same thing as clarifing? Thanks.

information posted by sistaslick taken from this thread
http://www.longhaircareforum.com/showthread.php?t=94325&highlight=porosity

Porosity​

Porosity refers to the ability or inability of hair to absorb water or chemicals into the cortex. All hair is naturally porous and permeable to water. Our hair has the ability to absorb up to 50% of its weight in water. This absorption and lengthening is why wet hair feels heavier than dried hair. Think of a sponge with holes in it. These holes would be called pores. When the sponge is fresh and new, it is able to absorb a good amount of water and hold the moisture inside very well. As the sponge ages, the pores (holes) become distorted, widen, and lose shape. These changes make the sponge super absorbent, yet less able hold the moisture it once could. The older sponge is said to be more porous or have greater porosity than the new sponge.


There are two main conditions that aggravate the physical integrity of the cuticle layer, and thus the hair’s porosity level. The first is soundness of each scale along cuticle layer, the second is the general spatial arrangement of scales relative to one another. In general, the hair becomes more and more porous as you follow it from the scalp to the ends of the hair.


The soundness of the hair scales refers to the smoothness of each individual cuticle scale surface. Damaged scales are chipped, weathered, and may even have holes in them. The more damage an individual scale has, the more porous this scale will be.

The second porosity factor is the relative spatial arrangement of the scales. Lifted scales are porous simply because they are not lying flat. The constant lifting and closing of the cuticle layers over time increases the overall porosity of the hair. This is why the ends of the hair are typically the most porous. The cuticle layers at this site have simply been opening and closing longer. The porosity situation is compounded if the individual scales themselves are relatively porous.


Porosity Extremes

Hair porosity is affected by excessive exposure to mechanical abuse from heat styling tools, the sun, chemical relaxers and colors, and the continued use of sulfate-rich shampoos. The more damage the cuticle has endured, the greater the porosity. Extremely porous hair can absorb up to 40-50% of its weight in water, and generally, the more porous your hair is, the more water or moisture it tends to absorb. Seems great though, right? Not quite. The down side of this high level of absorption is the subsequent high level of moisture loss that results from it. Highly porous hair absorbs more water when wet, but also loses even more as it dries. When fully dried, this porous hair feels swollen, puffy, and rough to the touch due to the raised, damaged cuticle layers and inherent moisture deficiency.

Keeping this type of hair moisturized is a feat, as it tends to continuously soak in moisture without ever actually feeling moisturized. Such hair is chronically dry. It will not stay moisturized unless proper measures are taken to correct the issue.

Poor porosity refers to hair that does not readily absorb moisture and resists chemical treatments. It is ideal to have hair somewhere in the middle of the two porosity extremes, hair with good porosity that retains moisture well and accepts chemical treatments.

Checking for Porosity
It is best to measure your level of porosity on freshly cleaned and dried hair. Gently grasp pieces of your hair between index finger and thumb, and slowly slide your fingers along the length of the strand, from the scalp to the ends. (Now, I've read some places where they say slide the fingers from tips up toward the scalp- but something about that seems kind of damaging to me. It would raise the cuticles up unnecessarily by going against the grain, IMO) If you feel “bumps” or an overall uneven texture as you proceed down the shaft, your cuticles are not flat and your hair is slightly porous. Most individuals who have relaxed or color treated their hair will exhibit some degree of porosity to the strands. Hair that “wets” easily as you prepare it for washing is typically porous.


Porosity Implications for the Relaxed and Color Treated

Relaxed and colored treated hair uses alkaline chemicals and/or heat to force open the cuticle layers to reach the inner cortex. The main problem with chemical treatments is that they tend increase the porosity of the hair by both means--- eating away at and degrading the cuticle layers as well as causing them to lift beyond their normal orientation. The cuticle layers do eventually close on their own, but if the damage is repeated too often (back to back coloring, too frequent relaxing, heat abuse) the cuticle layers may never fully close. For this reason, relaxed hair has an inherent element of increased porosity to it.

Protein and Clear Rinses for Scale Damage
The prevailing problems with porous hair are the issues of individual scale damage and the raised cuticles. If you could somehow patch the scale damage and close these cuticles layers, even a little, you will resolve a majority of your porosity issues.

The best way to patch up damaged cuticle layers is simply through light protein conditioning or a clear color rinse (which also contain proteins that bind and patch up the hair shaft). Protein fills in gaps and binds to damaged places along to the cuticle, mending individual exterior scales. Regular protein conditioning improves the hair’s porosity by reinforcing the cuticle layers and allowing the hair shaft to better hold on to the moisture its given. You don't want to get too excited with the protein though b/c this can make the hair even drier. Products with wheat protein, like Kenra Moisturizing Conditioner are good for shoring up the cuticle without leaving the hair too crunchy. Remember, nothing can PERMANENTLY repair hair that is damaged, but treatments go a long way for shoring up the weak spots and temporarily managing problems.

Acidic Conditioning Rinses for Restoring Proper Cuticle Orientation
Remember from earlier how low pH’s help close the hair cuticle? There is a connection here. Some porosity problems can be temporarily resolved by applying a low pH solution or product. A weekly acidic rinse with Apple cider vinegar, a low pH shampoo and conditioner, even a simple cleansing with a neutralizing shampoo can help correct a porosity problem and help tighten and close the cuticle layers. Some good ones to try are Roux Porosity Control shampoo and conditioner, and Zotos Porosity Equalizer. I personally just stick with ACV rinses.

 

[SohoHair]

What does porous mean? Is that the same thing as clarifing? Thanks.

It is not the same thing as clarifying. It means that your hair's cuticle is not regulated and it is allowing too much water in and out. It's like the skin on your face. You have thousands of pores (holes) there but if they are too big your skin will look rough and filled with blackheads. Your hair's porosity is determined by the cuticle (the outer most layer). If your cuticle is raised or porous it will not be able to hold moisture in.

Your hair's cuticle is regulated by it's pH. Hair's pH should be around 4.5-5.5. Water has a pH of 7 and most hair products have a pH of 7 or above. Relaxers have a pH between 10-13. Consequently you will need to lower your hair's pH every now and then to keep your cuticle smooth and your hair's porosity where it should be. ACV rinses and porosity control (which has a pH of 4.5) can help with this. If you do a search on here you should come up with lot's of info on how to use both of them effectively.

 

[Britt]

I think true moisture comes from good conditioning...everything else is secondary. I'd suggest that you try deep conditioning 2x a week with heat for about 15 minutes with a moisturizing conditioner. Eventually, your hair's moisture levels should be restored.

 

[bablou00]

when this happens to me I clarify then I use Porosity control and my hair is back to normal in no time.

 

[stargazer613]

ACV rinses have definitely helped my hair! mine used to be extremely porous, and I have noticed a huge difference since I've been rinsing with ACV with each wash (about every two weeks).
Out of all of the oils I've used on my hair, I would say coconut oil is the only one that my hair doesn't soak up. Coconut oil actually helps keep my hair moisturized all day long. HTH

 

[~*~ShopAholic~*~]

Just what I was about to advise.

It means your hair is too porous, although it's soaking up moisture it's also not holding on to this moisture well. Think of an old sponge. I would reccomend an ACV rinse or using Porosity Control.

 

[LaReyna756]

I would try a clarifying shampoo every few weeks. Your hair may be feeling dry due to product buildup. What kind of moisturizer are you using?

 

[LocksOfLuV]

What are you using (I can't believe no one asked this yet)?

Is it cold where you are?

How often are you using heat?

Are you due for a deep conditioning? When was the last time?

 

[Cleve_gryl]

I think true moisture comes from good conditioning...everything else is secondary. I'd suggest that you try deep conditioning 2x a week with heat for about 15 minutes with a moisturizing conditioner. Eventually, your hair's moisture levels should be restored.

I co-sign

 

[newflowers]

I feel like my hair is spoiled and such a baby. All this money and time I spent on it, it wants more. But I still love it though.

I have children like that...

 

[tatje]

I just wanted to say thank you to everyone who gave great advice. Now I gotta go get porsity control. Thanks.

 

[tatje]

What are you using (I can't believe no one asked this yet)?

Is it cold where you are?

How often are you using heat?

Are you due for a deep conditioning? When was the last time?

Hi LocksOfLuuv,

The winter is almost over. It is cold.
I use a moisturizing shampoo and always deep condition as well as moisture and seal with jam oil. A majority of the time I baggie.
I only use heat for deep conditioning and touch up pictures. Thats it.
I deep condition once a week and condition wash once a week.

 

[Supergirl]

Tatje,

I have had times when I moisturized my hair and it feels moisturized for a little while (maybe up to a day) and then it feels dry, noticeably dry. It seems that when this happens to me, my hair isn't sucking up the moisture. Rather, it is not holding on to it. This is when I know my hair needs a protein treatment. The hair needs protein in order to hold on to moisture.

 

[HoneyDew]

Tatje,

I have had times when I moisturized my hair and it feels moisturized for a little while (maybe up to a day) and then it feels dry, noticeably dry. It seems that when this happens to me, my hair isn't sucking up the moisture. Rather, it is not holding on to it. This is when I know my hair needs a protein treatment. The hair needs protein in order to hold on to moisture.

SG, I just discovered this about my hair. When my hair needs protein, it does not handle moisture well. I actually do regular protein now and it has been great.