Knowing your hair’s porosity will change your life! It’s one of the most simple concepts necessary for all naturals or to-be-naturals to know, yet it’s not as talked about as much as hair type is (you know, the 3A, 3B, 3C, 4A, 4B, 4C). Natural hair type doesn’t tell us nearly as much about what our hair needs as porosity does.

Hair type doesn’t tell you which moisturizing oils are best, which conditioners are best, which deep treatments are best etc. Two people can have the 4C hair type, but may need COMPLETELY different hair products for their hair. You can’t look at a YouTuber or Blogger and grab the products they’re using right away without knowing their porosity. So, as you can now figure, this is very important homies.

What exactly is hair porosity?

Porosity is your hair’s ability to absorb and retain moisture

So what’s the big deal? Well, in order to grow healthy (and long) hair that is less prone to dryness which leads to breakage, you need what…drum roll….PROPERLY MOISTURIZED HAIR. This is especially for natural black hair. In order to properly moisturize hair you need to make sure you not only ADD moisture to your hair but that it is actually RETAINED i.e. your hair keeps the moisture locked in.

There are 3 different hair porosity ‘levels’. Low, normal, and high.

Low Porosity

Hair cuticles on low porosity hair are closed and so moisture does not enter easily. A quick sign for low porosity hair is products that feel as though they are just sitting on your hair and not absorbed. See test below to figure out if this is you!

Key tips:

• Use heat to open up the cuticles to let the moisture in. How, well, warm water washes, and warm deep conditioning sessions. Simple! Use a deep conditioning cap or home hooded dryer to create warmth for your deep conditions and/or treatments.
• Make sure to still close the cuticles after a warm wash by rinsing with cool water.
• Deep condition every wash day
• Invest in a satin cap for sleeping
• Best oils or products for low porosity hair: Light oils are best, such as coconut oil, sweet almond oil, grapeseed oil, jojoba oil, avocado oil.
• Ease up on the products, your hair is prone to build up so don’t layer on product on top of product.
• Low porosity hair is protein sensitive. Avoid using a lot of protein on your hair,  those protein treatments that look really good? Nah, not for you. Unless really necessary once or twice a year. Stick to moisture treatments.

Normal Porosity

This one is porosity goals really! You hair is not problematic. It absorbs and retains moisture well and you don’t really have a problem with dryness – unless you leave the hair for dead of course 😀 It’s obvious you still got to take care of it.

High Porosity

As you can see in the image above, high porosity hair has cuticles that are lifted and so absorbs moisture quickly but also looses it quickly. Some end up with high porosity after heat or chemical damage to their hair. Signs of high porosity hair are things like finding that your hair dries really quickly after washes or moisturizer, looks dull and feels especially dry.

Key tips:

• Protein treatments are great – doing one once a month will do you some good!
• Deep condition more often,  bi-weekly is advised.
• Make sure to still close the cuticles after by rinsing your washes with cool water.
• Use leave-in conditioners and heavier products like butters to seal the moisture in.
• Best oils/ or products for high porosity hair: Olive oil, Castor Oil, Shea Butter, Hemp-seed oil, coconut oil.
• Rinse with Apple Cider Vinegar to flatten the cuticle and seal the moisture in.
• Aloe Vera Gel or Juice is also great – on it’s own or added to your leave-in conditioner.
• Avoid using heat on your hair and excessive coloring.

So wait, how do you find out what your hair porosity is!!!? Simple really.

HAIR POROSITY TEST

1. Grab a tall glass of water
2. Extract a strand of hair from your head – must use clean hair. Hair with product is said to possibly alter results.
3. Drop this strand inside the water and watch it for a minute or two.

Results:

Ideally, hair should absorb moisture at a slow pace. The rate at which the hair sinks is basically indicative of the rate at which it absorbs moisture. The faster the hair absorbs moisture, the more porous it is. In other words, if it sinks to the bottom quickly, the cuticles are open and absorb lots of moisture immediately. If the hair floats, the cuticles are shut and are not letting the moisture in.

• Low Porosity hair will float at the top of the glass
• Medium porosity will slowly sink and be about halfway through the glass when you check in a minute.
• High Porosity will have sunk to/near the bottom of the glass.

Once you know this, you may find that you have been moisturizing correctly by chance, or from intuition and knowing what works for your hair. Otherwise, if you’ve been having problems with your hair, then you’ll have to adjust your hair regimen accordingly to suit your hair’s porosity.

P.S. I have low porosity.

So, what;s your hair porosity? Share with me & other readers in the comments and let us know what has or hasn’t worked for you! Got questions? Let me know. You already know.

• In arid environments, the dry air tends to suck moisture from your hair. In this case, you’ll need to use anti-humectants to protect your hair from drying out. Olive oil and jojoba oil are a few anti-humectants you can try.
• If you live in a humid climate, use humectants which draw moisture in from the air to moisturize your hair. Some natural humectants are honey and glycerin. However, if you hate frizz, don’t use humectants even in humid environments.

STYLING: Speaking of humidity and frizz- use them to your advantage! Summer might not be the perfect time for a blowout, but it is a great time to rock an afro, puffs, or other voluminous styles. Pay attention to how your hair reacts to humidity, and use that knowledge to try different styles and celebrate your natural hair.

PRODUCTS: Use lighter products in the summer, and less of them. Since you sweat more in the summer, limiting product buildup on your scalp will keep you from needing to wash your hair all the time, and will keep your hair from looking weighed down.

SHAMPOO: Even using less products in the summer, you might need to shampoo more often than normal, depending on how active your lifestyle is. Use a sulfate-free, clarifying shampoo after outdoor activities like swimming, hiking, running, biking, etc… anything that results in sweat, saltwater, or chlorine coming in contact with your hair. If you do these activities more than once a week, use co-wash on some days. We recommend Natural Cleansing Avocado Shampoo, which cleans your hair and scalp without stripping moisture.

SWIMMING: Coat your hair with oil prior to swimming. This limits the amount of chlorine or saltwater your hair will absorb (both chlorine and saltwater dry out natural hair.) I also recommend putting your hair in twists, which further limits water absorption as well as tangles. After swimming, wash your hair thoroughly with shampoo or co-wash. If you swim often, integrate protein treatments into your regimen to maintain the strength of your hair.

MOISTURE: This one is simple: keep your hair moisturized. (Do I sound like a broken record yet?) The summer sun and heat tend to strip moisture away from your hair, and shampooing more often makes it worse. Use a moisturizer or leave-in conditioner every day, or try the LOC (liquid, oil, cream) method to keep your hair from drying out throughout the day.

• Hair dries out quickly, or struggles to maintain moisture more than other curl patterns
• Individuals can experience extreme shrinkage, sometimes up to 75%!
• Hair is prone to tangles and matting if not properly cared for and regularly detangled
• Hair is fragile and prone to breakage

• Two strand twists
• Twist outs
• Bantu knots
• Loose high & low Puff
• Afro
• Buns or space buns
• As with any other hair type, you can use clip ins, extensions, or crochet braids to switch up your look or add length.

A very warm welcome back to Limpho Style Bubble blog. I am back with another post on the topic of using oils to coconut oil for natural hair growth on black african hair 4cgrow natural hair. Today I will be focusing on coconut oil and its benefits for hair growth. I will try and break down some facts on coconut, and will asses some questions along the lines of: Can coconut oil grow natural hair? What type of coconut oil is best for hair growth? The benefits of coconut oil for natural hair, and my experience using coconut oil for natural hair growth.

No doubt there is already a wealth of opinions about coconut oil on web and whether or not it can grow hair. So I will base this article on scientific factual information, combined with my experience using coconut oil.

Don’t forget to follow me on Youtube (Miss Lydia Foxy) , Instagram (@miss_lydiafoxy & @lpfoxy)

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Can I Use Coconut Oil to Grow Natural Hair on 4C Afro Hair?

Proper hair care is essential to improve hair growth and it has been noted that when applied regularly, coconut oil stimulates hair growth by getting deep into the hair follicles. As with castor oil, coconut oil does not directly grow hair, rather it is the nutrients found in the oil that helps to prevents hair breakage, split ends and other problems that make your hair does not grow properly. The oils simply act as a barrier or shield to protect the hair, and adds luster, shine and softness to the hair. This oil barrier often results in less breakage and ultimately healthier hair. So when used over a period of time, this barrier also contributes to longer hair length.
Coconut oil also acts as a deep conditioner, free of frizz and prevents split ends. It has linoleic acid that helps keep hair well hydrated and maintain its elasticity. It also contains oleic acid that helps to get thicker and stronger hair in a natural way.

My Experience Using Coconut Oil for Natural Hair Growth On Black Hair?

So what is my experience using coconut oil? The first thing I noticed was that when applied, it just glided through my hair. It also made my hair feel very soft. Bear in mind I used organic natural coconut oil I had bought at Shoprite, that literally smelt of coconut.

The good thing about coconut oil is that a little goes a long way, and it was probably the only oil I just applied directly to my hair without having to mix to other oils. Castor oil was very thick and I had to blend it with Moringa oil to give it a better consistency.

When using oils, it is best applied to the scalp not the hair. Once applied to the scalp it will naturally flow to the rest of your hair to provide nourishment. However, with Coconut oil I was able to apply it to my hair without my hair feeling overly greasy, heavy or limp.

As for hair growth, I didn’t notice anything too magical. But for nourishment and moisture, it was certainly amazing.


Benefits of Coconut Oil to Grow Natural Hair | 4B & 4C Hair / Black African Hair / Afro Curly Hair

Thanks to its nutritional composition, coconut oil can be used in many hair care remedies, both for dandruff and breakage. It contains the following properties that, in addition to accelerating hair growth, will also provide us with the following hair benefits:


 It has a high content of antioxidants, which will protect the hair from free radicals and other harmful agents and, in turn, improve its softness and shine. 


 It has a high content of antioxidants, which will protect the hair from free radicals and other harmful agents and, in turn, improve its softness and shine. 


 It has has excellent antibacterial properties that help us ⦁ prevent and eliminate excess dandruff and other hair problems. 


 Coconut oil contains antifungal, antiviral and antibacterial properties that help prevent dandruff, lice and other hair problems. It also improves the hair cuticle and scalp health. 


 It is rich in essential fatty acids, including lauric acid and capric acid, which help to repair damaged hair and prevent hair breakage and split ends, that is, hair problems that slow down its growth. These essential fatty acids bind to the proteins in the hair and protect the roots and strands of hair from breaking that helps for effective hair growth. 


 It also contains linoleic acid that has moisturizing properties that will help the hair grow thicker and maintain its elasticity. 


 It contains vitamin E and K and minerals such as iron, which are essential nutrients for the growth of healthy hair. 


 Coconut oil when massaged into the scalp will effectively improve the blood circulation of the scalp and increase nutrients and also has the oxygen supply to the hair. 


 It can protect and moisturize the scalp while promoting healthy hair growth. It protects against environmental impurities and excess heat. 




Coconut Oil Hot Oil Treatment for Natural Hair Growth on Afro Hair
The best way to do a hot oil treatment with coconut oil is to combine it with fresh herbs. Here a simple step by step guide:
1. Fill a glass with coconut oil and then pour it into a saucepan to simmer until it melts. Avoid using the microwave, as it could burn the product.

2. Add some dried cassia leaves, nettle leaves and green tea leaves to the oil in the pan and leave the oil to cool down for 5 minutes. Once cooled, pour into a spray bottle.

3. Now that your coconut oil and herbs are ready, the next step is to moisten your hair with warm water.

4. Now you must apply the coconut oil throughout your hair, from the roots to the tips.

5. When you have all the hair full of product, massage your hair between 3 and 5 minutes so that the coconut oil penetrates better in the hair and, also, its excellent properties.

6. The next step is to wrap your hair, either with a shower cap or towel and let the product act for 1 hour. You can also leave it overnight while you sleep.

7. Once the time has passed, rinse your hair liberally with warm water until the coconut oil is removed.

For the coconut oil to give results, you must perform this procedure between 1 and 2 times per week.



Rinsing coconut oil with lemon juice.
Lemon has powerful restorative properties that are ideal especially for those hair that is especially damaged and, therefore, does not grow properly.
For this natural remedy, you should only add to 1 glass of coconut oil the juice of 1 whole lemon and stir everything until a homogeneous mixture remains. When you have the mixture, you should only apply it on the scalp giving a light massage and let it rest in your hair all night. The next day, rinse your hair thoroughly with cold water to properly remove the product.

Mask of coconut oil with avocado
Avocado is packed with various essential nutrients for hair growth that, in addition, also has moisturizing and regenerating properties that will deeply hydrate the hair fibers and prevent hair breakage.
To prepare this mask, you must heat 1 glass of coconut oil (as in the previous section) and mix it with the juice extracted from 1 ripe avocado until it forms a kind of paste or mask. Then, you should apply this paste throughout the hair, especially on the scalp, and let it sit for 20 minutes. Rinse with cold water and wash your hair regularly.

Coconut Oil With Castor Oil For Hair Growth
This combination is especially indicated for weak and damaged hair and to prevent hair loss, since it has powerful moisturizing and circulatory properties.
To use this remedy, mix 2 tablespoons of this oil in 1 cup of coconut oil , and liquid and stir well. Then, you’ll just have to apply it to your hair and let it sit on it for two hours. Finally, rinse your hair with cold water and wash your hair regularly.



Coconut Oil As a Hair Loss Treatment for African Hair

If you are experiencing unusual hair loss, or your hair is simply not growing keep in mind that hair growth will not only include your hair care in general, but it also depends on your health, diet, regular exercise and other hair care regimen. The application of coconut oil to the hair regularly, may only be of limited help. This is why I would advice to visit your GP or a trichologist to find out what is wrong.

Coconut oil will only help you to care for hair as it conditions, protects and moisturizes the scalp. But it is not a magical hair growth treatment.

Remember, that if your hair only seems to grow to a certain length and then stop, chances are you have flat hair follicles! Round follicles grip the hair better so have a better chance of growing hair longer while flat hair follicles are often associated with shorter hair lengths.

As your hair grows and gets longer it also gets heavier until the follicle gets too heavy to hold and sheds the hair. Don’t panic though – it will grow another! No matter whether you have regular hair cuts and conditioning hair treatments, how long your hair grows can sometimes be out of your hands.



Can I Use Coconut Oil to Stop Breakage On Natural Hair?
Breakage is temporary condition that can easily be rectified with deep conditioning. If your tips are dry, worn or in poor condition, your hair may benefit from using coconut oil regularly. When trying to identify the causes of breakage, always bear in mind that the scalp produces natural oils that maintain a certain level of moisture in the hair , but the level of care that the oils will have will depend on the type of hair.



More Tips On: How to Grow Natural Black Hair Fast

For more information on black hair growth, you can read my article on How to Grow Natural Hair Fast.
Which will be posted here next week Thursday.