How well do you know your hair?

Do you know your hair type?

Getting to know the different qualities of your hair, including texture, density and porosity can help you choose styles and products that best suit your hair.

Hair density

Hair density is the number of strands cover your head, categorised as low, medium or high.

Looking in a mirror, use your fingertips or a comb to part your (dry) hair in the middle. Look at your hair roots and your scalp, consider how much of your scalp can you see in an area the size of a square centimetre. You don’t need to count individual strands, but you can get to know how dense your hair is by how much skin you can see.

High density: if you don’t see much scalp.
Medium density: if you see some scalp.
Low density: if you see a lot of scalp.

Hair texture

Hair texture refers to the thickness of individual hair strands, categorised as fine, medium or thick.

Wash and dry your hair, then cut a length of regular sewing thread (15-20cm long). Pull out a full strand of dry hair and place side by side with the length of thread on a sheet of white paper. Compare the hair strand to the thread, stretch out and tape down a really curly strand of hair.

Thin hair: hair strand is thinner than the thread piece.
Medium hair: hair strand is about the same thickness as the thread.
Thick hair: hair strand is thicker than the piece of thread.

Hair porosity

Hair porosity is the ability of your hair to absorb moisture and hold on it, categorised as low, medium or high porosity. The focus of healthy hair is moisture and understanding your hair’s porosity and the products that will cater to its needs are important.

Wash your hair using shampoo and conditioner, then towel dry a little until not dripping wet. Feel chunks of hair in your hands from the roots to the ends, gently squeezing to feel the moisture. Consider your hair’s density with this test. If you have very dense hair, then it will naturally take longer to dry, as it is more compact in comparison to low density hair.

Low porosity: your hair feels almost dry, your hair has not retained much moisture and tends to repel moisture. This type of hair is often hard to process since it resists penetration of chemicals. It is also prone to a build up of products which can leave it feeling stiff and straw-like. This is because the hair cuticles are tightly bound, making it challenging for moisture and chemicals to effectively penetrate and be released.

Medium porosity: your hair is wet but not sticky, then your hair retains and allows in a normal amount of moisture. This type of hair often requires the least amount of maintenance, holds styles well and can be permed or coloured with predictable results. However over time these processes can damage your hair and increase its porosity.

High porosity: your hair feels sticky, like the water will take a long time to leave your hair, your hair readily absorbs moisture – but can also lose moisture quickly. High porosity hair has gaps and holes in the cuticle, which allow it to quickly absorb moisture and chemicals while also quickly releasing them. This type of hair can be a result of genetics, damage from chemical processing, rough treatment (for example heat usage) or environmental damage. Leave-in conditioning and moisturising products can help hair with high porosity.

Another test of porosity involves watching what happens when you float a strand of hair in a bowl of water.

Low porosity: if the strand floats and does not sink at all.
Medium porosity: if the strand sinks after a while.
High porosity: if the strand sinks to the bottom of the bowl quickly.

Consultations at No 11 The Salon

Getting to know your hair’s thickness, density and porosity will allow you to choose techniques, products and styles that can help your hair look – and feel – amazing!

The team at No 11 The Salon can help you determine your hair type and will gladly recommend styles and techniques that will best suit your hair’s texture, density and porosity.

Treatments to improve hair condition

The No 11 team can also recommend treatments that will help improve the porosity – and therefore the overall condition – of your hair. In particular, this can dramatically improve the results of colour treated hair. Recommended treatments include:

Kerasilk treatments

A range of intensive and luxurious treatments that repair the hair internally. The treatment penetrates into the hair and creates new keratin bonds to re-shape the hair structure. The surface is long-lasting smoothened and softened.

Cost £15. The treatment takes an extra 15-30 minutes on your appointment time.

Bond pro treatments

A range of preventative treatments, that, if added to colour or bleach prevent any damage happening within the colour process. Alternatively can be used as a standalone nourishing treatment on extremely damaged/over processed hair. Bond Pro+ strengthens the hair fibre, prevents breakage and protects hair from damage.

Cost £15. The treatment takes an extra 15-20minutes on your appointment time.

Dual Senses 60 second treatment – NEW!

An express treatment that instantly makes your hair feel – and look – better. A nourishing care treatment which provides a visibly enhanced shine and a smooth, silky hair feeling.

Cost £5. The treatment takes an extra 5 minutes on your appointment time.

Hair density, Hair porosity, Hair texture, Hair treatments, Know your hair