Hair porosity is your hair's ability to retain moisture and understanding it is important in your quest for gorgeous locks. "High porosity tends to need strength and moisture, while medium and low porosity tend to need more moisture than strength," explains Campbell. "If you use strength on low porosity hair that really needs moisture, it could result in a protein overload and cause even more dryness leading to breakage."
The bottom line? Listen to your hair, give it a water porosity test and cater to the characteristics of the cuticle.
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All products have a shelf life and not all shampoos are created equal. When you use an inferior product, you're hindering your hair's true potential. Ferrara recommends checking with your stylist. "Salon-quality products are more concentrated than their chain store counterparts so you can use less per shampoo."
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Co-washing is the process of skipping shampoo and only using conditioner on your hair in the shower. "It's known that anyone who loves their waves, curls and coils is afraid to lose moisture so they tend to co-wash. Over time this can create a buildup on the hair strand and block out moisture and hydration," warns Campbell.
Instead, occasionally clarify your strands to create a clean and receptive slate.
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Hot showers are notoriously brutal on our skin and our strands. They tend to rinse away too much oil and can open our hair cuticles up, making them susceptible to damage. We get it, though. Sometimes a nice steamy shower is a requirement. But Gharring is a huge proponent of the cool blast rinse. It helps seal cuticles for shinier, healthier strands.
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