01 / THE DETAILS
Porosity is more than a social-media test
Porosity describes how readily the hair fibre interacts with water and other substances, but its measurement is complex. The popular “float test” is not a reliable clinical or laboratory measurement of the full fibre. Surface wear, previous colour and even product residue can confuse simple home observations.
Researchers have measured changes in hair porosity after oxidative processing using controlled methods. That work supports assessing a fibre thoughtfully, not assigning a permanent “porosity personality” from a glass of water.
02 / THE DETAILS
What elasticity can suggest
Hair naturally stretches under load, especially when wet. An unusually gummy feel or breakage may raise concern after chemical services, but touch alone is not a definitive measurement of protein damage. Different diameters and curl patterns behave differently.
No single strand test certifies that another chemical treatment will be safe on the whole head. It is one piece of evidence in a bigger consultation.
03 / THE DETAILS
Use observations to guide care
I compare the condition of roots and ends, ask about products and processing, and consider whether a change in styling habits could help more than another salon treatment.
A personalized plan starts with what the hair is doing today and what you hope to do with it tomorrow.
Further reading
Research and technical reference:
View the published scientific source ↗Hair care product claims and individual responses vary. This article is educational and does not replace a personal professional assessment.