Iowa Cosmetology Practice Exam

Porosity in hair refers to the hair's ability to absorb moisture or chemicals. This characteristic is crucial for understanding how hair behaves in response to various treatments such as coloring, perming, or conditioning. Hair with high porosity has gaps and holes in the cuticle layer, allowing it to absorb moisture easily but also making it prone to damage and frizz. On the other hand, low porosity hair has a tightly closed cuticle, which resists moisture absorption but tends to be more resilient.

Understanding porosity helps stylists select appropriate products and treatments to maintain hair health. For example, highly porous hair may benefit from more intensive moisturizing treatments, while low porosity hair may require lighter products that won't weigh it down.