During a porosity test, what does a rough strand indicate about the hair?

• A. Lower porosity
• B. Higher porosity and damaged cuticle
• C. No porosity
• D. Porosity not affected

Answer: (B)

Porosity describes how easily hair accepts and holds moisture, which is tightly linked to the condition of the cuticle. When a strand feels rough in a porosity check, it means the cuticle scales are lifted or damaged, creating openings that allow moisture to penetrate quickly. This signals higher porosity, since exposed gaps between the scales let water and chemicals in more readily. Hair with high porosity also tends to lose moisture faster and can be more vulnerable to further damage from chemical processing or heat. So a rough strand is a sign of higher porosity and a damaged cuticle, rather than low porosity or no porosity.