SHEfinds | Justine Ingersoll Schwartz
If you beat up your hair half as much as I do – with heating tools, dye, etc. – it’s probably not as healthy as, say, when you were a kid. Our hair does take a daily beating – we overwash it, use too-hot blow-dryers, pull it back in too-tight ponytails, get it colored with harsh chemicals, or do straightening treatments. If you’re wondering whether your hair is healthy – say, healthy enough to get it colored without having tons of breakage – there is a quick test that you can do. It only takes a few seconds and involves a glass of water. What is it?
The trick is to pluck a strand of hair from your head and place it in a cup of water. According to Skinny Mom, if the strand floats, it means you’re good and the hair is healthy. If it sinks, it means that it’s highly porous. High porosity means that water is able to push through the cuticle. Some of us just have naturally high porosity, but for others, it’s a sign of damage. (It’s also the cause of frizzy hair and fading color.)
