It’s time to put your hair to the test. Will you sail through or sink to the bottom. Yes, that’s literally what the test is. Before we go any further, let’s put your nerves at ease. Whatever may be the result, the damage is not permanent. We have a miraculous solution for those of you who are disappointed with your result, and also for those of you who sail through, to continue sailing.

The Float Test:

Take a couple of strands of your hair and put them into a glass of water. Now, let it sit for 2-4 minutes without moving the glass. Is the hair floating or has it sunk to the bottom? If your hair sunk to the bottom, almost immediately, that means it is highly porous. If it’s partly floating and partly sunk, then it’s slightly porous and if your hair stays floating, then it has low porosity. In essence, if you are in the third category, then you have sailed through the float test.

What Does It Mean:

The higher the porosity of the hair, the drier and damaged it is. This means it absorbs the moisture around and will dry up quickly and get frizzy. It’s probably best to start nourishing your hair and avoid any chemical treatments until it gets healthier. If your hair is not entirely floating or sinking, then you’re at risk of damage but still, have some amount of health. Avoid heavy treatments and it’s never a bad time to start pampering your tresses. As for those of you that have floating hair, you can give yourselves a pat on the back. You have sailed through to hair success.

No matter which category you may belong to, going from one to the other can happen faster and easier than you may assume. To stay afloat, indulge in regular coconut oil hair massages. Coconut oil, as a recent study shows, has the ability to block excess porosity by going 10 layers deep into the hair shaft and protecting it by building a blocking layer. It also works wonders at restoring hair health by preventing protein loss, the main ingredient that makes up your locks. All in all, have no fear, so long as coconut oil is near.

About the author– Dr. Rinky Kapoor, Consultant Dermatologist, Cosmetic Dermatologist & Dermato-Surgeon, TheEsthetic Clinics & Fortis Hospitals, Mumbai, India