What degree of porosity is associated with permed, colored, chemically relaxed, and straightened hair?

High porosity is associated with permed, colored, chemically relaxed, and straightened hair because these chemical processes tend to lift the cuticle scales of the hair, allowing for increased absorption of water and products. When hair undergoes chemical treatments, the structural integrity is compromised, resulting in gaps and spaces between the cuticle layers. This damage allows moisture to enter easily but also contributes to moisture loss, making the hair more prone to dryness and frizz. In contrast, low porosity hair has a tighter cuticle layer, limiting moisture absorption, and medium porosity hair is characterized by a balanced capacity for moisture retention. Variable porosity refers to hair that has different porosity levels in various sections, which is not specifically applicable to hair that has undergone uniform chemical processes. Thus, high porosity accurately describes the condition of chemically treated hair.