West Virginia Barber Written Practice Exam 2025 – Complete Study Resource

The term that describes the hair's ability to absorb moisture is porosity. Porosity refers to the condition of the hair's cuticle and how open or closed it is, which ultimately affects how much moisture can be absorbed. Hair that is highly porous has cuticles that are more open, allowing for greater moisture infiltration and retention. This can occur in hair that has been treated chemically, such as with dyes or relaxers. On the other hand, low porosity hair has a tighter cuticle layer that can make it more resistant to absorbing moisture.

Understanding porosity is crucial for selecting appropriate hair care products and treatments. For example, individuals with highly porous hair may benefit from moisturizing products that help to seal in moisture, while those with low porosity may need to use products that can penetrate the hair shaft more effectively.

In contrast, elasticity relates to the hair's ability to stretch and return to its original length without breaking, density refers to the amount of hair strands on the scalp, and texture describes the diameter and overall feel of the hair strands. These aspects, while important in hair care, do not define the hair’s capacity to absorb moisture like porosity does.