Final answer:
Non-porous hair has a tight cuticle which makes it resistant to coloring. This means that the hair has a low porosity, impacting how it absorbs moisture and reacts to hair care products and chemical processes.
Step-by-step explanation:
When the cuticle is tight and the hair is resistant to color, it indicates that the hair is non-porous. Non-porous hair has a cuticle layer that is tightly packed and lies flat, making it difficult for moisture or chemicals, such as hair dye, to penetrate. In contrast, porous hair absorbs moisture and color more easily because the cuticle layers are raised or damaged. The condition of being non-porous applies to both natural characteristics of hair as well as to how it may react to chemical processes like coloring or perming.
A non-porous hair characteristic means that the hair has a low porosity, which requires different hair care techniques and products than for hair with higher porosity. For example, non-porous hair may require longer processing times during coloring or the use of more alkaline products to open the cuticle layer effectively. It is essential for stylists to assess the porosity of a client’s hair accurately to achieve the desired coloring results and maintain hair health.