Checking out the hair's feel, smell, and sight can help you determine the condition of the hair you are working with. An effective and efficient cosmetologist must master this in order to give the best service possible. Other important factors in hair analysis is texture, porosity and elasticity. Hair Texture refers to the coarsness or fineness of the hair, which can differ on different parts of one head. Coarse hair has greater diameter than fine hair.
Hair Porosity is the ability of the hair to absorb moisture regardless of texture. This term is also referred to as the hygroscopic quality. Good porosity is the ability to absorb a fair or normal amount of moisture. Poor porosity is the resistant hair, where the cutlicles are layed so flat that the hair's ability to absorb moisture takes longer. Extreme porosity is damaged hair that gets too wet too quickly and absorbs chemicals rather quickly as well. Take very special care not to overprocess this kind of hair.
Elasticity is the ability of the hair to stretch and return to its normal form without breaking. Hair with normal elasticity is springy and gives a live and lustrous appearance. Wet hair can be stretched 40-50% of its length. Dry hair can stretch 1/5 its length.