Hair porosity refers to your hair’s ability to absorb and retain moisture.
It plays a crucial role in how well your hair responds to products, hydration, and overall care.
Understanding whether your hair has low, medium, or high porosity helps you choose the right haircare routine, ensuring that your strands stay moisturized, strong, and healthy.
What are the levels of hair porosity?
Low porosity hair
Low porosity hair has tightly packed cuticles, making it difficult for moisture to penetrate. While this hair type retains moisture well, it can struggle with absorbing water and hair products, leading to buildup. Key characteristics of low porosity hair include:
• Water beads up on the surface instead of soaking in.let
• Products tend to sit on the hair rather than absorb.
• Hair takes a long time to dry.
Best care tips: Use lightweight, water-based products and apply heat when deep conditioning to help open the cuticles for better moisture absorption.
Medium porosity hair
Medium (or normal) porosity hair has a balanced cuticle structure, allowing moisture to enter and stay in the hair shaft efficiently. This hair type requires less maintenance and responds well to most products. Signs of medium porosity hair include:
• Hair easily absorbs and retains moisture.
• Minimal frizz and good elasticity.
• Holds styles well without becoming too dry or greasy.
Best care tips: Maintain hydration with regular deep conditioning and avoid excessive heat or chemical treatments that can alter the cuticle structure.
High porosity hair
High porosity hair has raised or damaged cuticles, making it easy for moisture to enter but just as easy for it to escape. This hair type is often prone to frizz, dryness, and breakage. Key indicators include:
• Hair quickly absorbs moisture but dries out fast.
• Prone to tangling, frizz, and breakage.
• Often damaged due to heat, chemicals, or environmental factors.
Best care tips: Use protein treatments to strengthen hair, seal moisture with heavier oils or butters, and avoid excessive heat styling.
How to test your hair porosity
1. The water test: Drop a clean strand of hair into a glass of water. If it floats, you have low porosity; if it sinks slowly, it’s medium porosity; if it sinks immediately, it’s high porosity.
2. The slide test: Run your fingers up a strand of hair from tip to root. If it feels smooth, it’s low porosity; slightly bumpy, it’s medium; very rough, it’s high.
Conclusion
Knowing your hair’s porosity helps you tailor your haircare routine for better moisture retention and healthier strands. Whether low, medium, or high porosity, the right techniques and products can enhance your hair’s hydration and overall health.
