“Huh? Hair porosity?”

Yes, hair porosity is a thing.

It is simply the ability for the hair to absorb and retain moisture.

This is important because knowing the porosity of the hair will help to determine the best ways to maintain, style, hydrate, deep condition and take care of the hair.

Knowing the hair porosity will save you a lot of time, money and headache; because not all products work the same for all hair porosities.

Hair porosity is broken down into three categories – Low, Medium (or normal) and High.

Low porosity hair cuticles are flat and tight, like the framework of a roof on a house, making it difficult for water and product to absorb inside.

Medium or normal porosity hair cuticles are slightly raised, making it the easiest to manage and requiring the least maintenance.

High porosity hair cuticles are extremely permeable and raised, making it easy for product and moisture to get in, but product and moisture quickly escape.

High porosity is typically a sign of damaged hair.

How to do the hair porosity test

Step 1. Wash your hair

Step 2. DO NOT condition your hair

Step 3. DO NOT towel dry, let the hair air dry.

Step 4. Put a clean strand with NO PRODUCT in a glass of room temperature water

Step 5. DO NOT touch the strand, let it sit for 15 mins

If you strand floats it is low porosity. If it immediately sinks or sinks before 15 minutes it is high porosity. If it is in the middle, it is medium or normal porosity.

Now that you know how to test your hair porosity, you can start to give your hair the extra TLC it needs.