What Exactly Is Hair Porosity?
Hair porosity refers to your hair's ability to absorb and hold moisture. Think of each hair strand as a tiny tube with an outer layer called the cuticle. This layer controls how easily moisture and products penetrate the hair shaft. Depending on how open or closed these cuticles are, hair porosity falls into three categories:
1. Low Porosity Hair
If your hair repels water and products seem to sit on the surface rather than being absorbed, you likely have low porosity hair. This means the cuticles are tightly packed, making it difficult for moisture to enter. While this sounds like a good thing (less damage, right?), it also means your hair is prone to product buildup and can struggle to stay hydrated.
How To Care For Low Porosity Hair:
- Use lightweight, water-based products to avoid buildup.
- Apply heat (like a warm towel or a steamer) while deep conditioning to help products penetrate.
- Opt for humectants like glycerine or honey to draw moisture in.
2. Medium (Normal) Porosity Hair
Lucky you if you have medium porosity hair! Your cuticles are slightly open, allowing just the right balance of moisture retention and absorption. Your hair responds well to most products, retains hydration efficiently, and is relatively low-maintenance.
How To Care For Medium Porosity Hair:
- Maintain moisture balance with regular deep conditioning.
- Use protein treatments occasionally to strengthen hair.
- Avoid excessive heat styling to keep cuticles healthy.
3. High Porosity Hair
Does your hair absorb moisture quickly but dry out just as fast? That’s a sign of high porosity hair, where the cuticles are overly open due to genetics, heat damage, or chemical treatments. While this means moisture gets in easily, it also escapes just as quickly, leading to frizz, dryness, and breakage.
How To Care For High Porosity Hair:
- Use rich, creamy products like butters and oils to seal in moisture.
- Layer products using the LOC (Liquid, Oil, Cream) or LCO (Liquid, Cream, Oil) method to lock in hydration.
- Avoid harsh treatments like bleaching or excessive heat styling.
How To Test Your Hair Porosity
Not sure where your hair falls on the porosity scale? Try these simple tests:
1. The Water Test:
Drop a clean strand of hair into a glass of water.
- If it floats, you have low porosity hair.
- If it sinks slowly, you have medium porosity hair.
- If it sinks immediately, you have high porosity hair.
2. The Spray Test:
Spray a small section of hair with water.
- If water beads up, your hair has low porosity.
- If it absorbs at a normal pace, you have medium porosity.
- If it drinks up water instantly, your hair has high porosity.
Why Hair Porosity Matters
Understanding your hair’s porosity helps you choose the right products and techniques for healthier, shinier, and more manageable hair. Whether your hair struggles with moisture retention or product absorption, tailoring your routine based on porosity can make all the difference.
So, the next time you find yourself frustrated because your haircare products are not working as expected, check your porosity first—it might just be the missing piece in your haircare puzzle!