What Is Hair Porosity and How To Do Hair Porosity Test

Proper haircare is not just about hair type, you also need to know about your hair porosity.

If you want to know more about this term, you have arrived at the right place.

Your hair has a specific porosity and the porosity of hair varies from one individual to another. The porosity level of your hair helps you determine how you can go about planning your best hair care routine.

Here’s everything you need to know about hair porosity.

What Is Hair Porosity?

Hair porosity is the ability of hair to absorb and retain moisture. Hair which has high porosity can absorb most of the moisture or water supplied to it. But it cannot retain that moisture.

You can always follow certain haircare tips to nourish your strands. If the hair has little or no porosity, it may be difficult for moisture to penetrate the hair but this type of hair can retain moisture for a longer time.

Types Of Hair Porosity

Each and every hair type is unique and gorgeous in its own ways. To take care of your strands you need to understand your hair type better. Plan a haircare routine that will help pamper your hair better.

There are three types of hair porosity. Read on to find out more about it.

1# Low Porosity

In low porosity hair, the cuticles are densely packed and very close to each other. This makes it difficult for the moisture to penetrate into the hair shaft. But once your hair is able to absorb the moisture, it can retain moisture.

The first sign of low porosity hair is if the hair product just sits on top of your hair and doesn’t get absorbed. In fact, when you wash your hair and it takes a lot of time to dry naturally, it’s very likely that you have low porosity hair.

2# Medium Porosity

If your hair is easy to style and holds that style for a long time, you may have medium porosity hair. It doesn’t take long for your hair to dry naturally. Also, your hair tends to look healthy and shiny. Medium porosity hair easily absorbs as well as retains moisture.

But your hair might tend to get all frizzy during monsoon, so you can always follow monsoon haircare tips.

3# High Porosity

What is high porosity hair? Whether due to genetics or hair damage, hair with high porosity readily absorbs moisture but cannot retain it. This is because they tend to have gaps or spaces between cuticles. If water or other moisturising products penetrate your hair quickly, you have high porosity hair.

This type is prone to breakage and looks frizzy. Your hair also doesn’t take much time to air-dry. You can always follow certain tips to nourish dry and damaged hair.

How to treat high porosity hair, you ask? Use shampoos for dry & frizzy hair along with hair strengthening oils.

How To Check Hair Porosity?

You can check hair porosity with a glass of water.

Here’s a simple hair porosity test you can do at home.

Wash your hair and wait for it to dry.
Once dry, drop a strand of hair into the glass of water.
Check to see if the strand is sinking or floating. If the strand floats, you have low porosity hair.
A medium porosity strand floats in the middle of the glass.
A high porosity hair strand quickly sinks.

Characteristics Of Low Porosity Hair

Moisture isn’t easily absorbed by low porosity hair, but once absorbed the strands retain moisture.
It takes a long time for your hair to dry.

Characteristics Of Medium Porosity Hair

It’s easy to style medium porosity hair.
Hair appears healthy and glossy.
This type dries pretty quickly after washing.

Characteristics Of High Porosity Hair

High porosity hair is frizzy and dry.
This type of hair breaks easily.
Strands quickly absorb moisture.
It doesn’t take much time for hair to dry after washing.

What Causes Low or High Hair Porosity?

Hair porosity is largely determined by genetics. But blow-drying, bleaching, straightening, over-washing, and using harsh products can damage your hair over time. In addition to hair treatments, excessive UV exposure can also damage hair and increase porosity.

How To Take Care Of Porous Hair

You can always take care of your hair and moisturise it with a well-thought-out regimen and the best hair care products.

Here are some tips that will help you take care of porous hair.

Massage your scalp twice or thrice a week using hair oils for dry hair. Don’t forget to apply the oil to your strands as well.
Don’t overwash your mane. Use a shampoo for hair fall and a hair thickening & volumizing shampoo.
Never skip using a conditioner after you have washed your hair. Use either a hair growth conditioner or a conditioner for dry & frizzy hair.
Be very gentle while detangling. Use dry & frizzy hair serums to prevent breakage and provide immense hydration to your strands.
Pamper your hair with a mask at least once a week. Hair packs for hair growth and a hair mask for dry & frizzy hair are great for porous hair.

Conclusion

Porosity may not be a term you hear very often. But knowing your hair porosity type can give you a better understanding of how to care for, treat, and style your hair. Using the right haircare products and following a dedicated haircare regimen will help you moisturise and nourish your hair.

FAQs on Hair Porosity and How To Do Hair Porosity Test

How to moisturise low porosity hair?

You can moisturise low porosity hair by using highly-moisturising products that are quickly absorbed by your hair. Coconut oil and almond oil are great picks for low porosity hair.

How to grow low porosity hair?

Use hair growth oils and hair growth serums to grow low porosity hair.

How to take care of low porosity hair?

Follow a dedicated haircare regimen and use moisturing hair oils to nourish and pamper low porosity hair. Cut down on heat-styling too.

What is better between low and high porosity?

High porosity is synonymous with dry and damaged hair. Cut down on heat-styling and dyeing to repair the hair damage.

Which porosity causes frizzy hair?

High porosity causes dry and frizzy hair.

Which ingredient-based hair products help high porosity hair?

Jojoba oil, Moroccan argan oil, onion oil, and pro-keratin help with high porosity hair.

Is vitamin E oil good for low porosity hair?

Yes, vitamin E oil is good for low porosity hair. Being rich in antioxidants and fatty acids, these oils nourish your strands inside out.