How to Determine if Your Hair is Low Porosity

START HERE if you want to know whether your hair is low porosity.

Porosity refers to the measurement of your hair’s ability to absorb and hold moisture. Generally, porosity is determined by genetics, but it can also be affected by external factors such as exposure, heat treatments and chemical processing. Hair porosity is either low, medium or high. If you know your hair’s porosity, that will serve as a guide to helping you select the right products to help you keep your hair well-moisturized, supple, strong and shiny.

There are three methods to help you determine your hair’s porosity level.

THE FLOAT TEST:

Take a couple of strands of hair from your comb or brush.  Make sure the hair is clean and free of any products.  Drop it inside a glass of water and wait a few minutes. If your hair floats to the top of the water you have low porosity hair; if it sinks to the bottom you have high porosity hair.  Finally, if it floats somewhere in the middle of the cup you have medium porosity hair.

THE STRAND TEST:

Take a small section of your strands between your thumb and finger and slide the hair up and down using your thumb and finger from the tip towards the scalp.  If it feels dense and hard and you feel bumps along the way, you have high porosity hair. If it feels smooth, you have normal porosity hair. And if the strand feels rough or dry or it breaks, you have high porosity hair.

THE SPRAY BOTTLE TEST:

Using a spray bottle, take a small section of hair and spray it with water.  If the water beads up on your hair, it’s low porosity.  If the water absorbs in your hair quickly it is high porosity.  If however the water sits on your hair for a few minutes before it can absorb it, you have medium porosity hair.

How to Care for Your Hair Based on Porosity Level:

LOW POROSITY HAIR:

Hair with low porosity has a tightly bound cuticle layer with overlapping scales that lay flat. It has very compact cuticles, which makes it difficult for it to retain moisture into the hair shaft, although it does retain moisture once it absorbs it. This type of hair tends to have product build-up very quickly, particularly from protein-rich products. Recommended care:

• Protein-free daily conditioners with humectants (products that attract moisture) like honey or glycerin.
• Moisture-rich products such as jojoba oil, Shea butter, coconut oil, or mineral oil.

Use sulfate-free shampoo and rinses such as apple cider vinegar or baking soda treatments to rid your hair of product build-up.                                                                                                                                 

See the articles below for more information on low porosity hair: