What Exactly is Hair Porosity?

Hair porosity isn’t just another buzzword, it’s the ultimate cheat code for better hair days. Whether your strands are sipping up moisture like a latte or locking it out, knowing your porosity can be a total game-changer. 

So, uh, What Exactly Is Hair Porosity?

“Hair porosity determines how much moisture each strand can absorb and retain,” says Dionysiou, stylist at Salon Benjamin. Hair has three layers: the cuticle, cortex, and medulla. Your cuticle’s vibe determines your porosity level. Heat styling, chemical treatments, and environmental stress? Yeah, they can all mess with your porosity. 

Understanding Hair Porosity Levels

• High: Frizz-prone, dries at lightning speed, and feels drier than the Sahara. Dionysiou notes, “High-porosity hair struggles to retain moisture, making it prone to breakage.” Combat this by using lukewarm water, hydrating treatments, and cold rinses to seal in the good stuff.
• Balanced: This is the Goldilocks of hair porosity because it absorbs and retains moisture like a pro. “It looks shiny and holds styles like a dream,” Dionysiou says. Keep it hydrated and thriving with regular maintenance.
• Low: Hair that’s harder to hydrate and takes forever to dry. Dionysiou advises, “Use oil-free shampoos, deep conditioners with heat, and clarify weekly to tackle buildup.” 

How to Find Out Your Hair Porosity

The float test is your BFF: Drop a clean strand of hair into room-temperature water. 

• If your hair sinks fast: High porosity
• If your hair floats mid-level: Balanced
• If your hair stays on top: Low porosity