Do you know what hair porosity is? Do you want to know the type of hair porosity you have? You can learn about everything related to this topic through the following paragraphs, so be sure to follow the next article.

What is the porosity of hair?

Hair porosity is a term referring to the hair’s ability to absorb and retain moisture. Hair porosity affects the extent and ability of moisture to travel to and from the outer layer of the hair. There are several types of hair porosity.

• Low porosity.
• medium porosity.
• High porosity.

Types of hair porosity

The types are divided as follows:

1- Low hair porosity

In the case of low porosity, the outer layer of hair is very close and tight, which makes it difficult for moisture to reach the hair, and you may have this type in the case of:

• Hair products stay on your hair and have difficulty absorbing them.
• Difficulty in wetting hair with water while washing or showering.
• It takes longer to dry the hair.

2- Medium hair porosity

In the case of medium or normal porosity, the outer layer is not completely closed, but not open, and this allows moisture to pass through easily and this helps to retain moisture for a longer time. You may have this type if:

• It is easy to style the hair and keep different hairstyles for long periods of time.
• Hair looks healthy and shiny.
• The hair does not take long to dry.
• You don’t have a hard time using dyes or colours.

It is worth noting that heat and the damage resulting from it, in addition to other chemical processes, can cause this type of porosity to change and transform into another type over time.

3- High hair porosity

This type of porosity allows moisture to be absorbed quickly into the hair, but does not retain this moisture for long periods, due to the presence of holes or spaces in the outer layer of the hair. You may have this type if:

• Water and other moisturizing products are easily absorbed into the hair.
• Hair tends to break easily.
• Hair tends to be dry.
• Hair does not require a long period of time to dry.

hair porosity test

Some people ask how do I know the porosity of my hair? Well there is an easy way to find out the type of porosity, and it includes the following:

• Shampoo and dry your hair to get rid of any product residue in the hair.
• Fill a glass of water.
• When hair is dry, put one strand of hair in a cup of water.
• See if the strand will float up or sink to the bottom.

Here are the results:

• If the strand floats up before sinking to the bottom, it may mean that you have low porosity.
• If the strand is floating somewhere in the middle of the cup, this may mean that you have medium or normal porosity.
• If the strand sinks quickly to the bottom of the cup, it may mean that you have high porosity.

Can hair porosity be changed?

In the case of high or low porosity due to genetics, it may not be possible to change the porosity of your hair, but there are some ways and steps that can be taken to make hair healthy and manageable:

In the case of low porosity:

• Protein-free hair conditioners can be used, as they are easily absorbed into the hair.
• Apply conditioner to wet hair. Diluting the conditioner with water can make it easier to absorb.
• Look for and use shampoos and conditioners that contain honey and glycerin, rather than oils.

In the case of high porosity:

• Use a shampoo or conditioner that contains oils and butter, as these products help moisturize the hair.
• Use conditioners that have staying power on the hair, as they can help retain moisture for longer periods.
• Uses hair products that protect it from the heat before using the dryer or any other tools to decorate the hair.
• Avoid using hot water while using shampoo or hair conditioner, and lukewarm water can be used then.