HAIR CARE TIPS FOR HIGH POROSITY HAIR

Hair porosity is a term that’s used to describe how easily your hair is able to soak up and
retain moisture. Depending on how porous your hair is, it may be classified as having high,
medium, or low porosity.
If you have high porosity hair, it means that water, oils, and other types of products can be
easily absorbed by your hair. On the flip side, because your hair is highly porous, it may not
be able to retain moisture as well as other types of hair.
If you want to get a better understanding of highly porous hair, how to care for it, and the
types of products to use, this article may have the answers you’re looking for.
What is high porosity hair?
To understand hair porosity, it helps to know a bit about the hair’s structure.
Each strand of your hair is made up of three layers:
 cuticle: the outermost layer
 cortex: the middle layer
 medulla: the innermost layer
The outermost layer of your hair shaft consists of tiny cuticles that are too small to see with
the naked eye. These cuticles protect the inner layers of your hair by controlling how much
moisture, as well as products and chemicals, can be absorbed.
If the cuticles are too close together, it can prevent moisture from being soaked up. This is
known as low porosity.
If the cuticles are too far apart, it has the opposite effect: Moisture can easily get into the
hair, but it doesn’t stay long enough to nourish and moisturize your hair. This is high porosity
hair.
High porosity hair can be genetic, which means that it runs in your family. Many times,
though, it’s caused by hair processing and styling treatments like straightening, blow-drying,
bleaching, and other chemical applications.
These types of treatments can damage your cuticles, causing them to lift or separate. This
can create gaps between your cuticles and, as a result, your hair may be more porous than it
would normally be.
What are the characteristics of high porosity hair?
You may have high porosity hair if your hair:
 looks and feels dry
 tends to be frizzy
 tangles easily
 is prone to breakage
 air dries very quickly
 absorbs products quickly
 rarely looks shiny
What type of porosity do you have?
You can easily test your hair porosity using a dry, freshly washed strand of your hair and a
clear glass or bowl of water.
Hair porosity test

Fill a clear glass or bowl with water.

Place a strand of your hair in the water.

Watch to see how quickly it sinks to the bottom.

Results

High porosity hair will sink to the bottom quickly.

Medium porosity hair will likely float in the middle of the glass for a while before sinking to the
bottom.

Low porosity hair will float at the top for some time before slowly sinking.

By understanding your hair porosity, you can take steps to ensure that you’re managing it
correctly and using products and ingredients that are well-suited to your hair.
How to care for high porosity hair
When it comes to caring for highly porous hair, the goals include reducing and reversing
damage to the cuticle, and also helping your hair retain moisture.
To help nourish, moisturize, and repair highly porous hair, it’s important to use products that
have the right formulation for this hair type. Typically, this will involve using hair care
products that include “heavier” ingredients like oils or butters.
If you want to know what types of products and ingredients tend to work well for high
porosity hair, here are some suggestions.
Shampoo
The following shampoos may be especially helpful for cleansing your hair without drying it
out.
 Devacurl No-Poo Decadence Milk Cleanser . No “poo” means this product isn’t a
normal shampoo. Instead, it’s like a hair cleanser that’s made with quinoa proteins to help
soften and moisturize porous hair.
 L’Oreal Paris Elvive Total Repair 5 Repairing Shampoo for Damaged Hair . This
protein-packed shampoo contains conditioning ingredients and almond oil to soften hair
while reducing frizz.
 Olaplex No. 4 Bond Maintenance Shampoo. This shampoo is designed to maintain
internal moisture and strength to prevent breakage.
Conditioner
Conditioners that contain butters and oils may help seal the gaps in the cuticle and provide a
protective layer.
Here are some examples of conditioners that may be especially helpful for highly porous
hair.
 Neutrogena Triple Moisture Daily Deep Conditioner . This intensely hydrating
conditioner contains almond and olive extracts to nourish and moisturize hair.
 SheaMoisture Manuka Honey & Mafura Oil Intensive Hydration Hair
Conditioner. This product doesn’t contain sulfates, which makes it a good choice for
porous hair. Shea butter, mafura oil, honey, and fig extract can help strengthen and
moisturize hair.
 Silk18 Natural Hair Conditioner . This daily conditioner contains argan oil as well as
amino acids to help reduce static and frizziness.
Deep conditioner
Deep conditioning treatments are especially helpful for adding moisture, nourishment, and
softness to highly porous hair. Try to use a deep conditioner at least once or twice a week.
Some deep conditioners that are well suited to porous hair include:
 SheaMoisture High Porosity Moisture Correct Masque . Made with hemp seed, apple
cider vinegar, and baobab proteins, this deep-conditioning mask can help coat and
cushion the hair.
 Marc Anthony Grow Long Anti-Breakage Hair Mask. This deep-conditioning mask
contains ingredients such as avocado oil, argan oil, and keratin that may be especially
helpful if you struggle with breakage.
Styling products
Highly porous hair is often damaged from heat or styling treatments, so you may want to
consider using products that can protect your hair from further damage.
Some products to add to your beauty basket include:
 L’Oreal Paris Advanced Hairstyle BLOW DRY IT Thermal Smoother Cream . This
lightweight cream product contains both a detangler and a frizz-protective component,
and can be applied to your hair before blow-drying.
 Sun Bum Revitalizing 3-in-1 Leave-In Hair Conditioner Spray . This gluten-free, vegan
hair conditioner spray is safe for color-treated hair and protects against UV damage. You
can use it as a leave-in conditioning spray or as an application before going out in the sun.
 HSI Professional Argan Oil Heat Protector . This best-selling product contains argan
oil and can protect against heat styling up to 450°F.
What Type of Hair Porosity Do You Have?
You may have heard the term “hair porosity” and wondered what it means. Essentially, hair
porosity is about your hair’s ability to absorb and retain moisture.
The porosity of your hair affects how well oils and moisture pass in and out of the outermost
layer of your hair, known as the cuticle.
Hair porosity is typically divided into three broad categories:
 Low porosity: Cuticles that are close together.
 Medium porosity: Cuticles that are less tightly bound.
 High porosity: Cuticles that are more widely spaced.
This article will take a closer look at what affects the porosity of your hair, how you can figure
out the type of porosity you have, and, depending on the hair porosity you have, how best to
treat your hair.
What does hair porosity mean?
To understand the concept of hair porosity, it helps to know a bit about the structure of your
hair, which consists of three layers. These layers include:
 The cuticle: This is the tough, protective outer layer of your hair that’s made up of
smaller cuticles that overlap each other, similar to shingles on a roof.
 The cortex: This is the thickest layer of your hair. It contains fibrous proteins and the
pigment that gives your hair its color.
 The medulla: This is the soft, central part of the hair shaft.
For your hair to stay healthy and hydrated, water, oils, and other moisturizing products need
to be able to pass through the cuticle to get to the cortex.
But, if the cuticles are too close together, it’s not easy for water and oils to penetrate the
hair. This can make it harder for your hair to get the moisture it needs.
Also, if the cuticles are too widely spaced, your hair will have a harder time retaining
moisture and staying hydrated.
What causes low or high hair porosity?
How your hair absorbs and retains moisture is largely due to genetics. So, if low porosity hair
runs in your family, there’s a good chance you’ll have low porosity hair, too. But while
genetics can affect porosity, it isn’t the only contributing factor.
Blow drying, bleaching, straightening, overwashing, and using harsh products can all damage
your hair over time. This can cause your hair cuticles to become raised and open, which may
make it harder for your hair to retain moisture.
In addition to hair treatments, too much ultraviolet exposureTrusted Source can also
increase the porosity of your hair. To protect your hair from the sun, wear a hat or some type
of head covering when you’re outdoors.
Is there an easy way to test your hair porosity?
One of the easiest ways to test your hair porosity is by using a glass of water. Here’s how to
do it:
1. Shampoo and rinse your hair to remove any product buildup.
2. Fill a glass with water.
3. Once your hair is clean and dry, drop a single strand of your hair into the glass of
water.
4. Watch the strand to see if it sinks to the bottom of the glass or floats at the top.
The results
Low porosity: If the strand floats at the top before sinking, you likely have low porosity hair.
Normal porosity: If the strand floats somewhere in the middle of the glass, you probably
have medium or normal porosity hair.
High porosity: If the strand quickly sinks to the bottom of the glass, you likely have high
porosity hair.
You can also test your porosity level by running a finger down a strand of your hair. Low
porosity hair will feel smooth, whereas high porosity hair will feel rough and bumpy because
the cuticles are open.
The characteristics of low porosity hair
With low porosity hair, the cuticles are tightly packed and very close together. This makes it
harder for moisture to penetrate the hair shaft.
You may have low porosity hair if:
 hair products tend to sit on your hair and don’t absorb easily
 it’s hard for water to saturate your hair when washing
 it takes a long time for your hair to air dry
The characteristics of medium porosity hair
With medium or normal porosity hair, the cuticles aren’t too close together, but aren’t too
open either. This allows moisture to penetrate easily, and it also makes it easier to retain
moisture for a longer period of time.
You may have medium porosity hair if:
 your hair is easy to style and can hold styles for a good length of time
 your hair takes color well
 your hair tends to look healthy, shiny, or glossy
 it doesn’t take too long for your hair to air dry
Heat damage and other chemical processes can cause normal porosity hair to change over
time.
The characteristics of higher porosity hair
Whether due to genetics or hair damage, high porosity hair allows moisture to be absorbed
into the hair shaft easily, yet it isn’t able to retain moisture for long. This is because the
cuticles tend to have gaps or spaces between them.
You may have high porosity hair if:
 water and other moisturizing products are quickly absorbed into your hair
 your hair tends to break easily
 your hair tends to be frizzy and dry
 it doesn’t take much time for your hair to air dry
Can you change your hair porosity?
If you have high or low hair porosity due to genetics, you may not be able to change it.
However, according to hair care experts, there are things you can do to make your hair
healthier, more manageable, and easier to style.
For low porosity hair:
 Use protein-free conditioners. These tend to be more easily absorbed into your hair
and may be less likely to cause product buildup.
 Apply conditioner to hair that’s already wet. Diluting the conditioner may make it
easier to be absorbed into your hair.
 Look for ingredients like glycerin and honey in shampoos and conditioners. Avoid
products with oils, as these tend to have a harder time penetrating the cuticle.
 Apply heat when you condition your hair. Use a steamer, heat cap, or hooded dryer.
Or, if you don’t have those, put a shower cap over your hair once you’ve added a
conditioner.
For high porosity hair:
 Look for ingredients like butters and oils in shampoos and conditioners. These
ingredients will help moisturize your hair.
 Use leave-in conditioners and sealers. These products help your hair hold on to
moisture.
 Use a heat protectant product on your hair. Apply this product before you blow dry
or use other heat styling treatments. This can protect your hair from heat damage.
 Avoid hot water when shampooing and conditioning. Use lukewarm water instead.
The bottom line
Hair porosity may not be a term you hear often. But knowing what type of hair porosity you
have can help you better understand how to manage, treat, and care for your hair. And that
can lead to hair that’s stronger and healthier.

How to Care for Low Porosity Hair

Hair porosity is a term that’s used to describe how well your hair is able to absorb and retain
moisture and oils.
If you have low porosity hair, it means the structure of your hair doesn’t easily allow
moisture to be absorbed into your hair shaft. This can make it harder for water to saturate
your hair when it’s washed.
Because this type of hair tends to repel moisture, it can also be more challenging to process
and style.
Let’s take a closer look at the characteristics of low porosity hair, as well as some tips and
advice on how best to care for it.
What is low porosity hair?
Your hair is basically a collection of dead cells that are arranged in a distinct, three-layer
pattern:
 The cuticle is the outermost layer of your hair. It comprises individual cuticles that
overlap each other, like the tiles on a roof.
 The cortex is the middle and thickest layer. It contains fibrous proteins and pigments
that give your hair its color.
 The medulla is the central, innermost layer of the hair shaft.
With low porosity hair, the cuticles tend to overlap each other and are tightly packed
together. Because there are no spaces between the cuticles, it makes it harder for water, as
well as products like oils and conditioners, to deliver moisture to the hair shaft.
Usually, if you have low porosity hair, it’s due to genetic factors.
Using chemicals and heat on your hair typically doesn’t cause low hair porosity.
When heat or styling does damage the cuticle layer, it’s more likely to result in high porosity
hair. That means the cuticles are raised and have spaces between them. This can makes it
hard for the hair shaft to retain moisture.
What are the characteristics of low porosity hair?
Products sit on your hair
If you have low porosity hair, you may find that hair products tend to sit on your hair instead
of being absorbed.
For instance, you may apply an oil or moisturizer to the ends of your hair. Half an hour later,
you may notice that the product is still on the surface of your hair. It may even come off on
your fingers if you touch it.
Your hair probably absorbed very little, if any, of the product.
Washing and drying takes longer
With low porosity hair, washing and drying can take longer than you’d expect. Because
water isn’t easily absorbed, you may find it can be difficult to get your hair really wet and for
the water to fully penetrate your hair.
Then, once your hair is wet, it can take a long time to air-dry. Even using a blow dryer may
take longer than it does for others who have hair that’s the same length and thickness as
yours.
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How to test your hair
If you’re not sure what type of hair porosity you have, here’s an easy way to find out. Just
follow these steps:
1. Shampoo and rinse your hair well to remove any product buildup. Clean hair will give
you the most accurate results.
2. Dry your hair as usual.
3. Take a strand of your hair and drop it into a clear glass of water.
4. Watch the hair strand to see where it floats.
What the float test can tell you
Hair that floats to the top for a while before sinking toward the bottom of the glass likely
has low porosity.
Hair that floats somewhere near the middle of the glass likely has medium porosity.
Hair that sinks to the bottom of the glass fairly quickly is typically more porous. That means it
has high porosity.
How to care for low porosity hair
When you have low porosity hair, you may be tempted to apply a larger quantity of a
product, or more than one hair product at a time, in an effort to saturate your hair.
But because the cuticles are so close together, not much product will penetrate, no matter
how much you apply.
The key is to find products that have the right formulation for low porosity hair. These
products will have ingredients that can more easily penetrate your hair.
Another important tip is to apply products when your hair is wet and warm. Heat can lift the
hair cuticle, allowing oils and moisture to more easily penetrate the hair shaft.
If you want to know what types of ingredients and products tend to work well for low
porosity hair, here are some suggestions.
Shampoo
Shampoos that don’t leave a lot of residue are your best bet. Look for products that
contain honey or glycerin. These ingredients can penetrate the hair cuticle more easily than
products that contain oils.
Some shampoos that may work well include:
 Kinky-Curly Come Clean Natural Moisturizing Shampoo . This no-residue shampoo is
gentle enough to use on a daily basis.
 Garnier Fructis Curl Nourish Sulfate-Free and Silicone-Free Shampoo . This shampoo
contains glycerin to help add moisture. It doesn’t have any sulfates or silicones that can
rob hair of its natural moisture.
 Garnier Whole Blends Honey Treasure Repairing Shampoo . This shampoo for dry,
damaged hair contains honey, which can be a key softening ingredient for low porosity
hair.
 Neutrogena Anti-Residue Shampoo. It’s a good idea to wash your hair once a week
with a clarifying shampoo. This shampoo can remove residue that can build up on low
porosity hair.
Conditioner
Try diluting your conditioner with a small amount of water when you apply it to your hair.
This can help make the conditioner more easily absorbable and less likely to just sit on your
hair.
Some conditioners that may work well include:
 Davines OI All in One Milk . Milk conditioners like this one have a thinner consistency,
which makes it easier to be absorbed. It also won’t weigh your hair down and leave it
feeling oily. Spritz this conditioner on damp, towel-dried hair for softening results.
 DevaCurl One Condition Original. This creamy, daily use conditioner is well-suited for
curly, low porosity hair.
Deep conditioner
Sometimes your hair may need a little extra boost of moisture. One way to do this is with a
weekly deep-conditioning treatment.
It can help if you use a steamer, heat cap, or hooded dryer when you condition your hair.
Or, you can put a shower cap over your hair once you’ve applied the deep conditioner, then
use a blow dryer on the warm setting for a few minutes to heat up your hair under the cap.
This can help open the cuticles.
For low porosity hair, you’ll want to stay away from protein treatment conditioners. Protein
formulas can increase the risk of hair breakage since they tend to pull moisture out of the
hair.
Some good choices for low porosity hair include:
 Jessicurl Deep Conditioning Treatment, Citrus Lavender . This product has a high
concentration of natural ingredients. It can help moisturize and soften your hair without
weighing it down.
 Briogeo Don’t Despair, Repair! Deep Conditioning Hair Cap System . This deep-
conditioning duo comes with its own cap lined with conditioning ingredients as well as a
conditioner you apply before putting on the cap.
Styling products
If you’re looking for effective curl- and style-enhancing products, these may work well:
 Eden Bodyworks Curl Defining Creme. This conditioning gel can help define curls
while keeping them soft.
 Joico Ironclad Thermal Protectant Hair Spray . This pre-drying protectant helps you
style your hair while protecting it against heat damage. It also won’t leave behind much
residue.
 My Amazing Blow Dry Secret . This product can help cut down on blow-dry time,
which is often a challenge with low porosity hair.
The takeaway
With low porosity hair, it’s not easy for moisture and oils to penetrate the hair shaft. It can
take longer for your hair to become saturated when you wash it. It may also be more
challenging to process and style your hair.
However, there are certain ingredients that can make low porosity hair easier to care for.
Knowing the types of products to use, and which ones to avoid, can make a difference in the
manageability and health of your hair.