Understanding Hair Porosity and How to Test It

Hair porosity is a key factor in determining how well your hair absorbs and retains moisture. Knowing your hair’s porosity helps you choose the right products and care techniques to keep your hair healthy, shiny, and manageable. There are three main types of hair porosity:

Types of Hair Porosity

1. Low Porosity

• Characteristics: Tightly packed, flat cuticles that resist moisture. Hair may take longer to get wet, and products often sit on the hair instead of being absorbed.
• Common Traits: Hair may feel dry and be resistant to chemical treatments or coloring. Product build-up can happen easily.
• Best Products: Lightweight, water-based products with humectants (e.g., aloe vera, glycerin) are ideal. Heat-activated products can help open up the cuticle for better moisture absorption.

2. Medium (Normal) Porosity

• Characteristics: Cuticles are slightly raised, allowing moisture to pass through easily. Hair maintains moisture balance well and is generally easy to manage and style.
• Common Traits: Hair responds well to most treatments and products, retaining moisture without getting dry or overly greasy.
• Best Products: A variety of products will work, from light to rich moisturizers. Protein treatments can be used occasionally to maintain strength and elasticity.

3. High Porosity

• Characteristics: Raised or damaged cuticles that allow moisture to enter easily but also lose it quickly. This type of hair can be prone to frizz, dryness, and breakage.
• Common Traits: Hair absorbs water and products quickly but struggles to retain moisture, often leading to dry or brittle strands.
• Best Products: Heavier moisturizers, oils, and butters like shea butter and castor oil help seal in moisture. Protein treatments are useful to repair the cuticles and strengthen the hair.

How to Test Your Hair Porosity

There are a few easy methods to find out your hair’s porosity at home:

1. The Float Test

• Steps:
  1. Wash your hair thoroughly to remove any product residue or oils.
  2. Take a few strands of clean, dry hair and place them in a glass of room-temperature water.
  3. Let the hair sit in the water for 2-4 minutes.
• Results:

• • Low Porosity: If the hair floats on the water’s surface and doesn’t sink, your hair has low porosity and resists moisture.
  • Medium (Normal) Porosity: If the hair slowly sinks to the middle, it has normal porosity, balancing moisture absorption and retention.
  • High Porosity: If the hair sinks quickly to the bottom, it has high porosity, meaning it absorbs moisture easily but loses it just as fast.

2. The Slip ‘n’ Slide Test

• Steps:
  1. Take a strand of hair and hold it between your fingers.
  2. Gently slide your fingers from the tip of the hair towards the scalp.
• Results:

• • Low Porosity: If the strand feels smooth, your cuticles are tightly packed, indicating low porosity.
  • High Porosity: If the strand feels rough or bumpy, it suggests raised cuticles, indicating high porosity.

3. The Spray Test

• Steps:
  1. Lightly mist a section of dry hair with water.
  2. Watch how the water behaves on your hair.
• Results:

• • Low Porosity: If the water beads up and takes time to absorb, your hair has low porosity.
  • Medium Porosity: If the water absorbs at a steady pace, your hair has normal porosity.
  • High Porosity: If the water absorbs quickly, your hair has high porosity and may struggle to retain moisture.

Why Hair Porosity Matters for Sheaskyn Organics

At Sheaskyn Organics, understanding your hair’s porosity is key to unlocking the full potential of our products. Whether your hair is low, medium, or high porosity, we’ve crafted our formulas with powerful, organic ingredients—like shea butter, a cornerstone of African hair care traditions—to deeply nourish, hydrate, and protect your hair.

With Sheaskyn Organics, you can embrace your hair’s unique needs and enjoy transformative results, no matter your hair type. From lightweight oils to rich, protective butters, our products help ensure that every strand is strengthened, moisturized, and healthy.