What is Hair Porosity

In general, porosity refers to the hair’s ability to absorb water. This water retaining ability is determined by the hairs cuticle layer. Picture a shingled roof on a house and how each shingle lays flat down over one another. Well, when referencing hair porosity, how flat the cuticle layer is will determine whether your hair has low porosity or is highly porous and therefore determine your hair’s ability to absorb and retain water/moisture. A raised cuticle (a characteristic of highly porous hair) will absorb water fast and allow water to evaporate quickly. While a flat or condensed cuticle (low porosity hair) layer will have difficulty absorbing water and take a longer time to dry. Highly porous hair tends to appreciate the adsorbent benefit (ability to bind to the hair’s surface) of hydrolyzed proteins to fill the small gaps along the hair cuticle as well as heavy oils, and butters to seal moisture. Hair with low porosity may feel brittle after a protein treatment and therefore need to be followed up with a moisturizing conditioner and find more benefit from moisturizing products with a thinner viscosity/consistency. Want to find out how porous your hair is? The float test is quick and easy and will help you to choose the best products for your hair’s porosity level.

HAIR STRANDS UNDER A MICROSCOPE

HOW POROUS IS YOUR HAIR?

“The Float Test”

1. Fill a glass or bowl with room temperature water.

2. Take a couple strands of your clean hair and put them in the water. Clean hair is important. If you have oils or products on your hair, it will alter your results.

3. Watch it for 2-4 minutes.

4. If your hair sinks immediately, it has high porosity.

   (Your hair absorbed the water quickly and sank quickly.)

5. If your hair is still floating 4 minutes later, it has low porosity.

6. If your hair is slowly sinking, you have normal porosity.