How to Determine Hair Porosity
A nourishing and consistent at home hair routine can support your locks, but not every product is right for every mane. Rather than going through the process of trial and error, there are more strategic ways to care for your hair. Hair porosity is a unique element of your hair type, and understanding it can help you decide which products to use to bring out the best in your locks. You may have heard the term mentioned in passing at the salon, but these days you can learn your hair porosity type at home and tailor your hair routine to match. Ahead, learn how to check hair porosity and choose suitable products. But first, let’s examine what it is exactly.
What is hair porosity?
Hair porosity measures hair’s ability to hold moisture and is defined by how tightly or loosely bound the hair cuticles are. Connected by hair bonds, hair cuticles are the protein dense, outermost layer of the hair fibre. So, what is low porosity hair? this type is defined by overlapping cuticles that create a strong barrier against moisture. In contrast, high porosity hair has spaced out cuticles that allow water to pass in and out easily, and medium porosity hair falls in the middle.
Hair porosity is typically determined by genetics, but it can be altered by chemical processes and hair damage. Products specifically designed to support your hair porosity type can transform the look and feel of your mane, so read on to learn how to test hair porosity.
The 3 types of hair porosity
Porosity can be an indicator of hair health and uncovering yours can allow you to better support your locks by targeting particular concerns. So, what are the 3 types of hair porosity?
LOW POROSITY HAIR
Low porosity hair is usually healthy, but water can’t easily penetrate the tightly bound cuticles - so deeply moisturising products are beneficial.
MEDIUM POROSITY HAIR
Medium porosity hair is typically low maintenance, with a looser cuticle that can both allow moisture in and retain it easily.
HIGH POROSITY HAIR
High porosity hair struggles to retain moisture because of gaps in the hair cuticle, often caused by damage to hair bonds.
How to check hair porosity
The most effective hair care routines are shaped by hair science and customised to your needs. Our online hair diagnosis quiz and a simple hair porosity test can help you learn more about your locks and implement suitable products.
The float test: Place the ends of your hair in water. Strands that float to the surface indicate low porosity hair, while medium porosity hair falls slowly, and highly porous strands quickly sink.
The spray test: Using a spray bottle, mist a few spritzes of water on to your lengths. Beads will form on low porosity hair, while medium porosity hair absorbs moisture slowly and water quickly penetrates highly porous hair.
Now you know how to check hair porosity, what does this all mean for your hair routine? Read on to discover how to care for each hair porosity type.
How to care for low porosity hair
The tightly bound, overlapping hair cuticles that define low porosity hair make it difficult for moisture to penetrate the hair fibre. Low porosity hair is typically resistant to colouring, takes longer to absorb moisture, and needs more time to dry. Though strong hair cuticles usually signal healthy locks, strands with this porosity level can feel dry because moisture struggles to permeate the fibre. As such, low porosity hair care should focus on deeply conditioning products, like a weekly hair mask, and support nourishment by applying a hair oil or serum about 30 minutes before shampooing.
How to care for medium porosity hair
Medium porosity hair is often the easiest type to care for, as the looser cuticles allow enough moisture in but prevent too much from escaping. This hair porosity type can benefit from the occasional protein boost, so products from the Kérastase Résistance collection may be ideal. For regular wash days though, address medium porosity hair with shampoos and conditioners that aim to support balanced hair and a healthy scalp.
How to care for high porosity hair
High porosity hair has gaps between the hair cuticles. This is natural to some hair types, but it can also be brought on by chemical or heat damage to hair bonds. Either way, the hair fibre allows water to pass through easily without retaining it, so while high porosity hair often dries quickly, it can be prone to frizz and dehydration. To avoid weighing down your mane, nourish with lightweight moisturising products, and promote strength with regular protein treatments. A customised Fusio-Dose In-Salon Hair Routine helps to fortify weak hair, so locate a salon to book yours.
Loved learning about hair porosity? Uncover more by learning all about curl patterns and how to care for curly hair.
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