Ever wonder why a product that works wonders for your friend does nothing for you? The answer is often porosity, one of the most useful (and overlooked) things to know about your hair. Once you understand yours, choosing the right products becomes much easier.
What Is Hair Porosity?
Porosity describes how well your hair absorbs and holds moisture. It comes down to the cuticle, the outer layer of the hair. When cuticles lie flat and tight, moisture moves in and out slowly (low porosity). When they're raised or gapped, moisture moves in and out quickly (high porosity).
The Simple Float Test
Drop a clean, dry strand of hair into a glass of water and wait a few minutes:
- Floats on top: likely low porosity
- Sinks slowly: likely normal porosity
- Sinks quickly: likely high porosity
Low Porosity Hair
The tight cuticle makes it hard for moisture to get in, so products tend to sit on top and hair can feel dry despite your efforts.
Signs: products build up easily, hair takes a long time to get wet and to dry, and it can feel coated rather than nourished.
How to care for it: use lightweight products that absorb without sitting on the surface, apply gentle warmth to help products penetrate, and choose oils formulated to sink in rather than coat. Our Hair Growth Oil for Low Porosity is designed specifically for this, light enough to absorb and nourish without buildup.
High Porosity Hair
The raised or gapped cuticle lets moisture in easily, but it escapes just as fast. High porosity is often the result of damage from heat, color, or chemical processing, though it can be natural too.
Signs: hair absorbs water and dries quickly, tends toward frizz and dryness, and can feel rough.
How to care for it: focus on deep nourishment and sealing moisture in with richer treatments. Our Hair Growth Oil for High Porosity is a deeply penetrating, nourishing formula made to feed thirsty, porous strands.
Products That Work for Both
Whatever your porosity, gentle cleansing and hydration are the foundation. Our Argan Hydrating Shampoo and Argan Hydrating Conditioner cleanse and soften without stripping, a great base for any hair type.
The Bottom Line
Knowing your porosity takes the guesswork out of hair care. Low porosity hair needs lightweight products that can absorb; high porosity hair needs rich nourishment that's sealed in. Match your products to your hair, and everything works better.