Hair Porosity Test: Find Your Perfect Routine
What Is Hair Porosity?
Porosity describes how easily your hair absorbs and retains moisture. It is determined by the condition of your cuticle layer — the overlapping scales that protect each strand. Understanding your porosity is more useful than knowing your curl pattern for choosing products.
The Float Test
Take a clean strand of hair (no product) and drop it in a glass of room-temperature water. Wait 4 minutes: floats at the top = low porosity, sinks to middle = medium, sinks to bottom = high porosity.
Low Porosity Care
Cuticles are tight — products sit on the surface. Use heat (warm towel, steamer) to open cuticles during deep conditioning. Choose lightweight, liquid-based products.
Medium Porosity Care
The ideal — cuticles are slightly open, accepting and retaining moisture well. Maintain with balanced protein-moisture routine.
High Porosity Care
Cuticles are raised or damaged — absorbs quickly but loses moisture fast. Use leave-in conditioners, seal with oils/butters, and apply protein treatments biweekly.
