High vs. Low Porosity Hair: What It Is & How to Find Yours

What Is Hair Porosity?

Hair porosity refers to how well your hair absorbs and holds moisture. It’s determined by the structure of your cuticle layer—the outermost layer of your hair shaft. This cuticle opens and closes to let in or block out moisture.

There are three porosity levels:

• Low Porosity: Tightly bound cuticles that repel moisture.

• Normal Porosity: Cuticles that are slightly raised and absorb moisture well.

• High Porosity: Widely spaced cuticles that let moisture in easily but also lose it quickly.

How to Test Your Hair Porosity at Home

The Float Test is the easiest way to figure out your hair porosity:

1. Take a clean, dry strand of your hair (no product on it).

2. Drop it in a glass of water.

3. Watch what happens over the next 2–4 minutes.

• If the strand sinks quickly, you have high porosity hair.

• If it floats for a long time, it’s low porosity.

• If it floats then slowly sinks, you likely have normal porosity.

Other signs:

• Low Porosity Hair tends to take forever to dry and doesn’t absorb products easily.

• High Porosity Hair frizzes quickly and dries fast after washing.

Best Products for Low Porosity Hair

Low porosity hair benefits from lightweight, water-based products that don’t sit on the surface. Heat (like steam or warm water) helps open the cuticle so products can penetrate.

Try These:

• Aunt Jackie’s Quench Moisture Intensive Leave-In Conditioner

• Ozone Hair Steamer – a game-changer for product absorption

• SheaMoisture Low Porosity Protein-Free Shampoo

Best Products for High Porosity Hair

High porosity strands need heavy moisture and protein treatments to fill in gaps and keep hydration locked in.

Top Picks:

• Aphogee Two-Step Protein Treatment

• Mielle Babassu Oil & Mint Deep Conditioner – great for protein/moisture balance

• Camille Rose Almond Jai Twisting Butter – locks in moisture beautifully

How to Build a Hair Care Routine Based on Porosity

For Low Porosity Hair:

• Use warm water or steam before applying products

• Clarify every 2 weeks to prevent product buildup

• Choose humectants like glycerin during humid seasons

For High Porosity Hair:

• Incorporate protein treatments 1–2x per month

• Layer your products using the LOC (Liquid-Oil-Cream) method

• Avoid heat styling tools or always use a heat protectant

Final Thoughts

Knowing your hair porosity is like having a cheat code to healthier, more manageable hair. It eliminates the guesswork and helps you choose products that actually work. Whether you’re trying to fight frizz, hold on to moisture, or avoid product buildup, porosity-based care is essential.

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