Hair Porosity: What is it and What are the Different Types?

If you follow the natural hair community, I’m sure you heard of the term “porosity.” But do you actually know what it is? It’s perfectly fine if you don’t! Hair porosity is simply your hair’s ability to soak up and retain moisture. Your hair’s porosity has a huge impact on how well moisture and oils will pass throughout your cuticle. Now that you know exactly what porosity is, let’s briefly talk about the different types⇩:

1. Low Porosity

Low porosity hair has difficulty with absorbing moisture and locking it in. This is because the strands have a tightly bound cuticle layer, making the hair more prone to product build up. Since low porosity hair types tend to repel moisture, it can feel dry and it can even be more difficult to style. A solution for not being able to hold in moisture is to moisturise and seal, then use a steamer or hooded dryer to let the products penetrate. Adding heat will definitely make it easier for your low porosity hair to maintain moisture therefore, dryness will no longer be a problem.

2. Medium/Normal Porosity

Medium or normal porosity hair has no problem with allowing moisture to penetrate. Also, it can maintain moisture for a long period of time. Here are some advantages of having medium porosity:

- styling your hair is easier and styles actually last for a long time;

- normal porosity hair tends to look more shiny and healthy;

- the air drying process doesn’t take forever;

- it can take colour and heat pretty well, as long as it’s used properly.

3. High Porosity

Moisture is easily absorbed into the hair shaft and it easily escapes as well. Therefore, moisture isn’t retained for long on high porosity hair. This is due to the cuticles having large gaps and spaces between them. Though your hair can be naturally high porosity, a lot of people have high porosity due to colouring, straightening, and relaxing their hair. If you have high porosity, it’s so important to moisturise and seal! Do not let that moisture escape from your hair. Another thing is that you should use heavier products just to keep your hair tamed because high porosity hair is more prone to frizz.

Now that you know about the three types of hair porosity, you can start trying to figure out what category your hair is in. There are plenty of porosity tests that you can try, I will talk about those in further articles so make sure to stay tuned! The key to figuring out your hair’s porosity is to pay close attention to how it reacts to moisture. Do products just sit on top of your head or do they actually penetrate your hair shaft? If your hair takes in moisture easily, does it also keep it locked in easily or does it escape? Learning about your hair and keeping it moisturised & sealed will definitely keep it on the right track, no matter what your hair type is.

Author: Victora Tate

About Her: I’m Victoria Tate, a teenage copywriter and blog writer from Los Angeles. Writing is my main thing but I also love fashion; I’m really starting to get into personal styling. Let’s connect with each other! Follow my Instagram for copywriting:@copywritingcastle & virtual personal styling:@styledbyvlt.