Knowing what your hair’s porosity is will help you better understand how your hair reacts to moisture. So if your tresses are always dry/don’t seem to react to products or frizz easily, gaining insight to porosity can help.
What is Hair Porosity?
Each strand of hair has a layer called the cuticle. Porosity refers to how much moisture gets inside the cuticle layer along the hair shaft. See the illustration below…
This is how I remember what each porosity means…
Think of porosity as the number of pores or holes in the hair shaft. If you have low porosity, (fewer pores) water/moisture can’t get into hair. Your strands act as repellents.
After you shampoo your hair, do you notice small droplets of water sitting on your strands? You probably have low porosity hair. That means water (which is the best moisturizer) cannot penetrate.
With high porosity, think of having too many pores/holes so too much moisture gets into the hair. The hair can frizz and tangle very easily. Moisture also escapes very quickly with high porosity hair so that type of hair can dry out easily.
High porosity hair often comes from heat or chemical damage. When your hair is damaged, the cuticles raise up.
The Hair Porosity Test
The easiest way to find out your hair porosity is to get a glass of water and put a clean strand of hair into the glass.
Let it sit for a few minutes.
If it floats, you have low porosity. If it sinks, you have high porosity. Again, think of the number of pores/holes. If you have fewer holes, less water can get in, so the strand floats. If you have more pores, then too much water gets into the strand and it sinks.
If it floats for awhile and then sinks, I would still consider your hair to be high porosity.
Yes, you can do this test even if you are not completely natural.
Low Porosity Hair Tips
Lo-po hair loves rich, buttery products like shea butters, rich natural oils like jojoba, castor, and coconut. It’s a big fan of emollients! It may even react favorably to the preservative mineral oil — which is often seen as a no-no in the natural hair community.
I never understood why my hair seemed to do well with products that contain mineral oil. After I did the porosity test, I now know why.
Watch out for conditioners that are rich in protein because they can leave a lot of build-up on the hair.
Hair steamers and conditioning treatments with heat are great for lo-po hair because they raise the cuticle more and allows more moisture to get in.
High Porosity Hair Tips
Leave-in conditioners and sealants are a MUST with high-po hair because you lose moisture so quickly. So after you apply your moisturizer, add a heavy butter or other sealant to lock in that moisture.
Stay away from humectant products (honey, castor oil, etc.) because they draw too much moisture out of the air and into your hair.
You may want to try Aphogee’s Protein Treatment to strengthen your hair. (Don’t do more than every 6 weeks.) Here’s a homemade protein treatment that I love. NOTE: Omit the honey as it’s not good for high porosity hair.
Also, look into deep conditioning your hair with a hair mask.
_____________________
You want to aim for normal porosity (cuticles slightly raised), where you’re able to let in enough moisture, but not so much your hair gets frizzy and tangled.
NOTE: If your hair is kinky, you are going to have to deal with frizz at some level. It doesn’t always mean it’s the porosity that’s causing it. There is no way to completely eliminate it, but you can minimize frizz with the tips above should you discover you have high porosity hair.
Get more natural hair moisture tips here.
What is your style is brush waves for now? How can you test the porosity of the hair?
Hi, so I did the porosity test and at first my strand floated then after abiut 1-2mins it sunk, so I left it, when I returned after about 10mins or so the hair was floating on top again ?…..what would you say in this case? My hair will hold on to moisture over a 1 week period or 9days before it starts to feel dry again, just to share that as well
Hi,
Thank you for the article. I’m starting to try and care for my hair and it was a great place to start. I took a strand of my hair (it was striaght-ish) and put it in a glass of water and it started to curl up till it was just a ball of curls. and then it floated so I guess I’ve got low hair porosity but what does the curling up of the strand mean? Is it normal for natrual 4c hair to do that?
You state that a person with high porosity hair should stay away from honey, however, your homemade protein conditioner contains honey.
This is true!
Thank you Kim! I learned about the high/low porosity stuff long after writing that protein treatment article. I have updated the recipe to “exclude honey if you have porosity hair.” Thank you!!
Where can I find the ingredients?
On Amazon or health food stores.
So I have a question. I put three different hairs of mine in water after 5 minutes they were floating but I walked over and push them and then they went down to the bottom so is that high porosity or is it low being that I made them go down? This may be a stupid question but I’m just not sure
Can someone please reply
Idiot. If they floated, they floated. They went down because you pushed them down.
Frieda what’s the use of name calling? We are all on a public forum if you don’t know how to positively interact with others then keep to yourself.
Hear, hear! That was totally uncalled for,
Her Comment does not make her a idiot.
I pushed mine down after some time and it still wouldn’t go under… So no she’s not an idiot… It means she has high po
There is actually an explanation. Surface tension in water is very strong, and will suspend lots of things that would otherwise sink. You can break the water tension with a tiny bit of liquid dish soap to see if the hair sinks immediately. (like, put a toothpick in the dishsoap, then dip the toothpick in the cup of water. It takes very little.)
It IS possible that pushing the hair down could have affected the results. It is not a stupid question.
Ignore the trolls, and I hope this helps.
I put the dish detergent into the water and then pushed the hair down (two strands). At first one floated and one sank to the bottom. After a few minutes the one that sunk rose to the middle of the glass. So I would take that as floating. I am LoPo. 🙂
That’s because the strand-in-water test isn’t really accurate. I know because the same thing happened to me when I tried the test right after washing my hair, and I’m fairly certain I have high porosity hair because of how quickly it dries. Hair has a natural layer of sebum coating the strand. Even if you do the test right after washing your hair, it’ll still float because of residual oil. Here’s a link for my info:
http://www.thenaturalhavenbloom.com/2013/01/junk-science-hair-porosity-tests-float.html
What does it mean if my hair sinks then floats within the 2-4 minute time span??? I’m a bit confused and have not seen any questions or answers similar to what I am experiencing.
It means your hair is a little of both. You probably have low porosity hair but maybe it’s a bit damaged. Do you use heat on your hair?
Hi, I have no idea what porosity my hair is since I haven’t taken the test yet but from the effects Youve described I feel like I could fall in to both categories? I don’t know if that’s possible, but I’ve noticed that when I wash my hair there are droplets sitting on some strands suggesting I have low porosity hair but at the same time it’s like it can’t hold moisture and dries quite quickly – some strands stay calm and seem okay, but I want ALL of my hair like this. I used to straighten the living crap out of my hair and regretting it badly, I decided to start wearing it natural, it was no easy task my hair was clearly and obviously not the same curl, and in an attempt to define the curl I used a garnier fructis leave in conditioner. BIG MISTAKE. it was disgusting to put it bluntly – as soon as I washed my hair it felt rubbery, notting way too quickly, tangling and felt as if you could run something down a piece of a hair and the product would come out the other end if you know what I mean, my hair has never felt the same since, I’ve used various clarifying shampoos and just recently used a Shea moisture Apple cider vinegar and black castor oil shampoo and it feels like it’s worked a bit but it’s all too gradual – like after so many washes from using the horrible garnier leave in conditioner, it will gradually get better but I just want something that will eliminate this product build up (which is what I’ve put it down to) completely. I wash my hair apply leave in conditioner, plait it so its tidy when I sleep and when I undo them Im quite pleased with how they look but as the day goes in it gets drier and more stiff, if you could point me towards a product or routine that could help with dryness or product buildup that actually works with all things considered that would be FANTASTIC and you wiould literally be my holy grail of hair. Don’t know if this helps to recommend the right product or tips but also when I’m washing my hair I can be rinsing for agesss with my head over the bath just watching the bubbles rinse out and clamming together (which I assume is product) and it doesn’t stop! Please help me!
The Shea moisture product you described for shampoo is awesome. I’d stay with the same line and do their leave-in reconstructive conditioner and use their low porosity detangler.
What you’re going through sounds like me as I’m transitioning my hair. The most important thing is the conditioning! So invest in a heating cap and sit under it with your detangler and conditioner for at least an hour.
Then, moisturize using the LOC method. I, personally, left out the “L” a couple days after I washed and had to re-moisturize because the two textures were breaking off the relaxed hair rapidly. My oil of choice has been castor oil and I use a product from Carol’s daughter that has shea and other butters in it to seal in the moisture.
I use flexi rods for curls. The only heat I used after I washed was the blow dryer to keep everything one texture until my hair is completely natural.
You are low porosity ma’am. Use hot water and hot spray bottles while moisturizing. The moisture leaves quickly because it’s not all the way in.
This explains so much. My shampoo AND conditioner are protein enriched. What type of shampoo would you suggest for low porostity hair?
So I have a question. I put three different hairs of mine in water after 5 minutes they were floating but I walked over and push them and then they went down to the bottom so is that high porosity or is it low being that I made them go down? This may be a stupid question but I’m just not sure
Insightful, enlightening. Please what oils should be used for high porosity hair type like mine.Thank you.
Hello Lisa,
I’ve been struggling with my 4c hair matting and sticking together. My I’ve tried the strain test and my hair sits on top of the water. I live in Arizona. In the winter time, I do not wear my hair out. In the summer time, I wash and condition the hair and flat iron once a month. I am trying to get the PH balance back in my hair. I’ve been educating myself on shampoos and conditioners. I think that is what is missing. I can’t comb through my 4c hair. I have to finger comb it and it is very frustrating. I comb my hair once a week. At night a wear a silk scarf when I sleep. It is so sticky and tangly, I’ve never seen anything like it. I like my hair I really can’t fully enjoy it.
Some times I want to put the perm back in. What products do you suggest. I co-wash alot.
Hi Brenda
I have 4a hair and I don’t comb my hair either (except when I shampoo and I finger detangle.) It takes a long time but I wouldn’t do it any other way. I don’t think kinky hair should be combed through like relaxed hair. I think you should section it and add lots of conditioner and work through the tangles with fingers. So not combing your hair is actually a good thing if you use the right technique.
I’m not sure what is causing the stickiness. Maybe too many products built up? Have you tried clarifying your hair with a clarifying shampoo or apple cider vinegar.
Sometimes less is more. I used to use all kinds of potions on my hair. My staple has become water and hair butter. I spritz my hair at night and re-twist with a butter. It can be shea butter, mango butter, etc. By the 3rd-4th night, your hair will be soft, stretched and moisturized.
Product suggestions are hard because your hair is not the same as mine but I still think less is more.
Yes, I believe you are right. I am now trying to use less product. I think I use too much product especially when I flat iron my hair sometimes. I don’t want to damage my natural hair with heat even though it’s not all the time. I tried clarifying my hair just recently and my hair turned really hard. I just think co-washing for me is much better. I get better results. I read about your regimen and I noticed that you use shea butters and mango butter. I am trying this and it’s much better for my hair. My 4c hair makes me crazy sometimes. I know that the water does keep it moisturized. I’ve been on my hair journey for a while and I am still learning about my hair. My hair loves being just natural more so that with the flat iron. My mother hates my natural hair and I love it. Thank you for all of your insight with natural hair. You have helped me alot. Thanks again!
Yes, it’s amazing how much less money I spend now. I used to buy every lotion and potion out there but now I just use good ole water and butter. I twist my hair into medium-large twists after shampooing while damp and use butter to seal it in. Then a few days later I will re-twist to re-moisturize/seal with water and butter again. When you do it the 2nd time, your hair will be stretched and longer. By the end of the week, my twists are stretched and my hair is moisturized. This is the best routine to keep my ends healthy so I gain length.
Good luck!
I am going to try this method. I have 4c hair High porosity based on your test. My hair stays frizzy & kinky! The shrinkage is serious offer a wash & go. I’m still trying to find the right products to maintain moisture. It’s like my scalp eats any oil I put on it. So dryness & breakage have been a huge issue for me. I’m looking for a good deep conditioner, do you have a recommendation? Also any methods to maintain moisture and reduce breakage/ shedding. I do not use any heat on my hair, should I?
Brenda, I would guess your hair is matted because you are not combing it. Our hair shed so many hair strands a day, some say 50 to 100 a day. The hair you are shedding is not being removed from your head so it’s just tangling there. I use to think I was keeping more hair on my head by not combing my hair but after not combing my hair for a week it became a tangled mess when water hit it. I think you should add moisture to your hair and comb gently in small sections to detangle . If you think you have product build up or you have never use a clarifying shampoo, get a moisturizing clarifying shampoo and follow with a deep conditioning treatment to soften hair cause some clarifying shampoos can make hair dry. If your hair is breaking, The next week I would do a deep conditioning PROTEIN TREATMENT to strengthen hair and follow this this conditioning treatment to soften hair because protein treatment can also be drying. I don’t ever use a clarifying and protein treatment the same week because both can be drying. I know it sounds like a lot but from what you have stated your hair
just need TLC and you will get the hair you want pretty soon. God Bless you and hope this helps.
I did the test BUT some strands floated and some of them sinked . Can it be both ?
Yep sure can be. If you have some damaged hair it could be high porosity while other strands can be low.
Similar issues…
What products do you suggest?? It’s hard finding products to do just one magical thing for me.. Remove the stickness I feel afterwards. Not squeaky clean
One reason it’s hard to suggest products is everyone’s hair is different. So just because something works well for me doesn’t mean it will do the same for you. I try not to suggest because it doesn’t always help. I think the fewer products the better. I’ve found that re-twisting my hair at night with water and a buttery product works really good. After a few days of doing this my hair is soft.
I had the most issues when I would use too many products. Sometimes simplicity is best.
Shea Moisture now makes shampoo and conditioner specifically for low porosity (yellow label) and high porosity (blue label) hair, I found it at target. Also found a woman Organigrowhairco that’s makes products based on hair porosity. Check them both out. Also once every few months I rinse my hair with Apple Cider Vinegar hair and scalp feels so clean after.
Wow….This blog is great !! …so…what happen when the hair has normal porosity… will it stay float or sink? What’s the best solution to have a daily frizz fight solution for that kind of hair (normal/low)…for your further suggestion and help.
Thanks :))
You say to avoid honey for high-porosity hair, but in your 6 ingredient hair treatment, it contains honey.
Ahhh good catch. You can just eliminate the honey. Thx!
My hair is either too dry or too conditioned. What does that mean?
My hair stayed at the top of the water so what kind of moisturizers will work in my hair as far as shampoo, conditioners, oils & moisturizers
So that means you have low porosity like me. My hair loves hair butters. So any kind of shea or mango butter will work well on your hair. So you could do a twist out by spritzing your hair with water and then adding a butter to seal it in. Your hair will be so soft and the butter will lock in that moisture.
As far as shampoos, look for any one that says “moisturizing”. Shampoos that are thick and creamy will work well for your hair.
Remember, moisture does not stay in your hair long so you need to open up your cuticles to allow more in (steam treatments are great) and then use water based moisturizers and butters to seal it in.
For this test, are we just supposed to drop it in? Swirl and see if it comes to the top/sinks/other? are we supposed to just pluck a strand from our head or wash it dry it then put it in the water? Last but not least, I’m assuming it will, but if you literally just did a hot oil treatment then this test, will it make it seem like you have low pro hair since it’s already very full?
Your hair should be clean and yes, just drop it in. No swirling. You can also just wash the strand by itself but it would just be easier to wash all your hair at once. Definitely don’t have any oil ’cause that will change the results.
Thanks sooo much for your blog. I’ve learned quite a bit. You have answered many of my questions of hair porosity.
I was told I have high porosity hair due to heat damage. Had a blow out from the Dominicans. Ugggg. Lol. However I’m a little confused as to which treatment I should use to condition my hair? Should I use the vinegar and water or the mayo .. egg and honey mixture?
Vinegar and water is for rinsing and bringing out your curls. The mayo mixture is protein. These are 2 separate treatments. I don’t like to use vinegar/water after a protein treatment b/c I fear that I will undo the protein treatment. So do them at separate times. The may protein treatment will help strengthen your hair before shampooing.
I have both low and high porosity hair! What do I do?!
Just did the test. My hair sank faster than Titanic. i need advise on shampoo, conditioner and other products to keep my dry hair alive. Help!!!!
Hi Rebecca, so that means your hair is very porous. So you are actually getting too much moisture and it’s evaporating. I don’t think it’s so much about the shampoo, but your daily routines and styling/maintenance products. You lose moisture quickly so you need some sealants like natural oils, shea butter, etc. to seal in any moisture you use. That’s going to be a must.
You should also do protein treatments. There’s a homemade one you can do with egg, olive oil, mayo (whole). Here is the recipe. https://napturallycurly.com/protein-treatment-natural-transitioning-hair/
wow! thank you so much for sharing alllll your knowledge!! you should write a book. by the way, do you have a hair book?? i am learning sooo much from your website. you are so helpful.
I really don’t k n ow my hair type. Yes I tried the hair in the water and believe me for a whole day and my hair still sitting g on top of the water. What do u recommend I do.
So that means you have low porosity. That means moisture cannot get in. So you deep conditioning treatments with heat will open up your pores to let moisture in your hair. You’ll find that your moisturizers will last longer if you do steam/deep conditioning treatments. If you don’t have a hair dryer, put a warm cloth under a plastic cap to create steam. Add a deep conditioner and let it sit on your hair for at least 30 minutes. Do this weekly if you can.
I have a 4c hair type how can I make it soft with an homemade product
I love to make my own mixtures, when I first started I only made them in small quantities until I seen how my hair would react. I’m a 4c as well and your hair is fragile. One of my favorite simple mixtures in 1/4 cup Shea butter, 1/4 cup cocoa butter, 2 tbsp coconut oil and an essential oil of your choice. Use a double boiler to melt the cocoa butter, mix all ingredients with a hand mixer whip until light and fluffy. Other helpful things are you must deep condition often after washing your hair, plat your hair or use some of form of stretching your hair, and get regular hair trims. Good luck on your journey.
Hey this info is so great but there is just one thing that I dont get thats mentioned in your info . So my hair is high porosity so it frizzes alot….. It is advised that I use sealants such as heavy buttery products n deep condirioners to lock moisture in, so I don’t get why it isn’t advised to use humectant products such as olive oil since that also helps the hair to retain moisture.
My sentiments too…it seem to me that as a high porosity person as well using sealants should be a great option.
While we are talking about porosity has any one considered that PH balance may be a factor as well which may affect the porosity of a persons hair.
What about change in season, change is diet, if medication is been taken.I have done the test numerous times and I get both results.I have 10 different types of strands so I don’t fall into any particular hair type.
I think this works for some not all
Great article, thank you very much. Figured out my hair has “low porosity”. I checked the Deva products and it is indeed quite expensive. Do you have any cheaper alternatives (besides DIY) for deep conditionning low porosity hair ? Thank you in advance for your help 🙂
Hi Missaw
Honestly you can use any deep conditioning product that has a very thick consistency with as many natural ingredients as possible. I use Organics Olive Oil Root Stimulator. It’s not 100% natural but my hair likes it. It’s very thick and you can get it for about $5-$7 at any beauty supply. It works well too.
Hi Have been transitioning for the past 14 months just took off a couple inches of realxed and still shoulder length not going shorter than that, so far so good just pretty dry hair trying to cope with plz help!
No I have not tried the organic olive oil conditioner. So how would I use this if I use a Co wash? What would be a good thing to use daily to style my hair? Or will I not need anything if I do the cap or towel streamer with a deep conditioner once a week??
You have to experiment. What works for my hair may not work for yours. Start with the Shea Moisture line because it’s affordable and found everywhere. They have daily moisturizers, etc.
I have never co-washed with the organics. It’s kind of thick for that. I would use a lighter conditioner for co-washing like Aussie Moist.
You will know if you need to moisturize by how your hair feels. Me personally, I can get away with every 3-4 days if my hair is conditioned and healthy. Again, you really have to experiment because my hair is not the same as yours. That’s the tricky thing about recommendations. What my hair loves, your hair may hate and vice versa.
I’ve forgot to mention that with a cap streamer or a do it yourself streamer will either one of these work just as good as the real streamer that you sit under? I saw a hand one but its kind of pricey.I don’t know what products or product to use that will not suck out the moisture from the deep conditioner. Also regarding a deep conditioner do you have any suggestions on any that are good and rich but not filled with I guess a lot of proteins, since I’m low porosity?
Nothing is as good as a real steamer to be honest but a cloth/cap is better than nothing. Have you tried Organics Olive Oil Root Stimulator conditioner? It’s yellow and you can buy at most local beauty supplies. To be honest the ones I like are kind of pricey like Deva Curl deep conditioner. It softens my hair sooooooooo much. You can also google this and try to make your own with mayonnaise, honey and egg (protein). I’ve also done that. Much cheaper in the long run.
I just got your reply. So after I stream do I apply a product and it should not make my hair crunchy since I streamed? Or do I just use a deep conditioner and stream and that’s it? I am sorry if I’m sounding dumb lol. I have no clue about the natural hair care stuff.
Hi I do not know my hair porosity. I tried the cup with water and my hair never floats or goes to the bottom. It remains at the top. I think my hair is 3c/4a it’s very dry and breaking off in the middle of my crown and in the front of my head nothing seems to moisturize it. I’ve tried cantu daily oil moisturizer nope dried it out, tangled it and made it look brittle. The Shea moisture smoothie. That was another no no. Mad my hair white over time and crunchy. Ice tried hiatus silky that was no good. It’s also always frizzy. Do not know what to do and what to use. I want my hair to look and feel and be healthy. I do not want to be bald. I need your help please. Right now I just use Shea moisture Co wash. I can’t find anything for my hair. Grease makes it frizzy and real real tight. Meaning my hair scrunches..up into a extremely tight weird looking afro. I’ve been natural since 2012 and still struggling which is sad. It’s driving me insane. I don’t have a whole lot of money. But i was thinking of maybe trying as I am double butter. But that is kinda pricy. Please help out guys. Thank you
If it remains at the top then that means it floats. You have low poroisty hair. So that means no moisture is getting in at all, that’s why your hair stays dry and cruncy. You need to do some steam treatments and would highly benefit from one of those hair steamers. Or you can do one yourself by adding a rich deep conditioner after shampooing. Warm up a wash cloth and put it under a plastic cap. Put the cap on your hair to steam it for 30 minutes. Do this weekly.
Okay so I did the test and after a few minutes it didn’t sink nor float but after a few hours, it sank to the bottom. What does that mean?
If it ultimately sank that you have high porosity hair. Since it took awhile, it’s probably not extremely porous (which is why it took awhile to sink) but I would definitely proceed as if you are high porosity.
Can you tell me which hair care products are GOOD for my 4B/4C? I can’t afford expensive products,Hopefully I can get them from Sallys are Wal-Mart.Thanks In Advance.☺
You can save money by making your own products. Try buying some unrefined Shea Butter from Amazon and whip in some natural oils. This makes a great sealant to lock in moisture. And it lasts forever.
What are some good Natural oils for 4 B AND C?? Is kemi oil and coconut oil good for if the hair is dry n frizz…