The Curly Hair Porosity Guide: Understanding Your Hair's Ability to Absorb Moisture
Photo by Jessica Felicio on Unsplash
Have you ever wondered why certain hair products work wonders for your friend's curls but leave yours feeling dry or weighed down? The answer might sit in your hair's porosity level. At Trymyfab, we believe that really understanding your curl characteristics is the foundation of effective curly hair care. So let’s dig into one of the most important ones — porosity.
What is Hair Porosity?
Hair porosity refers to your hair's ability to absorb and retain moisture. It all comes down to how your cuticles — the protective outer layer of your hair shaft — are arranged. Think of them like tiny shingles on a roof. Their position determines how easily moisture, oils, and products can enter and exit your strands.
The Three Porosity Levels
We typically group porosity into three categories: low, medium, and high. Knowing where your curls land on the spectrum helps you care for them in a way that actually works. Here’s what sets each level apart:
Low Porosity
Your cuticles lay flat and snug. Moisture takes a while to get in, but once it’s there, it sticks around. If water tends to bead up on your hair before soaking in, you might be dealing with low porosity.
Medium Porosity
This is the balance point. Your cuticles are slightly raised, which means moisture goes in easily and stays put. Medium porosity hair often responds well to styling, holds moisture, and doesn’t need too much guesswork.
High Porosity
Cuticles here are lifted or even damaged. That makes it easy for moisture to get in—but just as easy for it to escape. If your hair gets wet quickly but dries just as fast, this might be your zone.
How to Test Your Porosity
There’s no single "official" test for porosity, but there are two that can give you a good starting point:
The Slide Test
Float Test
The Slide Test: Take a strand of clean, dry hair and gently slide your fingers from the tip toward the root. If it feels very smooth, you might have low porosity. Slightly bumpy? Medium. Super textured or rough? That’s a sign of high porosity. (Just be careful not to mistake tiny knots — aka fairy knots — for porosity clues.)
The Float Test: Drop a clean strand of hair into a glass of water. If it floats for a while, you’re likely low porosity. Sinks slowly? Medium. Sinks quickly? High porosity. This test is popular but not always precise, especially if your hair has leftover product—even after washing.
Porosity isn’t a one-size-fits-all situation, but these quick tests can give you some insight. Want to be sure? A professional curl consult can help you nail it down.
Customizing Your Routine Using Porosity
Okay, you've made it through the science lesson and we're not about to leave you hanging with all this porosity knowledge and no idea what to do with it. Grab your notes and let’s keep going. Understanding your hair’s porosity is all about working with your curls, not against them. Think of porosity as a tool to help shape your routine. Here’s a general direction you can use to guide your care depending on your porosity level.
Low Porosity Hair
Goal: Encourage absorption and reduce buildup.
Insight: This hair characteristic tends to resist moisture and product at first. Focus on routines that allow your strands to better take in hydration and avoid anything that might just sit on the surface.
Medium Porosity Hair
Goal: Preserve balance and prevent disruption.
Insight: Medium porosity curls are usually pretty cooperative. Your job? Keep them happy by staying consistent and avoiding any routines that might throw things off balance.
High Porosity Hair
Goal: Reinforce structure and support retention.
Insight: High porosity strands often struggle to hold onto what they absorb. Build routines that help your hair stay hydrated and supported, without losing moisture too quickly.
If you don’t take anything else away from today’s post remember this: Porosity doesn’t box you in—it gives you insight. When you understand what your hair needs based on how it behaves, you can create a routine that keeps your curls thriving.
