Take our free interactive quiz to determine if you have low, medium, or high porosity hair. Get personalized product recommendations and care routines for healthier, more manageable hair.
Hair porosity refers to your hair's ability to absorb and retain moisture. Understanding your hair porosity is crucial for choosing the right products and developing an effective hair care routine.
Your hair consists of three layers:
For your hair to stay healthy and hydrated, water, oils, and other moisturizing products need to pass through the cuticle to reach the cortex. How easily moisture can enter and stay in your hair depends on your porosity level.
Cuticles are tightly packed and close together. Moisture has difficulty penetrating the hair shaft.
Cuticles are balanced - not too tight, not too loose. Allows optimal moisture absorption and retention.
Cuticles have gaps and holes. Moisture enters easily but escapes quickly. Often due to damage.
Want a quick physical test? Try the float test at home to complement your quiz results.
Shampoo and rinse to remove all products
Use room temperature water
Place one clean, dry strand in the water
Floats = Low, Middle = Medium, Sinks = High
Your natural hair porosity is largely determined by genetics. If low porosity hair runs in your family, you're likely to have it too. This is your hair's baseline characteristic.
Hair coloring, bleaching, relaxing, and perming can damage the cuticle layer, increasing porosity. These processes open up the cuticle and can create permanent gaps.
Frequent use of blow dryers, flat irons, and curling irons without heat protectant can gradually increase hair porosity by damaging the cuticle layer.
UV exposure, chlorine from swimming pools, salt water, and harsh weather conditions can all contribute to increased hair porosity over time.
If your hair porosity is genetic, you cannot permanently change it. However, our hair care experts at Salonity recommend several strategies to make your hair healthier, more manageable, and easier to style regardless of your porosity type.
Hair porosity is your hair's ability to absorb and retain moisture. It determines how easily water, oils, and other products can penetrate the cuticle (outer layer) and reach the cortex (inner structure) of your hair. Understanding your porosity helps you choose the right products and treatments for optimal hair health.
The easiest way is to take our interactive quiz above or try the float test at home: drop a clean strand of hair into a glass of water. If it floats on top, you have low porosity. If it floats in the middle, you have medium porosity. If it sinks quickly to the bottom, you have high porosity hair. You can also feel your hair - smooth indicates low porosity, while rough and bumpy suggests high porosity.
High porosity can be genetic or caused by damage from chemical treatments (coloring, bleaching, relaxing), excessive heat styling, over-washing, harsh products, or UV exposure. These factors cause the cuticles to become raised and create gaps, making it difficult for hair to retain moisture. At Salonity, we recommend protective styling and deep conditioning to manage high porosity hair.
Low porosity hair isn't inherently good or bad - it's just a characteristic that requires specific care. The benefits include natural shine, strength, and resistance to damage. The challenges include difficulty absorbing moisture and products, which can lead to buildup. With the right lightweight products and heat-assisted deep conditioning, low porosity hair can be healthy and beautiful.
If your porosity is genetic, you cannot permanently change it. However, damaged high porosity hair can be improved with protein treatments, protective styling, and gentle care routines. While you can't reverse genetic porosity, you can definitely improve your hair's health and manageability with porosity-appropriate products and techniques recommended by Salonity experts.
Low porosity: Avoid heavy oils, thick butters, and protein-heavy products that cause buildup. Medium porosity: Avoid over-processing with excessive heat or chemicals.High porosity: Avoid hot water, harsh sulfates, and lightweight products that won't seal moisture. Our quiz provides detailed product recommendations tailored to your specific porosity type.
We recommend testing your hair porosity every 6-12 months or after significant changes like chemical treatments, major haircuts, or noticeable changes in hair behavior. Your porosity can change due to damage, so regular testing helps you adjust your hair care routine accordingly. Keep track of your results to optimize your hair health journey with Salonity.
Absolutely! Low porosity hair resists color absorption and takes longer to process. Medium porosity hair takes color evenly and holds it well. High porosity hair absorbs color very quickly but also fades faster due to gaps in the cuticle. Understanding your porosity helps you set realistic expectations for coloring results and choose appropriate aftercare to maintain vibrant color longer.
Understanding your hair porosity is a game-changer for your hair care routine. Whether you have low, medium, or high porosity hair, knowing your type empowers you to make informed decisions about products, treatments, and styling techniques.
At Salonity, we believe that beautiful, healthy hair starts with understanding your unique hair characteristics. Our interactive hair porosity test takes just minutes to complete and provides personalized recommendations based on your specific needs.
Remember, every hair type is beautiful and manageable with the right care. Take our quiz, discover your porosity, and start your journey to healthier, more radiant hair today with Salonity's expert guidance.
Understanding your hair porosity is the first step to healthier, more beautiful hair.