What is my hair porosity? Hair porosity explained
Zara Inuwa
Hair porosity is how easily your hair absorbs and holds moisture. Low porosity hair resists moisture but holds it well once absorbed. Medium porosity is the easiest to manage. High porosity absorbs moisture fast but loses it just as quickly. Knowing your porosity type helps you choose the right products and build a routine that actually works for your curls.
When we talk about hair porosity, we mean how well your hair is able to absorb and hold moisture. The outer layer of the hair called the cuticle determines how well the hair retains moisture and how well oil can pass through the hair shaft. Hair porosity is usually a genetic factor, however it can change due to heat damage, chemical damage, hair styling, and environmental factors. The hair will either be low, medium, or high porosity.
Understanding your hair porosity is one of the most useful things you can do for your curl routine. It explains why some products work beautifully on your friend's curls but sit on top of yours without absorbing, or why your hair dries out in hours when someone else's curls stay moisturised all week. Once you know your porosity, product selection stops being guesswork.
The Three Types of Hair Porosity
Low Porosity Hair
If the hair has low porosity, the hair cuticle does not allow moisture and oil to penetrate the hair shaft easily. The cuticles are often tightly closed together or overlap each other, making it very difficult for any moisture to get in. Hair products are most likely to coat or sit on the hair instead of penetrating the shaft. Having low porosity hair can also make it difficult for water to be absorbed into the hair. The hair can take a lot longer to soak up water when wet and takes longer to dry on wash day. Due to these reasons, this hair type can sometimes be difficult to manage and style.
Low porosity hair needs lighter products with lighter ingredients, or less product needs to be used on the hair. Placing too much product on low porosity hair, or using a product with the wrong formulation, can make it very difficult for the product to penetrate the shaft and can also weigh the hair down. It is important to find the right products for your hair type with the right ingredients. It is also important to keep the hair moisturised by using a deep conditioning mask two to three times per month. Oiling the hair with light oils can keep the hair in good condition. When oiling or using a mask, it can be helpful to use a steamer or heated cap if you have low porosity hair as this helps the product penetrate the shaft. Protein treatments should only be used about once every six weeks, as too much protein can cause protein overload. All The Pure Curls House products can be used on low porosity hair. The idea is to use a smaller amount of product so it can penetrate the hair shaft. For a complete low porosity care guide, visit the low porosity curly hair guide.
Medium Porosity Hair
Medium hair porosity is the ideal hair type, as the hair cuticles are not as tight as low porosity hair, but not as open as high porosity hair. This type of hair can be the easiest to manage. The ideal amount of hair product and moisture can penetrate the hair shaft. Products and ingredients that are not too heavy and will not weigh the hair down are ideal for medium porosity hair, however depending on your preference for the finishing look of your hair, you will find the product that best suits your style.
It is important to keep medium porosity hair moisturised by oiling the hair at least two to three times per week or using a deep conditioning mask about four times per month. Using too much protein on this kind of hair can cause protein overload and damage. Protein treatments should only be used about once a month to maintain good hair care. All The Pure Curls House products work very well on medium porosity hair.
High Porosity Hair
High porosity is when the cuticles are very far apart, the opposite of low porosity hair, so moisture penetrates the hair shaft very easily and quickly. High porosity hair can be genetic, but it can also be caused by factors such as too much heat on the hair from straightening, a hair dryer, or hot water. Hair bleaching, hair colouring, styling, and other chemical hair processes can also lead to high porosity hair, as these factors damage the hair cuticles and cause them to separate. This can cause the hair to absorb product, water, and moisture very quickly. Hair with high porosity also tends to become dry very easily, often looks frizzy, tangles easily, is prone to breakage, and dries very quickly when wet.
Products and ingredients that can lock in a lot of moisture are ideal for high porosity hair. It is good to regularly use deep conditioning treatments. The Mint and Cocoa Ayurvedic Butter Treatment and Rosemary Repair Oil are excellent for high porosity hair as they deep condition and lock moisture into the hair strands. Protein treatments should be used about once a month on high porosity hair to maintain good hair care. For a full high porosity care routine, the high porosity curly hair guide covers everything you need.
Hair Porosity Test: How to Find Out Your Hair Type at Home
There is a simple at-home test you can do to get a good indication of your hair porosity. It takes less than five minutes and requires only a glass of water and a clean strand of hair.
The Float Test
Step 1: Shampoo your hair first to remove any product buildup, then let it fully dry. Testing unwashed hair can produce inaccurate results because product residue changes how a strand behaves in water.
Step 2: Take one or two strands from different parts of your head and place them in a clear glass of room-temperature water.
Step 3: Watch the strand for two to four minutes without touching the glass.
Read the result:
Floats near the top: Low porosity. The tightly sealed cuticle is resisting water absorption.
Sinks slowly to the middle: Medium porosity. The cuticle is allowing gradual absorption at a balanced rate.
Sinks quickly to the bottom: High porosity. The open cuticle absorbed water rapidly and the strand became heavy quickly.
The Slip and Slide Test
Take a single hair strand and slide your fingers from tip to root. If it feels smooth and your fingers glide up easily, you likely have low porosity hair where the cuticle scales are lying flat and tightly closed. If you feel bumps or a rough, uneven texture as you slide up, you likely have high porosity hair where the cuticle scales are raised or damaged. Medium porosity hair will feel somewhere between the two, with a slight texture but no significant roughness.
Wash Day Observation
Pay attention to how your hair behaves during wash day. If your hair takes a very long time to get fully wet in the shower, repels water at first, and takes hours to fully dry, these are classic low porosity signs. If your hair soaks up water immediately, feels dripping wet within seconds, and air dries quickly, this points toward high porosity. If your hair behaves somewhere in the middle, you likely have medium porosity. Not sure of your curl type as well as your porosity? The PCH curl quiz helps you identify both in minutes.
The Best PCH Products for Each Porosity Type
Products for Low Porosity Hair
Low porosity hair benefits from lightweight products that can penetrate the tightly sealed cuticle without building up on the surface. The key is using less product than you think you need, applying to very warm hair to take advantage of slightly opened cuticles, and choosing formulas without heavy butters or silicones that would sit on top of the strand without absorbing.
The Superfood Hydra Curl Conditioner With Plant Peptides is well suited for low porosity hair used as a rinse-out conditioner. The PurePep plant-derived peptides are small molecules that can enter the cuticle even when tightly closed, delivering strengthening benefits without weighing the strand down. Apply to hair warmed by shower steam, leave for three to five minutes, and rinse. The Mint Ayurvedic Oil is the light oil of choice for the oil step on low porosity hair, as its lighter consistency is less likely to create surface buildup than heavier oils.
Products for Medium Porosity Hair
Medium porosity hair is the most versatile and responds well to most products when used in moderate amounts. The Plant Peptide Conditioner used as both a rinse-out and occasional leave-in provides balanced hydration without over-moisturising. The Superfood Combo Curl Cream applied to soaking wet hair defines curls without heaviness. Monthly deep conditioning with the Mint and Cocoa Ayurvedic Butter Treatment keeps medium porosity hair in its optimal hydrated state. For a full guide to deep conditioning for your curl type, the deep conditioning for curly hair UK guide covers timing and technique.
Superfood Hydra Curl Conditioner With Plant Peptides: suits all porosity types as a rinse-out conditioner, and works as a leave-in for medium and high porosity hair
Products for High Porosity Hair
High porosity hair needs products that seal moisture inside quickly and provide a barrier that slows the rapid moisture loss that this porosity type is prone to. The Mint and Cocoa Ayurvedic Butter Treatment is the strongest deep conditioning option in the PCH range, applying weekly for high porosity hair to deliver intensive conditioning and help seal the open cuticle. The Rosemary Ayurvedic Oil provides the heavier oil seal that high porosity strands need at the O step of the LOC method to slow post-wash moisture loss. The Scalp Oil supports scalp health for high porosity hair types that have been chemically processed and may have a dry or sensitised scalp as a result.
Mint and Cocoa Ayurvedic Butter Treatment: the deep conditioning mask for high porosity hair, used weekly to seal the open cuticle and lock moisture into the strand
The LOC method (Leave-in, Oil, Cream) is particularly effective for high porosity hair. Visit the LOC method for curly hair UK guide for a step-by-step breakdown of how to build each layer correctly for your porosity type.
Common Hair Porosity Mistakes
Using the Wrong Products for Your Porosity
Applying heavy creams and butters to low porosity hair creates product buildup that weighs curls down and clogs the scalp. Applying lightweight products to high porosity hair leaves strands dry within hours because the moisture escapes too quickly without a sealant layer. Matching product weight and formula to your porosity type is the single most impactful routine adjustment most people can make.
Overusing Protein on Low and Medium Porosity Hair
Protein treatments strengthen the hair shaft, which is beneficial when used at the right frequency. Too much protein causes protein overload, making hair feel stiff, brittle, and prone to snapping. Low porosity hair should have protein treatments no more than once every six weeks. Medium porosity hair can tolerate monthly protein treatments. High porosity hair, which has damaged cuticles, benefits from monthly protein application to help repair the shaft structure. The protein treatment guide explains how to identify protein overload and how to balance protein with moisture.
Applying Products to Cold or Fully Dry Hair
For low porosity hair especially, cold or dry hair has its cuticle tightly closed, making product absorption almost impossible. Always apply products to warm, damp hair, and for low porosity hair specifically, use a heated cap or sit in a warm room after applying a deep conditioning mask to give the heat time to help lift the cuticle slightly.
Assuming Porosity Never Changes
Porosity can shift over time due to heat styling, chemical treatments, environmental factors, and changes in health. If your routine worked well for years and has suddenly stopped performing, your porosity may have changed. Retest periodically and adjust your product choices accordingly.
Why Choose The Pure Curls House for Your Porosity Routine
Every product in The Pure Curls House range was formulated with textured, curly, coily, and wavy hair in mind. The range is entirely sulfate-free and silicone-free, which means you are not stripping the cuticle with every wash or coating it with ingredients that block moisture absorption regardless of your porosity type. This matters for all three porosity levels:
For low porosity hair: Silicone-free formulas mean products do not coat the already-resistant cuticle further, giving moisture a better chance of getting in.
For medium porosity hair: Balanced formulas maintain the ideal moisture-protein equilibrium without tipping the scale toward overload in either direction.
For high porosity hair: Sulfate-free cleansing means the cuticle is not stripped further by harsh detergents, and the deep conditioning and oil formulas provide the intensive moisture retention that damaged, open cuticles need.
The ayurvedic ingredient philosophy behind the PCH range, using centuries-old botanicals such as fenugreek, rosemary, mint, and black seed, means the products address scalp and strand health together rather than treating styling as separate from growth and repair. For more on scalp health and its connection to overall hair health, the scalp health for curly hair UK guide explains how to care for the foundation that every strand grows from.
What Our Customers Say
The following review is from a verified customer on The Pure Curls House website.
“I LOVE this butter!! As a 4c hair girlie is can be hard to find products that moisturize and define my hair. But this butter does it all!! It made my hair sooo soft and I had so much definition! I definitely recommend purchasing! 10/10 for sure!”
Plant Peptide Butter Cream
Frequently Asked Questions: Hair Porosity
Frequently Asked Questions
What is hair porosity?
Hair porosity refers to how easily your hair absorbs and retains moisture. It is determined by the structure of the hair cuticle, the outer protective layer of each strand. Tightly closed cuticles produce low porosity hair that resists moisture entry. Raised or damaged cuticles produce high porosity hair that absorbs moisture quickly but loses it just as fast. Medium porosity sits in between and is generally the easiest type to care for.
How do I test my hair porosity at home?
The float test is the most common method. Wash and fully dry a clean strand of hair, then drop it into a glass of room-temperature water. If it floats near the top after two to four minutes, you have low porosity hair. If it sinks slowly to the middle, you have medium porosity. If it sinks quickly to the bottom, you have high porosity hair. You can also observe your hair during wash day: slow water absorption and slow drying point to low porosity, while instant saturation and fast drying point to high porosity.
What is the best hair porosity for curly hair?
Medium porosity is generally considered the easiest to manage because it absorbs and retains moisture at a balanced rate, responds well to most products, and does not require the extra steps needed for low or high porosity hair. However, any porosity type can have healthy, thriving curls when paired with the right products and routine. Low and high porosity hair both require more targeted approaches but produce excellent results with the correct care.
Can hair porosity change over time?
Yes. Hair porosity is primarily genetic, but it can change due to heat styling, chemical treatments such as bleaching or colouring, environmental factors, and changes in overall health. High porosity hair is commonly the result of cuticle damage from these factors rather than genetics. If your curl routine that worked well for years has suddenly stopped performing, your porosity may have shifted and it is worth retesting.
What products are best for low porosity curly hair?
Low porosity hair needs lightweight, water-based products that can penetrate the tightly sealed cuticle without building up on the surface. Apply products to warm, damp hair and use less than you think you need. Avoid heavy butters and oils at styling time. Lighter oils such as Mint Ayurvedic Oil work better than heavier formulas for the oil step. A heated cap during deep conditioning helps the heat lift the cuticle slightly to allow product absorption.
What products are best for high porosity curly hair?
High porosity hair needs rich, moisture-locking products that can seal the open cuticle and slow rapid moisture loss. Weekly deep conditioning masks, heavier sealing oils such as Rosemary Ayurvedic Oil, and protein treatments once a month to reinforce the damaged cuticle structure all help high porosity hair retain moisture for longer. The LOC method (Leave-in, Oil, Cream) is particularly effective for locking moisture into high porosity strands after washing.
This is a guide to help you determine which hair porosity type you have and to help you understand what kinds of products and treatments may be ideal for you. What works for one person may not work for another, and preferences differ. Some people want their hair to appear more airy and voluminous, while others prefer a deeply moisturised look. The important thing is to understand your hair porosity so you can make informed product choices rather than relying on trial and error. Once you know your porosity type, building the right routine becomes much clearer. Explore the low porosity curly hair guide and the high porosity curly hair guide for detailed porosity-specific routines, or take the PCH curl quiz to find your personalised product recommendation. For a full approach to hair growth as well as porosity, the how to grow curly hair longer UK guide brings everything together.
About The Pure Curls House
The Pure Curls House is a UK curly hair brand based in Bury, Greater Manchester. Every product in the range is sulfate-free, silicone-free, and formulated with natural and ayurvedic plant-based ingredients designed to work with the structure of curly, coily, and wavy hair. The range works across all porosity types and is built to support healthy, long, defined curls from the root up.