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So you figured out your hair type, now what? Before buying any products for your curls in the hair aisle, it’s important you take a hair porosity test. By understanding the structure of your hair, whether it may be healthy, dry, or damaged, you will save countless frustrating hours (and not to mention some cash). Now you might be thinking, What is hair porosity? To put it simply, it’s your hair’s ability to absorb and retain moisture. Your hair cuticles may be craving hydration, but you’re feeding it protein. Or vice versa.
It’s complicated, we know. That’s why we reached out to curl experts Ona Diaz-Santin (also known as the Hair Saint), who is the CEO of 5 Salon Spa, and Pekela Riley, an Ulta Beauty pro team member and founder of True and Pure Texture, to help narrow down the dos and don’ts for the three types of hair porosities—high, medium, and low—along with the product recommendations they swear by for each.
How to Do a Hair Porosity Test
The most effective way to determine your hair’s porosity is with a strand test, also known as a float test. Take a strand of clean hair (this can also be from your hairbrush), and place it in a glass of water. Riley can’t emphasize enough the importance of a clean hair strand. “Any product buildup left on your hair will not measure the results correctly.” If your hair sinks to the bottom of the glass right away, you have high-porosity hair. If the strand floats at the top, you have low-porosity hair. And if your hair floats somewhere in the middle? You’ve got medium-porosity hair.
