Ever wonder why your hair seems to drink up certain products but reject others? It could be due to your hair’s porosity, or its natural ability to absorb and retain hydration. Put simply, some strands soak in moisture like a sponge and others don’t — that, or they do but let it escape very quickly.
Why does this matter? Because your hair’s porosity directly impacts how hydrated, smooth and manageable your strands look and feel. Understanding which type you have can help you address your hair’s specific needs with products that provide the perfect amount of moisture for you.
This guide gives you the lowdown on what hair porosity is, how to determine your type and what your results mean — along with the VEGAMOUR products best-suited for you.
How to Determine Your Hair’s Porosity
Hair porosity is influenced by several different factors — including external stressors like heat styling, chemical treatments and sun exposure. However, genetics also play a key role. For instance, curly hair often has a higher porosity than straight hair, while darker hair tends to maintain lower porosity levels than lighter hair due to melanin’s UV-protective effects.
With that said, you don’t need a lab test or any fancy tools to figure out your hair’s porosity. A simple at-home experiment can tell you exactly how your strands absorb and hold onto moisture. Here’s how it’s done.
The DIY Hair Porosity Test:
- Step 1: Fill a clear glass with room-temperature water
- Step 2: Place a clean, dry strand of hair in the water
- Step 3: Wait 2 to 4 minutes before observing your results
Your Results:
- Floats on top: You have low porosity hair
- Sinks slowly to the middle: You have medium/normal porosity hair
- Sinks quickly to the bottom: You have high porosity hair
Pro Tip: Clean hair ensures the most accurate reading as product buildup can impact results.
Decoding Your Results & the Routine for You
Now that you’ve determined your hair’s porosity, let’s discuss what each type entails — including the best hair wellness® products that will help keep your strands in tip-top shape. Let’s dive in.
Low Porosity Hair
Low porosity hair is characterized by tightly packed cuticles that make it difficult for moisture to penetrate and enter the hair shaft. Scientifically, this is known as hydrophobic — meaning it actually repels water. When it does absorb moisture though, it stays put well. While low porosity hair tends to resist damage, it can take longer to air-dry and be prone to product buildup.
What You Need: Lightweight, hydrating formulas that won’t weigh strands down. Our GRO Revitalizing Shampoo & Conditioner are perfect for this as they gently cleanse and nourish dry strands without any added weight. GRO Hair Serum is another great choice because it’s fast-absorbing, non-greasy and delivers thicker, fuller-looking hair within months.
Shop GRO Revitalizing Shampoo & Conditioner
Medium/Normal Porosity Hair
Medium or normal porosity hair has less tightly-wound cuticles, making it so that moisture can be easily absorbed and retained at a balanced rate. It typically holds styles well and requires low maintenance in the hydration department.
What You Need: Balancing basics that help keep hydration levels steady. You can’t go wrong with our GRO+ Advanced Balancing Shampoo & Conditioner: a foolproof wash-day duo that delivers deep-yet-weightless hydration while supporting the scalp. Pair it with GRO+ Advanced Hair Serum for added nourishment and nutrients, along with the GRO+ Advanced Dermaroller to boost circulation and help the serum absorb better.
High Porosity Hair
High porosity hair is known for having cuticles with widely spaced gaps that allow moisture to enter strands easily – however, due to said gaps, it escapes just as quickly. This can lead to dry, frizzy hair that craves extra TLC.
What You Need: Formulas that focus on sealing the cuticle and locking in hydration. A rich, weekly restorative treatment like our HYDR-8 Deep Moisture Repair Mask is an excellent option as it’s ultra-nourishing and clinically proven to deliver 72 hours of hydration and frizz reduction*, courtesy of Karmatin™ Peptide, amino acids and marula oil. Pair it with our HYDR-8 Shampoo & Conditioner Kit to help strengthen and support dry, damaged strands.
*In a controlled hair swatch study using HYDR-8 Shampoo and Mask.
Shop HYDR-8 Deep Moisture Repair Mask
Shop HYDR-8 Shampoo & Conditioner Kit
Porosity’s Effect on Hair Longevity
As we age, hair generally becomes more porous and prone to damage in the form of dryness, breakage and frizz. This is a result of internal factors, as well as cumulative exposure to external aggressors that impact hair wellness® and vitality over time. Also worth noting: As hair naturally loses pigment and turns gray or white, it becomes more porous and can take on a dull appearance.
For this reason, it’s crucial to have a comprehensive hair longevity plan in place — one that works holistically from the inside-out to promote long-term hair health. Consider a combination of external and internal support, including clinically-backed supplements that help fill in nutritional gaps that can cause hair to become more porous.
Empower Your Routine
The bottom line? Porosity isn’t about good or bad. It simply comes down to your hair’s unique structure — and now that you understand what type you have, you’ll be able to make more informed decisions about what products will or won’t work for your hair. (Remember: Knowledge is power.)
All this to say: Whether you’re focused on maintaining balance, maximizing hydration or damage control— our science-powered solutions are here to help you achieve your hair wellness® goals.
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