If your hair still doesn’t seem to be behaving the way you want, it might be that your porosity is at fault. Basically, it could be the way your hair is absorbing—or not absorbing— moisture that’s causing your issues.

Types of Porosity

There are three basic levels of porosity: low, medium and high. However, your hair probably won’t fall neatly into just one of those categories. Instead, you should use these levels as a gauge to help address what your hair needs more or less of.

♦ High porosity: Though this type of hair is quick to absorb moisture and can really shine with the right hair mask, it’s also really quick to lose moisture. Because of this, it’s the most prone to damage and breakage. It can dry out quickly and has a tendency to frizz.

♦ Medium porosity: The Goldilocks of porosity—this is the level we’re all shooting for. Medium porosity not only takes in more moisture but holds onto it longer. This not only includes moisturizing products but the natural sebum from your scalp, as well.

♦ Low porosity: Hair with the lowest porosity holds onto the product, but it never really allows it to penetrate the follicle. It may look normal and even vibrant from the outside but the strands themselves will lack volume and elasticity.

How do I determine porosity?

A quick and easy way to determine porosity is by looking at your drying time. If your hair takes forever to dry and then it hangs in limp strings afterward, it’s most likely a lower porosity. If it dries quickly but looks really frizzy, then it’s probably on the higher end.

If you’re still unsure, then you might want to try a little experiment.

The next time you wash your hair let it dry without any product—you want your hair as natural as possible. Then take a couple of strands of hair and dunk them in a bowl or sink of water. If your hair sinks quickly, it’s very porous. 

If it takes a very long time to sink or just floats on top, then it’s low in porosity. Most hair will sink over time, but the faster it goes the higher your porosity.

How do I care for my hair

Now that you know the porosity level of your hair, you can customize your routine to better care for it.

Low porosity care

If your hair has lower porosity, then you’ll want to avoid products that can cause buildup. Using Hair La Vie Serum to help with taming frizz and styling will create a noticeable difference. Designed to absorb quickly, this product will not weigh your hair down.

Loading up on moisture from the inside out is also a great way to boost your hair’s strength without creating product buildup. Consider adding daily vitamins designed to promote hair strength or adding more hair-boosting meals into your diet.

We suggest starting with the Almond Mandarin Salad. The nutty almonds give your hair a healthy dose of magnesium, which makes it stronger and protects against damage. And tangy mandarins are packed with antioxidants that can protect your hair from free radicals.

High porosity care

If your hair is higher on the porosity scale, then you’d benefit from regular mask treatments designed to moisturize and soothe hair. And a leave-in conditioner is a must for the mid to end regions of your hair.

Many people with highly porous hair also have natural curls and with that comes a bit more work and a maintenance program specifically designed for them. As always, it starts with drinking more water.

We also have a delicious recipe for porous hair. This 5 Ingredient Spinach Parmesan Pasta will really help give your hair the shine and strength it needs. For a heartier version, we suggest adding grilled, skinless chicken breast to boost the protein content.

Final thoughts

Hopefully, you understand your hair a little better now and can see why you’re dealing with some of the same issues over and over again. The way your hair holds onto moisture could be the root of so many hair woes, but by understanding your hair’s porosity better, you can definitely learn how to remedy them.

No matter where your hair is on the porosity spectrum, these tips can help give it a boost in volume and touchable softness that lasts all day long.