We fill you in on what it is, and why it matters.
Hello, fellow curl-friend!
If you're reading this, it's likely you're starting your wavy, curly or coily journey, and have heard the word 'porosity' thrown around quite a bit. It sounds like it has something to do with the reason your hair frizzes, how astonishingly long (or short) a time it takes to dry, and how you should choose your products.
Cool. But what exactly is porosity? Let's get a quick idea of the structure of those hair strands of yours before we dive in, shall we?
Your hair is made up of three layers:
The cuticle: This is the outermost layer of your hair strand, and it consists of dead cells, overlapping in a scale-like pattern (gorgeous). This layer is important though, as it protects the hair.
The cortex: This is the middle layer of your strand, and it contains most of the hair’s fibre mass.
The medulla: This is the innermost layer of the hair strand.
And, put shortly, porosity refers to the ability of your hair to absorb (take in) and to retain (hold on to) moisture, as determined by the structure of the hair cuticle (that outer layer of overlapping dead cells we touched on above). Depending on how tightly your cuticle is packed together, there are three categories of porosity you might fall into: low, medium, and high. Keep in mind, though - porosity exists on a spectrum (i.e., you might sit somewhere between low and medium, or medium and high), and it can also change over time (more on that later).
Let's take a look at each category in some closer detail.
P.S. If you're just here to figure out what your own porosity is, we've got an article for that here.
Low Porosity
Low porosity hair occurs where your hair cuticles (the outermost layer of the hair shaft) are tightly packed together. This tight outer-structure creates a barrier that prevents moisture from entering the hair shaft, making it difficult for the hair to receive moisture and become hydrated. The result can often be hair that is resistant to hydration, difficult to detangle, and slow to dry. You can find tips and tricks to give your low-po hair the most love in our post right here. Medium Porosity
The structure of medium porosity hair sits somewhere in between that of low and high porosity - that is, the cuticles are not as tightly bound as those of low porosity hair, but they are not as loose as those of high porosity hair. This type of hair generally has a moderate ability to absorb and retain moisture, and as such will generally appear healthy and respond well to most hair treatments.
You can find tips and tricks to get the most out of your medium porosity hair here.
High Porosity
High porosity hair, in contrast to lower porosity, is characterized by loosely bound cuticles that easily allow moisture to enter and exit the hair shaft. Due to the fact that it is difficult for high porosity hair to hold on to moisture, this porosity type may appear dry, and require extra moisture to maintain its health. People with high porosity hair may also find that their hair is easily damaged (and made more porous) by heat and chemicals.
If you've got high porosity hair, we've got all the info you need to keep it thriving here.
Why it matters
If you're reading this, it's likely you already know that moisture is incredibly important for healthy waves, curls and coils. So naturally, understanding how your hair absorbs and retains moisture, and how to promote better absorption and retention, is a significant factor in achieving your best possible locks.
Once you know your hair's porosity, you can tailor your hair care routine and product line-up to better suit your hair's needs. For example, if you have low porosity hair, you may want to use light, water-based products and avoid heavy oils and butters. If you have high porosity hair, you may want to use deep conditioning treatments and avoid heat styling.
In short, knowing your hair porosity will help you implement the right routine, and product line-up to get enough moisture into the hair, and keep it there (which means goodbye dry, matted curls - and hello shiny, defined locks!).
Keep in mind - your porosity can change
It's important to note that hair porosity can also change based on external factors such as chemical treatments, heat styling and environmental factors. Continued heat styling and chemical treatments may increase your hair's porosity, as damaged locks tend to be more highly porous. On the other hand, you might find that, if you get a big chop for example, the more damaged locks that you've chopped are highly porous (due to factors like heating styling and chemical damage), but the newly growing hair is lower porosity due to not having been exposed to that same damage. If you find that your hair begins reacting differently to your routine and product line-up after a fresh cut and style, heat or chemical styling, or even just an extended period of time, it may be worth re-testing your porosity to make sure there haven't been any drastic changes.
What to do next
1. Find your own porosity with our guide here. 2. Once you've determined your hair porosity, have a look at our articles on how to best care for your porosity type by clicking on the relevant link below:
Low porosity
Medium porosity
High porosity
Overall, understanding your hair's porosity is an important step in achieving healthy, beautiful hair. With the right care and products, you can keep your curls looking their best.
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