Hair Porosity Strand Test

By Ebony Bomani

Porosity. Everyone is talking about hair porosity. What is it? Technically it is defined as the state of being porous & permeable by water. Here at PATTERN we describe hair porosity as your curl pattern’s native language; how your curls want to love and be loved.

Hair strands can generally be classified as low porosity, medium porosity or high porosity, & those terms describe how open your hair cuticles are & how easily moisture can go into the hair shaft (leaving you moisturized) or exit (leaving you dried out).

Here's how to find out what your hair's porosity is. PATTERN Brand Educator Ebony Bomani explains.

Low Porosity

Hair has a very “closed” hair shaft so it’s difficult for moisture to go in or out. Hair often takes a long time to dry when wet, & products often struggle to be absorbed by the hair. Heat or steam can help to open up the hair cuticle so that moisture can go in, & cold water rinses can be great for “sealing” the hair back up to lock in the hydration. Intensive Conditioner & Lightweight Conditioner can be great for this hair type!

 SHOP: All PATTERN for Low Porosity

Medium Porosity

Hair relatively has a good balance of accepting moisture into & out of the strands. Water & formulas absorb & dry down without too much trouble. Medium Conditioner & Lightweight Conditioner works well for hair of this porosity.

 SHOP: All PATTERN for Medium Porosity

High Porosity

Hair has a very “open” hair shaft & can suck up water & products with ease, but it can also lose that moisture relatively quickly after a wash. Rich, buttery formulas that impart a ton of moisture are highly favored, & deep conditioning & frequent oiling of the hair & scalp can help to keep moisture sealed into strands. We recommend the Heavy Conditioner for high porosity folks.

 SHOP: All PATTERN for High Porosity

Ebony Bomani is a licensed cosmetologist, textured hair enthusiast, content creator & brand educator. Connect with her about healthy hair care & green beauty-related topics via Instagram or LinkedIn.