With a consistent hair care routine, you can achieve healthy curly hair. Knowing and understanding what your hair likes and what to avoid is the best way to create the most effective hair care routine. For strong, healthy hair, the right products are essential. Hair is more complex than you think. It is made up of a protein known as keratin.
Hair contains essential elements that combine to characterize it. This includes; hair texture (wavy, curly, or kinky), hair porosity, follicle size, hair shaft diameter, and thickness. Hair porosity is one of the important characteristics to consider for curly hair health. Hair porosity determines the degree of protection your hair needs, its ability to retain water, products, hair treatments, and how long it takes to lose water. This is regulated by the hair cuticle, which is the outer protective layer of the hair structure that allows water and other products to penetrate the inner layer of the hair. Think of the hair cuticle as a door that opens and closes.

WHAT CAUSES POROSITY HAIR
Hair porosity is primarily determined by genetics and hair care practices. Porosity can vary in different parts of the head and even across different lengths depending on hair grooming techniques that could alter and damage the hair cuticle. A damaged hair cuticle is chipped or torn, exposing the hair cortex of the inner layer of hair to damage and dryness. Those with textured hair, especially curly, wavy, or kinky hair, will naturally experience more wear and tear. Sebum (the hair's natural oil) takes time to travel down the hair strands to lubricate and coat the hair strands, making curly, wavy, and kinky hair more susceptible to damage. This leads to an increase in hair that becomes porous.
How to measure hair porosity
Avoid the float test
It is commonly used to treat hair porosity, but it is inaccurate. Relying on the glass of water test to detect porous hair has been shown to give false readings. This is due to the surface tension of water – Water molecules stick together where air should meet water. Placing light objects like a single strand of hair will be like skin on water and float gently. Therefore, surface tension will counteract the weight and porous hair. Also, dry hair is buoyant in water, so hair and water have a similar density.

The most accurate way to test hair porosity:
Gas absorption – Gas absorption determines the total pore volume, which corresponds to the holes in the surface. It measures how much of a given gas can be absorbed by hair, which is more porous and will absorb more gas.
Hydration test/spray test – This is a qualitative assessment of the behavioral test that porous hair absorbs water much faster than non-porous hair. This is tested using clean, dry hair. High porosity hair should absorb water faster than low porosity hair, which would instead have visible water beads and take longer to dry.
Dynamic Vapor Sorption (DVS) – Humidity has a significant impact on hair weight with qualitative recordings showing both an increase and a decrease.
Fiber swelling: Hair fiber diameter dimensions can change and be measured when exposed to water.
Microscopic test – It is performed with a microscope that allows you to visually detect the hair cuticle and know if it is damaged or not. Under the microscope you can see:
- Low porosity – The hair cuticles will appear flat and closed.
- Medium hair porosity – The hair cuticles are slightly open.
- High porosity – The hair cuticles are lifted and opened.

LOW POROSITY HAIR
It has tightly bound cuticle layers that lie flat, making it healthy and shiny. Because the cuticles are tightly bound, once moisture is inside, it is difficult for moisture to escape.
The characteristics
- It is very shiny because the cuticle lies flat creating a reflection for the light.
- It takes some time for hair to be fully saturated with products, especially butter and oils.
- It is resistant to chemicals and hair dyes.
- It rejects oils and butter that often weigh down non-porous hair.
- Hair takes longer to dry.
How to Care for Low Porosity Hair
Low porosity hair should rely on a routine that uses lightweight, water-based products and less protein. We have formulated the collection Light and Shine to cater to low porosity hair. It contains the Leave-in which is a water-based product that will moisturize the hair. The natural mask will moisturize your low porosity hair and the Curl Defining Jelly which is a lightweight styler that will define curls without weighing hair down or causing buildup.

HAIR POROSITY AVERAGE
The hair cuticles are neither too closed nor too open. The hair can absorb moisture and retain moisture for a period of time.
The characteristics
- Medium maintenance is required.
- Hair is shiny but not as much as low porosity hair.
- It is possible to achieve normal porosity hair with the use of a proper regimen.
- Hair feels smooth when you run your fingers through a section of hair.
- The hair is easy to style and will hold the style for a long time.
- Hair can take on color and warmth.
Medium porosity hair is healthy, so medium maintenance is required. This doesn't mean you should neglect your hair, as medium porosity hair can change if damaged. The collection Hair Growth Elixir Contains a mask and leave-in that will help nourish and hydrate hair to promote the growth of healthy, thick hair.
HIGH POROSITY HAIR
High porosity hair means raised, more spaced-out cuticles. Hair cuticles have gaps and holes, which make it very easy for hair to absorb products, but also very easy for products to leak out. High hair porosity can be caused by genetics or damage. The integrity of the hair cuticle can be damaged and disrupt the inner layers of the hair strand when exposed to mechanical damage (rough hair, friction, high heat, tight hairstyles), chemical damage (relaxers, bleaching), or environmental damage (chlorinated water, UV rays, sea water).
The characteristics
- Running your fingers through a strand of hair can feel lumpy.
- Hair is dull and doesn't shine as much.
- Hair tends to be dry.
- Hair tends to break easily.
- Water and products are absorbed quickly upon application.
- It is difficult for hair to be soft and malleable.
How to Care for High Porosity Hair
You want hair products that aim to strengthen hair cuticles that have been damaged. The collection Real Protein Treatment contains a mask, a leave-in, a solid shampoo and a styling gel containing natural proteins. If the hair porosity is high, the hair is generally damaged, dull and dry, this collection is able to repair, strengthen, and rebuild the cuticle of your hair. This collection contains proteins that penetrate the hair cuticles, fill in the gaps and repair the hair structure.
