Do You Have High Or Low Porosity Hair? Here's How To Tell + What To Do

Your hair gets wet quicklyYour hair dries quicklyYour hair tangles easilyYour hair generally feels dry and roughYour hair is often frizzyYour hair breaks easilyYour hair doesn’t hold style very long

Skip the harsh treatments and hot tools: "Just like the texture of hair is genetic, so is the porosity of hair. However, there are also other ways to alter your hair's porous ability (porosity) and zap away its moisture–using products with drying agents, chemical relaxer treatments, overuse of heating tools (i.e., blow dryers, flat irons, etc.), and damaging sun exposure," says Branch. "When you have high porosity hair, it can easily become damaged, dull, broken, tangled, weak, and frizzy from all this." This is because when you use harsh treatments or daily high heat, you can actually damage and remove some of that outer layer of the cuticle, making it more porous. Only use low heat or air dry: "Freshly washed, high porosity hair will absorb the moisture very quickly—and dry very quickly," says Branch. Take advantage of this key characteristic. Since it dries easier and quicker, you likely won't need to blast it with high wattage blow dryers to get the job done. Frédéric Fekkai, founder and CEO of FEKKAI Brands, agrees: "For high porosity hair, you should use low heat, so therefore best to let hair air dry."Protect the strand: Because the hair's outer is so fragile, don't subject it to too much wear and tear via overstyling, brushing, and washing. And regularly coat the hair with hydrating products to help reinforce that outer cuticle. "Three words: moisturize, moisturize, moisturize. Locking in that much-needed protective moisture to strengthen high porosity hair results in stronger, supple, shiny, healthy, and super happy hair," says Branch. Use color-protecting shampoos and conditioners: "Porous hair is difficult to color," says Fekkai. It makes sense: When you dye hair, the formula is depositing pigments between the circles into the hair shaft, resulting in your new hue. When your cuticles are dense, these pigments stay nestled in there; on the other hand, when the cuticles are looser, the pigments fall out (yes, literally falls out) easier. Keep color-safe products on hand to keep your color vibrant longer.Stick to creamy, dense products: "The challenge of having high porosity hair is that since the outer layer is fragile, the hair is unprotected," says Branch. "This type of hair requires super-creamy, nutrient-rich hair care products that seal in moisture—from cleansers and conditioners to leave-ins and deep treatments to everyday styling."Use a pre-shampoo treatment: "The good news is that when you have high porosity hair, essential proteins and hydrating oils are also easily absorbed—so take advantage of it," says Branch. Essentially, the gaps in the cuticle are able to suck in all the goodies in your products that lower porosity hair will often block or keep out. For this reason, "Put a treatment mask on before shampooing," says Fekkai. He agrees that you should be opting for one with dense nutrients, oils, and butters: "More porous hair requires use of products with less water," he says. Opt for low-effort styles close to your natural pattern: This is more about effort put in for lasting payoff: "Porous hair does not hold style as long," says Fekkai. Given you know that your hair likely won't hold shape for hours on end, perhaps stick as close to natural as possible—it will save you a headache later when your hair is falling flat or out of shape. Or for a special occasion, in which a 'do seems in order, consider using higher-hold styling products.