What is hair porosity? 

Hair Porosity - A term that describes the ability of a strand of your hair to absorb and retain moisture (water) through the cuticles of the hair strand. 

All natural hair types have some level of difficulty allowing water to penetrate the strands via the cuticle.

Hair Cuticle - The outermost layer of your hair strand that's made of scale-shaped, overlapping dead skin cells that protect the strand.

So, porosity is based on how open or closed your hair cuticles are and their level of ability to absorb and retain moisture. Some cuticles have an easier time allowing moisture to absorb and retain than others.

Hair porosity is not based on/related to curl patterns but on genetics and whether or not the hair has been treated chemically. Frequent chemical treatments on the hair can make strands more porous.

Hair Porosity Levels 

Very porous hair has a high porosity level meaning the strands allow water/moisture to penetrate easily. This hair’s strands have very open cuticles.  

This porosity level has a high absorption rate but has a hard time retaining moisture. It is known to dry quickly after being washed; hair gets frizzy easily with no definition even when wet.

Less porous hair has a medium porosity level meaning the strands allow water/moisture to penetrate at a moderate level. This porosity level has a looser cuticle. 

Moisture flows through this porosity type easily making it easy to gain moisture but it also loses moisture quickly. This porosity type has little to no difficulty absorbing and retaining moisture. Those with medium porosity level hair can use the LOC method, ending their routine with a cream product. 

Slightly porous hair has a low porosity level meaning the strands have a hard time allowing water/moisture to penetrate at a very low level making moisture absorption difficult. This hair’s strands have cuticles that are almost closed/extremely tight. 

This porosity level has a low absorption rate and has trouble absorbing moisture. This hair takes forever to dry after washing. Product build-up happens very fast since the hair’s cuticles are typically in an almost closed state, naturally.

Hair Porosity Tests to Try

The Float Test 

Spray Bottle Test 

So should I use the LOC or LCO method? The moisturization layering technique you use (LOC vs LCO) should depend on how porous your hair is (hair porosity).  

Those with high porosity should use the LOC method – using Donna’s Recipe’s Sweet Potato Pie Extra Creamy Hair Cream to finish off their moisturization routine. 

Those with medium porosity should use the LOC method – using Donna’s Recipe’s Sweet Potato Pie Extra Creamy Hair Cream to finish off their moisturization routine. 

Those with low porosity should use the LCO method – ending their moisturization routine with Donna’s Recipe’s Sweet Potato Pie Extra Creamy Hair & Scalp Oil.

Find out about the LOC vs LCO moisturization routines and definitons here.  

LOC - Leave-In, Oil, Cream
LCO - Leave-In, Cream, Oil

Sources: 

1. What Type of Hair Porosity Do You Have? - healthline.com
2. HOW TO DETERMINE HAIR POROSITY AND WHAT IT MEANS FOR YOUR HAIR - CleverCurl.com
3. How to Care For Low, Medium, and High Porosity Hair and 3 Porosity Tests - naturallclub.com
4. What Is Hair Porosity and How the Heck Do You Determine It? - maneaddicts.com
5. Hair Porosity: What It Is & What It Means for Your Hair - langehair.com