What is hair porosity and why is it important to know it?

Do you feel like your hair routine isn't working as expected, despite using quality, natural products? The problem might not be the shampoo or serum... but your hair's porosity. Understanding your porosity type can make all the difference in your hair care.

What is hair porosity?

Porosity is your hair's ability to absorb and retain moisture. This property is determined by the arrangement of the cuticles (the outer layer of the hair).

Depending on its opening, your hair can be:

• Low porosity: very closed cuticles.
  
• Medium porosity: slightly open cuticles, in balance.
  
• High porosity: very open or damaged cuticles.
  

How do you know what type of porosity you have?

A simple home test:

1. Grab a glass of water.
   
2. Place a clean hair (without product) in the glass.
   
3. Observe what happens:
   

• • Floats for a long time → Low porosity
    
  • Stays in the center → Medium porosity
    
  • Sinks quickly → High porosity
    

Low porosity: closed cuticles as a shield

💧 It absorbs little water and has difficulty allowing products to penetrate.
💨 It also slowly loses moisture, which is a positive.

Characteristics:

• Water runs off when washing hair.
  
• It dries slowly.
  
• It often has a shiny, smooth appearance.

Medium porosity: the perfect balance

💧 Absorbs and retains moisture optimally.

Characteristics:

• It is easy to comb and style.
  
• Accepts treatments well and responds to them.
  
• It looks healthy and manageable

High porosity: hydration

💧 It absorbs moisture quickly… but it also loses it very quickly.
It may be due to heat damage, discoloration, or chemical processes.

Characteristics:

• It tends to get tangled easily.
  
• It dries very quickly.
  
• It looks frizzy or rough.

Why is it key to know your porosity?

Because not all hair needs the same things. A product that's great for one person may not work for another depending on their porosity. Understanding how your hair works from the inside out allows you to choose products that truly nourish, hydrate, and strengthen.

And you? Do you already know what type of porosity you have?

If you're not sure, start by trying the glass test. You can find the steps on our Instagram @theorganicrepublic, and see how your hair responds to hydration. At The Organic Republic, we design our products with natural ingredients that adapt to different hair types and porosities. Because caring for your hair starts with understanding it.