How to Check Your Hair’s Porosity in Minutes
The first step to understanding your natural hair is checking your hair porosity. Hair porosity refers to your hair’s ability to absorb and retain moisture, which helps you choose the best products and routines for your hair type. Here’s how you can test your hair porosity:
The Float Test
This is the most popular and straightforward method.
- Clean Your Hair: Wash a small section of hair to remove any product build-up. Let it air dry.
- Fill a Glass with Water: Use room-temperature water in a clear glass or bowl.
- Drop a Strand of Hair Into the Water: Place a single strand of hair on the water’s surface.
- Observe:
- If the hair sinks quickly, you have high porosity (absorbs water easily but loses it just as fast).
- If the hair floats for a while before sinking, you have medium/normal porosity (balanced absorption and retention).
- If the hair floats on top, you have low porosity (resistant to absorbing water but retaining moisture well).
Girl, let me tell you—after years of rocking my natural hair, I had no clue about my hair’s porosity. Like, how did I miss this crucial step? One day, my sister—bless her—put me on to the float test, and BAM, I discovered I had low porosity hair. Suddenly, everything clicked! No wonder half the tips and tricks I watched and read didn’t work for me. Turns out, you can’t just follow every natural hair guru out there—you gotta know your porosity to truly unlock the magic of your hair. 
Alright, darling, here’s a simple, no-fuss routine that works wonders for my low porosity hair—let’s get into it:
1. Washing
Start with a gentle sulfate-free clarifying shampoo using warm water to open up your cuticle. Since low porosity hair doesn’t absorb products easily, you want a cleanser that removes build-up without stripping away moisture. Keep it light and refreshing!
Pro Tip: If your hair is long, wash it in sections to prevent tangling. You can separate your hair into 4–6 sections, and trust me, it’ll save you so much time and stress. Make sure you detangle each section.
2. Conditioning
After washing, apply a moisturizing conditioner. Focus on a lightweight formula that hydrates without weighing your hair down. Here’s the secret—heat is your best friend! Put a plastic bag over your head after applying conditioner, and keep it on while you relax for 10–15 minutes. If you have extra money invest in a deep conditioning cap. I use this one. This will help keep the cuticle open, allowing the moisture to absorb properly. You want to create the perfect environment to moisturize and seal your hair properly.
Diva tip: focus on your ends since it is the oldest part of your hair strands.
3. Leave-In Conditioner
After rinsing, apply a lightweight, water-based leave-in conditioner to lock in moisture without that greasy feeling. This step helps keep your hair hydrated all day. Once I’ve applied the leave-in, I seal everything in with a light oil to ensure that moisture stays locked in and my hair stays soft and shiny.
4. Styling
Depending on the style, I don’t use more product than that—unless I’m doing a slicked-back look or my go-to style, which is mini twists. For those styles, I might use a little gel to keep everything in place and ensure the hairstyle lasts longer. The gel helps provide that extra hold without feeling too heavy, so I can rock my look all day (or even a few days). It’s all about balance—keeping the style sleek and neat, but still feeling lightweight and comfortable! Also, I never keep a style in my hair longer than 6 weeks.
5. Moisturizing & Sealing
When it comes to moisturizing low-porosity hair, less is more, darling! Aim for once or twice a week because overdoing it can lead to buildup—and that’s a diva no-no. If your hair’s feeling parched, reach for a water-based leave-in conditioner to quench its thirst. Personally, I swear by my refresher spray to keep my locks lively and seal the deal with a lightweight oil like almond oil. It’s giving hydrated, healthy, and utterly fabulous vibes!
6. Drying (Optional)
I usually don’t dry my hair since I put the bag over my head to let the heat work its magic. But if I do need to dry it, I’ll use a t-shirt instead of a towel. It’s all about personal preference, and you know what works best for your hair!
Conclusion
So there you have it, darling—the nitty-gritty, oh-so-dreadful details about your hair’s porosity and how to nail a simple regimen for low porosity hair. Sure, it might not be the most glamorous topic, but trust me, once you’ve got all the juicy info locked in, your hair will flourish like the crown it’s meant to be.
