Let’s talk about hair porosity. If you’ve never heard of this before, porosity refers to the amount of moisture your hair can retain and absorb. 

We determine this by looking at the hair cuticle, which is the outer layer of the hair. Your cuticle determines how much oil can pass through your hair. 

For the most part, hair porosity is genetic. However, it can be affected by external factors like bleaching, chemicals, and heat treatments. 

Once you know your hair porosity, you’ll be able to effectively build out a hair care routine that works for you and your hair type. 

How to Test Your Hair Porosity

There are two popular ways you can test for your hair porosity from the comfort of your home. 

The Bowl of Water Test

After you brush your hair, grab a few hair strands and drop them into a bowl or a cup of water. Let them sit in the water for at least 2-4 minutes. 

After waiting, if your hair is floating, you have low porosity. If your hair sinks to the bottom, you have high porosity. 

The Slide Test

Grab a strand of hair and use your fingers to slide from the shaft up to the scalp. While doing this, feel for bumps. 

If you can feel bumps, your hair cuticle is lifted and has high porosity. If it’s smooth from the shaft to the scalp: you have low porosity. 

What to do if you have low porosity

Low porosity hair is typically very shiny and has a smooth texture. It’s more resistant to chemicals and doesn't take in too much moisture. You’ll need hair care products with moisturizing nutrients to maintain the beautiful shine and keep it looking its best.

However, the downside to low porosity hair is that it’s prone to build up, leaving your hair and scalp feeling greasy. To combat build-up, you’ll want to try our Hair Purifier Cleansing Mask. 

This mask will gently cleanse your hair and scalp while replenishing essential moisture. It’s formulated with natural fruit vinegar to help gently clarify your hair and remove unwanted build-up. We recommend using this hair mask weekly for the best results. 

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What to do if you have medium porosity

This porosity type is a happy middle ground and requires less maintenance. Your hair never has a problem with styling and can hold a curl all day long. (Lucky you!) 

To help you maintain your luscious hair, you’ll want to go with something that can help seal in shine: and leave your hair soft, like our High Spirited Weightless Leave-In Conditioner. This product will help lock in that moisture and give you the hydration boost your hair has been craving.

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What to do if you have high porosity

High porosity means moisture quickly absorbs into your hair because your cuticle has gaps and holes. This can either be hereditary or be a result of external damage. 

If you have high porosity hair, humidity is not your friend! Your hair may be prone to frizz and tangling, which is never fun. To tame your mane, you’ll want to use our Magnifying Glass Intensive Serum. This product will help you smooth the frizz, add some shine, and rescue your hair from unwanted damage.

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Understanding your hair porosity can help you find products that are better suited for your hair types. It can also help you discover what you’ve been missing from your hair care routine! 

We recommend trying one of the porosity hair tests. Once you know how porous your hair is, you can shop for other Orlando Pita Play hair products that will complement your porosity level and get you one step closer to your hair goals. 

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