3 Ways To Assess Your Hair Porosity

Hair porosity, the ability of your hair to absorb water. As I continue on my natural hair journey, and my vow to be vigilante with my hair care, I did three porosity assessments to determine how porous my hair is in order to maximize the benefits of my hair care.

1^st Assessment: The Slide Test

To check the porosity on dry hair start by taking a strand of several hairs from four different areas of your head (front hairline, in front of the ears, crown and nape). Slide the thumb and index finger of your other hand down each hair strand from end to scalp.

• If it is smooth, you have normal porosity.
• If your fingers move very fast up the hair strand and it feels exceptionally slick, dense and hard, you have low porosity.
• If you have a bumpy ride or your  hair strand breaks, your hair is overly porous

2^nd Assessment: The Spray Bottle Test

Take a small section of your clean hair, ideally wash the night before and not blow dried, and pin the rest back. Spray that section with a little water, just enough to mist it.

• If the water sits on top of your hair or beads up, you have low porosity hair.
• If your hair absorbs the water quickly, you have high porosity hair.
• If the water sits on your hair for several minutes then is absorbed, you have normal porosity hair.

3^rd Assessment: The Sink or Float Test

Take a single strand of hair from your detangling comb, after washing, conditioning and detangling your hair.  Make sure it is clean and free of any product. Place it into a bowl of water. Observe the hair for up to four minutes.

• If your hair sinks immediately, it has high porosity.
• If your hair is still floating 4 minutes later, it has low porosity.
• If your hair is slowly sinking, you have normal porosity.

 

 

 

 

I will be assessing regularly as porosity changes over time. For now my hair is normal, and I hope to keep it that way with a strict hair routine.