Hair Porosity Guide 2025: How to Choose the Right Products for Your Hair Type

Knowing your hair porosity is the beginning of a healthy hair journey. It describes how porous your hair is and how it retains and absorbs moisture, and it is related to your product selection, hair regimen, and results when coloring and styling. In this hair porosity guide, you will learn what hair porosity is, how to test it, and the best products to use on every type of porosity.

At Spoleti Salon, we take our clients on a journey to their perfect hair regimen daily. Whether you’re looking for information about hair care or if you plan on visiting a professional hairstylist, this guide will help get the process started.

What Is Hair Porosity?

Hair porosity is the status of your hair’s cuticle layer. The cuticle is composed of small overlapping “scales” that manage the flow of moisture in and out of your strands. There are three types of hair based on cuticle:

  • Low Porosity Hair

  • Medium Porosity Hair

  • High Porosity Hair

When you know what category your hair falls into, selecting products is simple, and there’s no guesswork on treating dry hair.

How to Test Hair Porosity at Home

A quick and easy test lets you know if you have porosity in seconds:

The Float Test

  • Take a fresh hair in a glass of water.

  • If it remains on the surface, then chances are you have low porosity hair.

  • If it sinks gradually, porosity is medium.

  • It suggests high porosity if it falls fast.

The following is the most popular “how to test hair porosity”, particularly before choosing products or even booking with a stylist at Austin, TX hair salons.

Low Porosity Hair Care

Porous hair has open cuticles. Moisture takes a while to penetrate the hair shaft, but once it does, it stays put.

Best Tips & Routine

  • Use lightweight, water-based leave-ins

  • Opt for some warmth during conditioning for enhanced absorption

  • Avoid heavy oils and butters

  • Apply products to damp hair

Ensuring that you have a dedicated low-porosity hair care routine will help prevent product buildup and keep your hair soft without flattening it.

High Porosity Hair Routine

High porosity hair features raised cuticles that open and close too quickly, letting water in, but are unable to keep it there. It can be a result of heat tools, coloring, or genetics.

Ideal Care Routine

  • Opt for creamy moisturizers and binding treatment

  • Seal cuticles with plant oils

  • Use protein masks weekly

  • Avoid excessive heat

A balanced high porosity hair routine restores the cuticle and defends against environmental harm.

Best Products for Hair Porosity

Where most people fall is on product choice. The idea is to pair formulas with your level of porosity:

For Low Porosity

  • Lightweight leave-ins

  • Clarifying shampoo once a month

  • Gentle conditioners

For High Porosity

  • Bond-repair treatments

  • Rich conditioners and masks

  • Sealants, such as argan oil and jojoba oil

Experts at Solstice Hair Salon or any of the best salons in Austin, TX, can advise you on the best products for hair porosity, tailored to your texture, density, and desired look.

Does Porosity Affect Coloring?

Yes. Porosity determines how color enters the hair.

  • Hair with low porosity may require a longer processing time.

  • High porosity hair accepts color more quickly and can also lose it more rapidly.

For the best execution, hire color pros at Spoleti Salon, and read more in our online Hair Guide.

Final Thoughts

As you grasp the concept of porosity, your hair care will be a breeze. The proper products will help maintain moisture balance, minimize damage, and aid growth over time. Consider this hair porosity guide a general reference and consult with experts for personalized, customized advice.

Want expert recommendations? Experience a Special Offer at Spoleti Salon for your hair type.

How do I check my hair porosity at home? 

Use the float test with a clean hair strand in water.

Which products are best for low-porosity hair?

Lightweight, water-based products and gentle conditioners.

What causes high hair porosity?

Heat tools, chemical treatments, genetics, and environmental factors.

Does porosity affect coloring and treatments?

Yes. Porosity impacts how pigments absorb and how long results last.


Umair Nazaqat