From Root to Shine: Understanding Hair Porosity For Better Hair Days

At the heart of every flourishing hair journey is “understanding” and knowing your hair’s porosity. Ever wondered why that beauty hair product you and your bestie got at the same time worked for her but not your hair? It’s simple: YOUR HAIR POROSITY.

This simple but powerful knowledge can reshape how you care for your curls, helping you choose what your hair truly needs to thrive. Because, My Lady, not every product out there with powerful hair care potential has potential for your hair.

At  ÈYÍ DÁRA, we believe that wellness begins with awareness.

Let’s dive deep into what hair porosity means, how to discover yours, and how to nourish your strands with intentionality.

What Is Hair Porosity?

Hair porosity refers to how well your hair absorbs and retains moisture. It’s determined by the structure of your hair’s cuticle, which is the outermost layer of your hair strand.

Let’s imagine a little bit.

Think of your hair as a sponge. Some sponges soak up water immediately, while some take time. Then, there are some that can’t even hold much at all. Think of it like the gateway for hydration.

Your understanding about this helps you align your routines and products to support your hair’s natural beauty and well-being.

Quick One: We select, choose, and use products based on our hair porosity — not what’s working for your friend, but what will work for your hair porosity.

There are three levels of porosity:

Low Porosity:

Low porosity hair is like a roof with tightly closed shingles, meaning water and products have a hard time getting into the hair, but once it gets in, it stays. It’s giving clay soil.

The cuticles are tightly packed, making it hard for moisture to get in. This doesn’t mean your hair is unhealthy; it just means it’s resistant to moisture. So, when you apply products, they just tend to sit on top instead of soaking in.

In a more relatable context, your hair is thirsty but doesn’t want to open its mouth, and once it does, it also doesn’t drink the water fast. This explains why low porosity hair takes longer to get wet and dries slowly.

This type of hair needs light products, water-based products, and a bit of warmth (like steam or warm water) to help open up the cuticle so moisture can get in.

Just like putting warm water in a stainless cup close to a tightly closed baby’s mouth — what does it do? It quickly opens up its mouth to drink the water, and of course, the water is warm; the baby gulps it in very fast. Once it’s in, low porosity hair holds onto that moisture really well. Make heat your hair bestie.

Medium (Normal) Porosity:

Medium porosity hair is like a sponge that soaks up just the right amount of water — not too much, not too little, just the right amount. It’s giving loamy soil.

The cuticles are slightly raised, so moisture and products can enter and leave the hair at a balanced rate. So, your hair is thirsty and has an open mouth to drink it, and also takes in the right amount of water to keep it satisfied.

This hair type usually doesn’t need much fuss. It absorbs moisture well, holds styles longer, and responds nicely to most products. It’s the “low-maintenance” friend in the porosity family — very easygoing and manageable.

High Porosity:

High porosity hair is like a bucket with holes. It soaks up moisture quickly but loses it just as fast. It’s giving sandy soil.

The cuticles are lifted or damaged, leaving gaps that let moisture and products in easily but also let them escape too soon. The cuticles are more open or damaged, making hair absorb water easily but lose it quickly too.

This type of hair can often feel dry or frizzy and may need extra help with sealing in hydration. So, for high porosity hair, you might want to go for heavy creams and heavy oils, layering products. It’s almost like trying to keep water in a leaky cup. You have to patch it up with the right products to keep your hair happy and hydrated.

How Do I Know My Hair Porosity?

Every curl is unique, but here are two easy ways to discover your hair porosity:

The Water Float Test

1. Place a clean strand of hair in a glass of water.
2. Watch what happens after 2–4 minutes:
If it floats = Low Porosity
If it floats midway = Medium Porosity
If it sinks fast all the way to the bottom = High Porosity

The Spray Test

Spray water on your dry hair:
If it beads on the surface = Low Porosity
If it absorbs slowly = Medium Porosity
If it disappears instantly = High Porosity

Understanding Hair Porosity

To help you understand each porosity type, they’ve been categorized in the order of how it feels, the struggles they likely face, what they truly need, and tips to help manage them.

Low Porosity Hair

How it Feels: Smooth but resistant to moisture.
They Struggle With: Product buildup, slow drying.
What They Need: Lightweight, nourishing hydration and heat-assisted deep treatments.
Tips: Use light, water-based products and avoid heavy oils.

Medium Porosity Hair

How it Feels: Balanced and elastic.
How They Perform: Well with most products and styles.
What They Need: Consistent hydration and maintenance.
Tips: Alternate between moisture and light protein treatments.

High Porosity Hair

How it Feels: Dry, frizzy, sometimes rough.
They Struggle With: Retaining moisture.
What They Need: Rich, sealing hydration and strength-building care.
Tips: Use heavier creams and oils to seal in moisture and reduce breakage.

Product Routines for Every Hair Porosity

Let’s match each hair type with the right care, naturally and intentionally.

Low Porosity Hair

Use a clarifying shampoo bar weekly to remove buildup.
Deep condition with steam or a warm towel.
Seal with light oils like jojoba, moringa.

Medium Porosity Hair

Stay consistent with a hydrating shampoo bar.
Alternate moisture-rich and protein-based masks.
Use leave-ins and lightweight oils to seal. Creamy moisturizers and oils work great.

High Porosity Hair

Co-wash or use a gentle moisturizing shampoo bar.
Strengthen weekly with protein treatments.
Lock in moisture with butters or heavier oils like castor.

Ready To Give Your Hair the Right Care?

Now that you fully understand your hair’s porosity, meet the one product that speaks all the love languages: ÈYÍ DÁRA Shampoo Bar. Moisture-rich, gentle, and infused with a warm cinnamon-citrus scent, it cleanses without stripping the natural oil and moisture your hair needs to stay healthy — and works in harmony with low, medium, and high porosity hair.

Start your nourishing ritual now. Your strands will thank you with shine and strength.

Final Thoughts

Your hair is unique, and it deserves all the care it can get — rooted in understanding, with the right knowledge and also with the right product. Every wash day can feel like a ritual of growth, love, and intention.
How to have a perfect wash day? Check out our blog post on “WASH DAY BLISS”

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