Understanding your hair's porosity is one of the key factors when it comes to maintaining healthy Afro hair.
Porosity refers to how easily your hair can absorb and retain moisture. Knowing your hair's porosity level can help you determine the best products and styling techniques to keep your locks looking their absolute best.
How do I find out my hair porosity?
Assessing your Afro hair's porosity is simple. Just do the float test - place a clean, dry strand of your hair in a glass of water:
Start by using a gentle, sulfate-free clarifying shampoo and follow up with a super-moisturising conditioner. Let that conditioner soak in for a few minutes before rinsing. Using a heated cap is also recommended when deep conditioning to open the cuticles and help your hair to absorb moisture.
When it comes to styling, lightweight creams and oils (Babassu oil, Jojoba oil, Grapeseed oil...) work best. Steer clear of heavy pomades or gels that can just sit on the surface. And don't forget to seal in that moisture with a light mist of leave-in conditioner. Your low-po curls will thank you!
High Porosity hair: High porosity Afro hair tends to absorb moisture quickly but also loses it just as fast. This can lead to hair often feeling dry and frizzy.
First things first, you need be gentle with that mane of yours! Use a nice, sulfate-free shampoo and be gentle when you're washing it. Using deep conditioning and heavy oils (coconut oil, castor oil, olive oil...) will help improve moisture retention.
Make sure you're using a good quality leave-in conditioner or hair serum to keep your hair hydrated.
And when it comes to styling, go easy on the heat! Straighteners, curling irons, and the like can really do a number on high porosity hair. Try to air-dry whenever you can, and use a good heat protectant if you do need to break out the hot tools.
Scroll below to see our suggested products for low porosity and high porosity hair.
