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Hair
Everything you need to know about hair porosity and the best products to buy for your hair type
By Morgan Fargo &Charlotte Bitmead
11 days ago
All products on this page have been selected by the editorial team, however Stylist may make commission on some products purchased through affiliate links in this article
4 min read
All you need for the hair porosity test is a bowl of water and a few strands of hair.
Fine, dry, frizz-prone, oily, coloured, multi-textured and coarse are just a smattering of the terms we could use to describe our hair. And, when we’re searching for suitable hair products, those are the words that will likely guide us. Well, allow me to add four new words to your hair vocabulary: ‘low porosity’ and ‘high porosity’.
Porosity, a term to describe how capable your hair shaft is of being penetrated, can impact the overall appearance and health of your hair.
Because, while certain products (like a hair mask or detangling spray) can work wonders for one person, another can find it builds up and weighs down – even if you both have what appear to be similar hair types.
What is hair porosity?
“There is a huge range of products on the market for curly hair, including serums, oils, mousses and creams. Sulphate-free shampoos and conditioners are a great non-drying option to clean your curls without stripping them of their natural oils,” says Taylor Taylor London stylist Lynne Soares.
“The difference in your hair porosity will alter what products you need to look after it – if you have low-porosity hair, you’ll need lightweight products, as they have a harder time penetrating the hair shaft so can build up on the surface, which weighs it down. If you have high-porosity hair, you’ll need thick, moisturising products because the hair shaft absorbs moisture easily, but it also evaporates quicker, leading to dryness.”
A simple way to test the porosity of your hair
“A good way to test porosity is to drop a few strands of hair into a bowl of water and let them sit for a few minutes. If it sinks, it is high-porosity; if it floats, it is low-porosity.”
Best products for high- and low-porosity hair
Now, don’t throw away everything you already own in the name of working with your hair’s porosity. It won’t give you or your monthly budget anything to be happy about.
Instead, as products run out, look at replacing them with ones specifically designed to penetrate the hair. These are a few of the ones we love but shop around to find the ones that work best for you.
Best products for low-porosity hair
Briogeo Be Gentle, Be Kind Banana + Coconut Nourishing Superfood Shampoo
Nourishing without adding extra weight, this Briogeo set uses antioxidant-rich fruits (pineapple, papaya, turmeric and mango) to thoroughly cleanse your hair without stripping it of any natural moisture.
Shop Briogeo Be Gentle, Be Kind™ Banana + Coconut Nourishing Superfood Shampoo at Boots, £26
Ouai Thick Hair Treatment Mask
This hair mask comes in two options: fine-to-medium hair and thick hair. Either way, neither is going to weigh down the hair. Lightweight yet efficacious, these hair masks use shea butter and hydrolysed keratin to soften and add shine to low-porosity hair.
Hair By Sam McKnight Light Cleanse Hair & Scalp Shampoo
Providing a deep cleanse without any greasiness, this shampoo works wonders for those with fine hair looking to banish product build-up without leaving the scalp bone dry.
Shop Hair By Sam McKnight Light Cleanse Hair & Scalp Shampoo at Cult Beauty, £28
Arkive All Day Extra Shampoo
Hydrating without compromising on bounce, this floral-scented shampoo clarifies at the root while boosting volume. It’s ideal for those with fine hair who find their scalps get claggy on a daily basis.
Aveda Rosemary Mint Duo Shampoo & Conditioner
Leaving you smelling fresh and your scalp feeling fresh, this dynamic duo uses invigorating mint and soothing rosemary to banish flakes without leaving your hair feeling stripped.
Shop Aveda Rosemary Mint Duo Shampoo & Conditioner at LookFantastic, £35
Best products for high-porosity hair
Briogeo Curl Charisma Rice Amino + Avocado Hydrating Shampoo
One for dehydrated hair, this shampoo is designed for high-porosity curls, coils and waves. It helps define and maintain the structure of your texture, as well as hydrate and soften hair with shea butter and avocado oil.
Shop Briogeo Curl Charisma Rice Amino + Avocado Hydrating Shampoo at Cult Beauty, £24
Olaplex No.3 Hair Perfector
A supremely popular product, Olaplex No.3 is known for repairing damage and broken bonds inside the hair shaft – something it can do exceptionally well in high-porosity hair. Use as a leave-in, overnight or pre-wash treatment to reap the benefits.
Cécred Hydrating Shampoo
With hyaluronic acid and a blend of African oils, it doesn’t get more hydrating than this. It doesn’t skimp on lather but manages to deeply nourish ends while cleansing from root to tip.
Oribe Gold Lust Repair Restore Shampoo
Glossy hair in a bottle – this is packed with multiple oils, as well as juicy watermelon, biotin and caffeine to help tick all your haircare boxes. It’s also designed to help prevent colour fading, too.
Shop Oribe Gold Lust Repair Restore Shampoo at Cult Beauty, £54
Fenty Beauty The Rich One Moisture Repair Shampoo
So hydrating that I can often skip my weekly hair mask routine. This shampoo is infused with amino acids, antioxidants and proteins to help deliver hydration and leave strands smoother and healthier.
Shop Fenty Beauty The Rich One Moisture Repair Shampoo at Selfridges, £29
Images: courtesy of brands
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