🇬🇧 Porosity is a key factor in choosing the right products, especially for styling. It depends on the cuticles, the outermost layer of the hair. If they’re tight and well-sealed, the hair has low porosity. If the cuticles are more open or lifted, porosity is medium to high.
Chemical treatments almost always lead to high porosity.
Natural hair can have different porosity types depending on environmental factors and hair type (fine/thick, straight/wavy/curly). Porosity can change over time!
🌸 One of the main factors is genetics. For example, the curlier the hair, the higher the porosity tends to be.
🌸 Another factor is chemical treatments: dyeing, bleaching, perms, excessive heat from flat irons — all of these can increase porosity. But so can sun exposure, pollution, hot water, chlorinated water, harsh products, and over-washing!
🌸 The “glass test” (dropping strands in water to see if they float or sink) is meaningless — it has no real value. If your hair is shiny, healthy, has little volume, and doesn’t tangle much, your porosity is low.
If it’s dull, tangles easily, tends to get frizzy and looks puffier than its actual density, or if it breaks easily and gets split ends — your porosity is likely high.
If your hair is treated, then it’s almost certainly high porosity.
🌸 When we talk about volume, we should consider density too — if you have a lot of hair, volume is natural :)
🌸 As mentioned, porosity isn’t fixed — many factors influence it.
If it’s sunny, hot, humid, cold, rainy… hair reacts instantly to weather changes!
Pollution also weighs it down, especially fine hair.
Hard water is a major issue — limescale lifts the cuticles and clings to the hair, making it more porous. That’s why occasional DETOX routines are so helpful!
The same goes for product build-up.
There are endless examples.
🌸 Learning the right combinations of products for different seasons and situations is essential!
In summer: use sun protection and go for lightweight styling!
Hydrate, protect, and seal the cuticle with crystals at the end of your routine — no matter your porosity — because heat and sun tend to increase porosity in all hair types :)
Summer styling tips: low porosity hair loves lightweight, hydrating products — gels, serums, mousses.
(Think Curls Activator, Lady Shine, and all our gels!)
Medium to high porosity hair also needs hydration, but it additionally requires sealing products like oils, butters, creams, and reparative treatments! (All leave-in conditioners, gels, crystals, Multi Oil, and protein-based treatments).
DETOX treatments are essential for high porosity hair — they remove residue trapped under the cuticles and allow for better sealing of moisture.
Your summer haircare allies:
UV filters to protect from sun damage
(Volume Booster, Mask Force 7 Sea – for high porosity; Sun Water – for low porosity)
Heat protectants
(Power Water – for high porosity; Green Nectar, Lady Shine, Curls Activator – for low porosity)
Leave-in conditioners
(Curls Activator and Volume Booster – for low porosity; My Best Option, Glossy, Flax It!, Force 7 Sea – for high porosity)
And with this mini poem, we leave you with a gentle reminder:
True beauty lies in embracing and enhancing what nature has given us — whether that’s the natural shine of low porosity hair, or the boldness and vitality of high porosity locks.
With love,
Your Bio Gentleaf Team 🍀
