When it comes to hair care, we hear a lot about products, styles, and trends, but porosity? Not so much. And yet, it’s one of the most important factors in understanding how your hair absorbs and retains moisture. Ever wonder why your hair drinks up leave-ins like a sponge but still feels dry? Or why it takes no time at all to get wet but dries just as fast? That’s porosity at play.
If you’ve already checked out our guide on low porosity hair, you know that hair porosity determines how moisture moves in and out of your strands. Today, we’re focusing on high porosity hair—what it means, how to care for it, and why knowing your porosity is the key to creating a routine that keeps your hair hydrated and healthy. This one hits home for me as a high porosity natural myself, so stay tuned for tips and recommendations straight from my own haircare journey!
What is Hair Porosity?
Hair porosity refers to how well your hair absorbs and retains moisture. Think of your hair cuticle like a rooftop. If the shingles are lifted or have gaps, water gets in easily but also escapes just as fast. That’s what happens with high porosity hair: the cuticle layers are raised or damaged, allowing moisture to enter quickly but making it difficult to keep it locked in.
Signs of High Porosity Hair
Not sure if you have high porosity hair? Here are some telltale signs:
- Moisture Disappears Fast: Your hair absorbs products quickly, but it still feels dry not long after.
- Frizz is a Frequent Visitor: Because the cuticles are raised, moisture from the air gets in, causing frizz and puffiness.
- Prone to Breakage: Without proper moisture retention, strands can become weak, leading to split ends and breakage.
- Gets Wet & Dries Quickly: Your hair soaks up water instantly but dries much faster than you’d expect.
How to Determine Your Hair Porosity
Still unsure? Try these simple tests:
- The Water Test: Drop a clean, shed strand of hair into a glass of water. If it sinks almost immediately, your hair is likely high porosity.
- The Spray Test: Lightly mist a section of dry hair with water. If it absorbs quickly without beading up, that’s a sign of high porosity.
- The Product Test: Apply a small amount of leave-in conditioner to dry hair. If your hair soaks it up almost instantly but still feels dry shortly after, you probably have high porosity hair.
Common Misconceptions About High Porosity Hair
- “High porosity hair is always damaged.” Not necessarily. While heat damage, over-processing, and environmental stress can raise the cuticle, some people naturally have high porosity hair.
- “High porosity hair doesn’t need moisture—it absorbs everything! Absorbing moisture isn’t the problem; retaining it is. High porosity hair loses hydration quickly, so sealing it in is crucial.
- “Protein is bad for high porosity hair." High porosity hair actually benefits from protein, as it helps to temporarily patch up gaps in the cuticle and strengthen the strands. Do be mindful, however, protein overload is a whole other issue that can arise from the overuse of protein treatments.
How to Care for High Porosity Hair
Now that you know what high porosity hair is all about, here’s how to keep it strong, moisturized, and thriving.
1. Layer Your Moisture to Keep It Locked In
Since high porosity hair loses moisture fast, layering products helps keep hydration sealed in. Try the LOC (Liquid, Oil, Cream), LCO (Liquid, Cream, Oil) or HMS (termed by me; Hydrate, Moisturize, Seal) method to create a protective barrier around your strands. See below for my own haircare routine using the HMS method:
- Start with a hydrating your hair with water or a water based mist. Our Aloe Vera Hydration Mist is a lightweight, ultra-hydrating formula infused with water, aloe vera juice, vegetable glycerin, and avocado oil to replenish moisture, refresh dry strands, and enhance softness without weighing your hair down.
- Follow up with your favorite leave-in conditioner to replenish moisture.
- Add in your favorite a cream or butter to add an extra layer of hydration. Our Amla & Chebe Hair Butter is a lightweight yet nourishing blend of aloe vera juice, shea butter, and a powerful mix of herbs designed to seal in moisture and enhance hydration, keeping your strands soft, strong, and well-nourished without weighing them down.
- Seal it in with a heavier oil or butter to prevent moisture loss. Our Amla & Chebe Hair Oil is the perfect complement to our Hair Butter, providing an extra layer of sealing to lock in moisture, enhance shine, and promote long-lasting hydration. This lightweight yet potent blend of herbs and natural oils helps strengthen strands while keeping your hair soft, nourished, and protected.
2. Deep Condition Regularly (and Use Protein!)
Deep conditioning is essential for high porosity hair, as it helps restore strength and moisture. Look for deep conditioners with both moisture and protein to balance hydration and structure.
- Try using a bond repair or protein treatment every 3-4 weeks to strengthen weak strands. I often turn to pre- poo bond repair treatments as only one deep conditioner treatment has my heart (see below).
- In between protein treatments, opt in for a hydrating deep conditioners with ingredients like honey, aloe vera, or avocado oil. Our Green Tea and Honey Masque is packed with plant proteins, humectants and herbs to help fortify, soften and repair high porosity hair (It's practically my #1 wash day staple). I use this hair masque every wash day.
- Try steaming your hair during deep conditioning sessions. Heat has become a bad word in the high porosity community. Steaming is often a suggestion provided to those with low porosity strands, but I've found it to be a saving grace in my routine. Steaming helps lift the hair cuticle, allowing moisture to deeply penetrate and hydrate your strands (ie: why it's commonly recommended for low porosity hair). However, the key to steaming with high porosity hair is following up with a cool water rinse to help your hair absorb as much moisture as possible while encouraging the cuticles to close, sealing in hydration for long-lasting nourishment.
3. Use Cold Water & pH-Balanced Products
Hot water can lift the cuticle even more, making moisture loss worse. Instead:
- Rinse with cool or cold water after conditioning to help lay the cuticle flat and seal in moisture.
- Opt for pH-balanced shampoos and conditioners to keep the hair cuticle smooth and prevent excess moisture loss.
4. Avoid Harsh Sulfates & Over-Washing
Because high porosity hair is prone to dryness, over-washing with harsh shampoos can strip it of essential moisture. Instead:
- Use sulfate-free shampoos that cleanse without stripping natural oils.
- Try Co-washing in between wash days to keep moisture levels balanced.
All of our shampoos are sulfate free. For those in need of a deep squeaky clean wash, opt in for our Clarifying or Stimulating shampoo. For those wanting a moisture enriched cleansing session, opt in for our Moisturizing shampoo which removes buildup while keeping moisture intact. For those looking to co-wash, check our our Hydrating Conditioner.
5. Protect Your Hair from Environmental Stressors
High porosity hair is more vulnerable to damage from heat, UV rays, and harsh weather. To protect it:
- Limit extreme heat styling and always use a heat protectant.
- Wear protective styles to reduce exposure to the elements. Be mindful of your styles, however! I've experienced first hand the consequences that the overuse of synthetic hair protective styles (braids, twists, faux locs, etc) can do to already low-medium density hair (we'll talk about that in another blog).
- Use satin or silk scarves and pillowcases to minimize friction and moisture loss.
Final Thoughts
Knowing your hair’s porosity is a game changer when it comes to creating a regimen that actually works. High porosity hair requires extra care to retain moisture, strengthen weak strands, and prevent breakage—but with the right products and techniques, you can keep your hair healthy, hydrated, and flourishing.
If you’re curious about low porosity hair, be sure to check out our guide on how to care for low porosity hair for a different set of moisture-boosting strategies.
No matter your porosity, the key to healthy hair is understanding what it needs and giving it the right care. Have you figured out your porosity yet? Let us know in the comments!
For more high porosity product recommendations, click here
