Hair Porosity Test

The Hair Porosity Test is a structured, question-based assessment that evaluates your hair's moisture absorption and retention behavior to determine whether your cuticle profile is low, normal, or high porosity. Unlike the float test alone, this tool weighs multiple behavioral observations to produce a more accurate and nuanced porosity profile, along with specific product and routine guidance tailored to your result.

• How quickly your hair absorbs water during washing
• How long your hair takes to fully air dry after washing
• How your hair responds to moisture within hours of application
• Whether your hair tends toward frizz and swelling in humidity or dryness and stiffness
• Your hair's chemical and heat processing history, which directly affects cuticle condition
• How your hair responds to protein treatments versus moisture-only treatments

Porosity is the single most important variable in determining which products will work for your hair and how to apply them. A leave-in conditioner formulated for low porosity hair will sit on the surface of high porosity hair without penetrating, giving the appearance of working without delivering real benefit. An oil applied before a leave-in on low porosity hair will block the water-based product from entering the shaft entirely. Without knowing your porosity, product selection and application become guesswork — and the results are correspondingly unpredictable. With a clear porosity profile, every product decision becomes intentional.

• Women who have tried many products without being able to find ones that consistently work
• Anyone building a hair routine from scratch and wanting to start with the right foundation
• Women whose hair has changed after chemical processing, heat damage, or a transition and who want to reassess their baseline
• Anyone experiencing chronic dryness or product buildup and wanting to understand whether porosity is the underlying issue

1. Answer each question based on your most recent, consistent hair observations — not a single unusual day
2. If your hair has different characteristics at the roots versus the ends, answer based on the ends, which reflect your longest-standing cuticle condition
3. Review your porosity profile result and read the full explanation of what it means for your hair
4. Follow the product type recommendations — texture, weight, and ingredient guidance — for your porosity level
5. Apply the application method guidance: LOC vs. LCO, heat use during deep conditioning, and cool water rinse practices