Cuticle States
Low
Tight
Medium
Balanced
High
Open
Symptom Explorer
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Porosity Types
The 3 Crown Porosity Types
Moisture Resistant Crown
Your cuticle is tightly sealed. Water and products sit on the surface — once moisture gets in, it stays. The challenge is getting it in.
Common mistake: Skipping heat during deep conditioning
Best fit: Lightweight milks, humectants, steam
Balanced Crown
Your cuticle is balanced. Moisture flows in and out predictably. Consistency in your routine is your biggest advantage.
Common mistake: Neglecting protein entirely
Best fit: Most textures, seasonal adjustments
Thirsty Crown
Your cuticle is very open. Hair absorbs moisture fast and loses it just as quickly. Sealing is your most critical step.
Common mistake: Skipping the sealing step
Best fit: Rich creams, heavy oils, LOC method
How to Test Your Hair Porosity
The most common advice is the “float test” — dropping a strand in water to see if it sinks. But this method is unreliable. Strand thickness, oils, and product residue all affect the result.
A better approach is behavior-based testing. Instead of one moment in a glass, the Crown Scan looks at how your hair actually behaves in the shower, while drying, and throughout the day.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is hair porosity?
Hair porosity is how well your hair absorbs and holds moisture. It depends on the shape of your cuticle — the outermost layer of each strand. Porosity affects how products work, how long moisture lasts, and how your hair reacts to humidity.
How do I test my hair porosity?
The best way is a behavior-based quiz that looks at how your hair responds to water, products, humidity, and drying time. This gives a much more accurate result than the float test.
Is the float test accurate?
Not reliably. The float test can be affected by product buildup, natural oils, strand thickness, and how you place the hair in water. Behavior-based testing gives more consistent results.
What is the difference between low and high porosity?
Low porosity hair has a tightly sealed cuticle — moisture is slow to get in but stays once it does. High porosity hair has a very open cuticle — moisture absorbs fast but leaves just as quickly. Each needs a different routine.
Why is my hair not retaining moisture?
If your hair dries out quickly after moisturizing, you may have high porosity. Your cuticle lets moisture escape before it can benefit your strands. Sealing with oils or butters after moisturizing is often the missing step.
Most people guess their porosity wrong. This removes the guesswork.
You've seen the patterns. Now get your answer.