Is the hair porosity test accurate?

The lie is that you can easily find the porosity of your by simply doing the water test, which is not an accurate representation of how your hair takes in moisture. First of all, there are so many variables involved with this porosity test. Our hair naturally has oils in it, and oil floats on water.

Is the float test for porosity accurate?

Different hair porosity methods have varying accuracy levels. The Slip and Slide Test is considered the least accurate while the Float and Watershed Tests are considered somewhat accurate. In order to get accurate and reliable results, you will need to perform at least 3 hair porosity tests.

How do I test my hair porosity?

"Start by combing your hair to release strands that are shedding, and then take those stands and drop them into your glass of water," says Groover. "Hair that is low porosity will float. Hair that is 'normal' porosity will float and then begin to sink slowly. Hair that is high porosity will sink immediately."

Should your hair float or sink?

If your hair immediately sinks to the bottom, then it's highly porous. If it floats in the middle, then it's in the medium to normal porosity range, and if it sits on top, then it has a low porosity.

Does high porosity hair sink or float?

Results. High porosity hair will sink to the bottom quickly. Medium porosity hair will likely float in the middle of the glass for a while before sinking to the bottom. Low porosity hair will float at the top for some time before slowly sinking.

Why the Float Test is Not an Accurate Hair Porosity Test | How to Determine Your Hair Porosity

Does high porosity hair dry fast?

Your Hair Dries Quickly After a Wash

That's one of the hallmark signs of high porosity hair. The porous nature of the strands lets the water enter the hair shaft more easily, but it also quickly escapes so it takes less time for hair to dry.

How often should I wash my high porosity hair?

On WASH DAY (Weekly or Bi-Weekly) after washing your hair with a moisturizing and clarifying shampoo, DEEP CONDITION for 15-30 minutes with heat and rinse with cold water to help seal your cuticles thus sealing in your moisture. Style and Protect your style as needed.

How does low porosity hair look like?

Hair that floats to the top for a while before sinking toward the bottom of the glass likely has low porosity. Hair that floats somewhere near the middle of the glass likely has medium porosity. Hair that sinks to the bottom of the glass fairly quickly is typically more porous.

Does low porosity hair dry fast or slow?

Because low porosity naturally repels water, it dries faster. Often drying so quickly, you can see it shrinking and drying in just a few minutes. If your hair takes ages to dry, you have high porosity hair.

What are signs of low porosity hair?

Does low porosity hair sink or float?

Results. High porosity hair will sink to the bottom quickly. Medium porosity hair will likely float in the middle of the glass for a while before sinking to the bottom. Low porosity hair will float at the top for some time before slowly sinking.

Is 4c hair low or high porosity?

Since 4c hair has mostly super low porosity, its absorbency is much lower, so it's less likely to react to water in this way. There is an exception to 4c super low porosity, though: finer 4c hair tends to be more porous than thicker hair, because it has fewer cuticle layers to form a barrier against water.

Is low porosity hair good?

Low Porosity Hair Can Look and Feel Its Best

And there you have it — low porosity hair isn't as bad as you think. Thanks to fewer pores on its cuticles, it's the closest thing to undamaged hair fibers (aka relatively healthy hair) and can do well on a low-maintenance routine.

Is the float test accurate?

Put simply, yes. The egg float test works and is surprisingly accurate. People who do this test a lot can tell you with great accuracy how many days old an egg is.

Does hair always float in water?

“Hair in general will almost always float in water. Many of you doing this test will note that your hair will float for ages and it may take some prodding to make it sink if it does at all. This is because hair is generally covered in oil.

Do I have high or low porosity hair?

The Slip 'n Slide Test: Take a strand of hair and slide your fingers up it, toward your scalp. If you feel small bumps along the way, you have high porosity. If the shaft is smooth, your cuticle is bound tight and you have low porosity hair.

Is leave in conditioner good for low porosity hair?

Does Low Porosity Hair Need Leave-in Conditioner? Yes, low porosity hair definitely needs a leave-in conditioner. The treatments prior to the leave-in open up your cuticles enough to deposit the goodness from conditioners into your hair.

Is low porosity hair frizzy?

It often looks and feels dry. It tends to frizz. It dries quickly. It easily takes on color, even colorants added to shampoos, and such.

Can you change hair porosity?

It's important to note that your porosity level is initially based on genetics, but that doesn't mean it can't change over time due to external factors. Cuticles can fuse together, open up or become damaged based on chemical processes (like perms, relaxers and color dye), heat tools or environmental exposures.

Is Type 3 hair low porosity?

Type 3B hair has medium porosity, so both frizziness and dryness are common struggles. A lightweight leave-in conditioner will help keep your ringlets moisturized while fighting back frizz. Last but not least, type 3C hair is low porosity, leading to a lot of shrinkage and breakage.

Is oil good for low porosity hair?

If you have low porosity hair, you will notice that most hair products will rest on your hair but do not get absorbed. Certain oils like jojoba oil, grapeseed oil, argan oil, sweet almond oil, sesame oil, and baobab oil are the best oils for low porosity hair.

Is coconut oil good for low porosity hair?

Coconut oil is great for all types of hair, including low porosity hair. However, because the molecular makeup of your hair cuticles doesn't allow them to fully open, it's difficult for coconut oil's large molecules to pass through.

What high porosity hair looks like?

"The cuticle is the outermost layer of the hair. If the hair has high porosity, that means that the cuticle is open and rough. Under a microscope, a healthy strand of hair with low or medium porosity will look like the smooth skin on a snake's back. However, high porosity hair would look more like a Christmas tree."

Is leave in conditioner good for high porosity hair?

Leave-In Conditioners & Detanglers. Sealers, also known as cream-based leave-ins, are great for high-porosity hair after deep conditioning.

Does high porosity hair like coconut oil?

"Hair with high porosity means that the cuticles are open allowing moisture to flow in and out of the strand (sometimes too fast)." Coconut oil is actually great for high porosity hair as it prevents water from flooding into the strands too quickly.