Porous hair - what can you do about it? The essential answers

• Identify your hair's porosity level (low, medium or high) with simple tests such as the glass-of-water test.
• Choose a gentle sulfate-free shampoo to wash without stripping and preserve the cuticle.
• Incorporate a moisturizing, nourishing mask rich in shea butter, aloe vera or plant proteins for deep repair.
• Use appropriate oils (jojoba, castor, coconut) to seal in moisture and protect the fiber.
• Establish a consistent hair routine: limit heat, protect the scalp and alternate between moisturizing and protein treatments.

 

 

Does your hair look dry, dull and unmanageable despite regular treatments? They may be porous. Porosity is a hair characteristic that is still too little known, yet it directly conditions the hydration and health of your hair.

In this article, I'd like to take you through this phenomenon in detail, help you recognize your needs and discover the right solutions for softer, stronger hair.

 

What is hair porosity?

Definition of capillary porosity

Hair porosity corresponds to the hair's capacity to absorb and retain water and care products. This ability depends on the state of the cuticle, the outer layer composed of small protective scales.

When these are well aligned and closed, they enable the fiber to retain moisture. When they are open or damaged, moisture escapes too quickly and hair becomes dry, rough and brittle.

Porosity is therefore an indicator of hair fiber health. It explains why some hair seems to drink up all the care it receives without ever benefiting from it, while others appear suffocated by products.

Different levels of hair porosity

There are three main levels of porosity:

• Low-porosity hair: the cuticle is very closed. Water and care products penetrate with difficulty, but when they do, moisture remains well locked in. This type of hair can appear heavy and have difficulty absorbing oils.
• Medium-porosity hair: the cuticle is slightly ajar. The balance is ideal, as treatments penetrate easily and are well retained. This is often the easiest hair type to maintain.
• Highly porous hair: the cuticle is wide open, often due to repeated aggressions such as heat, coloring or straightening. Water penetrates immediately, but evaporates just as quickly. This hair is dry, brittle and highly susceptible to frizz.

How can you tell if your hair is porous?

The glass-of-water test

There's a simple way to identify the porosity of your hair. Take a clean, dry strand of hair and immerse it in a glass of water at room temperature.

• If the strand floats to the surface, your hair is probably not very porous.
• If it remains in the middle, porosity is medium.
• If it sinks quickly to the bottom, this is highly porous hair.

Everyday signs of porous hair

Beyond this test, certain clues make it easy to recognize porous hair:

• A feeling of constant dryness despite the application of skin care products.
• Hair that swells and frizzes in contact with humidity.
• Hair that dries very quickly after washing.
• A rough, dull texture, sometimes with a tendency to split ends.

 

What to do about porous hair? Causes and solutions

Why does hair become porous?

High porosity can result from two causes. First, internal factors: certain textures, such as curly or fine hair, are genetically more fragile and porous.

Secondly, external factors play a major role: repeated coloring, excessive heat (straightening irons, hair dryers), straightening, UV exposure or the use of aggressive chemicals all alter the cuticle.

This protective layer becomes damaged and permeable, and the hair suddenly loses its ability to retain moisture.

Porous, frothy hair: what causes it?

Porous hair absorbs care products quickly, but then washes them away just as quickly. It retains moisture poorly, triggering a frothy or airy feel. The weakened cuticle doesn't close, allowing moisture to evaporate.

Often, a poorly-adjusted routine aggravates the problem: too-light treatments or unsuitable products accentuate dehydration instead of remedying it.

Does high porosity mean damaged hair?

It's crucial to differentiate between high porosity and severely damaged hair. A high level of porosity means that water escapes easily, but it doesn't mean that the fiber is irretrievably destroyed.

Sensitized hair can be restored to health with the right care. However, if breakage is severe or frizz is long-lasting, it's time to consult a professional about a personalized repair routine.

My conviction: understanding porosity is an often overlooked key to skincare. This diagnosis enables us to accurately select treatments that really repair, not just mask, dryness. With this vision, every hair receives what it really needs.

 

 

 

The right hair routine: what can you do for porous hair?

Which shampoo for porous hair?

Retaining moisture starts with a gentle shampoo, free from sulfates and silicones. These aggressive agents strip the hair fiber of its natural moisture or clog cuticles, limiting the penetration of care products.

I prefer formulas enriched with hyaluronic acid, probiotics or plant keratin: hyaluronic acid draws water to the heart of the fiber, probiotics restore balance to the scalp, and plant keratin strengthens hair structure to limit breakage.

Madame d'Alexis Shampoo for porous hair

• Organic hydrolate base to moisturize right after washing
• Free of sulfates and silicones to protect cuticles
• Plant keratin and hyaluronic acid to limit breakage
• Prebiotics for a balanced scalp

See the product

 

Which moisturizing and nourishing mask to choose?

When hair is porous, a rich mask becomes essential. I recommend generous textures combining shea butter and plant proteins.

Shea butter intensely nourishes the hair thanks to its fatty acids, while highly-assimilable plant proteins strengthen the inner keratin. Working in synergy, these ingredients rehydrate the fiber deep down, providing a lasting solution to the problem of porosity.

 

Madame d'Alexis Mask for porous hair

• Plant ceramides to close damaged scales
• Shea butter and nourishing vegetable oils
• Cationic hyaluronic acid to retain moisture more effectively

See the product

 

Which oil for porous hair?

Choosing the right oil means taking your porosity into account:

• I use jojoba oil on hair with low porosity. It resembles scalp sebum and penetrates without weighing hair down.
• Thick castor oil is ideal for very porous hair that needs a powerful nutrient boost to stimulate density and growth.
• The more penetrating olive and coconut oils ferment moisture inside the fiber, acting as a veritable occlusive shield.

 

Madame d'Alexis Day Serum for porous hair

• Light, non-greasy texture: ideal for replacing an oil finish
• Thermoprotective active ingredients protect against heat-styling and UV rays
• Seals in moisture while adding shine and softness
• Perfect for porous hair that absorbs quickly but loses moisture

See the product

 

Which hair serum for porous hair?

The serum plays an essential finishing role, to be adjusted according to your porosity:

• If your hair is not very porous, opt for a light protective serum. It should detangle and discipline without clogging the fiber.
• If your porosity is high, opt for a nourishing and repairing serum. It will help seal cuticles and smooth fiber over time.

 

Leave-in Day & Night ritual for porous hair

• Day: seal in moisture and tame frizz
• Night: repair the fiber and stimulate the scalp
• Targeted action on highly porous hair

See the product

 

How often should I wash porous hair?

Washing frequency makes all the difference. Highly porous hair dries out quickly when washed too often.

Conversely, hair with low porosity can tolerate a higher weekly frequency without losing shine. I recommend :

• limit shampooing to twice a week for very porous types;
• alternate between gentle shampoos and co-washes to retain moisture and structure.
  In all cases, finishing your routine with a moisturizing treatment is a must.

My personal conviction: applying a consistent routine that respects hair porosity levels is like composing a harmonious score. Each product has a specific function, each gesture a meaning. By adapting shampoo, mask, oil, serum and washing frequency to your porosity, we can transform fragile, porous hair into revitalized, soft, shiny, controlled hair.

 

The best tips for treating and repairing porous hair

Home care and simple gestures

Before buying new products, optimize your gestures. What to do about porous hair at home. Start by taking care to close the scales to better retain moisture.

A final rinse with cold water helps smooth the cuticle and improve shine. I also appreciate a slightly acidified cider vinegar rinse at the end of the routine, to stabilize the pH without being harsh.

When it comes to skincare, opt for textures that provide water and lipids at the same time. Aloe vera rehydrates, shea butter nourishes and vegetable oils seal.

• Cold water at the end of shampooing to smooth the cuticle
• Rinse with low-dose cider vinegar, only at the end of the routine.
• Homemade masks combining aloe vera, shea butter and an oil adapted to your needs

My vision is simple. Moisturize, then seal. Avoid heavy blends that suffocate the fiber, but don't let water evaporate without lipid protection either.

Adapting your daily hair routine

Porous hair progresses with regularity. A hot towel or heating cap for ten to fifteen minutes increases the penetration of active ingredients tenfold.

Systematically protect the fiber from heat sources, keep a distance from the hairdryer and use a thermal protector when styling. Finally, limit the use of strong sulfates, which strip the hair, and non-volatile silicones, which build up.

• Gentle heat activation to boost masks
• Protection against irons and aggressive drying
• Formulas free of strong sulfates, limited silicones to prevent build-up

This sobriety of means, applied on a weekly basis, corrects much more than a one-off treatment.

Food supplements for porous hair

Working from within reinforces the consistency of the routine. Biotin is involved in protein metabolism, zinc supports follicle activity, and essential fatty acids contribute to fiber suppleness.

Vegetable proteins in the diet or as a supplement provide the amino acids needed for keratin synthesis. They are not a miracle solution, but a useful supplement if the diet is imperfect.

My advice: take regularly and sensibly, and seek medical advice if you are taking medication or are pregnant.

 

 

How to recover and permanently repair porous hair

When hair is very porous

When porosity is high, the aim is to balance water and protein intake while sealing in the fiber. I like to organize the week in three stages.

A humectant-rich moisturizing mask to recharge, a targeted oil bath to seal, a protein mask to support structure. 

Extremely damaged tips benefit from regular trimming, as a cuticle that is too open will not close completely.

• Moisturizing care to replenish water
• Light oil baths to seal and limit evaporation
• Protein masks to support keratin and reduce breakage

The key is consistency. Follow-up over several weeks ensures stable, visible results.

 

Madame d'Alexis Scrub for porous hair

• Purifies the scalp and unclogs the fiber
• Stimulates microcirculation for better growth
• Improves the performance of masks and skincare products applied afterwards

See the product

 

Professional and natural solutions for porous hair

An in-salon diagnosis refines the action plan. Reconstructive treatments based on hydrolyzed proteins, amino acids and ceramides strengthen cuticle cohesion.

Some protocols, known as structure repair, target the fiber and improve the hold of the scales. At home, strategically alternate a moisturizing mask with a protein mask, then seal with a suitable oil.

Maintain a mild pH, avoid repeated chemical processes and keep heat sources away.

My personal conviction. lasting repair of porous hair isn't a sprint, it's an enlightened routine.

By combining simple gestures, the right choice of active ingredients and gentle discipline, we restore the fiber's ability to absorb and hold hair, an essential condition for supple, shiny, resilient hair.

 

FAQ about porous hair

What to do about porous hair

Porous hair absorbs water and care products very quickly, but is unable to retain them. To remedy this, you need to build a hair routine that's just right for you. The essential steps are :

• use a mild shampoo to avoid damaging the cuticle;
• incorporate a porous hair care product rich in moisturizing and nourishing active ingredients;
• opt for a porous hair treatment that combines hydration and nutrition;
• seal in moisture with suitable oils;
• protect the fiber from heat and chemical aggression.

This approach works just as well on highly porous hair as it does on fine or very porous hair. The aim remains the same: to compensate for water loss and nourish deep down.

How to recognize hair porosity?

To find out how porous your hair is, there's a simple test called the glass test: dip a clean strand into a glass of water.

• If it floats, you have low-porosity hair.
• If it remains in the middle, this is normal porosity.
• If it runs quickly, this is porous hair with high porosity.

Other symptoms of porosity include dry hair that dehydrates quickly, frizziness, dullness and a rough texture. These characteristics help to identify the level of porosity, and therefore to choose the most appropriate care products.

Care for porous hair

Care for porous hair relies on a balance between hydration and nutrition. There are several options:

• apply a moisturizing mask rich in aloe vera or hyaluronic acid;
• create an oil bath with oils such ascastor oil or coconut oil to seal in moisture;
• use a shea butter or vegetable protein mask regularly;
• Choose organic cosmetics to avoid sulfates and silicones;
• alternate moisturizing and protein treatments to strengthen keratin and improveyour hair's hydration over the long term.

How to treat dry hair

The dry hair requires a specific protocol designed to nourish and treat the fiber in depth. To repair damaged hair, it's essential to focus on :

• moisturizers rich in humectants (aloe vera, glycerin, hyaluronic acid);
• Nourishing masks that repair rough and brittle hair;
• vegetable oils to protect and prevent breakage;
• nutritional supplements to support the hair's internal health.

A regular routine helps repair dull hair and reinforce its protection against external aggressions.