All You Need to Know About Hair Types and Porosity

Do you know your hair type and porosity? If not, the time to find out is now! Knowing your hair’s texture and porosity level not only helps with hair product selection but also ensures you can adequately care for your strands. In this article, we’ll share all you need to know about hair types and porosity. And we’ll finish with some helpful product recommendations to get you off on the right foot.

Hair Types Overview

Did you know there are 12 hair types? Back in the 90s, hair whisperer Andre Walker classified human hair into the following categories:

Type 1 Hair (Straight)

• 1A - Pin straight and very fine.

• 1B - Straight with a hint of texture, may be coarser than 1A.

• 1C - Straight and coarse with even more texture than 1B.

Since type 1 hair has no waves, curls, or coils, the oils from the scalp easily travel down the length of the hair. This means that oiliness and root flatness can be an issue.

Recommended Product Types: Lightweight styling and conditioning products. It can often handle stronger cleansers.

Type 2 Hair (Wavy)

• 2A - Loose waves with a fine texture.

• 2B - More defined waves with an S pattern.

• 2C - Waviest of all type 2 hair, coarser texture.

Wavy hair tends to be easily flattened and sometimes oily.

Recommended Product Types: Moderately lightweight styling and conditioning products. Stronger cleansers tend to be okay. Oils and butters in moderation.

Type 3 Hair (Curly)

• 3A - The loosest curls of them all.

• 3B - Slightly springy curls, tighter than 3A.

• 3C - Springy curls that have a very defined S pattern.

Being that type 3 hair is curly, scalp oils tend to have trouble lubricating the hair. As a result, the hair is often thirsty for moisture.

Recommended Product Types: Gentle cleansers, hydrating conditioners, and leave-ins. Oils and butters when needed.

Type 4 Hair (Coily)

• 4A - Loose S-shaped coils that spring back when stretched.

• 4B - Zig-zagging coils, densely packed.

• 4C - Tightest curls of them all.

Because type 4 curls and coils are so tight, almost all of the moisturizing has to be done manually (by you). This hair type is usually dry, fragile, and difficult to manage.

Recommended Product Types: Cowashes or extremely gentle cleansers, deeply nourishing conditioners and deep conditioners. Can also use oils and butters regularly.

*Note: Everyone’s hair is different, so we urge you to use the above recommendations as a guide - not as law.

Porosity Basics

The term “hair porosity” refers to how readily your hair drinks up water and hair products. Here are all the porosity levels:

• Low porosity - Your hair doesn’t absorb moisture very easily, but once the moisture is in there, it sticks around for an extended amount of time.

• Medium porosity - Your hair has no problem absorbing or retaining moisture.

• High porosity - Your hair drinks up moisture without issue but doesn’t hold onto it for long.

Certain hair products work better for different porosity levels. For low-porosity hair, you need products that can penetrate the hair’s outer layers and get to the inner parts of the shaft. For higher porosity hair, you need thicker products with sealing oils and butters (and protein-containing products are great, too).

So, there you have it - the basics of hair types and porosity. If you haven’t already done so, we encourage you to check out Daily Dose Deep Conditioner and Leave-in Conditioner. Both work well on all hair types - from the straightest to the coiliest - and they’re made of potent, natural ingredients that transform your hair from within.

Author: Andrea Reyes

Andrea is a mother, wife, writer, and natural hair enthusiast of 15+ years. Currently on her natural hair journey, she’s been trying countless products and techniques to understand and embrace her natural hair. She is the creator of CurlAdvice.com, a new website featuring informative articles that share tips, tricks, and techniques aimed to help others learn to love their hair through proper hair care. She writes with the hope of making hair care easier to understand and implement.