If you're struggling with dry, frizzy, or hard-to-manage curls, the issue might not be your products—it could be your hair porosity.
Understanding your hair’s porosity is one of the most important (yet overlooked) steps in building a personalized, effective natural haircare routine that delivers long-lasting moisture, shine, and definition.
In this guide, we’re diving deep into:
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The 3 types of hair porosity (low, high, and balanced)
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How to test your porosity at home
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The best porosity-specific routine using Tree Naturals moisture-rich products
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How to layer products for max hydration using the LCO method
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Easy steamer + shower tips to help products penetrate deeply
Let’s get started—because hydrated curls are happy curls.
🔍 What Is Hair Porosity?
Hair porosity refers to how well your hair absorbs and retains moisture. It depends on the state of your cuticle layer, which can be tightly closed, wide open, or somewhere in between.
There are three porosity levels:
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Low Porosity Hair – cuticles lie flat, making moisture absorption difficult
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High Porosity Hair – cuticles are raised or damaged, allowing moisture in quickly, but it leaves just as fast
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Normal (Balanced) Porosity Hair – cuticles are slightly open, allowing for ideal moisture balance and retention
🧪 At-Home Hair Porosity Test
Find out your hair porosity in just a few minutes:
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Shampoo and rinse your hair (no conditioner or product).
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Drop a clean strand into a clear glass of water.
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🫧 Floats = Low Porosity Hair
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⚖️ Sinks Slowly = Normal/Balanced Porosity Hair
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💧 Sinks Fast = High Porosity Hair
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Knowing this helps you choose the best hair products for curly hair, tailored to your porosity needs.
Want to learn if your hair needs Moisture or Protein? Watch as Tree (Owner of Tree Naturals) explains!
💧 Low Porosity Hair Care Tips
Key trait: Cuticles are tight, so it’s hard for moisture to get in.
Common signs:
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Water beads up on the hair
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Hair takes forever to dry
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Products sit on top of strands
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Prone to product buildup
Best haircare tips for low porosity curls:
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Use warm water or a hair steamer to open the cuticle
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Apply products to damp, warm hair for better absorption
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Focus on lightweight, water-based leave-in conditioners
Low Porosity Routine Using Tree Naturals:
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💦 Step 1 – Liquid: Tree Naturals Leave-In Conditioner (hydrates without buildup)
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🍃 Step 2 – Cream: Tree Naturals Whipped Curl Cream (softens and defines)
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✨ Step 3 – Oil: Tree Naturals Hair Growth Oil (light oil blend to seal in moisture)
🌀 Pro Tip: Apply products using the LCO method (Liquid → Cream → Oil) to layer moisture the right way for low porosity hair.
💨 High Porosity Hair Care Tips
Key trait: Cuticles are raised or damaged—moisture enters fast and escapes just as quickly.
Common signs:
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Hair absorbs water instantly but dries fast
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Frizz, breakage, or rough texture
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Feels dry even after moisturizing
Best natural haircare tips for high porosity hair:
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Use protein treatments to strengthen the hair shaft
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Deep condition weekly with nourishing masks
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Always seal moisture in with oil or butter
High Porosity Routine Using Tree Naturals:
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💦 Step 1 – Liquid: Tree Naturals Leave In Conditioner (immediate moisture replenishment)
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🌺 Step 2 – Cream: Tree Naturals Whipped Curl Creme (rich in fair trade shea and raw coconut oil for strength + elasticity)
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🌿 Step 3 – Oil: Tree Naturals Hair Growth Butter (rich sealant for moisture retention and frizz control)
🌀 Pro Tip: Layer your products using the LCO method to maximize moisture retention in porous strands. Grab all 3 in our Tree-O Kit!
⚖️ Balanced Porosity Hair Care Tips
Key trait: Hair absorbs and retains moisture easily—this is the goal zone! You’ve hit the sweet spot. Moisture comes in and stays in without much fuss.
Common signs:
- Hair responds well to most products
- Holds styles with ease
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Hair is soft, manageable, and shiny
Best tips for normal porosity hair:
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Maintain hydration with clean, simple routines
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Avoid excessive protein or heavy buildup
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Focus on hydration, definition, and maintenance
Your Tree Naturals Go-To’s:
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🌿 Tree Naturals Leave-In Conditioner – the perfect everyday base
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💫 Tree Naturals Curl Refresher Spray – keeps curls bouncy between wash days
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🌸 Tree Naturals Botanical Curl Defining Gel – light hold, no crunch, perfect for balance
💡 Bonus: Product Absorption Tips for All Hair Types
Help your products penetrate the hair shaft more effectively:
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Use a hair steamer or warm towel wrap when deep conditioning
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Apply leave-in and cream while hair is warm (straight from the shower is ideal)
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Avoid cold water sealing if your hair struggles to absorb products
✅ The LCO Method for Natural Hair: The Best Way to Layer Products for Moisture
LCO = Liquid → Cream → Oil
This moisture-locking method is ideal for curly, coily, and kinky hair textures, especially if you struggle with dryness, frizz, or lack of definition.
🔁 Liquid = hydrates the hair
🍃 Cream = nourishes and softens
✨ Oil = seals in all that goodness
Grab everything you'll need in our Tree-O Kit!
✨ The Bottom Line: Know Your Porosity, Love Your Curls
Your curl journey gets so much easier once you understand your porosity type. It’s not just about hair texture—it’s about how your strands behave and what they truly need.
No matter your porosity level, Tree Naturals has natural, moisture-rich products made to help your curls thrive with spa-like care.
