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

Hey guys, in this video, I share reasons why the popular float test is not accurate or reliable in finding out what your hair porosity is. I also share ways in how you can make the test a bit more accurate, however, there are better ways in determining your hair porosity.
Top 10 Signs of Low Porosity Hair:
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What is Your Hair Type? (Porosity, Texture, Curl Pattern):
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Signs of Hair Protein Sensitive Hair:
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[@itsmercedes7587]

She’s very considerate, straight the point, pics for the visuals and detailed to the CORE. I just figured out I’m low porosity and in need to do research on my hair and see what certain ingredients I shouldn’t be using along with a different rinse routine.

[@michelleelizabeth797]

I've always found the float test a bit suspect, informative video as always.

[@Princess0ftheLight]

The same! I thought I my hair was high porosity and couldnt figure out why my hair always felt so dry, now I know its because I was using the wrong techniques for my hair type.

[@cametriaw974]

Same! I had some hair to float and some to to float so i was like idk wtf i have high or low 🤦🏾‍♀️

[@alexisonthebeat2438]

Same

[@asm3177]

You are the only one who really helped me in my natural hair journey. I trust you 100% 🧡

[@IydaMichael]

Odee Rashid awe thank you soooo much! Means a lot to me ❤️😀

[@patricedurham5223]

I went to a natural hair studio for a curly cut and was told that I do not have low porosity hair like I thought after watching some KZbin videos. My porosity is normal. Thank you for being authentic and researching and passing your knowledge on to us.

[@yusrahmukhtar4252]

I just took that test! I have to go shopping for a whole lot of different products now! I always thought I was low porosity turns out I’m high porosity 😂

[@aerryberrybentley5956]

Yusrah Mukhtar same 🤦🏿‍♀️

[@noumoudiallo4261]

You deserve billions of subscribers

[@IydaMichael]

Noumou Diallo awe you are so sweet! Thank you!! ♥️♥️

[@adannaxo]

People usually do the float test with freshly, washed hair.

[@Judy-wr6pf]

That's exactly what I was thinking.

[@inukag9]

Same, while watching this video I realised that I took it for granted that people doing the test would have understood those sources of error, and know you use clean hairs and that surface tension is a thing. So I'm glad she made this video. I sent it to my cousin, cuz I told them about the strand test and realised they may do it wrong.

[@wannabe41]

Excellent video as always! I figured out my porosity by observing how my hair behaves; how it takes in water, how products absorb into my hair, etc. I actually have 3 different degrees of low porosity on my head. The section in the front is the lowest, my crown area is mid range low porosity and the back is almost medium porosity.

[@yovannisanchez5839]

So happy I found your channel. I’m just starting this natural hair care journey. I’m learning that my hair DOESN’T like oils ! Especially castor oil it itches my hair so bad. It does good with leave in conditioner and deep conditioner but just not liking oils that much..

[@CrystalNicoleLSW]

I feel like my hair absorbs water and products just fine, but it floated when I did the the float test. I still don't know what my hair porosity is.

[@maureenimanene3050]

Me too... I'm really puzzled

[@geethu1]

Same

[@elizabethalex5003]

Same.. all the test say low porosity hair is the healthiest..but mine which floats in water is a nightmare to me.😢😢😢..such a frizzy and damages hair😢😢

[@bcvbard]

Thank you so much for this information!!! I did the float test some time ago and assumed my hair was low porosity but it was not thriving. I did the curlsbot porosity quiz and found out that my hair is normal porosity. I will follow the recommendations from the site to see what happens. Again, thank you so much!

[@williamsj4852]

This was a great video. Alot of great information in a short time. Knowledge is power. Thank you for this ☺

[@IydaMichael]

JaVonna Williams thank you! And yes very true, knowledge is power! 🙌🏾

[@ReginaB4JC]

@@IydaMichael this is very helpful to me. I will do the redo this float test asap.

[@Mschuchii333]

I been always known this; the behavior of my hair was always in contradiction with the porosity test . This video is a such a confirmation of my intuition. On point as always, Iyda

[@hi29189]

I’m glad someone said this! This test kind of sucks and has so many people thinking they have low porosity hair when they really dont

[@GrungyPisces]

I’m so glad you explained the float test. My hair would never sink because of surface tension but I knew it was high porosity. I dunked it in and it sank in like 10 seconds, haha.

[@sallydunoo3327]

Thanks a lot,very insightful, did the test the proper way you showed, turns out I'm high porosity, thought I was low.i shampooed the hair,dried it,and dropped it in a cup of water,I dunked it slightly, it went straight to the bottom. Thanks a million

[@LifeInTheSunshine]

Another informative video, especially for newbies. I've always known I have super duper low porosity hair but I didn't always know what was best for it. You've helped so much with product recommendations and tips to help keep my hair healthy. Love your content!!

[@IydaMichael]

TheHixMixTV thank you love ❤️❤️❤️

[@Breezy333]

So basically make sure your hair is clean and dry before you do the water test

[@Queenblessful]

My hair porosity is low & that’s it,am too many products too deep to find out other wise 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@UnraveledwithJoy]

I was wondering why my hair acts so much like high Porosity but sometimes it just floats at the surface of the water

[@deandrealexander6172]

I'm glad I found this video because I did it and my hair stayed at the top so I thought I had low porosity hair but that couldn't be right

[@m714e6]

Samee

[@maggieodumuyiwa2005]

thank so much i prodded my hair a tiny bit and it sank and stayed there but i waited a little longer and now it is floating even when i push it back down it floats back to the top 😁Now i know i have low porosity

[@Kimmylux]

Sheesh! I wish I would have seen this video last night considering I just purchased a new hair regimen for my “low porosity” hair. I at least used completely clean hair to soak in the water for hours so we’ll see how things go! Thanks for the information ❤️

[@Kimmylux]

Update: I lucked up! This was legit my best wash day ever.

[@black_butterfly4947]

You supposed to do it on freshly washed hair

[@Candylovenatural]

Hi Lyda I was just washing my hair and it too forever to get the water and shampoo to soak into my hair someone mentioned to me about porosity then I came across your video just did the test after washing my hair and my have has floated back to the top of the water and sit there with water bobbles around the strand. This was very helpful Thank you

[@djididiarra9627]

Your right this whole time I've been thinking I'm low porosity but I'm medium !

[@tadulala]

OMG I just finished testing my hair porosity again for the 2nd time, and this time there was a different result. 🤦🏾‍♀️🤦🏾‍♀️

[@poisonedkiwi4730]

My hair floated but when I pushed it it sank to the bottom but i also took the quiz and it said i have a normal porosity. I'm confused

[@briirose1528]

Lml I pushed mine as well and it started sinking down so I figured it’ll come back up...it didn’t. I was like welp🤷🏽‍♀️

[@gloryadeyemi]

@@briirose1528 samee so like does that mean we have high or normal 😭😭

[@KaylynIvy]

This is sooooo true !! Keep up the good work girl ! ❤️

[@h20aquarius]

I took 4 hair porosity quizzes from different websites and 3 said I have normal hair porosity and 1 said I have low hair porosity. So I have really high hopes😌

[@tatijelly]

I was so confused. I have frizzy hair most of the time, it dries not long but not fast either, I don't have gloss,entangles easily, prone to breaking... so I have all the signs of high or medium porosity but the water test doesn't support this😅 , my hair was floating in the cup. I still don't know what type I have thank you for this video, now I know I'm not alone 😊

[@sweetiepie9411]

I think I’m med to low porosity my hair prefers warm water but it likes heavy oils & some protein is good

[@kathylam5512]

I used the strand test in water three times and got three different outcomes. You're right; it doesn't work!

[@CurlyTuTimez]

Liked this just based off the name of this video!! I say this ALL THE TIME!! Yeesss doll!

[@ordnin100]

Very generous Lyda. Thank you for your detailed explanations. Great visuals

[@annblessed111]

I love how educative your channel is..I also can't wait for the makeup video Iyda🎊🎆🎆

[@jungkook420]

thank you so much ! I was getting so much different results each time .

[@animalntaz]

Yeah I have been wondering about a few of these things, since there was indications that I may have high/medium porosity but yet it floats.

[@benedictediakubama9708]

Coming with scientific facts, I love it 🥰

[@LatoyaBB]

Would my hair be considered as low porosity if it takes lots of water in order for my hair to be saturated? I feel like I have to use my entire water spray bottle on my hair for it to be saturated. 🙄

[@naturallykae]

Latoya B.B. I can relate to your situation !!

[@kittydollsxo189]

My hair is thick asf and if gets wet easily and dry pretty easy

[@UnraveledwithJoy]

kitty dollsXo that’s high Porosity

[@shanaw55]

I don’t know what I have haha. My hair floats but I have more characters for high porosity.

[@hawawshy]

Saaaame

[@olgachertovskoy4714]

Same, I’m so confused as to why these tests are so inaccurate for some people

[@saramamsarang6586]

I dunked my hair under the surface of the water and it immediately sank , does this mean that I have high porosity ?

[@brinaomi4486]

Can I be both. Like I have high and low porosity hair characteristics

[@talltulip]

Now that I am zeroing in on my porosity (likely "high porosity"), how can I determine my hair's situation with regard to protein? I have no idea if I need more, have too much, or am "just right."

[@hfhdjfjh3245]

kind of confused. 1. I tried float test, even if I try to put it under the water it floats back up to the top. 2. but the hair quiz says I have high porosity 3. I have oily hair and dry ends, ends are always dry and absorb so much conditioner and product and it still looks dry but I have to wash my scalp every other day 4. my hair is currently damaged to friction, has many split ends 5. when I don't get too much shower water in my hair, my hair seems to be more manageable. if it stays wet for too long, once it dries it is very puffy. for example, I have washed my hair quickly in the sink before and it comes out nicer than when I do it in the shower

[@hfhdjfjh3245]

so my hair is kind of straight but slightly wavy, and then it gets very curly at the ends which i read is due to thin/damaged ends

[@YOUR-WORD-IS-YOUR-BOND]

The quiz says my hair is normal porosity. I agree

[@micaleshefrancis717]

I’m confused about this porosity test.. I did both test with and with oil my hair goes down into the water when I apply oil and without oil it stay at the top how to I tell which porosity I am ? Or am I doing something wrong? I have 4c hair

[@brooklynnskyy3354]

So does your hair porosity change natural vs relaxed ? I’m currently natural actually been thinking about relaxing my hair.

[@kristalcampbell3650]

It definitely does. I had very stressed hair shaft with a lifted cuticle when I used to relax it. Years later nothing penetrates my hair which I used to think was a good thing but now I find conditioners just sit on top of my head without penetrating so I have to use warmer water before deep conditioning

[@maureenimanene3050]

Thank you..this has been very informative and helpful ♥️

[@politicaljunkie1967]

My hair sank right to the bottom, lol. Tons of info. I'm a new subbie

[@kelly5807]

Results of the float test: high porosity Results of the porosity quiz: high porosity 😂 okay now I'm sure 😂😂

[@lizzieclay6774]

Good video Iyda, thanks so much.

[@IydaMichael]

Lizzie Clay thank you 😘😘

[@pa2707]

How to choose products if your porosity is different in different sections, like I have a mixture of medium porosity and low porosity and my ends are high porosity.

[@emojik8]

Thats why im completly fed up with it. How can you put creme on half or quarer of your head. Most people have different texture in the back of the head. I just want the cream that makes the dryest section smooth to get it over soon and get busy something else.

[@jeralee23]

I don't understand, some people say it the other way around with low and high

[@monicagross5131]

Please help I don't know my hair type at first it was low porosity and it floats and it's very dry

[@lalalovengun]

I don’t understand WHY anyone would do float test with UNCLEAN hair or with products!!!

[@randygivens8421]

Yes, the test should be done on clean, product free hair.

[@zalykazoeygalant5948]

Thank you so so much this video helped me so much.

[@nikaward6048]

Very very helpful. Thank you

[@my1stlove130]

I did the quiz even though I knew I was low porosity and yes the quiz say it looks like I’m low in porosity I did the water test on dirty hair it sank at the bottom the in the morning it came on top of the water. After watching you video I found some hair that I cut and I washed them in some clarifying shampoo and did the test again it sank at the bottom and within minutes it came up under the water. Now I’m 😞

[@clementbraimah3116]

I have low porosity so which products should I use pls on 4c hair

[@rateye22]

Can you pls suggest what products are best for high porosity hair?

[@jaenorth2654]

Thanks!

[@sakinahamm]

Why is it that when I put my clean hair in the water it does not sink unless i push the hair into the water then it sinks.

[@madness-ent.]

SAME HAPPEN TO ME

[@liaemilia1665]

It broke the surface tension when u push it

[@nubiasista9709]

Same. But then I let it sit and walked away. When I came back, the hair was floating at the top

[@daniellej7914]

I had one strand float the bottom and one strand in the middle

[@cairawilliams93]

So if your hair sinks withing 5 minutes does that mean high proposity?

[@lalalovengun]

Great job explaining

[@evaandrea8200]

I did the curlbot test 2 times and it came it High Porosity hair .

[@justkaylaplease1231]

I just pulled like 4 strands from my head and shampooed them and my hair sunk within seconds

[@rahelyoseph6461]

Thank u so much my beautiful.

[@josephinenabwami2400]

When I do the water test and I just drop the hair on the surface of the water it floats but if I dunk it, is sinks. So I am always confused what my hair porosity is? Am I low or high porosity? Thanx for your reply in advance.

[@sansan89894]

Same I don’t understand anymore

[@EliteCitrus]

Have this issue as well

[@AjTruthTv]

@@sansan89894 Well during my first test, I dunked floating hair and sunk to the bottom. Then I tried again, this time I have it time to float or sink on it's own. For 20mins, it went just beneath the surface of the water. U can try that.

[@AjTruthTv]

@@EliteCitrus try what I did.

[@tamara3825]

Thank you

[@omariperez4006]

What if it sinks and then rises

[@maemal4753]

I clicked on here thinking she had a whole different why of checking for hair porosity... but she just gave me already known tips on the floating method.... ig.

[@anzellewilkins8792]

Thank you!!!

[@chanellw5586]

It turns out I Have a super duper low porosity type Hair in the middle of my head as I Before my routine that part of the air stays dry overnight and the next day it's back to extreme dryness not retaining water or any of my products. I even go as far is doing my routine came in out of the Steve Rowe met the gym to make sure I get A thorough amount of moisture. Should I refrain from using water there in only apply product the next day?

[@flwrpwr5351]

I mean the test is supposed to be on clean hair, and the videos I've seen already use your tips...

[@pfact0593]

You are so sweet, as well as. i like the video. thank you for sharing😊

[@hundredlives3910]

I was wondering this as well they would say just pluck a hair but never mention what about all the damn products etc. In your hair 😅

[@shan1368]

Notification gang gang

[@IydaMichael]

hey girl!!!

[@sierrasierra1075]

Without ever attempting to do this test i already knew that some parts of my hair are diff than others so i knew doing the test made no sense. How do u solve ur diff hair porosity issues tho? I hope you ansa soon

[@timothyc.8666]

Some cosmologists suggested to base your hair care regimen to the dominant porosity on your head. So if, for example, you are medium porosity from your roots to mid shaft of the strand (two-thirds of your hair) and high porosity on the ends you would develop a regimen for medium porosity.

[@clementbraimah3116]

My porosity is low just tested and is 4c

[@mindalert4060]

My hair stays afloat for as long as it’s on the water. Then once I touch it a little , it sinks to the bottom. I’m confused

[@prettychicken4559]

Yeah same for me

[@sashasewell5793]

Anyone figured out what this means?

[@Barnes247]

Same! So I’m so confused 🤷🏽‍♀️

[@danielwood3917]

Couldn't you put a drop of soap in the water? That will break the surface tension fully

[@victoriaanthony4004]

Girl u smart. 😍

[@peterplumpkineater69]

This entire time I thought I had low porosity hair but I actually have high

[@kevitamaster-brewkombucha5472]

I’m your 41k th view 💖

[@shwiggle]

Most light weight object float in water because of Surface Tension! That test is dumb from the start!

[@nicolescott5693]

This test shows my hair in the middle for weeks

[@kiaredd4868]

I literally tried this and I have 4C hair and my hair was still at the topI was just thinking in my head like they need to go all the way at the bottom!!!!😂😂😂😂😂😂🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@gabircik]

type 4 hairs are mostly low porosity hair. ;)

[@kingkoala1561]

My hair drowned!!! High porosity 😭

[@jm-fq2ef]

My hair at the front sank. My hair at the back stayed half above and half sank. And then my other hair floated😔

[@dakalomatidza3828]

Me too It went straight down

[@pain_editz244]

Iam having high porosity 🥶

[@violah]

Mines folating right on top

[@goddessnoir290]

❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@Clauds71]

😍

[@Greekhistoryyy]

Shit my hair is floating

[@violette8969]

it said my hair is high porosity lol

[@quartzzhuit]

😘

[@Jojoforeverslaying]

I’m commenting to make the comment section 69

[@user-el2io4eg2k]

This ain't true for black hair Chile... Next. 🥴