Which term describes the hair's ability to absorb moisture, liquids or chemicals?

• A. Texture
• B. Porosity
• C. Elasticity
• D. Manageability

Answer: (B)

Porosity describes how easily hair can absorb moisture, liquids, or chemicals. This depends on the condition of the cuticle layer: when the cuticle scales are smooth and closed, moisture moves in slowly, giving low porosity; when the cuticle is raised or damaged, moisture and chemicals penetrate more readily, giving high porosity. Knowing porosity helps predict how hair will respond to conditioning and chemical services—high porosity often needs more conditioning and sealing to retain moisture, while low porosity may require heat or lighter products to aid absorption. Texture is about surface feel, elasticity is about how much hair can stretch and return to shape, and manageability relates to how easy hair is to style. Porosity specifically targets the hair’s moisture absorption capacity.