Porosity
How easily a strand takes in and holds water, set by how open its outer cuticle layer is.
Also: hair porosity
Porosity describes how readily hair absorbs and keeps moisture. In low-porosity hair the cuticle scales lie flat and tight, so water beads on the surface and dries slowly. In high-porosity hair the cuticle is raised or worn, so hair soaks up water quickly but also loses it fast. Porosity can be natural or come from bleaching, heat and chemical treatments. Stylists consider it when choosing how long colour, perms or relaxers stay on.