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Mixed Porosity Hair Guide and Best Products

Mixed porosity hair has different porosity levels throughout the hair shaft, often with more damaged or porous ends and healthier roots. This can be caused by heat or coloring damage, or from having long hair (the ends become more porous due to everyday wear and tear). This type of hair requires a balanced approach to care.

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Characteristics

  • Greasy roots and dry ends
  • Uneven drying time throughout hair
  • Can be prone to both buildup and dryness
  • May require different products for different sections

Care Tips

  • Use lighter products near roots and heavier ones on ends
  • Section hair when applying products to target different needs
  • Protect the ends with a pre-poo when shampooing or clarifying
  • Deep condition focusing on the ends
  • Consider protein treatments for the ends

Build Your Routine

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1. Cleanse

Choose your cleanser based on your needs

For mixed porosity hair, we recommend: Use pre-poo on ends, then shampoo on roots and gentler shampoos/cowashes on ends. Clarify every 2-3 weeks.

pre-poo

These products are meant to be used before washing to help protect your hair from stress and damage.

bondbar Bonding Pre-Shampoo Treatment
Brand:

Repairs bonds, prevents split ends, and reduces breakage by 70% while improving detangling by 90% after one use

Bonding Primer
Brand: bondbar

Instantly helps repair hair, smooth strands and reduce breakage after just one use. Designed to be used with Bonding Pre-Shampoo.

Perfecting Prism
Brand: Voir

Protects against fading, damage, and breakage while boosting shine and rebuilding the hair’s natural barrier

clarifying shampoos

Heavier shampoos meant to remove long-term buildup from oils, products, and hard water. Meant to be used occasionally, as they are much stronger than regular shampoos.

Clarifying Shampoo
Brand: Odele

Remove buildup from products, pollutants, and hard water with this salon-grade clarifying wash

Gentle Clarifying Shampoo
Brand: Bounce Curl

A shampoo that clarifies without stripping your hair.

Water Works Clarifying Shampoo
Brand: Ouidad

Astrong, sulfate-based cleanser designed to deep-clean the scalp and hair, removing product buildup, oils, and residues.

shampoos

Cleansers that remove buildup and oil from your hair. Essential for low-porosity hair and should be used on other porosity types at least occasionally.

Cleansing Shampoo
Lightweight
High Porosity
Low Porosity
Brand: Fix My Curls

A mild shampoo that rids your scalp of buildup without stripping it of any natural oils

Hydration Shampoo
Lightweight
High Porosity
Low Porosity
Brand: Rahua

Replenishes dry, thirsty hair with a medium cleanse and a touch of protein for added bounce

Chai Latte Hair Cleanser
Lightweight
High Porosity
Low Porosity
Brand: Ecoslay

This gentle, botanical-rich shampoo is handmade in Georgia and has a delicious chai latte scent.

cowashes

Gentle, non-lathering cleansers that clean without stripping natural oils. Use these for daily wash if you have high-porosity hair.

We don't have any items in this category yet, please contact us if you have suggestions

2. Condition

Choose your conditioner based on your needs

For mixed porosity hair, we recommend: Use conditioner every wash and deep conditioner every 1-2 months

conditioners

Products that add moisture and help detangle hair. Almost everyone needs conditioner!

Behentrimonium Chloride 2% Conditioner
Lightweight
High Porosity
Low Porosity
Brand: The Ordinary

With only 7 ingredients and no oils, this conditioner is ideal for those with low porosity hair.

Cream Conditioner
Lightweight
High Porosity
Low Porosity
Brand: Curl Keeper
Tropical Coconut Conditioner
Lightweight
High Porosity
Low Porosity
Brand: Suave

deep conditioners

Intensive treatments that restore moisture and repair damage. Essential at least weekly for high porosity hair and good for all porosity types occasionally.

Banana Cream Deep Conditioner
Brand: Ecoslay

A rich, plant-powered treatment ideal for restoring and repairing curly, dry, or damaged hair

Deep Conditioning Treatment
Brand: Jessicurl

A deeply moisturizing conditioner ideal for daily use on coarse hair or as a treatment for medium textures, delivering intense hydration with a rich, herbal blend and no buildup

Deep Conditioner & Repair
Brand: Love Ur Curls

3. Protect

Choose a product that helps protect your hair

For mixed porosity hair, we recommend: Use a leave in or cream on the ends

leave ins

Light conditioners that stay in your hair to provide ongoing moisture. Most important for high-porosity hair. May weigh down low-porosity hair.

Slip Detangler
Lightweight
High Porosity
Low Porosity
Brand: Curl Keeper

Loosens knots, adds moisture, and locks in color without buildup or dullness

No. 9 Bond Protector Nourishing Hair Serum
Lightweight
High Porosity
Low Porosity
Brand: Olaplex

Shields hair from pollution and protects against heat damage while adding satin shine and reducing static and tangles

Rice Pudding Leave-In Conditioner and Moisturizer
Lightweight
High Porosity
Low Porosity
Brand: Ecoslay

creams

Rich moisturizers that help define and shape curls, and provide a barrier to protect against moisture loss. Essential for high-porosity hair. May weigh down low-porosity hair.

Bounce Styling Cream
Humidity Resistant
Lightweight
High Porosity
Low Porosity
Brand: Miche

A versatile styling cream that delivers bouncy, defined, shiny, and hydrated hairstyles in one step.

Curl Passion Curl Perfectionist
Humidity Resistant
Lightweight
High Porosity
Low Porosity
Brand: Milk_Shake

Tames frizz, enhances natural texture, provides light hold, and contains protein for added strength

Curl Talk Curl Cream
Humidity Resistant
Lightweight
High Porosity
Low Porosity
Brand: Not Your Mothers

Defines curls, seals in moisture, controls frizz, and adds shine for bouncy, polished curls

4. Enhance

Choose a product that helps enhance your curls

For mixed porosity hair, we recommend: Choose either a gel or custard

gels

Styling products that provide hold and definition. Useful for all porosity types.

Orange Marmalade Flaxseed and Aloe Curl Definer
Humidity Resistant
Lightweight
High Porosity
Low Porosity
Brand: Ecoslay

CurlsBot note: This is the main styling product I use on my own hair- Melissa

Jello Shot Curl Defining Gel
Humidity Resistant
Lightweight
High Porosity
Low Porosity
Brand: Ecoslay
I Create Volume
Humidity Resistant
Lightweight
High Porosity
Low Porosity
Brand: Innersense

custards

Thick styling products that provide moisture and definition. Useful for all porosity types.

Gelebration Spray
Humidity Resistant
Lightweight
High Porosity
Low Porosity
Brand: Jessicurl

Technically not a custard, but serves the same purpose

Rockin' Ringlets Styling Potion
Humidity Resistant
Lightweight
High Porosity
Low Porosity
Brand: Jessicurl

A unique liquid gel that moisturizes with natural film-forming humectants and helps enhance and define curls

Curling Custard
Humidity Resistant
Lightweight
High Porosity
Low Porosity
Brand: Kinky Curly

5. Seal

Choose a product that helps seal in moisture, some gels from the previous step do this so if you already used a gel meant to seal, skip this step

For mixed porosity hair, we recommend: Use an oil, serum, or moisturizing spray on the ends and a foam or spray on the rest of your hair

oils

Optional finishing products that can help seal in moisture. Best for high porosity hair.

Bonding Concentrate
Brand: bondbar

Boosts shine, tames flyaways, protects from heat, and hydrates with nourishing oils and bonding technology

No. 7 Bonding Oil
Brand: Olaplex

Lightweight oil that adds shine, reduces breakage, controls frizz for 72 hours, and protects against heat up to 450°F

A Walk in The Sun Luxury Hair Oil
Brand: Voir

A lightweight, hair oil that locks in moisture (without the grease), unlocks beachy waves, and uplifts your shine.

foams

Light styling products that add volume and definition without weight. A great option for low-porosity hair.

Mousse Def Texture Foam
Humidity Resistant
Lightweight
High Porosity
Low Porosity
Brand: The Doux

Light to medium-hold curl mousse that is great for creating curl definition

Bouncy Strength Volume Foam
Humidity Resistant
Lightweight
High Porosity
Low Porosity
Brand: Curlsmith

A lightweight foam helps build volume and provides humidity protection

Curl Boosting Hair Mousse
Lightweight
High Porosity
Low Porosity
Brand: Herbal Essences

sprays

Optional finishing products that can help seal in moisture and lock in styles.

Spray Gel
Lightweight
High Porosity
Low Porosity
Brand: Curl Keeper

Spray gel that delivers the hold of a gel with added definition, volume, and shine—made with gentle, natural ingredients

Pamper My Curls All-in-One Moisture Mist
Humidity Resistant
Lightweight
High Porosity
Low Porosity
Brand: Inashi

A lightweight, oil-free mist that moisturizes and refreshes curls without weighing them down

6. Accessories

Choose your accessories

For mixed porosity hair, we recommend: Optional accessories

accessories

Useful items for anyone with curly or wavy hair.

Define EdgeLift Brush
Brand: Bounce Curl

The Define EdgeLift Brush is a unique brush that helps define your curls/waves

Volume EdgeLift Brush
Brand: Bounce Curl

The Volume EdgeLift Brush is a unique tool that helps you create voluminous curls/waves

Volume Root Clips
Brand: Bounce Curl

These clips are specially designed to help you create volume at the roots of your hair

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