CurlsBot thinks you have: 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.
Retake Porosity QuizCharacteristics
- 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.
Bond Curl Rehab Salve, Bond Building Strength Treatment for Weak, Damaged Hair
100% Plant-Derived Squalane
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.
Gentle Clarifying Shampoo
A shampoo that clarifies without stripping your hair.
Curl Reset Detox Shampoo
This shampoo was recently reformulated to remove not just product buildup, but also mineral buildup from hard water.
Mud Pie Clay Clarifying Treatment
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.
Full Body Weightless Cleanser
Chai Latte Hair Cleanser
Smooth As Silk™ Deep Moisture Shampoo
An excellent low-pH (~5 protects against frizz) shampoo at a great price.
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!
Big Energy Conditioner
Cream Conditioner
Curl Conditioner
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.
Double Cream Deep Quencher
Banana Cream Deep Conditioner
Deep Conditioning Treatment
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.
Rice Pudding Leave-In Conditioner and Moisturizer
Soft Leave-In Cream
A lightweight leave-in that prevents your hair from getting dry
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.
We don't have any items in this category yet, please contact us if you have suggestions
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.
Curl Keeper® Original Liquid Styler
Jello Shot Curl Defining Gel
Orange Marmalade Flaxseed and Aloe Curl Definer
CurlsBot note: This is the main styling product I use on my own hair- Melissa
custards
Thick styling products that provide moisture and definition. Useful for all porosity types.
Orange Marmalade Flaxseed and Aloe Curl Definer
CurlsBot note: This is the main styling product I use on my own hair- Melissa
Gelebration Spray
Technically not a custard, but serves the same purpose
Rockin' Ringlets Styling Potion
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.
Light Oil
Bonding Oil
Moonshine Hair and Body Oil
foams
Light styling products that add volume and definition without weight. A great option for low-porosity hair.
Bouncy Strength Volume Foam
Curl Boosting Hair Mousse
sprays
Optional finishing products that can help seal in moisture and lock in styles.
We don't have any items in this category yet, please contact us if you have suggestions
6. Accessories
Choose your accessories
For mixed porosity hair, we recommend: Optional accessories
accessories
Useful items for anyone with curly or wavy hair.
Universal Diffuser
Turn any hairdryer into a diffuser with this attachment
Define EdgeLift Brush
The Define EdgeLift Brush is a unique brush that helps define your curls/waves
Volume EdgeLift Brush
The Volume EdgeLift Brush is a unique tool that helps you create voluminous curls/waves
Volume Root Clips
These clips are specially designed to help you create volume at the roots of your hair
Curl friendly soft headbands
These headbands are made by the creator of CurlsBot from soft, stretchy fabric that won't snag or pull on your curls. They're perfect for keeping your hair out of your face and creating lovely styles that won't damage your hair.
Pop-Up Curl Diffuser
Great for travel though I've used it at home for years because it's so easy to store
Curly Girl Microfiber Super Absorbent Anti Frizz Hair Towel
Help your hair dry faster and reduce frizz with a microfiber towel.