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
Repairs bonds, prevents split ends, and reduces breakage by 70% while improving detangling by 90% after one use
Bonding Primer
Instantly helps repair hair, smooth strands and reduce breakage after just one use
Bond Curl Rehab Salve, Bond Building Strength Treatment for Weak, Damaged Hair
A protein-rich bond-building treatment that targets all 3 hair bonds to repair, strengthen, and reduce damage—formulated specifically for curls
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.
Fable & Mane SahaScalp Wild Ginger Purifying Scrub
A protein-rich exfoliating shampoo to boost circulation, reduce buildup, and gently remove flakiness
Perfect Clean 2-in-1 Scalp Scrub & Shampoo
A 2-in-1 scalp scrub and clarifying shampoo that gently removes buildup and impurities to reveal a healthy scalp and immensely shiny hair
Clarifying Shampoo
Remove buildup from products, pollutants, and hard water with this salon-grade clarifying wash
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.
Bond Building Shampoo
Gently cleanses while repairing bonds to reduce breakage, tame frizz, and enhance curl definition
Scalp Revitalizing Solution Hair Thickening Shampoo
With probiotic beads, biotin, rosemary, and caffeine to support scalp health and promote stronger, healthier hair growth
Cleansing Shampoo
A mild shampoo that rids your scalp of buildup without stripping it of any natural oils
cowashes
Gentle, non-lathering cleansers that clean without stripping natural oils. Use these for daily wash if you have high-porosity hair.
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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
An ultra-lightweight conditione to keep hair big, bouncy, and full of life
No. 5 Bond Maintenance Conditioner
A highly concentrated conditioner with Olaplex’s bonding technology that repairs, strengthens, and moisturizes hair prone to damage or dryness
Sunset Rituals: Signature Conditioner
Smooths frizz, restores shine, and deeply hydrates with moisturizing botanicals plus hyaluronic and lactic acids
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.
Bonding Hydration Mask
Boosts moisture without weighing hair down and improves wet detangling by up to 90% after just one use
Rapid Hair Repair
Restores strength, shine, and pH balance to damaged or color-treated curls while adding volume
Therapy Session Hair Mask
Delivers 48-hour smoothness while deeply conditioning and repairing hair to be 2X stronger and 3X more hydrated
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
Loosens knots, adds moisture, and locks in color without buildup or dullness
Pamper My Curls All-in-One Moisture Mist
A lightweight, oil-free mist that moisturizes and refreshes curls without weighing them down
No. 9 Bond Protector Nourishing Hair Serum
Shields hair from pollution and protects against heat damage while adding satin shine and reducing static and tangles
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.
Curl Passion Curl Perfectionist
Tames frizz, enhances natural texture, provides light hold, and contains protein for added strength
Curl Talk Curl Cream
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.
Curl Keeper Original Liquid Styler
A water-based formula that reactivates with water for frizz control and curl refresh without buildup
Spray Gel
Spray gel that delivers the hold of a gel with added definition, volume, and shine—made with gentle, natural ingredients
Pamper My Curls Curl Sculpting Glaze Strong Hold Gel
A protein-free strong-hold glaze that defines curls, fights frizz, adds shine, and holds styles without white residue
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.
Bonding Concentrate
Boosts shine, tames flyaways, protects from heat, and hydrates with nourishing oils and bonding technology
No. 7 Bonding Oil
Lightweight oil that adds shine, reduces breakage, controls frizz for 72 hours, and protects against heat up to 450°F
Doux Drops
A shine-boosting, bond-building serum that repairs and strengthens hair, smooths the cuticle, and protects against breakage—perfect for straight styles, blowouts, or curly wash days
foams
Light styling products that add volume and definition without weight. A great option for low-porosity hair.
SET Gel to Foam Styling Mousse
A gel-to-foam with medium hold that adds definition and volume while leaving curls soft, touchable, and healthy-looking
Mousse Def Texture Foam
Light to medium-hold curl mousse that is great for creating curl definition
Bouncy Strength Volume Foam
sprays
Optional finishing products that can help seal in moisture and lock in styles.
Spray Gel
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
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.
Mint Satin Scrunchie
This super-soft satin scrunchie is adorable paired with any outfit
The Puff Cuff
A durable, damage-free hair clamp made for thick, curly hair that holds securely without pulling
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