Wash-day is one of, if not the most important day when it comes to natural haircare. The reason being is because this is the day where your hair takes in the most water and nutrients that help the hair stay healthy and hydrated. It's also the day where you apply your styling products to ensure that that water stays in the strand to keep it moisturized and defined throughout the week. But how should you approach wash-day when it comes to your porosity level? Check out these tips for wash-day with different types of hair porosity.

Low Porosity

If you have low porosity hair, your strands don't take in water as readily as other types of hair. Because of this, it's important to use products and practices that can help open up the cuticle so that the water and nutrients can actually penetrate the strand.

Use warm/hot water that produces steam.

Using this type of water will open up your hair cuticle (similar to how steam opens up the pores on the face), and will allow water and nutrients to more easily enter the strand.

Use deep conditioners, leave-in conditioners and stylers that contain humectants.

Humectants are ingredients that help water move into your hair, helping low porosity hair absorb as much water as possible. You can find humectants in most products, but sticking to products like the Mousse Def Texture Foam or the Kinky Curly Knot Today Leave-in Detangler that contain them in the first 5 to 10 ingredients are a better way to guarantee your hair receives them. Here's a list of some common humectants to look out for:

• aloe vera
• glycerin
• honey
• hyularonic acid
• sodium lactate
• panthenol

High Porosity

If you have high porosity hair, your strands take in water very readily but can struggle to keep the water in the strand. Because of this, it's important to use products and practices that can help seal the cuticle so that the water and nutrients don't escape as easily.

Utilize protein treatments once a month.

After your shampoo and before your conditioner, utilize protein treatments that will infuse the strand with protein, aiding in the rebuilding of the hair strand. If you often colour treat, heat-style or chemically alter your natural hair, using protein treatments like the Olaplex No. 3 Hair Perfector and the Curls Bamboo Protein Treatment will be essential in ensuring your hair does not become damaged.

Rinse your conditioner out with cold water.

Rinsing with cold water helps your cuticle to close after it has absorbed all of those nutrients and water. This is important for helping to keep the water within the strand to help the strand stay as moisturized as possible.

Utilize leave-in conditioners and stylers that will properly coat the cuticle.

Using products that create a heavier cast (film barrier that keeps water locked in the strand) are important for highly porous strands as it helps to keep the hair moisturized over a longer period of time. Stylers like the Mousse Def Texture Foam, the Innersense I Create Hold and the Camille Rose Curl Maker all create strong casts that both hold definition and moisturize the hair.

Medium Porosity

If you have medium porosity hair, your hair does not struggle with taking in moisture or having it stay in the strand. Ensure to use products that hydrate and moisturize the strand, but do not over-strip the scalp or cause too much buildup.

Find these products on our website, and for any other questions, feel free to visit our Curly Hair Help center to find the solutions to your curly hair problems. Reach out to us via our chat, our product suggestion quiz, our product suggestion form or visit us in store to receive personalized help on your curly hair journey from our team.