Low Porosity Talk: Wash Day Mistakes Edition
Low Porosity Talk is my ongoing educational series for beginners who feel stuck, confused, and tired of trial and error with their low porosity hair. Each edition focuses on one core issue.
This week: Wash Day Mistakes.
If your low porosity hair feels dry right after wash day, it's probably not your conditioner.
It's buildup.
Low porosity hair has tightly closed cuticles. Because of this, product buildup forms easily and moisture penetrates slowly. When buildup sits on the hair shaft, deep conditioners cannot absorb properly.
Common signs of buildup on low porosity hair:
- Hair feels heavy but dry
- Water beads more than usual or hair struggles to fully saturate
- Products suddenly "stop working"
- Hair looks dull even after conditioning
This is why treating every wash day the same keeps you stuck.
Dry hair and buildup are not the same problem, and they require completely different approaches. When you deep condition over buildup, moisture cannot penetrate. When you add more products without clarifying, the cycle continues.
Learning how to read your hair before wash day is foundational for healthy low porosity hair, moisture retention, and length retention.
That logic is exactly why created The Low Porosity Wash Day Decision Tree™, so you can decide what
your hair actually needs before wash day instead of guessing and restarting every time something feels off.
If you're new here, start with my free Low Porosity Quick Start Guide in my bio. It walks you through the foundation step by step.
Day 2 drops tomorrow.
Save this, follow the series, and start building a real foundation for your low porosity hair.
#lowporosityhaircare #lowporosityhair #lowporosity #healthyhairjourney #lowporosityroutine
From my experience managing low porosity hair, one of the biggest challenges is distinguishing between dryness caused by lack of moisture and dryness due to product buildup. I've noticed that when I consistently use the same routine without clarification, my hair starts feeling heavy yet dry, and water seems to bead on the strands instead of soaking in. This buildup acts like a barrier that prevents deep conditioners from doing their job effectively, which means applying more moisture won’t solve the problem until the buildup is addressed. What helped me significantly was incorporating a clarifying shampoo or a gentle apple cider vinegar rinse regularly to remove excess product residue. I also started paying attention to my hair’s behavior before wash day by using methods like the Low Porosity Wash Day Decision Tree™ mentioned. This approach has helped me decide if my hair needs clarifying, moisturizing, or protein treatment, preventing me from guessing or repeating ineffective routines. Another tip is to avoid layering too many products, as low porosity hair tends to repel moisture and attract buildup. Instead, focusing on lightweight, water-based products helps lock in hydration without weighing down the hair. In summary, if your low porosity hair feels dry right after wash day, consider that it’s likely buildup causing this dryness. Prioritize clarifying treatments and tailor your wash day routine based on how your hair responds, and you'll see better moisture retention and healthier hair over time.
Her quick start guide was really good. I started washing weekly and deep conditioning and seeing results. 🥰