“Mixed-Chick” is a term that can upset some of my clients.  Using the term bi-racial also seems to cause controversy. Then there is Caucasian and  African American terminology.  When you sit in my chair, I try my best to honor your word identity.  That goes for gender as well.  In my mind, I’m a “white girl.”  I come with my own background and stories.  Most notably, as my popularity has grown, so has the diversity of my clientele. This leads me to observe the marketing challenge.

Can a fine, porous-haired person with 2b and 2c use a shea-based shampoo? Yes, they can, and no, they shouldn’t!  Shea is a smaller molecule.  Unless it is refined to work for both porous and low-porosity surfaces, it will most likely look like an oil spill on your head.  Also like a wet otter.  You get my point, I’m sure.

I have mostly porous 2c hair.  My lower porosity mixed in is still very porous, but stems from my grey hairs.  The grey hairs frizz much more easily.  Still, I have been applying products for the past 30 years. I know what I want them to do.  Because I love volume, I expect that molecule to enter my hair, expand, and lift the cuticle.  My hair accepts the product.  The molecule is activated by body heat or a hot tool.  It holds for a few days.  It starts to wither due to the elements.  I can freeze-dry it with dry shampoo and hairspray, sealing in the products' goodness and keeping the environment out.

Porous hair accepts water; it accepts products.  The majority of hair care products were marketed to this hair type or separated by a classification known as “ethnic.”  Yeah, the old days!  How things have changed. We still have a lot to work on to be “all-inclusive!”  Don’t get it twisted, pun intended!

Low-Porosity rejects water and rejects products.  It needs more TLC.  It is harder to retain moisture and is a specialty.  Hair stylists spend years perfecting the task of layering products and manipulating the hair to achieve desired results.  They guard their knowledge and charge accordingly.

The molecular ingredients and formulation are different for low-porosity hair.  When there are clumps of porous hair intermixed with clumps of low, that is what the marketing says is a mixed chick.  Sometimes it's very condensed: 50% of the hair type is fine and porous, and the other 50% is low- or no-porosity with a thick diameter.

Does this mean a product must serve two different hair types from a single bottle?  Are there even products on the market that can do this effectively?  Yes, there are, but there aren’t many.

Does your skin tone matter in your search?  Think about it!  If shampoo companies explained their options more clearly, you might save money by buying what is actually meant for your hair type.  Every person can have multiple combinations of hair types.  I see it every day.

1. How to test porosity.

2. Water chemistry

3. What hard water looks like and feels like, and how to combat it.