Medium Porosity is healthy hair that easily retains moisture easily, has very little to no chemical/heat damage and low use of mechanical manipulation 

Medium Porosity is between low and high porosity. The golden porosity.  Hair cuticles are raised and loose enough to allow the right amount of moisture to enter, exit, absorb and retain moisture. They have the perfect amount of holes and gaps, along the cuticle that allows moisture to stay put. Medium porosity requires the least amount of maintenance, however, it can be prone to product buildup quickly, so less is always more. Using a scalp exfoliating scrub shampoo once or twice a month and sealing your ends with oil can do wonders. Medium porosity has no certain color of hair, race or ethnicity. It’s simply healthy curls that usually has no heat or color damage. If your hair easily absorbs product and can remain frizz-free, this may be your match!

CHARACTERISTICS & TIPS OF MEDIUM

• Retains moisture well
• Prone to buildup
• Easily moisturized 
• Can handle light and heavy products
• Won’t dry quickly or slowly 
• A little (product) goes a long way 
• Hold styles well 
• Great elasticity and bounce
• Healthy, resilient hair 
• Can easily become over moisturized 
• Maintains & absorbs well 
• Can easily become dry & frizzy  
• A balanced porosity (A little of everything)
• Has very little to no mechanical manipulation
• Mechanical Manipulation: Consistently applying heat to style, and/or tight ponytails, braids, etc. 
• Deep condition every wash but only use a heat cap when necessary. If you notice hair is dry and frizzy, it may be time to use a heat cap. Once or twice a month is ideal.  (This is help increase moisture and significantly reduce frizz and elasticity)
• Cleanse your hair with shampoo once a week. This will decrease the amount of product buildup. 
• Use a shampoo exfoliator every.single.wash. This helps to remove excess buildup that your strands are easily prone to. 
• Have patience, great results take time and it’s more than likely you won’t see the results you're expecting on the first try…. Consistency is key!
• Use the Aztec clay mask with a heat cap with help to revive, restore and moisturize your curls. This can be done every 3-4 months, either way, your hair will benefit from this. 
• Do protein treatments two to three times a year (after the cold and hot seasons). Healthy hair is already packed with tons of protein and can easily become stiff and weighed down from protein overload. So remember, less is more and medium porosity can quickly cause product buildup
• Use co-wash when hair is dry and frizzy (every other wash or if you hair is drier than normal) before shampoo to minimize excessive dryness from shampoo
• Protective styles like buns, braids, twists, and up-do’s, can stretch the length of your wash and go, giving the procrastinators a few more days before washing. 
• Trim your ends at least twice a year 
• Use a sulfate free shampoo every wash day to avoid buildup
• Visit Cays Curls YouTube page to watch "how to" videos on your medium porosity curls

Essential products for medium porosity curls

A great starting point with the right products is all you need sometimes. Find out how to use them with your curl type on our YouTube page!

1. Sulphate-Free Shampoo

• Using a shampoo with warm water and the exfoliator will aid in removing excess dirt & buildup. It is recommended to use a shampoo every wash. (Unless you're using a scalp scrub shampoo) 

2. Exfoliating Scalp Scrub

• Use this if you have if you have extreme buildup, greasy strands, “flat roots” or excessive dirt. 
• Using a scalp scrub on your medium porosity strands will revive your curls back to life! 
• When you notice an extreme amount of buildup, or just yearning for a deeper cleanse, once every other wash day would be perfect! Use with caution, as this product can quickly overdry your hair out. 

3. Deep Conditioner

• Helps to restore nutrients and dramatically improves hair elasticity 
• Using a heat cap will provide a substantial amount of strength, moisture and elasticity to your strands by allowing intense penetration for the moisture to seep in. (Use a heat cap at least once a month)
• Don't want to use your heat cap this week? Perfect! Your medium strands can do with or without the heat cap. However, using your cap when hair seems drier than normal is ideal. 

4. Protein Masque

• A protein masque is considered a deep conditioner, however, it can easily be over or underused, depending on your hair's current state. Use sparingly. It Is not recommended to use protein on a consistent basis. It's crucial to switch up products during seasonal changes. The weather can definitely affect the outcome of your tresses.
•  Medium Porosity hair is naturally packed with nutrients and proteins. A protein masque is only necessary about two-three times a year for healthy medium porosity strands. For example, (1) When it becomes winter, hair tends to dry out more- hence, the cold, dry weather (2) The beginning and (3) End of summer months, when it's hotter and humid.

5. Leave-In Conditioner, Curl Cream or Curl Milk 

• A leave-in conditioner can be great on your hair as well. If hair seems to be weighed down easily, this is a perfect fit for your curls. 
• Starting with a curl defining cream would be best and you can decide from there if you need a thinner product or not.  
• A thicker based leave-in helps to control frizz
• A lighter conditioner can enhance volume, just remember, a little goes a long way

6. Mousse

• Provides a light-weight hold and volume.
• Mousse and the brush can and will reduce frizz, enhance/define curl pattern, and create beautiful curl clumps.
• Your curls can go with or without mousse. Giving it a try won't hurt, but if you start to notice additional frizz, your curls aren't feelin’ it. Try the curl method starting with curl cream, mousse, and then gel but also try the curl method with a detangle spray, curl defining cream, and gel. Testing out different products with different techniques will allow you to get to know your hair better and what it needs and wants. 

7. Gel

• Provides a tremendous amount of hold, shape, and curl definition
• Increases elasticity and flexibility to your tresses
• Use a “cheap” gel when doing slick back ponytails or any other updo style. You don't want to use up all your “good” gel on hair that doesn't need defined curls. 
• The secret to poppin' curls 

8. Oil/Serum

• After hair is completely dry, use a heavy oil to seal and soften your curls.
• Oil immediately softens your curls if your strands are “hard” or have a “crunch” from the gel. 
• Skip out on oil if you want your wash and go’s to last longer. If you have a special occasion or need “poppin curls” that day.