Thanks ladies. I'm gonna have to try washing more often.
I am washing once a week right now. My products are CON (diluted with water) & dc with ORS Replenishing conditioner and then rollerset with Shea Moisture shea butter leave-in.
I changed up this week though since I had some breakage. I did a dc on dry hair with Herbal Essences Break Over & used a clarifying poo (Purify by Curl Friends) - then rollerset with my shea moisture leave-in. The breakage slowed but did not stop. I am guessing the "cones" are blocking moisture and I need to wash again tonight. Now that I understand the sciene a bit more, it made no sense for me to dc with cones on dry hair. Cones seal in moisture so I should have used the HE conditioner after washing. I was trying to avoid the shower hop by doing my dc on dry hair....but it backfired.
If I start washing more though, there will just be no time to rollerset and get under the dryer. And the funny part is - I work from home 3-5 days per week. Even still, some days I am so busy in my home office that I do not even eat until 6 p.m. That is my type A showing though.