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Last Updated on April 12, 2023 by Verna Meachum
I absolutely love my curly hair, but who knew that a problem as simple as refreshing your curls between washes could be so challenging?
If you’re like me, your hair is at its best on day one. You spent countless hours on wash day, prepping and styling, but by the second, third day, and beyond, it all starts to unravel. Your curls look dry, have lost their shape and the frizz has taken over.
After all that effort you’ve put into making your curls look super defined and hydrated, it’s aggravating when the results don’t last long. You’re no doubt wondering if you should refresh your curls with products or re-wash them.
Don’t panic – there are ways to refresh your curls between washes. All you need is a little know-how and a hair refresher spray that will hydrate and revive your locks in no time.
In this post, we will go over some tips and tricks that you can use to revive your those curls between washes.
The terms refresh curly hair and second-day hair mean different things to different people. You’ve probably heard phrases like “second day hair” or “third day hair” on social media. It simply means there was no hair washing between day one and day two.
Second day hairstyles are generally where your hair can start to go one of two ways: wrong or right. You’ve slept on it, which perhaps caused some curls to flatten or stretch out. Or, maybe it’s starting to look a bit dry and frizzy overall.
The good news is, with the right steps and hair products, you can revive hair—or even better, maximize the way you care for strands on day one so that by day-two, your curls still look good.
This is a question that I get all the time, and it’s understandable. In between washes, our curls can start to look dry or frizzy which makes us want to refresh them in some way!
If you’re like me, your hair can go from oily to dry in a matter of days, depending on what products you use. So sometimes it’s nice to just give your curls a quick refresh without having to wash them again.
Here are some tips for how to do that:
Every curly type requires constant hydration so moisturize every step of the way. On days when I’m feeling lazy and don’t want to refresh with a product, I love using good old water.
To reactivate any product you previously used:
All you need is a spray bottle filled with a mixture of water and your favorite leave-in conditioner. Spritzing this mixture onto your hair will refresh the curls and bring out their natural shine.
Curl Tip
Of course, there are other ways to refresh curly hair besides using products or water. You can also twist your curls into a loose bun. This is an especially good option on second-day hair when it might otherwise look too flat.
No matter how you refresh your curly hair, just be sure to use a light touch and avoid overloading your locks with product. Curly hair doesn’t need a lot of help looking good – sometimes less is more!
A curl refresher spray is another great way to refresh your curls between washes. With just a few sprays, you can maintain your curls definition and smooth away frizz.
If your curls just need a quick pick-me-up, a refresher spray is perfect for you.
Listed below are some curl refresher sprays to try.
Ahh! I love this stuff!!
If you want a minimal-maintenance hair care regimen, concentrate on preventing rather than correcting your curls when styling them.
One way to do that is to sleep on a satin/silk pillowcase or bonnet/scarf. This will help to prevent your curls from becoming frizzy and dry the next morning. Cotton pillowcases roughen the cuticle, which makes curls less defined and can lead to breakage.
Finally, avoid touching or playing with your curls excessively – this will only cause them to become frizzy and undefined.
If your curls need a rescue after sleeping on them and you need a method to refresh them fast, follow these easy procedures:
Whether you refresh on day two or three, it’s entirely up to you! I hope this article assisted you in determining the best refreshing technique for your curly hair.
What do you think? Please let me know in the comments below.
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I had to listen to what my hair needed...my curls are finally ready to take in some moisture again!!!
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- renee, Stylist Liaison
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I read books and tried doing things because "that's what I'm supposed to do," but it didn't always work and I didn't understand why. I'm so grateful for Verna and her blog. Her info. actually helped me understand more of the science of why some methods helped and what products or ingredients to use and why. Anyone that compliments my hair and wants to start a curly journey, I tell them to start here. My hair is so much healthier and I'm so happy with it.
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