Curly hair doesn’t need to be washed every day to look good. Washing too often can dry curls out and actually make them harder to manage. Instead, most people with curly hair rely on refreshing their curls between wash days to bring them back to life. A good refresh routine can help restore curl definition, reduce frizz, and add volume without having to completely restyle your hair everyday!
Refreshing curls simply means reviving the curl pattern after sleeping, workouts, or a long day, when curls may have flattened, frizzed, or lost their shape.
Start by Assessing Your Curls
Before refreshing, take a look at your hair and determine what it needs. Sometimes curls just need a small touch-up, while other days they may need a little more moisture and reshaping.
You may notice:
-Frizz around the top layer
-Flat roots
-A few stretched or messy curls
-Curls that have separated overnight
The key is to only refresh the areas that need help rather than restyling your entire head.
The Dry Refresh Method
Many people assume they need to wet their curls every day, but that’s not always necessary. If your curls still have their shape and just need smoothing or a few curls need reshaping, a dry refresh can work really well.
Start by taking a very small amount of product, such as a lightweight curl cream, leave-in conditioner, or oil. We recommend Innersense’s Quiet Calm Curl Control, Sweet Spirit Leave-In Conditioner, I Create Volume, I Create Lift, and I Create Shine. Mix your desired curly cocktail and rub it between your palms so it spreads evenly across your hands. You can also spray a little bit of water into your palm with the products to help evenly mix them.
Then milk and scrunch the product into the ends or frizzy sections of your hair. Focus on the outer layer where frizz tends to show the most. If certain curls have separated or look messy, you can twist them around your finger or lightly smooth them back into their curl shape.
This method works well because it adds a little moisture and control without disturbing your existing curl pattern. It’s also faster than re-wetting your hair and works well for day-two or day-three curls.
The most important thing is to use a very small amount of product. Too much can make curls look heavy or greasy, especially on dry hair.
Refreshing With a Little Moisture
Sometimes curls need more help than a dry refresh can provide. If your curls are very frizzy, stretched, or flattened from sleeping, adding a little moisture can help reactivate the products already in your hair.
Lightly mist your hair with water in a spray bottle or dampen your hands and scrunch your curls. The goal is not to soak your hair, but just to add enough moisture to reshape the curl pattern.
Afterward, apply a small amount of curl cream, gel, foam, or leave-in conditioner and scrunch it into the curls. You can also reshape any pieces that lost their definition by twisting or finger-coiling them.
Keep Refreshing Simple
One of the biggest mistakes people make when refreshing curls is overdoing it. Too much product or too much refreshing can lead to buildup or extra frizz. Focus on quick touch-ups that help your curls reform. By refreshing your curls properly, you can extend your wear for several days and keep your hair looking cute and healthy between wash days! If you’d like to discuss a personalized curly routine and curl refresh routine, book a curly natural style with one of our amazing stylists at Be Inspired Salon!
Call or text 608-271-2771 or book online to schedule your appointment today!
