How to refresh your curls

Curly hair can be difficult to manage and maintain. Every curly girl knows the secret to curls is water, but you don't want to be over-washing your hair, so a curl refresh can be an easy way to revive your curls. A curl refresh is an easy, 5-10 minute practice that will restore the bounce and volume of your curls. Whether you need to refresh your curls after a workout, in the morning or after styling and manipulation here are the best ways to refresh your hair.

Whether you have left your curls in a bun for the week, just taken out last nights hairstyle or used a lot of gel to create a look, your curls will be in need of a refresh.
Start by removing any product buildup. A cleansing foam can be a great way to remove stylers like gel from your baby hairs. However if you used heavy stylers, you may want to use a shampoo and a damp washcloth to remove the buildup. To restyle your baby hairs/ edges, apply a pump of your foam directly to the area and massage with your fingers. using a damp wash cloth wipe away the area and restyle. If you are still wearing a protective hairstyle like braids or locs, be gentle to try and not cause any frizz.

For 5th or 6th day hair that feels dry and is lacking definition, part your hair into 4 sections. Apply your foam to palms and work through each section from root to tip. This will ensure you are working on clean hair. You may see visible dirt on your hands which shows the foam is effective, simply rinse your hands and continue. Moisturise with some hair butter or leave in conditioner. Rub a small amount of gel between your palms and scrunch your curls upside down again. Flip your hair backwards and rake your fingers through your roots to lift them. Scrunch your curls until you are happy with the shape and diffuse on cold setting or leave to air dry.

Rocking a fresh wash and go can often last a few days, but as your curls become flat, dull and dry overnight, you want to bring them back to life. A great option in the morning is a refresher spray. To make this mix 2 tablespoons of silicone-free conditioner with 250ml of water in any spray bottle, and spritz your hair with the mixture. Don’t soak your hair but it should be wet enough so that it doesn’t dry straight away. Flip your hair upside down and scrunch your curls upwards. If you’re experiencing a lot of frizz, add more mixture or simply just water. It’s important that your hair is hydrated and curls are forming frizz free. Rub a small amount of gel between your palms and scrunch your curls upside down again. Flip your hair backwards and rake your fingers through your roots to lift them. Scrunch your curls until you are happy with the shape and diffuse on cold setting or leave to air dry.

Once you work up a sweat, be it at the gym or at home, you need to get rid of the sweat build up on your hair and scalp. Depending on how you styled your hair during your workout, your curls may also be stretched out and lacking volume. To refresh your hair you need to start by cleansing your scalp. Using a cleansing foam can be an easy solution! This is particularly effective as you carry it in your bag to use anywhere and it will save you from needing to completely wash your hair.

Simply apply 3+ pumps of your foam into your palms and massage directly onto your scalp. This will help to remove sweat and residue as well as freshen your scalp. To add volume to your curls, flip your head upside down while you do this and shake your hair out for 20 seconds. To tame any frizz take some styling product and finger coil any strands.

I hope that these DIY refresher sprays help to keep you 2nd 3rd 4th 5th and even 6th day curls looking healthy, bouncy and shiny.