Second-day curls can go one of two ways: effortlessly bouncy, or a flat, frizzy mess. The good news is that you don't need to rewash your hair every morning to get that definition back. With the right approach and curl refresh products, you can revive your curls in minutes and stretch your wash days further.
Whether you have wavy type 2 hair, springy type 3 coils, or tighter type 4 curls, this guide covers exactly how to refresh curls and keep them looking good.
A few things work against you to make your curls lose their shape overnight, including:
- Friction from cotton pillowcases disrupting the curl pattern and causing frizz
- Moisture loss overnight leaving the hair fiber dry and less elastic
- The styling products that defined your curls on wash day drying out or getting crushed as you move around in your sleep
- Depending on where you live and the season, humidity changes either pulling moisture from your curls or pushing excess moisture in, affecting shape and definition
The result is curls that look deflated, frizzy, or both. A good curl refresh routine targets all of these issues, reintroducing moisture, reactivating your styling products, and reshaping the curl pattern.
Take your hair down and gently shake out your roots. Flip your head upside down and use your fingers to lift the hair away from the scalp. This brings air back into the roots and adds volume. Don't rake through yet, as this will disturb the curl pattern you're trying to revive.
Fill a spray bottle with water and mist your curls section by section, focusing on the areas that need the most help — usually the back and the sides where your head has touched the pillow. Your hair should feel damp, not dripping.
For wavy hair, a lighter mist is usually enough. For tighter curl patterns, you may want to work section by section and apply more water to fully reactivate the curl.
Once your hair is damp, apply a small amount of product through your curls to redefine and hold the pattern. The goal is to reactivate what's already there, so use less product than you would on wash day. Here are some products we can recommend for different curl types:
- For type 2–3 curls: The got2b curled® Flexible Curl Foam gives you touchable, lightweight hold that hydrates curls while helping to control frizz. Mist your curls lightly with water, pump a small amount into your palms, then scrunch upward.
- For type 3–4 curls: The got2b curled® Styling Cream provides controllable definition, boosts hydration, and helps reduce frizz for 72 hours in high humidity conditions versus untreated hair. Apply a small amount to damp sections and smooth through with your fingers.
- For all curl types seeking extra definition: The got2b curled® Curl Defining Jelly locks in moisture and locks out humidity for 72 hours. It helps control frizz with minimal buildup potential. Scrunch a small amount through the areas that need the most definition.
Once your product is in, scrunch your curls upward toward the scalp using a cupping motion with your hands. Don't brush the curls, as that breaks up the curl clumps and creates frizz. If you have a specific section that's lost its shape, you can twist individual curls around your finger to encourage the pattern back.
For tighter coils, you may want to smooth the product through each section with your fingers before scrunching.
Once your curls are shaped, apply a small amount of oil to lock in the moisture and add shine. The got2b curled® Hair Spray Oil is ideal for this step — spray it into your palms and press lightly through the lengths and ends. It provides 72-hour frizz control and humidity lockout, leaves curls feeling hydrated with 71.5% more shine versus untreated hair, and provides protection against heat and styling damage if you plan to diffuse.
If you're short on time, a diffuser on a low-heat setting can speed things up without disrupting your curl pattern. Flip your head forward and cup sections of hair into the diffuser bowl, letting the heat work through without moving the curls around.
Although the steps above are a good basic routine, one of the biggest curl refresh mistakes is treating all curl types the same. The amount of water you use, how much product you apply, and how firmly you scrunch all need to shift depending on whether you have waves, curls, or coils. Here's how to adjust the routine above for your specific curl type:
How to refresh wavy hair (type 2): Wavy hair can go limp with too much product or too much water. Keep your mist light, use a foam or a small amount of gel rather than a heavy cream, and scrunch gently. Avoid touching your waves while they dry.
How to refresh curly hair (type 3): Type 3 curls can handle a bit more moisture and product than type 2 hair. Focus on reactivating curl clumps rather than re-styling individual spirals.
How to refresh coily hair (type 4): Type 4 coils benefit from a more thorough refresh — more water, more product, and more time. Work in sections and apply a styling cream or gel generously through each one before scrunching. Sealing with an oil at the end is especially beneficial for type 4 hair, as it tends to lose moisture faster.
How you protect your curls while you sleep has a direct impact on how much work you'll need to do in the morning. Here are three tips to help keep your curls safe:
- The pineapple method: Gather all your hair loosely on top of your head and secure it with a soft scrunchie. This keeps your curl pattern intact and prevents the back of your hair from getting crushed against the pillow. It works best for longer hair.
- Get a satin or silk pillowcase: If the pineapple method doesn't work for your hair length or curl type, switch to a satin or silk pillowcase. These materials don't create friction against the hair fiber, which means less frizz and less disruption to your curl pattern overnight.
- Use a satin bonnet: A satin bonnet keeps your curl pattern contained and prevents moisture loss while you sleep. It can take a night or two to get used to wearing one, but the difference in your morning refresh will be noticeable.
How often you should refresh your curls depends on your hair type, how much product you use on wash day, and your environment. Type 4 coils may need a refresh every day or every other day; wavy hair can often go longer. Most people with curly or wavy hair can go 3–5 days between wash days with a good refresh routine.
Yes, you can refresh your curls without water, especially if they just need a little boost rather than a full refresh. Simply apply a small amount of hair oil to dry curls and scrunch lightly. This adds shine and helps smooth frizz without reactivating the full curl.
Your refreshed curls may look frizzy due to too much water (which can over-saturate the hair and disrupt the curl clumps), too much product (which weighs curls down and causes them to separate), or from touching the curls while they're still drying. Try using less water, applying product sparingly, and letting your curls set completely before touching them.
A lightweight curl foam is one of the most effective curl refresh products for day-two and day-three hair. We recommend the got2b curled® Flexible Curl Foam for touchable, lightweight hold that hydrates curls while helping to control frizz without the crunch or buildup that can weigh curls down when you're layering over existing product.
The back of your hair suffers from the most friction overnight, which is why it's usually the first area to lose its shape. To revive them, start by misting that section thoroughly. Then apply a small amount of product – we recommend the got2b curled® Curl Defining Jelly, which locks in moisture and locks out humidity for 72 hours – and scrunch upward firmly to encourage the curl pattern back. If the curls are really flattened, try twisting small sections around your finger to reshape them before leaving them to dry.