Washing curly hair feels like a huge commitment, but some of the best curl-refresher sprays will make your efforts less futile.
You spend hours detangling, deep conditioning, twisting, and setting your curls. They look juicy and bouncy on day one (and maybe even the next day). But by day three? Even with a silk pillowcase or bonnet, curls can look limp, stretched, or dry. When you’re not ready for another full wash, a curl-refresher spray can extend the time in between and bring your style—and your bounce—back to life. Curls thrive on moisture, and curl refreshers deliver it in spades. Whether they’re packed with hyaluronic acid, nourishing oils, or humectants like glycerin, they rehydrate strands, seal in moisture, and help reshape curls that have lost their definition. Many also double as anti-frizz stylers for all hair types, smoothing the cuticle to add shine and light hold. Ahead, find the best ones, tested by stylists and Glamour editors to revive and rehydrate day-two (and day-three) curls.
The best curl refresher sprays, at a glance
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How we tested
The find the best curl-refresher sprays, we started by asking curl experts who use and recommend these stylers with their clients. From there, curly-hair editors shared their favorite options, and we rounded out the list by combing the internet for highly rated picks. In our analysis we considered a wide range of curl patterns, how moisturizing the ingredients are in each one, how easy it is to use, and most important, whether curls looked better and held up before the next wash day. The best ones, rounded up below, had lightweight textures, were easy to use, and kept hair looking fresh all day.
Best Overall: Ouidad Advanced Climate Control Restore+Revive Bi-Phase Spray
- Pros: Tackles dryness and frizz; lightweight and non-greasy
- Cons: More expensive than other curl refreshers
This bi-phase formula does both and tackles dryness and frizz at the same time. Once shaken, glycerin and grapeseed oil draw moisture into thirsty curls, while mongongo oil, meadowfoam seed oil, and sericin protein seal the cuticle to reduce frizz and boost shine. It’s deeply hydrating without weighing curls down.
“I use this on wash day and mornings after my curls have been slept on,” says Glamour contributor Nykia Spradley. “I don’t like for my curls to be completely re-wet, and this adds just the right amount of moisture for me to scrunch and reshape without needing to hit my curls with a hair dryer again.”
Best for 4C Curls: Mizani Style Shifter Society Coco Dew Curl (P)restyling Spray
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- Pros: Deep hydration; works on wet or dry hair
- Cons: May be heavy for fine textures
One refresher that Spradley says she’ll always go back to is Mizani’s style mist, which can be used to prep a curly hairstyle and then refresh it days later. Packed with glycerin, castor oil, and coconut water to soften, redefine, and add hold, this ultra-hydrating spray is ideal for longer stretches between wash days.
“Since it’s so moisturizing and has an ultra-fine mist that layers lightly under my other stylers, I love using this as a leave-in conditioner, too,” says Spradley. “The spray coats my hair evenly without dousing any one area with too much wetness. After applying, my hair feels very moisturized, flyways are smoothed, and it softens up my curls nicely after I’ve slept on them.”
Best for Fine Curls: Moroccanoil Treatment Mist
- Pros: Non-greasy; quick-absorbing; iconic scent
- Cons: Expensive; the glass bottle can feel slippery
Here’s an oil-based hair refresher that works beautifully for fine hair. The fine mist absorbs right into strands without weighing them down. A blend of argan oil, linseed extract, and sunflower extracts revives brittle and dry curls, minimizing breakage, all without making curls look or feel greasy, almost like a dry oil. Plus, it’s laced with Moroccanoil’s iconic argan oil scent. “My hair is dense but fine, and this mist instantly brings my curls back to life. It makes them look glossy and juicy without any heaviness,” says Spradley.
Best for Frizz: Living Proof No Frizz Instant De-Frizzer
- Pros: Instantly smooths down flyaways and frizz; adds incredible shine
- Cons: Doesn’t reshape curls
Glamour contributor Rachel Nussbaum found that trekking through midsummer subway heat and humidity didn’t help keep her curls intact. In addition to frizz, she was left with tangles large and small, and depending on how she slept, a combination of volume in some spots and flat sections in others. Her sweet spot for reviving tangled curly styles is Living Proof No Frizz Instant De-Frizzer, a dry-conditioning spray made from a blend of five oils and the brand’s “healthy hair molecule.” After ripping apart the most serious knots, she sprayed down her hair with a cloud of the De-Frizzer. “My God, the shine! The difference was subtle but mighty. It helped the curls fall back into line, albeit larger and looser than usual. It’s like a dry oil spray without the fear of overdosing. So while it won’t put curls back together, it’s a good option for frizz-free curls, and if you want to tamp down your flyaways,” Nussbaum says.
Best for Curl Stretching: Oribe Mystify Restyling Spray
- Pros: Has built-in heat protection; also helps reactivate existing styling products in hair to reshape curls
- Cons: Strong fragrance
Oribe is a luxury hair care brand that’s on the pricier side but our testers say it’s worth it. “Mystify spray honestly blew my mind by achieving the impossible. It loosened my curl pattern, turning my typically bouncy curls into ropey, romantic twists. Back in the day (high school), this was my only goal. The Mystify brought me back; I did the half-back style I used to wear all the time when my aesthetic was Renaissance princess (also in high school). It’s a distinctly different hair look that’s three notches wavier than I’m used to, but I was into it, and it lasted all day,” says Nussbaum.
Best for Natural Hair: Rizos Curls Refresh & Detangle Spray
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- Pros: Detangles and refreshes; doesn’t weigh hair down
- Cons: Spray nozzle can be stiff; product sometimes needs to be worked in
This two-in-one can be used pre-wash to detangle or post-wash to refresh. Spritz the nourishing coconut oil, shea butter, and olive oil-laced mist onto freshly washed hair to help with detangling. Or, go in with the spray on day two or three to reshape limp curls and restore lost moisture. The lemon, lime, sandalwood, and coconut milk scent will also make using this refresher feel like you’re on a tropical getaway. If using on wash day, apply generously to sectioned hair after conditioning and detangle before styling. To refresh, focus your spritz on areas that need a moisture boost, then scrunch to reshape the curls.
Best for Dry Hair: Kerastase Curl Manifesto Refresh Absolu Hair Spray
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- Pros: Blocks humidity for up to 24 hours; lightly perfumes hair
- Cons: Higher price than similar formulas
If your curls feel parched, this is your hydration hero. The formula looks to manuka honey, a humectant that pulls moisture into the hair shaft, reviving curls. Ceramides seal in the moisture to smooth frizzy hair and block out humidity for up to 24 hours. The combination of ingredients gives refreshed curls a light hold without crunch and adds a glossy shine to dull, dehydrated curls.
Best for Reshaping: Amika Power Hour Curl Refreshing Spray
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- Pros: Doubles as a primer; even, fine mist; pleasant scent
- Cons: Can leave a sticky residue
Amika’s alcohol-free spray helps spring curls back into shape. Soybean extract moisturizes while tapioca starch reshapes loose curls, and sea buckthorn boosts elasticity for a bouncier look. Spray on dry hair and scrunch, or you can apply the spray to wet hair right after shampoo and conditioner to help your style last longer.
Best for Wavy Hair: Curlsmith Effortless Waves Styling Spray
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- Pros: Lightweight hold
- Cons: Some users report stickiness once dry; doesn’t add a ton of shine.
If you think it’s inevitable to wake up with limp, shapeless curls, Curlsmith’s Effortless Waves Styling Spray is here to prove you wrong. The formula uses linseed to minimize frizz, chia seeds for moisture and antioxidants, and aloe for added hydration. You’ll get a light hold from this curl reviver, but without crunching or flaking once it dries.
Best Affordable: Garnier Fructis Method for Curls Moisture Refreshing Curl Activator
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- Pros: It can be used as a pre- and post-styler; it comes in a two-pack and keeps hair moisturized for days
- Cons: Instructions on the bottle are unclear; may flatten fine hair.
This affordable pick pumps moisturizing hyaluronic acid and shea fatty acids into hair to plump up dry, limp curls, restore shine, and keep hair hydrated for days. To keep hair from reverting to a dry state once it's slept on and exposed to the elements, the spray is formulated without silicones or drying alcohols. You can use it on both damp and dry hair too. Just spray and scrunch curls back into shape.
Frequently asked questions
Do curl-refresher sprays work?
Yes. “The key is finding the right one for your curl type,” says Deisy Alfaro, a licensed hairstylist. Look for hair products with humectants for moisture, polymers for reshaping, and oils for shine. The right one depends on your curl type: fine, wavy textures benefit from lighter, water-based sprays, while denser coils (3C to 4C) need oil-rich formulas for deeper hydration.
Ouidad stylist and educator Malwina Augustyn says there are a few key ingredients to look for: “Lightweight hold if you want to rehydrate curls without flattening them or adding heaviness. You can also look for ‘weightless hydration,’ which indicates it’s formulated to be gentle and light on curls.”
When should you use a curl-refresher spray?
Curl-revitalizer sprays are ideal for a light touch-up. Think day two curls, not day four. They’re great for when your hair still has shape and definition but just needs a little pick-me-up. Most formulas can be used on wet or dry hair, but follow the usage instructions on the particular product you choose. Curl refreshers with oils are better suited for dry hair to smooth frizz and flyaways.
Tips for refreshing your curls without washing your hair
Alfaro recommends lightly misting hair with a curl refresher on day two. “By day three or four, mix a bit of conditioner with water in a spray bottle and lightly mist your hair, then follow up with a mousse to scrunch in softness, seal frizz, and bring those curls back to life,” Alfaro suggests.
Meet the experts:
- Deisy Alfaro, a licensed hairstylist and Dippity-Do curl expert
- Malwina Augustyn, a hairstylist and curl expert at Ouidad Salon
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