The best curl-reviving sprays you can buy for second-day hair

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The best curl-reviving sprays you can buy for second-day hair
  • Second-day hair is a way of life for curly-haired folks who've embraced the benefits of not washing hair with every shower. In fact, you shouldn't wash curly hair so often because it can become dry and prone to breakage.
  • Curl-reviving products are a quick and easy way to refresh your style in between washes, banishing flat bedhead and reviving droopy curls instantly.
  • They come as sprays, mists, gels, creams, and more, but all serve the same purpose of re-activating your hair's curl pattern.
  • Our favorite is AG Hair Curl Re:Coil Curl Activator because it works on dry or damp hair to define and reshape curls.
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One of the best things I ever did for my curly hair was to break up with daily washes (and real shampoo, but that's another story). My hair frequently looks better on the second or even third day after shampooing and conditioning.

But curls are temperamental beasts. Sometimes I'll wake up on a non-wash day with bouncy, luscious ringlets and other times I wake up with a flat, matted bird's nest.

Luckily, there's a whole category of curl revivers on the market - sprays and mists designed to refresh tired curls between cleanses, whether you're an every-two-days or every-two-weeks kind of washer.

Curl-reviving products are usually packed with ingredients that hydrate and defrizz, restoring your style to its original, freshly washed glory (or close to it) with no shower required. If you've already made friends with shower caps and silk pillowcases, finding a curl refresher you love is the next step.

Here are the best curl-reviving products you can buy:

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The best overall

The best overall
The AG Hair Curl Re:Coil Curl Activator re-shapes flattened ringlets without making them crunchy and stiff.

If you struggle with curls losing their shape over time, try the AG Curl Re:Coil Curl Activator.

Unlike a lot of curl refresher sprays, this is a cream designed to actually define and reform your ringlets. Scrunch it into damp or dry hair to give your curls more structure between conditioning sessions.

Formulated with the brand's signature Curl Creating Complex of bio-fermented tomato extract and rice amino acids, the Re:Coil Curl Activator hydrates, cuts down on frizz, and encourages definition. It also contains soothing ingredients like chamomile, rosemary leaf, and sage leaf extracts.

The product has an average 4.4 rating based on more than 300 Ulta reviews and has been featured on The Zoe Report and HuffPost.

"This is one of the best curling products I've ever used. I have tried so many products and this one has won. This defines my curls without weight and stiffness. it's smells [sic] great and my curls last for 4-5 days, without frizz or any problems! I would highly recommend this product and will be forever using it!" writes one Ulta shopper.

Pros: lightweight, helps curls re-form, a little goes a long way, good for thick hair

Cons: expensive, some reviewers complained of sticky texture if they apply too much

The best detangler

The best detangler
Ouidad Botanical Boost Curl Energizing & Refreshing Spray gives your hair some extra juice while detangling knots.

Knots are a fact of life when you have curly hair. The Ouidad Botanical Boost Curl Energizing & Refreshing Spray not only pumps up tired curls, but detangles them as well. No more pulling out clumps of tangled strands between conditioning treatments.

This refreshing spray is packed with proteins and botanicals that hydrate, detangle, and reshape your curl pattern between washes. It contains soothing aloe vera and is free of heavy oils and waxes. This is a truly lightweight product that you can use liberally throughout the day.

Fashionista writer Tamim Alnuweiri says she opts for this "on days when I'm hoping to channel Donna Summer or Chaka Khan vibes, because it's amazing at infusing volume."

The product has also been featured on Bustle and StyleCaster, and averages 4.1 stars on Sephora based on more than 460 reviews.

Pros: lightweight, detangling, hydrating

Cons: expensive, slightly sticky

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The best for frizzy hair

The best for frizzy hair
Living Proof's No-Frizz Instant De-Frizzer is great for smoothing down flyaways in humid temperatures or if you're naturally frizz-prone.

The Living Proof No-Frizz Instant De-Frizzer is the quick-fix you've been waiting for all your live if you're in a humid climate or are naturally prone to frizz.

This is basically conditioner in spray form, and the brand claims that it can smooth up to 92% of frizz. It's specifically designed for use on dry hair whenever your hair is starting to grow in volume — and not the kind you want.

The active ingredients include Living Proof's patented Healthy Hair Molecule that claims to "seal the cuticle and smooth without buildup," while a blend of oils (including moringa and jojoba) nourish and add shine.

Simply spray directly onto curls and comb through, or smooth with your hands. It's safe to use on color-treated hair, and is especially great for medium to thick hair types.

The product won an Allure Best of Beauty in 2018 and has a 4.4 Sephora rating based on more than 560 reviews.

Pros: instantly de-frizzes, good for all hair types

Cons: expensive, strong citrus smell

The best for scalp health

The best for scalp health
DevaCurl Mist-er Right Dream Curl Refresher helps your itchy scalp chill out between washes.

The closer I get to a wash, the itchier my scalp starts to feels. Instead of scraping the top layer of your scalp off, reach for the DevaCurl Mist-er Right Dream Curl Refresher.

This curl-refreshing mist is suitable for wavy, curly, and ultra-curly hair. It's infused with lavender to soothe your scalp and cut down on odor. It's not quite a dry cleanser, but it does give you the extra dose of freshness you want between washes. Of course, it does have a bit of a strong smell due to the lavender.

"This is a great product when combined with the Devacurl shampoo and conditioner. I can go 3 days between washings. On day 2 and 3 I just spray this in my hair until slightly damp and awesome curls. it doesn't matter what my hair looks like after I get out of bed," writes one Ulta shopper.

Overall, the product has a 3.9 rating based on nearly 300 Ulta reviews, and has been recommended by experts at Bustle and StyleCaster, which recommends it for drier curls.

Pros: soothes scalp, detangles, good for all curl types

Cons: strong smell

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The best for loose curls

The best for loose curls
Kristin Ess The One Signature Hair Water is a lightweight mist ideal for revising loose curls or waves.

My hair is curly, but it's also pretty fine, and tends to droop from ringlets to waves between washes. When my curls needs a boost, I reach for the Kristin Ess The One Signature Hair Water.

I know — "hair water" sounds like a scam. But I promise, it's not.

According to Refinery29, "Professional hairstylists have long kept a spray bottle filled with nutrient-spiked water in their kits." Kristin Ess is, indeed, a professional hairstylist, and she's created a version of her hair-water cocktail that you can buy at Target.

This superfine mist contains water, yes, but also nourishing oils and extracts, and Ess' proprietary strengthening complex that fuses split ends back together and protects hair from environmental stressors.

"Part water, part lightweight oils, this fine mist adds a hit of hydration and removes kinks and creases from a ponytail so you can create a new style from scratch," says PopSugar beauty editor Kelsey Castanon.

Pros: lightweight, fine mist, works well on fine hair, affordable

Cons: strong smell might bothersome

What else we considered

What else we considered

These other curl revivers are still great picks, though they didn't quite make the cut for the top five.

  • Cantu Comeback Curl Next Day Revitalizer ($10.66): This product could be a good option for moisturizing dry or brittle curls between washes, but some reviewers complained about the quality of the spray nozzle. Others said it left curls with a crispy texture.
  • Oribe Mystify Restyling Spray ($44): This stuff is highly rated, but it's so pricey. Given that the formula is not super unique compared to cheaper options, I don't think you necessarily need to spend the money. But if nothing you've tried has worked for you, this could be a good option.
  • Bumble and Bumble Bb. Curl (Style) Pre-Style/Re-Style Primer ($28): While not as universally raved about as some of our top picks, this versatile spray primer could work if you actually want to create a new style between washes.
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