Curls & coils often have minds of their own—bouncing from side to side & swooping into your line of vision. & a night of free reign often gives them plenty of time to stray off course.
While bedhead curls stand out, they don’t have to stay. Natural, go-to moisturizing products like hydrating gels & leave-in conditioners can amplify your curly hair routine—& your day to come.
In this guide, we explore several do’s & don’ts when it comes to how to refresh curls after sleeping.
DO: INVEST IN HAIR PRODUCTS THAT HYDRATE & SEAL MOISTURE IN
When revitalizing your natural hair texture after a night of tossing & turning, it’s essential to learn which hair product will refresh rather than depress your curls. To do this, you will need to know your hair type & porosity level. Using the hair porosity test, you can test your hair’s porosity by placing a strand of your hair into a cup of water.
If the strand floats, you have low porosity hair & should use a hydrating product that saturates your bouncy curls, such as:
- Olive oil
- Grapeseed oil
- Marula oil
- Argan oil
- Jojoba oil
- Cacay oil
- Avocado oil
If your hair strand sinks, it’s more porous, meaning you can incorporate thicker moisturizing curly hair products into your morning routine, such as:
- Leave-in Conditioner
- Gels
- Shea butter
Look for products that add moisture & seal it in. You can also mix a hydrating oil or conditioner into a spray bottle to target hair that needs some extra love. After sleeping with curly hair, your natural curl pattern may even benefit from PATTERN’s Hydrating Mist, which has a milky formula made to revitalize & soften your natural texture.
DON’T: SPEND HOURS REFRESHING YOUR CURLS
Day-to-day maintenance can be a piece of cake, but knowing how to refresh curly hair after sleeping on it can add some extra factors to the equation. Luckily, refreshing loose & tight curls doesn't involve 30-minute Youtube tutorials or a countertop of hair products. Like your natural curls, keep your curly hair night routine light & flexible to wake up with curls that need a light touch up in the morning.
If you’re on the go, avoid the shower & save time by targeting a few stray strands of hair with a moisturizing spritz. It only takes a few minutes to make your natural curls & coils flourish.
DO: SCRUNCH YOUR ENDS AS YOU ADD IN PRODUCT
A simple spritz can nourish & define your hair. But, if you have time to give your strands extra attention, use a hydrating hair product to give your coils some bounce. All you need are your hands & a few of your go-to products when refreshing curly hair:1
- Step 1 – Undo your protective style or take down your pineapple gently.
- Step 2 – Spray small sections of hair with a mix of water & leave-in conditioner in a misting spray bottle. Make sure not to overwet your hair—damp strands are enough to get the job done.
- Step 3 – With your fingers, scrunch your hair from the ends to the roots using a styling gel such as PATTERN’s Curl Gel for definition & shine.
- Step 4 – If you’re looking for gravity-defying definition, try the pin curl method. Twist any stray curls with your fingers & use a bobby pin to secure them in place until they dry.
Using your hands to cup & squeeze your curls instantly hydrates & shapes your hair for an effortlessly breathtaking look.
DON’T: RAKE YOUR HAIR WITH A COMB OR BRUSH
Combs & brushes work well when you need to detangle wet hair. But they’ll only separate your curls when you’re working on slightly damp or dry hair. While this is ideal if you’re looking for a soft & featherlike appearance, it won’t serve you if you’re looking for defined curls.
As such, put the comb & brush away until wash day.
DO: STYLE YOUR HAIR THE NIGHT BEFORE
Another way to reduce styling time in the morning is to prep your curly or coily hair at night. Try out different protective hairstyles for sleeping into your before-bed hair care routine, such as:
- Braids
- Twists
- Topknots
- Loose buns
- Pineapple method
- Pin curls
These styles help keep your hair moisturized throughout the night & ready for its morning revival. Plus, wrapping your hair with a silk or satin bonnet or our Satin Cap can help secure your curl pattern, mitigate any potential chance for breakage, & extend the amount of time between washes.
WAKE UP TO REFRESHED CURLS WITH PATTERN BEAUTY
We all need a little refresher once & a while, & your curls & scalp are no different. Incorporating bounce-boosting hair care rituals from our hair quiz into your morning routine helps to nourish your natural texture & enhance your curl type.
Learning how to refresh curly hair in the morning is made easy with PATTERN. A styling product like our curly hair gel, & other beneficial hair accessories can extend your day-one hair throughout the week & help you maintain hydrated, juicy curls. Each of our products is made for all textures, & they’re infused with moisturizing ingredients like aloe vera, coconut oil & avocado oil.
No matter your curl pattern, rise, & make your curls shine, with our products to bring back curls.
Sources:
- Cleveland, Cristina. "How to Refresh 2nd Day Curly Hair." Naturally Curly. 14 March, 2019. https://www.naturallycurly.com/curlreading/curly-hair-type-3a/how-to-refresh-2nd-day-curly-hair
