Whether your hair is wavy, curly, or coily, you’ll know the uphill battle of reviving day-two texture. No matter how much water or product you apply, bringing curls back to life without committing to a full wash day can feel impossible. Enter: Curlsmith Shake + Shine Curl Refreshing Mist – the first curl spray that’s actually revived my curls (and trust me, I’ve tried dozens).
Pros
- Glossy, high shine curls
- Frizz-free curl defintion
- Instant hydration
- No greasy residue
- Light, fruity scent
Cons
- Spray nozzle is a bit stiff
Confession: Day-two hair is actually my favourite. My curls still have shape, but they’re starting to loosen and fluff up — and with my fine texture, I welcome the added volume. It’s usually by day three that the shine fades and the shape falls flat. But this Refreshing Mist has bought me an extra good hair day, extending my day-two curls for another 24 hours.
So, how does it actually work?
The secret lies in its clever bi-phase formula. The water-based phase contains seven types of hyaluronic acid, each with a different molecular weight to deeply hydrate every layer of the hair fibre. It also includes curl-activating seaweed, which works with the hyaluronic acids to revive bounce and moisture.
The oil phase is packed with nourishing cranberry seed oil, apricot kernel oil, and avocado oil – sealing in moisture, enhancing definition, and delivering that glossy shine you can see in my before-and-afters. It’s also free from parabens and sulphates. Just shake the bottle well to activate the formula, then spritz generously onto thirsty curls.
I’m clearly not the only one obsessed. The Mist made a splash in the Love Island villa as a go-to curl product, and it’s gone viral on TikTok, with creators like Summer Fox calling it “revolutionary.” In her words: “You can literally spray as much as you want and it creates no greasy residue. For non-wash days or whenever your hair needs a pick-me-up, you need this.”
How to use Curlsmith Curl Refreshing Mist
Between wash days, I start with slightly damp, just-out-of-the-shower hair and section it off. Although the official instructions say to use it on dry hair, I’ve had the best results on damp strands — it gives the hyaluronic acid more moisture to lock in.
Starting at the back, I spritz each section generously, then finger-coil as many curls as I have patience for (wavy hair types can just scrunch). I finish with a light mist of heat protectant and diffuse using Curlsmith’s XXL Defrizzion Hair Dryer.
The result? Soft, bouncy, freshly-washed curls with zero crunch or buildup. Plus, it smells amazing. This isn’t the first Curlsmith product I’m obsessed with — keep scrolling to discover the other game-changers I’ve tested (and loved).
Curlsmith Essential Moisture Shampoo
Curlsmith Essential Moisture Conditioner
Curlsmith Weightless Air Dry Cream
Curlsmith Frizz Rescue Finishing Serum
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Kara Kia is the Ecommerce Editor for Women's Lifestyle at Hearst UK, leading Cosmopolitan UK's digital shopping strategy across fashion, beauty and lifestyle. With over eight years of experience as a journalist and editor, Kara specialises in skincare, makeup, haircare and helping women find their personal style — trying and testing every product she recommends. A trusted voice in fashion and beauty ecommerce, Kara's most-read guides include the best wedding dresses under £1000, the best affordable jewellery brands, the best Korean skincare products, and the best products for curly hair. She also covers major shopping events including Black Friday and Amazon Prime Day for Cosmopolitan, Red and Prima. Kara previously held the role of contributing Fashion and Beauty Ecommerce Editor at ELLE UK and Harper's Bazaar UK; before joining Hearst, she was Fashion Content Editor at NET-A-PORTER's Porter Magazine, Associate Editor at PopSugar, and wrote for Refinery29 and LOVE Magazine. An experienced interviewer, she has spoken to Zendaya, Alicia Keys, Simone Biles and Tyla about life, work and style. Born and raised in Kingston, Jamaica and formerly based in Toronto, Kara now lives in London. Follow Kara on Instagram @kara.kia
