Thanks to These 9 Miracle Hair Mists, No One Will Know If You Skipped Wash Day

We’ve all been there: You’re right in the middle of a very important dream, and you press the snooze button one (or a few) too many times. Forced to get dressed at the speed of light and fly out the door, you throw on a bandana and skip your usual hairstyling routine and iced matcha altogether. In a perfect world, you’d be able to flip a switch and stop time for a few hours, making space for a leisurely shower, a deep conditioning mask, and a seaside lunch where your freshly washed curls could air-dry in the salty breeze. Unfortunately, life isn’t that 2002 teen flick Clockstoppers, and handheld time-stopping gadgets are not on the market (at least not yet). As such, people everywhere must skip the beauty rituals that make us our freshest, shiniest selves, putting wash day on hold and venturing out into the world with tired, lackluster curls.

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(Image credit: @erinhaveadream)

Working in the beauty industry, I’ve heard straight-haired editors go on and on about how they could never get by without a great dry shampoo. As far as I know, there’s no magical potion that revives curly texture quite the same way, since fighting grease isn't usually the main goal when dealing with curly hair. Instead, curls can lose the bounce, shine, and definition they initially have after a great cleanse and diffusing session. Over the course of a few days, everything from humidity to sleep can flatten, tangle, and weigh down strands, making those perfectly hydrated, springy, nourished curls a distant memory. Luckily, brands are becoming more and more privy to this issue and developing carefully crafted formulas to extend your glorious curls another day.

As a full-grown woman who’s been learning the trials and tribulations of 3C hair for 26 years, I’ve had my fair share of wash days and spent endless hours seeking the most effective products for preserving the results for as long as possible. When you’re seriously crunched for time, a spray-on formula is ideal, and I’ve put a wide range of oils, milks, and water-based formulas to the test over the years. In the spirit of hitting snooze with no fear and avoiding hectic, ineffective trips under the faucet, I gathered some of the top-rated hair mists across the web, sorted by the textures they work best on. Keep scrolling!

Loose Waves to Tight Curls (2B–3C)

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(Image credit: @erinhaveadream)

Tight Curls to Kinky-Coily (3C–4B)

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(Image credit: @muckraking_mami)

Kinky-Coily to Afro Texture (4A–4C)

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(Image credit: @aysha.sow)
Freelance Contributor