Part of my job as a beauty editor is to understand how and why different haircare and styling products should be used to support the health of all hair types and textures. Color and chemically-treated hair needs different or similar TLC than curls and coils that have never seen a hot tool, but by knowing the use of certain products, we can get more out of them. While most of us have learned the specifics around shampoos and conditioners, I would bet not as many know their way around hair refreshers. We spoke to two hair stylists and brand ambassadors to explain just why they should be added to your strands between wash days and salon visits.
Below, we’re taking a deep dive into hair refreshers of all types with the guidance of two experts, then sharing 16 of the best products that are worth snagging for the long-term health of your strands.
What are hair refreshers?
If you’ve been hesitant to incorporate hair refreshers into your hair routine without knowing their benefits, take this as your official sign to peruse the aisles of your beauty supply for the produces that will help freshen up and extend styles. Hair stylist and Redken ambassador, Sara Botsford, explains they are the unsung heroes between wash days since they’re designed to revive the hair and scalp by absorbing oil, neutralizing odor, and reviving your styles. “They can actually support scalp health, add softness, and help your style last longer, which means less over-washing and less heat styling,” begins Botsford. “Healthier hair strats with how your treat it between washes, not just on wash day.”
Celebrity hair stylist Cesar Ramirez ID’s the many forms they come in: lightweight sprays, mists, and powders all crafted to revive, restyle, and rehydrate hair between wash days. “They can help with the overall health of hair by allowing hair to be restyled and lightly cleaned to prolong styles and prevent over-shampooing which can lead to dry hair,” Ramirez says. He adds that less shampooing and less styling can support the integrity of strands.
Which ingredients should be in them?
When selecting a hair refresher to add to his professional styling lineup, Ramirez prefers products with rice starch to freshen hair by soaking up excess oil on the scalp and boost volume (without build up), vitamins to nourish the scalp and hair, and fragrance to mask odors between washes. Botsford echoes these sentiments, while highlighting the importance of using niacinamide to support scalp health, tapioca to gently absorb oil, and lightweight conditioning agents. “If it’s adding a little hydration or shine without weighing the hair down, even better,” she says.
As for the sneaky, harmful haircare ingredients to avoid in refreshers, Ramirez and Botsford discourage using any products with harsh alcohols, heavy silicones, and synthetic scents that can contribute to an irritated scalp and unhealthy strands. “If your refreshes leaves your hair feeling gritty or coats, it’s doing too much,” adds Botsford. “The goal is clean, soft, and touchable… not crunchy.”
How should they be used?
As with any daily haircare product, using them the correct way can deliver the best results. Botsford recommends thinking of hair refreshers as a form of maintenance rather than a fix-all. Begin using it on day two or three, targeting the scalp first, then working it lightly through the mid-lengths if needs. She also says it’s amazing to use pre-workout or after a long day when your strands need a quick reset. “Don’t wait until your hair is too far gone. Using a refresher earlier actually extends your style longer and keeps everything feeling fresh without needing to overload the product later,” she explains.
Ramirez sprays one of his favorite hair refreshers, Kérastase Fresh Affair Dry Shampoo ($41), at the roots of a fresh blow out to help the style last longer as it absorbs oils on the scalp. Keep scrolling to discover the other hair refreshers to give tired, limp, and frizzy tresses another life in seconds without risking your styles.
Best Hair Refreshers, Listed
Style Refreshers
Living Proof
Perfect hair Day (PhD) Style Refresh Mist
As with all of our buying guides at Who What Wear, we compile our edits based on original testing and expert recommendations. To decide which hair refreshers will do the best job of elevating your haircare and styling routines, I relied on my firsthand knowledge of the products gained through testing as well as selections and tips/tricks from hair stylists. I also considered several factors, including texture, ingredients, speed of absorption, and ease of use. We’re aware of how important these factors are for a wide range of preferences, so I made sure to list out all the helpful details to help simplify the shopping process. Of course, customer reviews were also kept in mind when creating this list and are included beneath my top picks.
Why Trust Who What Wear?
At Who What Wear, we know that beauty isn’t one-size-fits-all. Over the years, our editors have tested thousands of products—including skincare, makeup, haircare, and nails—while also working closely with trusted experts, like renowned dermatologists, celebrity makeup artists, and other leading industry insiders. Together, this ensures every guide is well-researched, inclusive, and relevant to you.
We focus on formulas that deliver, whether they’re affordable favorites or luxury investments. Our product selection is based on tangible results, ingredient know-how, and what we’d truly recommend to our closest friends and family members.
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