Refresh flattened hair with 100 ml of water and half a teaspoon of leave-in cream

Waking up with one section flattened on one side, uneven ends and frizz at the crown does not mean your entire head of hair needs another trip to the shower. With 100 ml of water and half a teaspoon of leave-in cream, you can make a light spray that restores shape only where your hair lost definition overnight.

Why can dampening only certain sections work?

While you sleep, contact with the pillow can flatten sections, loosen waves and curls, or make shorter hairs stick up. Lightly dampening these areas makes the hair pliable again, so you can reshape it with your hands without soaking your whole head or washing it unnecessarily.

A small amount of leave-in cream helps to control frizz and redefine the hair. The solution should be very runny, almost like water. If the spray leaves your hair heavy or whitish, use less cream when you make the next batch.

How much should go in the spray bottle?

To begin, add 100 ml of filtered water and half a teaspoon, around 2.5 ml, of leave-in cream to a clean spray bottle. This ratio produces a lightweight mix for minor touch-ups. Those with very fine hair can start with just a quarter of a teaspoon.

There is no need to make up a large bottle. As this mixture contains water and may not have the same preservative system as the original product, make only a small amount, keep the container clean and replace the mixture regularly. Throw it away if you notice any change in its smell, colour or texture.

How to make and apply the mixture step by step

The aim is to create a fine mist rather than drench the hair. Choose a small, clean spray bottle and shake it before every use, as the water and cream can separate while standing. Then assess your hair and apply the product only to the sections that have genuinely lost their shape overnight.

• Pour 100 ml of filtered water into a clean spray bottle.
• Add half a teaspoon, roughly 2.5 ml, of your leave-in cream.
• Close the bottle and shake it thoroughly until the mixture looks even.
• Spray each section once or twice, holding the bottle about 15 centimetres away.
• Scrunch curls and waves with your hands, or gently reshape any uneven sections.

If the first spray is not enough, wait a few seconds before adding more. It is easier to add a little moisture than to fix a soaking-wet section. On frizzy areas, glide your hands gently over the hair after spraying, without rubbing the strands or handling them too much as they dry.

Watch the video shared by the Ester Lima YouTube channel, which offers tips for a haircare routine to avoid frizz and flattened hair.

Where should you apply it to avoid weighing hair down?

Focus the mixture on misshapen ends, curls that have lost definition, flattened waves and small frizzy patches. Your roots do not automatically need product. Spraying the entire head when it is not necessary can make hair feel heavier, particularly if it is fine or prone to building up leave-in cream.

You also do not have to use the full amount you prepared in one go. Treat the spray bottle as a targeted touch-up tool. Two or three sections may need attention while the rest of your hair remains tidy, saving product, water and the time involved in washing and styling everything again.

Your morning touch-up can be much quicker

After applying the mixture, allow your hair to air-dry or use the drying method that already suits your hair type. Avoid repeatedly scrunching and separating the sections while they are damp, as too much handling at this stage can bring back frizz and undo the shape you have just restored.

The next time you wake up with flattened hair, do not head straight for the shower. Mix the 100 ml of water with half a teaspoon of leave-in cream, then start with the most uneven areas. A few precisely aimed sprays may be enough to revive your look and save you from doing a complete styling routine.