The buds will not have more 'life' to them after cure, they are dead. They will get lighter as they dry out and change colors. I had a really beautiful strain it was bright neon green with little purple sugar leaves after harvest and wet trim. As she dried she lost the brilliant neon green and bright purple and mellowed to more a sage green with hint of purple. Unfortunately she wasn't good enough to stick around. Congratulations on making it to the end.