An alternating electric field is applied across liquid crystal cells of pixels of an optically compensated birefringence mode liquid crystal display during a time period after power is provided to the display to cause the liquid crystal cells to change from a splay state to a bend state. The alternating electric field has a frequency that is less than 40 Hz. After the liquid crystal cells change to the bend state, a backlight module is turned on, and the pixels are controlled to show images with a refresh rate of greater than 40 Hz.