There’s nothing I’m more precious (read: vain) about than my hair. If there’s even a hint of rain on the forecast, I’m cancelling my plans, donning a baseball cap, and forcing my humidity-prone curls into the slickest slickback bun you’ve ever seen until the weather clears up. So when TikTok users started raving about Color Wow—a brand whose products supposedly leave your hair ridiculously shiny and soft even when it’s humid and damp outside—it’s safe to say I was intrigued.
This buzzy brand amassed a following on social media thanks to shocking before-and-after videos that show the wearer’s hair transform from dull and frizzy to smooth, silky, and voluminous. Color Wow has been praised by celeb hairstylist Chris Appleton and worn by stars like Kim Kardashian, Jennifer Lopez, Ariana Grande, and more. But to see what all of the hype is about—and to see how the product performs off the red carpet—I rounded up 11 Cosmo editors to put Color Wow to the test at home.
We tried six of Color Wow’s best-selling products on a variety of hair types, from thin and straight to thick, 3b curls. That includes the Dream Coat Supernatural Spray, the Extra Mist-ical Shine Spray, the Xtra Large Bombshell Volumizer, the Hooked Clean Curl Shampoo, Flo-etry Hair Serum, and the Texas Hold ‘Em Hairspray.
After rounding up honest reviews and before-and-after photos from each of the editors who tested, it’s safe to say our team had ~opinions~. Keep reading for a full breakdown of Color Wow’s best products (including which may be right for you).
With so many different hair types and textures, it’s *rare* that our editors can find a single product we all agree on—but it’s safe to say this anti-frizz spray lived up to its viral fame. With an average rating of 8.8 out of 10 from our testers, the Dream Coat Supernatural Spray truly shocked us with its frizz-fighting properties and humidity-resisting shine. To use, apply it liberally to wet hair (and I mean, liberally—the brand suggests 3-4 spritzes per section), then blow dry, curl, or straighten your hair. The result? Strands that stay glossy and soft no matter the weather outside.
Heat-activated polymers within the product help coat your hair cuticle to lock in moisture and keep humidity out, creating a sleek, glass-like shine. Plus, it comes in extra-strength and curl-focused options to suit a wide range of hair types.
On my own 3A curls—which I frequently heat style—I found that it worked wonders at reducing flyaways and puffiness without sacrificing volume or bounce. Anvita Reddy, commerce editor, claimed that Dream Coat saved her hair at a tropical wedding amid sticky humidity and random rainfall. And Hannah Oh, shopping editor, even logged back into work mid-vacation to let me know that her blowout from three days ago was still going strong.
“I expected to get one good hair day out of it before everything got frizzy and poufy, but my hair still looks pretty sleek after going to the beach, sitting outside for dinner, sweating during yoga, etc., and I’m honestly baffled,” Oh shared. “Nothing kills my hair faster than humidity… but nothing has been as effective as Dream Coat has. Just mad I didn’t start using it sooner!”
It seems like every Instagram “it” girl has been blessed with luminous locks, but achieving such an effortlessly shiny look is actually quite difficult. Enter: the Extra Mist-ical Shine Spray. According to Color Wow, it uses mullein, a type of flowering plant that the brand claims will help make your hair appear more radiant. Simply give your hair a light misting with the product after drying or styling it. And for added luster, give your strands a quick blow-dry or use a straightener afterward to help the product sink in.
We found that this product had mixed results, depending on your hair type. For editors with thick hair, the shine spray worked like a charm, adding an instant, visible sheen that lasted all day. Sarah Ng, video editor, found that it added natural-looking shine to her color-treated hair without looking greasy. However, for editors like myself who have more fine hair, this product left our strands looking a little oily. For best results, Mackenzie Dunn, commerce manager, suggests holding the can at least six inches away from your head when you spray and following up with a boar bristle brush to help evenly coat your hair.
“Instead of the dreaded greasy, ‘day-after’ sheen, the Shine Spray [gave my hair] a natural-looking shine that brought the right type of attention to my fuchsia hair,” Ng praised.
This volumizing mousse was a sleeper hit among our testers. We loved its lightweight texture that didn’t weigh our hair down or leave behind sticky residue. We were also quite impressed with its ability to deliver a soft and silky finish. According to Dunn, the Bombshell Volumizer helped her otherwise pin-straight hair hold its shape after using a round brush, delivering more bounce and volume than usual.
“As you can tell by my ‘before’ pic, my strands are flat, shapeless, and a bit greasy-looking,” says Sarah Ng, video editor. “After applying, lo and behold, my hair actually had some oomph to it. With hair that always ends up looking ridiculously flat—regardless of how many layers I add at the hairdresser’s, I was pleasantly surprised.”
Our only complaint with this product is its cost per use. According to the website (and based on our experience in testing), you should use 2-3 pumps per section of hair. That’s a lot of product—meaning you’ll run out of it quicker than you might expect.
Curly girls, rest assured: You aren’t forgotten. Color Wow also has a line of products for those of us with more texture. And while I’ll admit it takes a LOT to get me to change up my tried-and-true curly hair routine (that took years to perfect, might I add), this curl-defining duo really wowed me. The shampoo’s sulfate-free formula claims to “lock” your curls in at the root, which I instantly noticed in my before/after photos. My 3a ringlets felt light, voluminous, and defined.
“I’m always impressed by a shampoo that feels so hydrating that I’m not racing to grab the conditioner as soon as I rinse it out,” agrees Khadija Horton, senior designer, who has 3b curls. “I liked the medium level lather and the scent was super pleasant as well—a very subtle vanilla!
Since I have a lot of hair—but each strand is very fragile and fine—it’s rare for me to find a leave-in that doesn’t make my hair greasy or flat. But the Flo-etry Hair Serum boasts a ridiculously hydrating formula that defined my curls without weighing them down. And while I’ve spent more money on leave-ins, curl creams, mousses, gels, and wave sprays than I’d like to admit over the years, this product reduced my post-shower routine to just two products. (I still apply a small amount of leave-in conditioner for extra hold).
Horton also found the Flo-etry Hair Serum to be effective at defining her 3b curls without creating frizz. “It’s a medium thick texture but didn’t feel like it was weighing my hair down,” she shared. “I also love that its a product to apply immediately after the shower as I get frizz anxiety if my hair is drying for more than 5 minutes without any product in it.”
Color Wow’s latest launch, you ask? The Texas Hold ‘Em Big Hold Hairspray. And while finding a high-hold product that *won’t* leave your hair feeling crispy is a tall order, this one delivered. “A lot of times, I feel like hairspray ruins my styling,” Hannah Chubb, lifestyle editor, shares. “It can just be so heavy, wet, and crunchy! That wasn’t the case with this hairspray.”
In fact, all of our testers reported that the hairspray felt lightweight and avoided the dreaded crunchy feeling.
“Falling in love with a high-hold hairspray wasn’t on my 2025 beauty bingo card, but here we are,” says Lauren Balsamo, beauty director. “I’m using it two ways: all over post-blow dry to give my style extra longevity and on the baby hairs around my hairline to keep them from popping up and getting frizzy when I’m wearing a sleek pony or bun.”
Pro tip: When taming baby hairs with this product, Balsamo recommends spraying it onto a little spoolie or comb rather than directly on your hair to prevent it from getting too crunchy.
If you’re looking to upgrade your hair care routine, Color Wow is absolutely a brand that should be on your radar. Overall, we found the products to be incredibly versatile for a variety of hair types, delivering shine and impressive hold. If there’s one item you’re influenced to buy from this story, let it be the Dream Coat Supernatural Spray: This heat-activated spray seriously wowed us with its sleek finish and impressive staying power—especially in humid conditions.
Our only caveat? Make sure you read the directions before using Color Wow products. Many of them have specific instructions—such as heat styling your hair to lock in shine or holding the bottle a certain length from your head as you spray—to help achieve the absolute best results.
