My hair is best compared to a three-year-old. Sometimes it cooperates, and I’m treated to ‘good hair days’, while on other occasions it throws a tantrum and refuses to do anything I ask of it. As well as its toddler tendencies, whenever the forecast says rain or humidity, my fine hair gives me the middle finger and takes frizz to a whole new level.
So, when I saw one particular silver bottle on my TikTok For You Page claiming to fight frizz and tackle humidity, I had to investigate further – especially after discovering that Rihanna personally asks for it during her styling sessions. The product in question? It's the Color Wow Dream Coat Spray.
Color Wow Dream Coat Supernatural Spray
If you’re caught up on your hair history, you’ll know that this cult hero launched back in 2017, but when celeb stylist Chris Appleton posted a TikTok featuring the product, it quite literally blew up (19.4 million views kind of blow up to be exact).
Celebs fans now include Kim Kardashian, Kylie Jenner, Hailey Bieber, and Lucy Hale, who love its high-shine and smoothing abilities that make hair look picture perfect.
At first, I was a little sceptical. With results this impressive, the beauty journo in me didn't quite believe it. But it wasn't until I tested Dream Coat for myself that I really discovered its full, frizz-fighting prowess. Below, see my full review on what makes Dream Coat my Holy Grail hair hero. But first...
What does the Color Wow Dream Coat do?
Billed as the antidote to frizz, the Color Wow Dream Coat uses heat-activated polymer technology to create an invisible, water-repellent shield around each hair strand, locking out humidity and stopping frizz in its tracks. The formula also tightens the hair cuticle, leaving strands sleek, ultra-smooth, and glossy—with results that can last through several washes.
How long does a Color Wow Dream Coat last?
The brand say after using, blow-dry using a brush to create tension and results should last through 3 to 4 shampoos. For me, I'd get 3 shampoos out of it.
How do you use the Color Wow Dream Coat?
‘The best way to apply Dream Coat is on clean, towel-dried hair,’ says Dom Seeley, International Creative Director Color Wow. ‘You want to saturate your hair in the product to ensure that no strand is left untouched, but because the formula is made without any oils or waxes your hair will remain light and free from residue,’ he explains.
Colour Wow Dream Coat: My Review
As an Olaplex stan – where pea-sized amounts are the norm – it felt odd to apply that much product to my lengths, but true to his word, my hair didn’t feel greasy or tacky at all. Instead, the water-like consistency felt completely undetectable on my already damp lengths.
Unlocking the full potential of Dream Coat comes down to how you style with it. ‘The product is only activated once heat is applied, so you can’t leave your hair to air dry or else Dream Coat won’t work as it should,’ explains Seeley.
‘But don’t worry, it doubles up as a powerful heat protector too, so you can feel free to straighten or curl your hair further to push the capabilities of Dream Coat further,’ he adds.
According to Seeley and Appleton, using a blow-dryer and brush to apply tension onto your strands is the best way to create a glossy, sleek result with Dream Coat.
I tested it using my trusted all-in-one styler, and after a couple minutes of dry time, my lengths felt ridiculously soft and fell with a light-reflecting shine (I can only assume that was Dream Coat working its magic).
It’s basically the laminated hair look in a bottle. I was genuinely shocked at how glossy my hair looked. It didn’t leave any sticky residue behind and even a few days following, my hair still maintained its high-shine finish which was good enough for me to forego my regular styling routine altogether.
Seeley also explains that Dream Coat is a versatile product that will work across many hair types. ‘You can dry your hair to your personal preference as it won’t alter your style or weigh down the hair. If you want it smooth and straight, full of volume or bouncy and curly, you can create all these results with Dream Coat,’ says Seeley.
As for the waterproof-ness, I’ve been caught out in the rain multiple times in this unseasonable gloom and can say that each time I managed to return indoors without looking like a wet mop.
So, is the Color Wow Dream Coat worth it? It's a yes from me. This is because it’s the mirror-like shine that truly sets it aside from any other anti-frizz product I’ve tried – and trust me, I’ve tried a lot. If you don’t believe my hype, just let the thousands of 5* reviews on Dream Coat and my favourite hair heroes from the brand, do all the talking.
And if you’re interested in the new Extra Strength iteration of the Dream Coat, here’s everything you need to know...
Color Wow Dream Coat Extra Strength review
If you’ve already tried the OG Dream Coat (and therefore are already in love), you’re probably wondering what sets this iteration apart. I threw the same question to Dom Seeley, Color Wow International Creative Director and celebrity stylist to Kendall Jenner and Dixie D'amelio.
‘The main difference between the two formulas is that the new Dream Coat Extra Strength can add extra moisture and hydration to dehydrated lengths, but still forms a waterproof barrier to block out humidity,’ explains Seeley.
Like the original formula, Extra Strength contains innovative polymer technology which creates an invisible and weightless seal around your strands, helping to deflect water while keeping your hair glossy and frizz-free.
Gail Federici, the founder of Color Wow, took Dream Coat to a new level after admitting that while the OG formula kept her hair frizz-free most of the time, she needed something a little stronger to protect her dehydrated lengths from humidity.
As your hair will regain moisture by drawing hydration directly from the air, when it's super dehydrated, the humidity will break through the seal created by Dream Coat and cause frizziness. So, the idea behind Dream Coat Extra Strength is to boost hydration in your strands first, so that moisture in the air won’t disturb the Dream Coat barrier.
‘It's ideal for anyone who has dry or dehydrated lengths, or if you’ve exposed your hair to bleached processes numerous times,’ says Seeley.
Dream Coat Extra Strength is an innovation worth discovering if you’re looking to tackle humidity frizz for good. It’s taken the team a few years to perfect the formula, but some things are worth waiting for.
Clare Stephenson is the Senior Fashion and Beauty E-commerce Writer for Cosmopolitan, ELLE and Harper’s Bazaar. She has been an e-commerce writer since 2022, creating matter-of-fact reviews and shopping pages filled with her favourite products for every budget and need – whether that’s a glow-giving foundation, a high-tech LED face mask or the perfect wear-with-everything blazer.
Alongside writing, Clare loves to be in front of the camera creating shopping content, putting viral products to the test to see which ones are truly worth the hype. Through her work, she has interviewed leading dermatologists, makeup artists and industry experts to bring readers trusted advice and product recommendations.
Clare has contributed to titles across the Hearst UK portfolio, including Women’s Health, Good Housekeeping, Red and Prima. Prior to joining Hearst, she earned a BA in Multimedia Journalism from Bournemouth University, focusing her studies on magazines and editorial. She later worked as an editorial assistant at Voir Fashion Magazine, covering events including Fashion Week and interviewing notable brand founders.
Outside of work? You can find Clare strolling through London’s Columbia Road Market, pouring her fourth coffee of the day or heading to a Pilates class.
Follow Clare on Instagram @clarefrancesstephenson.
