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Do Color Wow’s haircare products really work? We found out

The brand has a product for every hair type and issue

Ellis Cochrane
Wednesday 31 July 2024 17:31 BST
Our tester exclusively used Color Wow products for the entirety of a month so as not to have any other products interfere with the testing process
Our tester exclusively used Color Wow products for the entirety of a month so as not to have any other products interfere with the testing process (The Independent )
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Color Wow has quickly become one of the most popular haircare brands in recent years after a number of its products went viral on social media. But do the products actually live up to the hype? We simply had to find out. This meant testing an array of products from the Color Wow range, from its signature dream coat anti-humidity hair spray to shampoos, conditioners and a range of different styling products all tasked with improving a number of hair concerns.

With more than 40 years of experience in the haircare industry and following her time at haircare brand John Frieda, where she just so happened to be the co-founder, Color Wow was originally founded in 2013 by Gail Federici. The original intention of the brand, as you might have inferred from its name, was to provide products tailored specifically to colour-treated hair. But it has since expanded into everything from frizz control and curls to damage repair and volume.

So, it’s no surprise that the brand has won more than 90 major beauty awards over the years, with dream coat alone responsible for 25 of those awards, leaving women and men the world over saying “wow”.

How we tested

We tested the range on frizz-prone, curly hair that has a tendency to become dry
We tested the range on frizz-prone, curly hair that has a tendency to become dry (Ellis Cochrane)

We exclusively used Color Wow products for the entirety of a month so as not to have any other products interfere with the testing process. Each individual product was used on its own to discern its own merits. For example, for the Color Wow money mist, we assessed how well it detangled, defrizzed and hydrated the hair, with it being tested on hair that was both air-dried and heat-styled.

With the dream coat anti-humidity hair spray, we tested how glossy and smooth it made the hair and whether or not it stayed frizz-free over several days and in different weather conditions such as humidity, rain and wind. Because of the formulation and the brand’s guidance, most of the Color Wow hair products were applied before the hair was blow-dried with tension and then straightened to test just how effective they were.

One product, the coco-motion lubricating conditioner, was assessed in terms of our natural curls and how it affected the bounce of each curl, how hydrated they were and if it had a visible impact on the amount of frizz as their hair dried naturally.  

To provide context, our tester has frizz-prone curly hair, which can become dehydrated and she lives in an area of the country with soft water.

Color Wow money mist

money mist colour wow review indybest
  • Best: Overall
  • Size: 50ml, 150ml
  • Why we love it
    • Suitable for all hair types
    • Serves a number of different functions

We love a good multitasking product and the money mist truly surprised us with the functions it has. Not only does it detangle knotted strands but it also helps to defrizz, add moisture back into the hair, perk up day two or day three hair and add heat and UV protection. The mist itself is nice and fine and makes styling much easier, whether you plan on letting your hair dry naturally or are drying, straightening or curling it with heated appliances.

You only really need three or four squirts of the mist, depending on the length of your hair and it leaves tresses looking and feeling much softer and shinier. It also smells incredible. If we could only buy one Color Wow product, it would be this one.

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Color Wow dream coat anti-humidity hair spray

Color Wow Indybest review dream coat anti-humidity hair spray
  • Best: For frizzy hair
  • Size : 50ml, 200ml, 500ml
  • Why we love it
    • Provides immediate results
    • Results can last for up to two weeks
    • Feels relatively weightless on the hair

Now, there’s a reason why so many people have been raving about the dream coat anti-humidity hair spray. And after just one use we were blown away by the results. But it is worth noting that this product has to be heat-activated. This means that if you are used to letting your hair air dry naturally, you won’t get the desired effect.

All you have to do is apply this liberally to damp hair before either blow drying with tension, like a hairdresser would do, or you can rough dry your hair and then go in with a pair of hair straighteners. The result is some of the sleekest and shiniest hair you’ll have seen. So, if you struggle with frizz or find that your hair immediately reacts at the slightest bit of humidity, this is the one Color Wow product you need to try.

While the brand has expanded the range to include a dream coat for curly hair £27, Marksandspencer.com) and an extra strength dream coat (£32, Lookfantastic.com), we definitely prefer the results from the original version and would recommend trying that first and foremost.

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Color Wow Chris Appleton + Color Wow money masque

Color Wow IndyBest review Chris Appleton + Color Wow money masque
  • Best: Hair masks for all hair types
  • Sizes: 50ml, 215ml
  • Why we love it
    • Leaves hair looking and feeling silkier
    • A little goes a long way
    • Includes heat protection
  • Take note
    • One of the pricier hair masks on the market

Whether you have dry or dehydrated hair or damaged hair, or you are looking to give your locks a bit of TLC, this nourishing hair mask works wonders. This is another must-try if you’re looking to achieve shiny, sleek hair.

Despite having a gel consistency, it is easy to apply and you only really need a small amount to cover the hair. If you’re in a rush you can leave the hair mask on for as little as three minutes and still see and feel a difference. But we personally liked to leave it on for around 15 minutes for a more intensive treatment once every other week. However, it is worth noting that this is not a leave-on treatment and should be washed off, as leaving it on could leave the hair feeling weighed down or rather slimy.

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Color Wow dream filter for picture-perfect colour

Color Wow IndyBest review dream filter for picture-perfect colour
  • Best: For dull or brassy hair
  • Size: 50ml, 200ml and 470ml
  • Why we love it
    • A must-try if you have hard water

If you happen to live in an area of the country with hard water, you might have noticed that your hair can look and feel dull or like it’s never fully clean. If that sounds like you, you might want to give the dream filter product a try. We tested this after having last washed our hair in hard water and felt an immediate difference after using it just once.

Before you go to shampoo your hair, you’ll first want to saturate your hair in this and leave it around three to five minutes before you step into the shower or start washing your locks. It is important to note that this can also strip some dye out of the hair if you have just had your hair coloured. To stop this from happening, you will need to wait at least five to seven shampoos before using it. However, solely for what it can do for those living in a hard water area, it is well worth trying.

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Color Wow coco-motion lubricating conditioner

Color Wow IndyBest review coco-motion lubricating conditioner
  • Best: For wavy or curly hair
  • Size: 295ml
  • Why we love it
    • Feels incredibly nourishing
    • You don’t need a large amount to see and feel a difference
    • Also helped reduce frizz
  • Take note
    • It is not a leave-in product

For those with curly, wavy or coily hair, Color Wow has a dedicated curl range. But the standout product from it has to be their coco-motion lubricating conditioner. As someone who has put a lot of curl conditioners and creams to the test over the years, we were most impressed by how lightweight and almost invisible it feels on the hair. But at the same time, it deeply nourishes curls, making them look much more pronounced and defined. And there was a marked reduction in the amount of frizz on the curls too.

This is another product that shouldn’t be left in the hair and should be rinsed out, but you can leave it on for up to five minutes (or a bit more) to give your locks a deeper treatment. We found that applying it and combing it through the hair with a wide-tooth comb worked best. You can also choose how you style your curls after, whether that be with a diffuser or by air drying.

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Color Wow color security shampoo

Color Wow IndyBest review color security shampoo
  • Best: For oily hair
  • Size: 75ml, 250ml, 946ml
  • Why we love it
    • Leaves the hair feeling squeaky clean
    • Sulfate-, silicone- and paraben-free

While this shampoo is suitable for all hair types, it is particularly effective on oily or greasy hair. This is because it leaves zero residue and helps to wash away any build-up. So, if you have noticed that your hair and your roots are looking and feeling particularly oily, greasy or laden with product, this shampoo essentially gives you a blank slate to start from when it comes to your hair.

It lathers up nicely and you can see and feel a noticeable difference in both your scalp and roots after using it. Owing to the fact it is sulfate-free, it also feels gentle on the scalp, which makes it particularly great if the skin is sensitive or irritable. What’s more, as the name of the product indicates, it helps to prevent colour fade on colour-treated hair for up to 30 washes, according to the brand.

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Color Wow xtra large bombshell volumizer

Color Wow IndyBest review Xtra Large Bombshell Volumizer .
  • Best: For thin/fine hair
  • Size: 50ml, 195ml and 350ml
  • Why we love it
    • Gives you a salon-style blow dry at home
  • Take note
    • Works better when followed up with a hair dryer rather than allowing the hair to air dry

Whether you have especially fine or thin hair or are looking to amp up the volume for a special occasion, this also works well on dry, dehydrated, more fragile or colour-treated hair. Applied directly to the roots, this gives some serious lift. We would recommend using it in tandem with a hair dryer, rather than allowing the hair to air dry naturally, as it doesn’t quite have the same effect when the hair isn’t dried with tension.

Compared to traditional foams and mousses, this has a more frothy feel, meaning it didn’t leave the hair feeling crunchy or dried out. Part of the reason for this might be because doesn’t include any salt, alcohol or drying resins, which can have an adverse effect on the hair when trying to add volume to it. However, this frothy consistency can feel a little sticky as you dispense it onto your hands or directly onto your hair, which could be off-putting for some.

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Color Wow dream cocktail kale-infused leave-in treatment

Color Wow IndyBest review dream cocktail kale-infused leave-in treatment
  • Best: For damaged hair
  • Size: 200ml
  • Why we love it
    • Includes heat protection

This product did take a few uses to judge the right amount of product to apply, even when following the instructions on the bottle – the brand-recommended three pumps made our locks feel greasy and laden with product. And be sure to keep the product away from the roots, for the same reason. Ideally, applying it around halfway down the head to the tips of the hair worked best.

While we didn’t notice a significant difference in any split ends or breakage, it did leave the hair feeling softer. As with other products within Color Wow’s line-up, you do need to apply heat to the hair to activate this treatment, rather than simply leaving your hair to air dry. But it does include a heat protectant, so there’s no need to worry about applying an additional product before doing so.

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Color Wow dream cocktail coconut-infused leave-in treatment

Color Wow IndyBest review dream cocktail coconut-infused leave-in treatment
  • Best: For dry or dehydrated hair
  • Size: 200ml
  • Why we love it
    • It smells incredible
    • Made an immediate difference
    • Includes heat protection

As someone with dry, frizzy hair, this lightweight coconut-infused treatment made an immediate difference to the look and feel of the hair. So, if your hair has ever had an almost straw-like quality to it, this would be the product to pick up from the range. Much like the other Color Wow leave-in treatments, this is heat activated and after using it a number of times, our hair felt thicker, which gave it an even healthier appearance.

Not only does it smell great – thanks to the topical coconut aroma – but it leaves the hair looking and feeling so incredibly silky and soft. We also noticed that it effectively dealt with frizz, making it another great option for those struggling with that particular hair issue.

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Color Wow root cover up

Color Wow IndyBest review root cover up
  • Best: For root cover up
  • Sizes: 1.9g
  • Why we love it
    • Water resistant when swimming or if you were to get caught in the rain

Whether you’re looking to cover your natural roots, even if it’s that bit darker than the rest of your hair, or you want to cover pesky grey or white hairs, this product is a great quick fix.

While there are eight shades to choose from, it might not work for every hair colour, whether that be natural or coloured. However, we did find that it worked well to cover visible parts of the scalp and areas of thinning, as well as covering premature greys.

The twin-sided brush allows you to be precise with your application, but you do have to be careful to press the powder into the roots, instead of brushing it on, as you won’t get the same level of coverage.

It might take a bit of trial and error to get used to it, so we would recommend trying it out in advance of any important events.

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The verdict: Color Wow hair products

Overall, we were thoroughly impressed by every Color Wow product that they tried. Not only is there something for every hair type and issue but we also appreciated the fact that while this is a more premium haircare brand, the inclusion of travel-sized versions of some of the most popular products in the range makes it much easier and more affordable to try out the products without having to commit to a full size or higher price.

Both the money mist and dream coat anti-humidity hair spray not only live up to the hype but exceed our expectations. Another five-star product was the coco-motion lubricating conditioner, which simply should be a must in any curl routine.

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