Does it really fight frizz?

It felt like every social media app and major cosmetics retailer had been pushing Color Wow Dream Coat Supernatural Spray on me over the past year.

Whether I was scrolling past a TikTok video of water beading over shiny, straight hair or reading about how celebrity hairdresser Chris Appleton pampers his celebrity clientele, including Kim Kardashian and Jennifer Lopez, with this supposedly miraculous product, I couldn’t escape that pretty silver bottle.

With over 54,500 five-star reviews on Amazon and reviewers calling this product “a revelation” for their hair care routines, it’s no wonder the Dream Coat has such a loyal fan base. Only one question remained: does it really work?

As someone with mysterious, frizzy locks that spring to life the moment I step onto a subway platform, I was curious to see if this product could do the damage control it promised. Luckily, my Supernatural Spray arrived just before a particularly humid 4th of July in New York City—what better time to put this product to the test?

Advantages: Anti-frizz, anti-humidity, heat protection, smoothing | Ingredients: Anti-moisture complex, chamomile extract, glycerin | Formula: Sulfate free, paraben free, cruelty free, gluten free, vegan | Fragrance: None | Size: 1.7, 6.7 and 16.9 ounces

You might not be able to tell the purpose of this product from the name alone, but that’s the point: it’s designed to do everything. Not only is this spray an anti-frizz product, but it also received top marks when we compared it to other hair glosses and heat protectants.

The lightweight formula is based on polymer technology that reduces frizz and blocks humidity. It is activated by heat and a little tension – usually achieved with a hairdryer and round brush. It also contains chamomile extract and glycerin for color refreshment, protection and moisture.

According to the brand, the product is designed to coat each strand of hair with an invisible water and humidity-repellent “raincoat” that not only prevents unwanted frizz but also gives your hair a glassy shine. The spray also serves as a convenient heat protectant to keep your hair healthy while drying and styling. Its high-shine, humidity-wicking results are said to last up to three to four washes, so you only need to use this product once a week.

This is how we tested

To properly test the Dream Coat, I tried the standard product on my naturally wavy hair and asked PEOPLE Deputy Editor Jen Maldonado to test the Color Wow Dream Coat for curly hair in New York City humidity.

After washing and conditioning my hair as usual, I towel dried it until it was damp and Jen gently squeezed her locks to remove excess moisture. Then we divided our hair into sections and sprayed each section generously with product.

I then worked a fine-toothed comb through my hair to distribute the product evenly. Once our hair was saturated, it was time to activate the formula. I dried my hair using the Dyson Airwrap round brush attachment, which combined the heat and tension needed to lock in the Dream Coat’s benefits.

The Dream Coat for curly hair, on the other hand, requires no tension at all. Jen dried her hair as usual with a diffuser on low heat, which took about 30-40 minutes.

The results

How did the spray feel on your damp hair?

Alyssa: It was easy to coat my hair with this spray and it didn’t feel thick or sticky. However, I could feel a slight residue on my skin where my damp, product-sprayed hair lay.

Jen: My hair felt like a cast was forming after the product was worked in, which is something I’m used to as someone with curly hair. The feeling of my hair feeling a little sticky and a cast forming means the products are working for me.

Was drying and styling your hair easy with this product?

Alyssa: Blow-drying my hair was super easy. Even after drying, my hair straightened well with a flat iron – it didn’t stick to the plates and didn’t form weird lines when I pressed it down – an experience I’ve had in the past. In general, the product was undetectable.

Jen: I blow dried my hair as usual with a diffuser. I use low heat and my hair never seems to want to release water, so it takes a while (30-40 minutes) to get dry enough for my liking, which is about 85-90 percent dry. After that, I let it air dry. I didn’t notice any difference in the time it took to dry my hair with this product.

How did your hair feel and look after it was dry?

Alyssa: My hair felt extremely smooth and soft – I rarely style my hair with products because I don’t want to weigh it down, but this could change my routine forever because my hair feels so light. Not to mention it took on a whole new shine, especially after I straightened it and applied a bit of hair oil.

Jen: When my hair was completely dry, it felt soft and not brittle at all, which is a huge benefit of curl products. It was like I had no product in my hair and it looked natural. However, the product didn’t really help tame and shape my curls.

Has your hair been protected from frizz and humidity?

Alyssa: I first tested this spray on the 4th of July, when the humidity was almost 100 degrees. Do I think it prevented my hair from getting as frizzy as it would have without the product? Yes. But did it prevent my hair from turning into a bouffant bob by nightfall? No. However, it did keep my hair smooth for most of the day before I started to get a little frizzy.

Jen: The crown of my head is often where I struggle the most with frizzy hair and this product did nothing to tame it. Plus, my curls just looked frizzier and bigger in general. I used this product on a day when it rained and on a day when it didn’t rain and both times my hair was frizzy.

Who it is suitable for

We liked that this product has it all in terms of heat protection, frizz control and humidity protection. It’s the perfect product for someone who doesn’t want to use too many products in their hair and something that will last beyond the first wash.

We have found that this product works very well for both straight and curly hair for people who want a natural look and feel to their hair.

“The result is definitely a more natural look, and if I were on a beach where I would prefer a more natural look, this would be the only hair product I would use on the trip,” says Maldonado.

We also found that the Dream Coat worked hard to maintain our smoothness for days—it’s great for weeks when we want to wear our second and third day hair frizz-free.

Who it is not suitable for

Although your hair will become smoother and frizz will be reduced, the hold with this product is not very good.

“For everyday use on the way to work, going out to dinner, running errands, etc., I would not use this product because it does not give my hair the hold that I prefer,” says Maldonado of the curly formula.

Others to try

What to look for in an anti-frizz spray

formula

Every hair type needs something different when it comes to frizz – whether it’s an extra dose of shine, moisture or hold. While any anti-frizz product should be able to tame your excess hair, take a closer look at the labels to see what else they can do for you.

Color Wow’s Dream Coat not only prevents your hair from rebelling in high humidity, but also acts as a heat protector, moisturizer and shine agent.

longevity

It’s important to judge how long your curls stay straight after spraying on your new product. In peak humidity, my hair generally stayed frizz-free until about eight hours into the day – and I was sweating outside most of the time.

But some sprays, like Dream Coat, provide frizz-controlling benefits for up to three washes after the first application, making the results last much longer than other sprays that can be washed out the same night.

Price

As with any product, anti-frizz sprays range in price. We’ve seen products like the Tresemmé Anti-Frizz Finishing Spray for as little as $7 and high-end products like the Oribe Impermeable Anti-Humidity Spray costing $44. The price of your spray will usually tell you everything you need to know about its benefits, though products at the higher end of the spectrum can perform poorly, while a drugstore purchase can transform your entire beauty routine.

Is the Color Wow Dream Coat Supernatural Spray worth it?

Depending on how you wear your hair, the Color Wow Dream Coat Supernatural Spray is worth it. Natural-feeling, weightless, moveable texture is the name of the game with this product, so if you want some hold, look elsewhere.

But for frizz prevention, smooth hair, and heat protection, this spray is every bit a “dream coat” for summer and beyond.