K18’s Dry Shampoo Promises ‘Freshly Washed’ Hair – But Does it Deliver?
Main image – Courtesy of writer
When it comes to dry shampoos, my general tick list is as follows: 1. Banish oil. 2. Add a bit of volume. 3. Buy more time and hide the fact that I just can’t be bothered to wash my hair today. (I take comfort in knowing we have all been there).
My biggest disappointment with most dry shampoos though is when I can actually see white powder particles resting on the flyaway hairs at my roots and around my face. It makes my roots look grey and my blonde hair colour too dense. Suffice to say, I don’t use dry shampoos often for these very reasons.
So when I heard about viral hair brand K18’s Biomimetic Hairscience’s AirWash Dry Shampoo (from £24 from Cult Beauty UK /$24 from Sephora US) I was intrigued, particularly because it’s been going viral since March 2024 and the brand’s leave-in treatment is so popular. The AirWash Dry Shampoo claims to be super innovative by absorbing oil and odour whilst making the hair and scalp look and feel freshly washed.
So, let’s find out if it has changed my opinion on dry shampoos or whether I’m still not completely convinced.
The product details
This product is non-aerosol, it claims to absorb oil with translucent microbeads (derived from minerals, not plastics), leaves behind no starchy buildup and uses patented odorBIND™ smart release biotechnology (meaning it can supposedly reduce oil for up to three days while also removing any greasy hair smells.)
Image – Courtesy of writer
According to the website, it ‘supports a healthy scalp’ thanks to Mediterranean microalgae leaving it grit-free, ‘for a run-your-fingers-through clean feeling even after your toughest workout.’
How I tested K18’s AirWash Dry Shampoo
I waited until my hair was super oily and used it in the morning, four days after last washing my hair.
First impressions
I had bought the travel sized bottle which I felt wouldn’t last long, even though I have short hair. Apparently, you don’t need to use much though so I was hopeful that it wouldn’t run out after just a few uses.
The packaging is slightly clinical but it’s what’s on the inside that counts right? So I gave it a shake (for five seconds) and spritzed it into my hair in sections, as instructed – this is slightly fiddly and quite time consuming but if you just stick to your top roots it’s enough to hide greasy hair. You’re meant to only do one spritz per section which didn’t feel like quite enough as my hair was so oily, so I gave each section two sprays.
My immediate thought was the scent. It smelt pleasant enough and much like most dry shampoo I’ve tried. But it is quite strong so be prepared for that.
Philippa’s hair before applying. Image – Courtesy of writer
My other initial thought was that the spray is wet. I’m so used to spraying a powder dry shampoo onto my hair that this came as a bit of a surprise and I was a bit irritated that I’d have to re-style my hair after using it. (As soon as my hair gets even the slightest bit wet, it usually needs a blast with the blow dryer as it naturally dries quite frizzy).
Once I’d finished spritzing though, I realised the wetness hadn’t lasted long and, miraculously, the hairdryer wasn’t required. Phew. And also – clever! I massaged it into my roots and could feel it getting thicker and drier as I massaged.
My results
I looked in the mirror and was really impressed with how different my hair looked. You can see from the before and after pictures that my hair is noticeably less greasy and has been given some extra volume – tick and tick! It looks ‘fluffier’ after using which isn’t necessarily what I want my hair to look like when it’s freshly washed, but I would take fluffy over greasy.
The positives – my grease and oil had been completely eliminated and my hair looked less flat. The negatives – I’m afraid I could see a slightly powdery finish on my roots. Don’t get me wrong, there weren’t any particles sitting on any flyaway hairs like with other dry shampoos and I don’t think anyone else would be able to tell that I had applied it.
But you know your own hair don’t you? And when I stepped back to see the results, I was acutely aware that my hair looked a little greyer at the roots than usual.
I brushed my hair to hopefully spread it downwards a little which made it marginally better but the other thing I was noticing was that my hair didn’t feel freshly washed at all. It felt like I had plied it with dry shampoo – funny that. Plus, my colour had gone quite dense and there was zero shine too.
Philippa’s hair after applying. Image – Courtesy of writer
Maybe two sprays per section was too many but my hair had been really really greasy and it’s actually really hard to tell if you’re applying too much with a liquid. At least when you’re spraying a dry shampoo powder from an aerosol can, you can see in live time if you’re overdoing it.
For the rest of the day, I really didn’t like the feeling of my hair when I ran my hands through it. Sure, it looked clean and it had more volume – there really is no taking that away from it. But every time I put my fingers through it, they got stuck – it’s not conditioning at all – and my hands felt powdery and dry. Overall, ironically, it all felt a bit…grubby. I couldn’t wait to wash it out.
I waited 24 hours though and it did last through the day as well as an evening at a friend’s house. Full disclosure, I would never have even left the house with the hair I’d woken up with, so this dry shampoo definitely bought me more time. But there is absolutely no way I would have kept it on for three days, my hair just felt dry and after a while the smell started to get a bit sickly.
The website says ‘if hair feels gritty or powdery, you may have applied too much product.’ I strongly believe that the powdery feel on my hands every time I ran them through my hair was not as a result of over-applying. It’s not like I was spritzing it like there was no tomorrow, plus I made my sections quite thick too.
Image – Courtesy of writer
If you don’t fiddle with your hair as much as me, or you don’t care about powdery hands, go ahead and keep using this dry shampoo because it really does work and I can guarantee it will buy you more time before your next wash. Just don’t expect a soft, glossy, detangled, ‘just-washed’ finish because you may be disappointed.
What other users are saying
I’m really surprised to read that most people on Reddit seem to love it. Here, Rayezin calls it the “best hair product I ever bought, hands down.” Steady on! Notsureindecisive writes, “it’s truly a miracle product. I’ve been a hairstylist for over 30 years and I never say that.” And Independent-Pack5144 says, “it’s the best. No comparison.” Is it just me?!
Turns out, it isn’t. “My fine hair HATES it. It makes it dry and impossible to comb, like straw,” says djlauriqua. “My hair feels weird and crispy after using it, looks fine though,” adds Grouchy-Research1310, while marafetisha says, “it makes my hair look amazing but it also makes it feel horrible.” Same.
Image – Courtesy of writer
Here, most people love it but there are a few complaints about the price. “It’s simply too much money even if it’s a miracle product,” says gameofunicorns.
But for users like Chaptera, it’s worth the money. “Thankfully it lasts me way longer than any Batiste or more expensive product I’ve tried so the girl math works out,” they say.
Overall value for money
At £48/$48 for a full-sized bottle, I think this is way over-priced. OK, you don’t need to use much so it will last, but the way I’d describe the feel of my hair after using it was definitely more on the ‘cheap’ side than luxurious, ‘spent-my-savings-on-it’. I wouldn’t spend £24/$24 on a travel sized bottle either.
For the efficient way it got rid of my oil though and as a refresher when I’m desperate, I’d probably buy the a travel-sized bottle but only for when I’m going to something like a festival where washing your hair is a real effort – but not at its current price.
As an on-the-go alternative though, our editor in chief, Sally Underwood recommends REHAB. Essential Dry Shampoo which is also cheaper and non-aerosol.
The takeaway
Perhaps I did apply too much but I still think that even if I’d done only one spritz per section, this dry shampoo does half of what it says on the tin. It eliminates oil and odour and really does provide more time between washes – the before and after pictures speak for themselves. Plus, despite initially being a liquid, it dries quickly and there’s no need to re-style.
However, I really didn’t like how my hair felt after using it and the tangled, ‘stuck’ feeling every time I ran my hands through my hair bothered me. Plus I needed way more shine. Even though other dry shampoos I’ve tried don’t provide much shine either, I was under the impression that this one was meant to be different.
I couldn’t help but feel though that if I really wanted the perfect ‘freshly washed’ look and feel that K18 promised me, I should have just washed my hair. (Bear with me.) Because how could I expect one product to make my hair look like it’s been through running water, lathered in shampoo, smoothed with conditioner and finished with a big bouncy blow-dry? I do recognise that my demands were too high.
But maybe the real problem is that K18 has just promised far too much and should lower everyone’s expectations (and the price tag). If it had just said the product makes the hair look cleaner, works quickly, provides volume and makes your hair smell nice, then this review would have taken a far different turn.
Get Glowing!
