Color Wow Dream Coat Review: Is “Glass Hair” Really in a Bottle?
We tested the viral anti-humidity spray famously used by Chris Appleton on Kim Kardashian and J.Lo to see if it lives up to the hype in 2025.
If you have scrolled through TikTok or Instagram in the last five years, you have seen it: the water droplet test. A stylist pours water onto a section of hair, and instead of soaking in and frizzing up, the water beads up and rolls off like mercury on a freshly waxed car. This is the promise of Color Wow Dream Coat Supernatural Spray.
Often dubbed a “raincoat for your hair,” this product claims to completely humidity-proof your strands for up to 3 to 4 shampoos. But is it just a silicone-heavy coating, or is there real innovation here? In this extensive review, we break down the chemistry, the user experience, and why it has become a staple for stars like Kylie Jenner and Jennifer Lopez.
1. What Is Dream Coat? (It’s Not a Hairspray)
Color Wow Dream Coat is a pre-blow-dry treatment. Unlike oils or serums that you apply to dry hair to tame flyaways, Dream Coat is applied to damp hair and requires heat to work.
Its primary goal is to create “Glass Hair”—a trend popularized by celebrity stylist Chris Appleton. Glass hair is defined by an incredibly smooth, reflective surface that looks almost liquid. Dream Coat achieves this not by weighing the hair down with heavy oils, but by compressing the hair cuticle so tightly that it reflects light like a mirror.
It was specifically designed for color-treated hair (hence the brand name “Color Wow”), which is naturally more porous and prone to frizz. However, it has widely been adopted by anyone seeking that sleek, expensive aesthetic seen in Jennifer Lopez’s iconic looks.
The original formula. Best for fine to medium hair types. Delivers a weightless, glassy finish that repels moisture. Heat activated.
Check Price2. The Science: Heat-Activated Polymers
The secret sauce in Dream Coat is a heat-activated polymer technology. Most anti-frizz products use silicones (like dimethicone) to coat the hair. While silicones work, they can be heavy, greasy, and build up over time, eventually blocking moisture from entering the hair shaft.
Color Wow claims Dream Coat is different. It uses a cross-linking polymer that is lighter than water. When you apply heat (blow drying) and tension (brushing), these polymers shrink-wrap each strand of hair. This creates a hydrophobic (water-repelling) matrix.
Think of it like laminating a piece of paper. The paper inside remains flexible, but water literally cannot touch it. This is why the effect lasts through several shampoos—the “lamination” doesn’t wash off immediately with water; it takes detergent (shampoo) and time to break down the polymer bond.
3. How to Use It (You Are Probably Doing It Wrong)
If you read negative reviews of Dream Coat, 90% of the time it is due to user error. This is not a “spray and go” product. It requires a specific protocol to work.
- Step 1: Saturate. You must use a lot of product. Divide your damp (towel-dried) hair into sections and spray liberally. If you think you’ve used enough, spray a little more. The hair needs to be fully coated.
- Step 2: No Other Products. Ideally, do not use other styling creams or oils before the Dream Coat. You want the polymer to adhere directly to the hair, not to a layer of leave-in conditioner.
- Step 3: TENSION is Key. You cannot just rough dry your hair with your fingers. You must use a round brush or a paddle brush to pull the hair taut while applying heat. The tension + heat combination is what activates the smoothing effect.
- Step 4: Heat is Mandatory. Air drying will not work. The polymers need thermal activation to cross-link.
Once activated, the results are undeniable. It transforms frizzy, porous texture into the kind of sleekness usually reserved for Kim Kardashian’s red carpet appearances.
4. Comparison: Original vs. Extra Strength vs. Curly
Color Wow has expanded the line to cater to different textures. Choosing the wrong one can lead to disappointing results.
| Version | Best Hair Type | Key Benefit | Heat Needed? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Original | Fine, Straight, Wavy | Weightless Glass Hair | YES (High Heat) |
| Extra Strength | Dry, Coily, Dehydrated | Added Moisture + Sleekness | YES (High Heat) |
| Dream Coat Curly | Curly, Coily (Type 3/4) | Definition & Crunch-Free Hold | NO (Air Dry or Diffuse) |
The Extra Strength version is packed with more moisturizing agents, making it ideal for porous or coarse hair that drinks up product. The Curly version is completely different technology—it is a one-step solution to define curls without the “crunch” of gel, and it does not require tension blow-drying.
For dry, dehydrated, or coily hair. Powerful waterproofing with added moisture benefits. The choice for glass hair on textured hair types.
View Extra Strength5. The Chris Appleton Connection
You cannot talk about Dream Coat without mentioning Chris Appleton. As the Global Creative Director for Color Wow and the personal hairstylist to Jennifer Lopez and Kim Kardashian, he is the man responsible for putting “Glass Hair” on the map.
Appleton swears by Dream Coat for almost every red carpet look. He famously used it for J.Lo’s Super Bowl Halftime Show, where her hair remained sleek despite the Miami humidity and intense choreography. He also uses it to create Kim Kardashian’s iconic blunt bobs. This celebrity endorsement isn’t just a paid partnership; the product is visibly essential to achieving those specific, gravity-defying sleek looks.
For more on celebrity beauty secrets and routines, check out our deep dive into celebrity morning routines.
7. Frequently Asked Questions
Color Wow markets Dream Coat as silicone-free. Instead of heavy silicones, it uses a proprietary polymer technology that is heat-activated to seal the hair. This prevents the heavy, greasy buildup often associated with traditional anti-frizz serums.
No, not for the Original or Extra Strength versions. The polymers require heat and tension (blow drying with a brush) to cross-link and form the protective barrier. If you air dry, the product will not activate and your hair may feel sticky or heavy. The Curly version, however, CAN be air-dried.
The effects last for 3 to 4 shampoos. You do not need to use it every time you wash your hair. In fact, using it too often can be wasteful. Use it every 3rd or 4th wash for maintenance.
Color Wow recommends using Dream Coat alone on damp hair to ensure the polymers can bind directly to the keratin. Once your hair is dry and the style is sealed, you can apply finishing products like oils or hairspray.
Yes, Dream Coat is excellent for extensions (both real hair and high-quality synthetic) as it can revive the texture and make them blend seamlessly with your natural hair’s texture.