I’ve wanted long hair for, well, as long as I can remember. As someone with ultra-fine strands, though, it always seemed to take my hair forever to grow. While I knew that I was finally making some headway, it wasn’t until seeing a picture of myself this summer that I realized just how long my hair’s become.
Of course, just as one hair goal is being fulfilled, a new one is becoming apparent—I’ve grown acutely attuned to just how stringy my fine, long strands can look. That’s why I’ve made it a priority to fill my shower with thickening shampoos and conditioners and stock my vanity drawers with densifying styling formulas.
While enhanced heat-protecting blowout sprays tend to be my favorite formulas, over the past year, I’ve discovered a couple foams and creams that work wonders. (Hello, R+Co Dallas Biotin Thickening Treatment and R+Co Rodeo Thickening Style Foam.) And now, I have a new thickening styling treatment and dry shampoo to add to the mix—only this time, Drybar is the brand to thank.
My honest review of the Drybar Big Brew Instant Thickening Styling Treatment
Before discovering the R+Co Dallas Biotin Thickening Treatment, I was skeptical of any “treatment” that promised instantly thicker-looking hair. After trying it, though, I’ve been eager to try every new formula that hits the market. That said, I admittedly had low expectations for the Drybar Big Brew Instant Thickening Styling Treatment, given cream styling products tend to weigh down my fine hair and I’ve never been the biggest fan of the brand (there’s only been one product I adore—the Drybar Triple Sec 3-in-1 Finishing Spray, $29).
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But y’all… OH.MY.GOD. The Drybar Big Brew Instant Thickening Styling Treatment is a dream product. The formula is infused with thickening hemp fibers, densifying plant-based actives, shed-reducing peptides, and stimulating biotin and caffeine. It comes housed in a squeeze tube with a targeted tip to easily apply the minty-floral cream directly to the scalp.
Here’s the kicker, though: It’s meant to be left in. This is where I was especially skeptical. After massaging the cream into my scalp in sections and brushing it through to my ends, I was hesitant to blow-dry it, worried that it was going to look like a greasy mess. Instead, the fast-acting, instant thickening treatment seemed to speed up my drying time.
What’s more, it left my hair visibly thicker-looking and unbelievably shiny to boot. I’m still reeling. Needless to say, this little baby has earned its spot in my routine. Speaking of, the brand says that best results come with regular use. It will be interesting to see how the results could get any better than this, though. That said, if it’s meant to be used after every shower, I feel like the tube itself won’t last longer than two months and that may be a stretch. Still, for the results, I say it’s worth it.
My honest review of the Drybar Detox Thickening Dry Shampoo
The Drybar Detox Thickening Dry Shampoo has also made it to my permanent line-up. It took just one use for me to be totally and completely sold on the product.
I’ve tried many, many dry shampoos in my day and even my favorite formulas tend to leave my hair looking flat by the end of the day. That’s not the case with the Drybar Detox Thickening Dry Shampoo, though. The oil-absorbing spray is such a miracle worker for greasy day-three tresses. Seriously, when I generously sprayed it onto my stringy, oily roots, mids, and ends, and gave it a few seconds to sink in before brushing it through, my hair literally looked professionally blown-out—and it stayed that way even after spending six hours on a speedboat in 80-degree heat. To say I’m impressed is an understatement.
Two things to note, though: First, for my ultra fine, extra oily roots, it took quite a few spritzes to get to work. While I could have gotten away with fewer, I feel like the results wouldn’t have been as stellar. That said, using that much dry shampoo is bound to make the bottle hit bottom sooner rather than later, and I honestly wouldn’t be surprised if it only took a month of regular use to fully empty it.
The second thing to keep in mind is that this powerful dry shampoo can absolutely leave your hair looking white and dusty if you don’t spray it from a distance. That said, apply it from about six inches away and if you notice any white residue, use a clean washcloth to rub it into strands. This will help it sink in without adding oils from your fingers to your hair.
