K-18 Airwash Dry Shampoo Is the Closest Thing You’ll Get to Freshly Washed Hair
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When it comes to finding the best dry shampoo for my hair type, I haven’t had much luck. My strands are fine, but I have high hair density. So despite my hair appearing thick, it doesn’t act thick. My scalp gets oily fairly quickly, which means I’m stuck washing my hair pretty much every other day.
I’ve tried plenty of dry shampoos to revitalize my greasy hairâwith little success. Almost all formulas prove too heavy for my strands, making them limp and heavy instead of adding body and texture. Some might say I’m applying too much product, but like I mentioned, my hair density is high and one or two sprays simply don’t cut it.
To make matters even trickier? My hair is jet black, which makes even the most âinvisibleâ formulas appear with ashy residue.
Simply put, I’d rather just wash my hair. Dry shampoo hasn’t been worth the heavy, dirty feeling on my scalp or the effort it takes to brush and blow dry away white residue. So when I heard rave reviews about K-18 Airwash Dry Shampoo, I was skeptical.
K-18 AirWash Dry Shampoo
I first discovered K-18 Airwash Dry Shampoo from Gloss Angeles podcast host Kirbie Johnson, who shared its magic on Instagram reels. For experiment purposes, Johnson used a hair oil to get her strands âquite frankly disgustingâ before spraying the formula onto her scalp. With only a few sprays, Johnson’s greasy hair instantly perked up; after âgoing overboardâ with two more rounds of sprays, her hair appeared to look freshly washed.
Most unbelievable of all? Despite spraying more than the recommended amount, Johnson’s brunette hair showed zero signs of white cast. Zero.
Shocked and inspired, I immediately emailed K-18 to get my own sample. Surely, it couldn’t be real. A dry shampoo that leaves your hair looking freshly washed with not a hint of white cast? Inconceivable! Sorcery! I had to try it for myself.
A few days later, K-18 sent me their âbiggest innovationâ to date. According to the brand, AirWash features âsmart-release biotechnologyâ that allegedly eliminates odor-causing molecules and âtranslucent microbeadsâ that absorb oil and, according to the brand, leave no starchy buildup or white cast on strands. The formula also includes âbiotech-derived mediterranean microalgaeâ that AirWash says âhelps balance the scalp and control excess oil production over timeâ to promote scalp health and minimize buildup.
AirWash claims its product will also deliver touchable, weightless hair for up to three days. And the cherry on top? It’s earth-friendly and non-aerosol.
K-18 AirWash Dry Shampoo.
My hair immediately after using AirWash.
As it turns out, the word âinnovationâ was no exaggeration. After months of using AirWash, I’ll never go back to another product. I’ve never used a dry shampoo that revitalizes my hair and provides the look and feeling of being freshly washed like AirWash does.
If that wasn’t enough, it actually delivers on results for âup to three days.” On day two, my hair still has volume and body and requires no touch ups of product. By day three, my roots start to go a little limp, but overall, my hair looks wearable enough to get me through the day.
The scent is a clean subtle smell that isn’t noticeable. As someone who prefers unscented hair products, it’s the biggest turnoff when dry shampoo reeks of sweet floralsâespecially since I need to go to town with application. Something I can do with AirWash, because it feels astronomically lighter than the most other cult-favorite dry shampoos.
Before getting started, I give the bottle a good shake to activate the formula. To apply, I lift section by section and spray four to six inches away at the root, then let the product sit for a few seconds before rubbing in with my fingers. Finally, I use a hair brush to distribute evenly and to make sure any excess is absorbed.
My extremely greasy hair before AirWash.
Applying Airwash in sections.
Is AirWash 100% weightless? No, but keep in mind that I use a lot. K-18 advises applying sparingly but old habits die hard. With a heavy hand, you can certainly feel a bit of grit and buildup.
The key difference for me is that it never shows up on my strands. Some dry shampoos will show their residue, but AirWash always leaves my hair looking weightless and touchable, no matter how much I pile on. I hope to eventually wean myself off heavy sprays in the future; for now, I’m more than content with the overall lightweight look and feel of the formula.
Rubbing AirWash in.
Distributing evenly.
Weightless and touchable hair with zero white cast.
I really have just one complaint: AirWash can get messy. The spray nozzle has pretty much no control or direction, which means product will end up on your clothes, forehead, arm, shoulderâbasically anything immediately close to the area you’re spraying. Removing spatter isn’t easy, either. I’ve found that you have to scrub it away with water on skin, while dark clothing like leather or jeans requires a bit of soap. So make sure you apply your dry shampoo before getting dressed and applying makeup to save you from the tiny white splotches.
At $48, AirWash also definitely falls in the pricey range for dry shampoo. However, its results are truly game-changing for me and one bottle will last months. I’ve used my current one since April 2024, and it’s still going strong in October. Considering the price tag falls in line with most luxury offerings, I’d say that’s well worth the splurge for what I think is the best dry shampoo on the market.
Ariana Yaptangco is the senior beauty editor at Glamour. Follow her @arianayap.
