So I finally got around to using my Tresemme Fresh Start Dry Shampoo, the drugstore dry shampoo that I’ve been obsessing about for the past week or so. As a dry shampoo newbie, I was smitten with the idea of being able to go an extra day without washing my hair but not having to worry about greasy roots or unpleasant odors - plus, I heard that spray-on shampoo can be an excellent way to add a little texture to even clean hair, and since I’m always looking for ways to mess up my (occasionally boring) straight hair, I was definitely on board. So how did my experience measure up to my expectations? I’m happy to report that I really love this product…with one major caveat!

The first time I used the Fresh Start Dry Shampoo, it had been around 24 hours since my last proper “wet” shampoo. I sprayed it on as per the bottle instructions (really easy to do, except for the part where you have to shake the bottle vigorously between each and every spritz - argh!), let it sit for 2 minutes to absorb oils, and brushed it through. (This does require a thorough brushing, but I didn’t notice any white residue leftover when I was done.) The smell was pleasant, although not overwhelmingly awesome, but what I really loved was how thick and manageable it made my hair! I could tease the crown! I could pin it back, and it would stay! I could swoop it up into a lovely ponytail! Again, my hair is usually too soft and swingy to be styled, so I was an instant dry shampoo convert.

The next day, I decided to tempt fate and try the Tresemme again. Now, I have no idea what went wrong - are you not supposed to use dry shampoos two days in a row without a proper washing in between? Does the product build up at your roots? Or did I simply use too much? In any event, this was not the happy walk in the park I had experienced before! I had to brush my hair so many times to remove all of the chalky residue that my brush became positively caked with dry shampoo. I actually had to stop and wash my hairbrush in order to continue. Not good! I did apply more than I had the previous day, so I’m going to blame this completely on user error and say that, with a little common sense and proper application techniques, Tresemme’s Fresh Start Dry Shampoo is a great product for the price. I can’t compare it to other dry shampoos, but I was definitely pleased with my (initial) experience, and I look forward to using it again.

If you’re thinking of picking up a bottle for yourself, you should still be able to score the $1.34 Walgreens deal if you print out the Tresemme Fresh Start coupon and head into the store before the week is out!