Color Wow Style On Steroids Texturizing Spray Review
While I love a good texturizing spray, I don’t always love how gritty they feel. Their matte finish can also make my highlights dull, and my hair is too fine to layer with a finishing oil or shine spray when I need my style to last all day.
When someone at Sephora recommended the Color Wow Style on Steroids Texturizing Spray, I was hesitant. While I’ve liked most of the Color Wow products I’ve tried, I was concerned that Style on Steroids would be too heavy or drying, but she really sold me on it so I decided to try it.
After a few months of playing with it, I’ve finally put together this review. Below, I share before and after photos, pros, cons, tips on how to use it, who it works best for, and whether or not it’s worth the money.
Curious about how it specifically compares to traditional texturizing sprays? Check out my Color Wow Style on Steroids vs Texturizing Spray post for a side-by-side comparison.
color wow style on steroids texturizing spray review
color wow style on steroids texturizing spray before and after
how to use color wow style on steroids texturizing spray
You can use Color Wow Style on Steroids Texturizing Spray in a few different ways:
With a curling or flat iron - spray hair section by section for added bounce and/or movement.
For volume and fuller-looking hair - flip head upside down and spray under layers.
For undone texture - spray throughout mid-section layers. Brush through with fingers if needed.
key ingredients
What makes Style on Steroids unique is that while it adds texture, it’s not as gritty or drying as tradition texturizing sprays thanks to a few key ingredients:
Hybrid Polymers - give hair style memory and volume without stickiness
Glycerin - adds moisture to hair
Zeolite - natural, transparent micro-particles that give hair texture and grip
pros
Adds volume and texture
Doesn’t make your hair feel dry, stiff, or crunchy
More lightweight and touchable than other texturizing sprays
Adds shine, while most texturizing sprays don’t
Doesn’t weigh down fine hair
Provides heat protection
Vegan and gluten-free
cons
Not the best if you want strong hold or long-lasting grip
May be too soft for thick or very textured hair
Doesn’t give your hair a matte, piece-y look like other texturizing sprays
Volume isn’t the most long-lasting
Not ideal if you use texturizing spray for structure or hold
is color wow style on steroids texturizing spray worth it?
If you are new to hair products or just hate the feel of a ton of stuff in your hair, you will really like Color Wow Style on Steroids Texturizing Spray. It’s does a few things well, but it doesn’t excel at any one thing in particular, so if you can’t decide between texturizing spray, wave spray, hairspray, or a shine spray, this does a little bit of everything and enhances your hair in a beautiful yet natural way.
It’s only $32, which is fair for prestige brands, and cheaper than luxury brands like Oribe. I’ve had the same bottle for almost 6 months, using it every week (sometimes every other week). A little goes a long way; it’s not the strongest texturizing spray, but you don’t need to over-coat your hair to see results, either.
My fine, straight hair struggles to hold a curl and not only did Style on Steroids enhance my heat-styled curls, but it kept them looking pretty and fresh all day. Just a note: my curls naturally fall throughout the day no matter what, and Style on Steroids is not a hairspray so it didn’t make my hair last longer. Rather, it kept my hair from looking limp and “bent” and instead my hair went from beach curls to a close-to-natural wave.
I honestly love the Color Wow Style on Steroids Texturizing Spray and think it’s the perfect texturizing spray/ shine spray hybrid. It gives your hair a little bit of grit like a traditional texturizing spray, but also adds tons of shine. If you don’t like your curls to look too perfect or done, but don’t want to commit to a full “just left the beach” look you will really like it and find that it is worth adding to your haircare collection.
who it works best for
You will find that Style on Steroids works better than a normal texturizing spray if you:
Have fine to medium hair that is easily weighed down
Want volume without stiffness
Prefer a soft, touchable finish
Want shine instead of grit
Want movement or lift, like for blowouts or waves
Don’t like the dry or sticky feel of most texturizing sprays
who it might not work for
Because it is not as gritty as a traditional texturizing spray, you may not find the results of Style on Steroids to be strong enough if you:
Have thick or coarse hair that needs a strong hold
Prefer a matte, textured look
Need your hair to last all day (especially textured updos or half-ups)
Want your style to last a few days
where it fits in your routine
Style on Steroids works best as a finishing spray after styling your hair. You can use it to add volume at the roots, break up curls/ waves, or create effortless texture without stickiness.
Use Style on Steroids last, after you finish styling. You can skip any other shine-enhancing products (like hair oils or shine sprays), but you might want to add hairspray afterwards if you need your style to last all day.
color wow style on steroids texturizing spray FAQ
does style on steroids texturizing spray provide heat protection?
Yes, it does, though you get the best results when you apply it after you finish styling your hair. I still use a heat protectant when I use Style on Steroids, but if I ever have to touch-up my hair mid-day (or after work), I like knowing this helps protect your hair, whereas a lot of traditional texturizing sprays can be drying (especially when they’re hit with heat for styling touch-ups).
does it damage hair?
No, this is one of the more hydrating, natural texturizing sprays that I’ve used. That said, it’s not a treatment and won’t replace your hydrating hair oils or bond repair products.
can you use style on steroids instead of hairspray?
Not really. While Color Wow Style on Steroids Texturizing Spray adds volume and light hold, it’s not designed to lock in a style the way hairspray does. That said, I have fine hair and find that adding hairspray on top of Style on Steroids can sometimes be too heavy.
does it make your hair feel sticky or crunchy?
No. What sets Style on Steroids apart from traditional texturizing sprays is that it is formulated in a way that leaves your hair feeling soft and touchable, not sticky, gritty, or stiff like other texturizing sprays do.
when should you use style on steroids in your routine?
Use it as a finishing step after styling. It works best on dry hair to add volume, separation, and movement.
does style on steroids give hold like a regular texturizing spray?
Not really. It is a much more lightweight texturizing spray, and gives shine rather than heavy grit, so you won’t get the same level of structure and grip that you may be used to. If you need your style to last all day (or multiple days), you may still prefer traditional texturizing spray. See how the results of Style on Steroids compares to normal texturizing spray in my Color Wow Style on Steroids vs Texturizing Spray comparison.
can you use style on steroids with other styling products?
Yes. You can use it after leave-in conditioner, heat protectant, or other prep products (like Dream Coat, another Color Wow favorite).
how does style on steroids texturizing spray compare to color wow dream coat?
Dream Coat Supernatural Spray is probably Color Wow’s most popular product, but it’s completely different from Style on Steroids:
Dream Coat is a pre-styling product that tames frizz, protects against humidity, and makes your hair sleek and shiny. It lasts through 2-3 washes, but requires heat (blow dry) to activate. Choose Dream Coat if you want a sleek blow out or polished look.
Style on Steroids is a post-styling finishing product that adds subtle shine and movable texture. It’s best for beach waves, voluminous curls, and unstructured looks.
