Drybar The Morning After Shower Cap

All of my fellow redheads who need a bit of chemical assistance understand me on this one: being a redhead is tough, expensive, and time-consuming.  Unlike blondes and brunettes who can easily go 8-12 weeks between trips to the salon, based on their cut and how fast their hair grows, by week 4, the luster has already significantly faded from my red locks.

But what does this have to do with an expensive shower cap?  Stay with me, readers.

One of the most critical things with getting your hair dyed red is avoiding fading as long as possible.  Prolonging the time before the first wash as long as possible after visiting the salon is one of the best ways to do that.  So is not washing your hair every day.  If you take a shower; however, keeping your hair dry is easier said than done.  Especially if your hair is long.

Enter my quest for a good shower cap.  We've all seen ladies wearing less-than-chic and less-than-waterproof caps outside.  I wanted to avoid that as much as possible.  I also live by the motto of "buy once, but buy good" for most things.  And shockingly enough, it's actually hard to find a shower cap these days!

Enter Drybar's The Morning After Shower Cap.  Stock photo via Sephora:

The genius about this shower cap is that it has two distinct layers.

The outside of this shower cap is thick, waterproof vinyl with a pretty yellow pattern:

I can attest that it really is waterproof.

The genius of this cap is the inner layer.  It's white terrycloth.

That's what actually touches your hair and your skin.  It absorbs any water that may come near the cap, and further helps to keep everything dry.  The terry acts as a sponge, keeping all moisture off of your pinned-up locks.

I didn't detect any smell from the time that I took it out of the box, and I allow it to dry outside of the shower, on a doorknob. If necessary, it can be washed.  After using it heavily for one week and at least 1-2 times a week for the next few, it's still in great condition, no signs of mildew, and going strong.

Yes, $15 for a shower cap is hefty. However, I consider this the answer to a problem I've been struggling with for years.

It's available exclusively at Sephora.

Drybar Detox Dry Shampoo

Dry shampoo is one of those items that has always sounded like a great idea for me, but I've struggled to figure out how to use it in real life.  I've worked my way through a series of failed flings with dry shampoo, but may have landed on a winning formula with Drybar's Detox Dry Shampoo.

I've briefly discussed my hair on this blog before, but let me refresh your memory since it's been a few months.  I have long, straight, fine color-treated hair- and a lot of it.  I dye my hair red (I'm not telling if I'm a natural redhead or another color!), so naturally it fades very quickly.  One of the top tricks that I've come across is both delaying the initial wash following when I get my hair dyed, and also shampooing less often.

I may know it's bad, but I grew up having to wash my hair daily because I'd sweat in my sleep and would end up with oily hair.  Over the past year, I've made a dedicated effort to wash my hair far less often.  Enter dry shampoo.

In full disclosure, I purchased the Detox Dry Shampoo as a part of the Morning After Kit at Sephora only because the store was out of the shower cap alone- the real reason I was in the store (review to follow).

Detox Dry Shampoo retails for $20 for 3.5oz, and comes in two versions: original and brunette.  The Morning After Kit (LE) retails for $35 and includes Detox Dry Shampoo and The Morning After Shower Cap. 

Here's the rear of the can:

Ingredient-hawks, you can find the full list here.  I verified that the list on the site matches that on the back of the can exactly.

This is an aerosol, with a large nozzle:

Now, let's talk about the dry shampoo:

The directions state to shake extremely well, then spray 2-4 inches from roots and gently blend.  I tried this two mornings recently when I was running late for work. 

In both cases, I shook the can for a good 3 minutes or so (hey, I listen to extremely), then applied a good 2 inches from my roots.  I applied a healthy amount since I have a lot of hair and blended.

In both trials, I also brought pins/hair ties to put my hair up if it felt greasy by mid-day.  Shockingly, I never felt the need to do so!  It took me a bit longer to do my hair since I did more of a real blowout in each section prior to flat ironing my hair.  Still, it was faster than washing and drying my hair that morning.

It applied clear and blended with my hair, which is a plus. Other dry shampoos that I've tried have left me looking like I have dandruff.  By a mile, this is my best experience with a dry shampoo.  I wouldn't use it on a regular basis, but it's great to have on-hand for a pinch.

Drybar Full Pint Medium Round Brush

I previously mentioned wanting to try this in a Sunday Dreaming post; a recent Sephora discount code made me make the leap.  Other than my other recent Drybar acquisition, it's been at least six years since I bought a full-sized brush so I was due.

This is the larger of the two round brushes that Sephora stocks from Drybar. I figured it was the size I was seeking for my actual blowout, so I took a deep breath and ordered it (despite it being more expensive).

According to Drybar, it's the ceramic in the brush that heats up and makes for the perfect blowout.  I've been using this brush about a month, and when I have time to do it right, I really enjoy it.  Admittedly, at 5AM I usually don't take the time.

I find that this brush works well and I can eliminate any further styling of my hair when I take the time to blow it out in sections.  This creates a lovely, natural look that I'd love to have the ability to recreate on a daily basis. In the name of time management, it's not so practical with my hair that resists drying like nobody's business.

Bottom Line: There are probably cheaper alternatives that create a similar final look. However, as infrequently as I buy brushes, this works for me. if you're looking for high-quality tools and don't mind the pricepoint, I recommend looking into Drybar's brushes.  I'm quite happy with the two that I have.

Pricing/Availability: $40, via Sephora, Drybar, or QVC.

Drybar Lemon Drop Daily Detangler Brush

I'm an admitted beauty junkie, but that doesn't normally extend to hair styling tools.  I have a trusty blow dryer (which I picked up at Marshalls), I received a Chi flat iron for this past Christmas, and have been nursing one singular large curling iron for years.  I have a couple of brushes that I adore that I bought at Walmart at least a decade ago.

So what drove me to pick up this brush?

Truth told, I've heard such great things about Drybar and their tools (I'm going to make it to a location for a blowout one of these days!) that this seemed like an inexpensive way of sampling the line.  At $15, it's the least expensive tool carried by Sephora.


I've been playing with this brush for a few days, and I can see a real difference.  My hair doesn't tangle as often, and getting the knots out is much easier. 

Admittedly, I'm a sucker for the bright yellow handle.  Drybar claims that this conditions and shines and that it's designed for brushing out extensions or clip-ins.  I have below shoulder-length, straight hair.

This is about the same length as my Tivo remote.  I didn't take a comparison shot, but it's just a nice, comfortable size.

The only downside?  I want to try some of the round brushes ($35-40) now.