TRIED & TESTED: 'This product extends my hair wash by 5 days and I have the photos to prove it.'

Beyond sunscreen, retinol and a full-coverage concealer, there's not a lot of beauty products I'd personally call non-negotiables.

Except for one (especially when I'm travelling) - dry shampoo.

As someone who gets oily roots pretty quickly after shampooing (we all have our curses), a good, hard-working dry shampoo is as much of a must-have in my thick, oily hair routine as my shampoo and conditioner.

Watch: Have you tried this 60-second hair hack? Post continues below.

So when I spotted some of my most trusted beauty influencers raving about an $85 dry shampoo a few weeks back, my interest was *highly* piqued.

How could anyone justify 85 bucks for a DRY SHAMPOO when my $20 drugstore one worked just fine?!

So I tried it. And, my mind was blown.

Keep scrolling to find out why — unfortunately for my bank account — this dry shampoo is worth every damn cent.

Bold statement, I know, but I mean that with my whole chest. It's unreal.

What is the K18 dry shampoo?

The K18 Airwash dry shampoo is a non-aerosol dry shampoo that us basically three hair products in one:

A dry shampoo that absorbs oil FAST, a styling product that delivers instant volume, plus a miracle-worker that extends your wash days (more on how long it extended mine later, but it was wild).

You've probably seen every human and their dog talking about it on your socials, because it needs to be seen to be believed.

@brittney_saunders My honest thoughts and first impressions of the viral K18 Airwash Dry Shampoo, who better to try it out than the girl with the oiliest hair in the world? All I can say is WHAT IS THIS SORCERY! Tbh surely it’s just alcohol spray? It’s got my tick of approval ✅ #dryshampoo ♬ original sound - Brittney Saunders

K18 dry shampoo benefits.

What sets this dry shampoo apart from a drugstore dry shampoo?

Everything and then some. And that's coming from someone who has been loyal to her drugstore dry shampoos for over 20 years!!

• Clinically eliminates odours, reduces oil and keeps working for up to three days

• Highly concentrated so you can go longer between washes (mine was even MORE)

• Features newly patented odorBIND™ smart-release biotechnology that recognises and captures odour-causing sweat and oil molecules and eliminates them, replacing the odour with a subtle, easily layered fragrance

• Helps balance scalp and control excess oil production over time

• Leaves hair feeling and looking clean, deeply cleanses without heavy buildup

My K18 dry shampoo review.

My new favourite dry shampoo. Image: Supplied.

I never thought I could justify spending over thirty bucks on a dry shampoo. Before using this one, I remember saying this.

Now? I dare you to try and claw it out of my hands.

I used it for the first time when my bestie visited from Melbourne; we we spent days out galivanting and eating our way around Sydney.

On the fourth day of her trip, I realised I hadn't washed my hair for five days;.

I stopped in my tracks and said to her "Oh my god, my hair still looks freshly washed, styled, still full of body and not oily because of the K18 dry shampoo!!!"

That's when I knew this was magic in a bottle. Now, it makes total sense why it keeps selling out.

From greasy roots to great hair day! Images: Supplied.

OK, but does the K18 dry shampoo leave a white cast or powdery residue, you ask?

As someone with jet black hair, I had accepted my fate that EVERY dry shampoo I use will leave a small trace, BUT NOT THIS ONE PEOPLE. Again - magic. Wizardry!

The volume it delivers is certainly also a converting factor for me, but the added bonus of the invisible finish is also worth the price-tag for me.

Tips for how to use the K18 dry shampoo.

This innovative airwash formula makes it unlike other dry shampoos, so pay attention to the instructions:

• Shake well and make sure you hold the bottle four to six inches away from the scalp for even distribution

• The non-aerosol format may feel slightly damp on your hair, but it will not disturb your style

• Section hair and apply just one spray per section. Less is more. Add only as needed.

Massage in and brush or style as usual

If the hair feels gritty or powdery, you may have applied too much product. Brush hair to distribute the product, or reset hair with an in-shower shampoo.

Listen: Leigh Campbell shares her best tips for oily hair, post continues below.

Final verdict…

Short version: Instantly good hair day in a bottle. 20/10 - no notes.

Longer version:

This made my greasy, limp, fifth-day hair feel brand new (and no weird dirty hair day smell either - quadruple win).

For people like me with lots of hair, wash days feel like a chore you constantly put off, so this is not only a game-changer for oily, dirty hair days, but also for adding instant volume and style to locks.

For the sceptics (ah, that was me once, and by once I mean two weeks ago before I tried it) trust me, I get it.

$85 for a dry shampoo sounds outrageous. And here I am today, refusing to ever be without it.

Feature Images: Supplied.

This article originally appeared on Adore Beauty's Beauty IQ and has been republished with full permission.