As much as I love my hair—and as much of a defining trait as it has become for me over the years—it’s not exactly easy to care for. My fine strands are particularly prone to looking oily and weighed down within 24 hours of washing, but as a color-treated redhead, I have to be careful about how much I wash my hair because it’s the pigment known for fading the fastest. So, like I said, it’s a bit of a feat caring for this mane of mine.
Thankfully, dry shampoo exists. With it by my side, I’ve trained my hair to be washed every third day, effectively prolonging the lifespan of my color treatments. Still, I’m always on the lookout for new and improved products and practices that can make caring for my finicky strands just a bit easier. Needless to say, when I caught wind of the new Oribe Serene Scalp Oil Control launch, I was all ears.
The collection consists of three products: the Oribe Serene Scalp Oil Control Shampoo ($52), Oribe Serene Scalp Oil Control Treatment Mist ($58), and Oribe Serene Scalp Oil Control Dry Shampoo Powder ($46). Where the shampoo and treatment mist are designed to be used during and directly after washing, the dry shampoo powder is meant for a next-day refresh.
Benefits of the Oribe Serene Scalp Oil Control Collection
While oil-control shampoos and dry shampoo powder aren’t exactly revolutionary, I was intrigued by Oribe’s new triple-threat collection for a few reasons. For starters, I’ve never tried an Oribe product that I didn’t enjoy the look or scent of. So from the get-go, at the very least, I knew that this trio, which is housed in lilac packaging, would smell heavenly and add a chic element to my shower and vanity.
Scent and looks aside, the ingredients within these formulas stood out. All three of the products feature the Oribe Signature Complex (comprised of Watermelon, Lychee and Edelweiss Flower, which work together to fight off oxidative stress and prevent color fade, as well as the overall deterioration of strands) at the helm. The Shampoo and Treatment Mist are infused with a Biome Balancing Complex (made of rosebay extract and green marine algae) to “regulate and rebalance the scalp’s microbiome to reduce excess sebum and oil.” The dry shampoo powder also features rosebay extract (but not the Biome Balancing Complex as a whole). It’s also packed with a specialty blend of rice, corn, and tapioca starches to adequately absorb excess oil at the roots, as well as down the strands.
Another thing that caught my eye? The consumer study the brand conducted on the Shampoo and Treatment Mist, specifically. After surveying 101 women, they found that after one application of the shampoo and mist regimen, 91 percent felt their scalp was less oily for 72 hours after use, while 90 percent felt their hair was cleaner at the roots after just one use. Meanwhile, after using the shampoo and mist regimen at least three times in 10 days, they found that 90 percent saw a noticeable reduction of oiliness in hair and scalp. Okay, sold.
My honest opinion
After testing out Oribe’s new trio for the past couple of weeks, I have some thoughts. The Shampoo works well to fully cleanse my hair and make it smell fabulous, while the Treatment Mist gives it a refreshing scent and feel. (While the product label doesn’t mention rosemary or spearmint, those are the whiffs that I get—and it reminds me of my late grandpa’s aftershave growing up, so I’m wholeheartedly a fan.) Something I’ve noticed about the Treatment Mist, though, is that, if I don’t blow-dry my hair after spritzing it and massaging it into my scalp and strands (which is what it says to do), once dry, my roots already look a bit built-up with product—they have that slightly oily sheen. That said, if I blow-dry my roots post-spritz, my hair literally looks professionally blown out. I’m interested in seeing if the results change the longer I use it.
Now: The mane event. The product that absolutely wows me from this collection is the Dry Shampoo Powder—which honestly surprised me. I’m not typically a fan of dry shampoo powder because 1) it’s harder to apply with precision than its spray-on counterparts, 2) it often leaves a white cast, and 3) it tends to have a powdery scent. While the Oribe Serene Scalp Oil Control Dry Shampoo Powder is a bit tricky to apply (it comes in an aluminum tube with a screw-on top, beneath which is a tiny hole that, when shaken, disperses product), once it soaks into strands, the results are truly jaw-dropping. My hair looks fully refreshed, not to mention infused with volume and imparted with a feathery-soft sheen. Oh, and did I mention it smells incredible?
Pro Tip: The trick with this dry shampoo powder is to let it sit on your strands for two to three minutes before brushing it through from roots to ends. I tried doing so both immediately and after waiting the recommended period of time, and can attest to the difference it makes to exercise a little patience.
Suffice to say, Oribe’s new trio has earned a steady spot in my hair-care lineup. I’d love to see the dry shampoo powder packaging transitioned to a spritzer squeeze bottle (like the Verb Dry Shampoo Powder) but considering the truly stellar results, I’ll make do with a few stray shakes (and I’ll be sure to apply it before putting on anything dark or black, because it definitely showed up on my royal purple sweatshirt when I tested it the first time).
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