this is the best way to use it imo,
swab it onto your finger, then mix around the tips of fingers of both hands, run through hair repeatedly until it is workable (so like 2-3 swabs depending on hair length/swab size)
after i've achieved the desired look, i take a DRY towel and i gently rub my hair against it, like i'm drying my hair but not as hard. this takes away a part of the shinyness, but still leaves hair workable.
this is just my method anyway~