I TRIED K18, THE BETTER-THAN-OLAPLEX MASK, AND IT SAVED MY DAMAGED HAIR
I'm a curly-haired girly, and my strands have undergone several phases through the years. First, there was the straight-hair-obsessed phase of my younger years. The only power tools in my beauty arsenal then were my flat iron and blow dryer (the heat damage was REAL). Then after finally accepting that curly hair is a gift, not a curse, I leaned into masks, serums, shampoos for my hair type and best frizzy hair products to hydrate my dry curls. At this point, I'd mastered the curly-girl technique, but wanted a break from my brunette roots.
Two summers ago, still obsessed with mainstream hair trends, I wanted nothing more than to achieve the sun-kissed, blonde balayage look. I fully committed to the balayage process, returning to the salon every three months to get my blonde strands beautified and lightened. I rocked the blonde look for a year and a half before realizing that my curls weren't quite as full, bouncy or hydrated, due to all the color damage they'd undergone.
When my hair colorist told me about K18, a leave-in hair mask with a one-of-a-kind peptide technology that revives hair damaged by heat and color, I knew it was time to return to my brunette roots and give K18 a whirl. It's an Amazon beauty deal that transformed my hair for the better. After all, hair that is happy and healthy is the most beautiful.
What is K18?
K18 is a leave-in molecular repair mask (emphasis on leave-in) that strengthens, soothes and hydrates heat- and color-damaged hair. And it only takes four minutes after combing it through clean, wet hair to work its magic. The catch, however, is that K18 only works on unconditioned hair. Meaning, you're supposed to skip the conditioner after shampooing your scalp to reap the benefits.
Unlike other hair masks, K18 uses a patented peptide technology, meaning it's a high-concentrate formula that targets hair molecules to give you the healthiest, bounciest strands of your life. And yes, it's 100% safe to use at home. Amazon and Sephora reviewers are raving about its speedy technology that instantly transforms strands from stringy to strong and bouncy—regardless of hair type.
Lots of people compare the treatment to Olaplex Hair Perfector No. 3, a cult-favorite product I used for a year prior to testing K18. When my colorist told me K18 was like Olaplex but with more advanced technology, I knew it was time to put it to the test.
How we tested it
Because I only wash my hair once or twice per week (once is ideal, but sometimes my strands need some TLC before then), I planned a hair-wash day at the beginning of the week and got to work on my K18 test. I brushed out my hair, which had undergone some heat damage from straightening it the week prior, and hopped in the shower for a full rinse and shampoo.
While it's recommended to use a clarifying shampoo before using K18 to remove buildup, I didn't have one handy. Instead, I lathered my scalp with the Aveda Color Conserve Shampoo, which I use once per week to protect my fresh brunette color from a recent dye job. Now, I won't lie. I seriously debated using conditioner after I rinsed my scalp from the shampoo. The reason being, I hate the texture of my hair when it's not properly moisturized or conditioned (who doesn't?). I gave my conditioner a long stare, thought about the consequences and put all my strength into my K18 hair mask to save my brittle strands.
After giving my head a thorough rinse, I squeezed out the water and dried my hair with a clean T-shirt (I prefer using a clean, extra-large T-shirt over a towel to protect my curls from frizz, caused by the friction of drying with normal bath towels). Because my hair didn't have conditioner, I carefully brushed through it, roots to ends, until it wasn't a tangled mess. After squeezing out the excess water in my hair once more, it was time to apply the K18 hair mask.
I started with one full pump of K18, combing and scrunching it through one half of my hair from middle to ends. I applied another full pump of K18 to the other half of my hair. To top it off, I applied a third and final pump, paying extra attention to my roots and ends.
After letting it sit for four minutes and applying the Laneige lip mask in the meantime, I saw my curls start coming back to life—although they were still damp, so it was hard to glean any visible results. While there's no recommended way to dry your hair with K18, I'm a firm believer that the drying technique you use has a significant impact on your end result—regardless of the products you use. I prefer the plopping method, so I threw my hair up in a T-shirt for 20 minutes before letting it air-dry.
One hour later, my hair finished air-drying, and I could already tell how much fuller and stronger it felt before taking a look in the mirror. Much to my delight, my hair looked—and felt—stronger, happier and healthier than ever.
K18 product features
Pros
- Holds hair like a gel and moisturizes like a cream
- Takes just two to three pumps to soak in, making the bottle last for months
- Takes just four minutes to activate (no rinse needed)
- No conditioner needed in the wash cycle—K18 is that strong!
- Formulated for all hair types, working particularly well on medium and thick hair
- Patented peptide technology sets it apart from standard hair masks
- Silicone-free
- Clean and cruelty-free
Cons
- On the pricey side
- Because K18 applies to unconditioned wet hair, pay extra care and attention when brushing your hair
FAQ
Is K18 organic?
No, K18 isn't organic. It uses natural and synthetic ingredients for the peptide to soak into hair. K18 has a blend of fewer than 15 ingredients. While it's not quite organic, the brand notes it's clean, cruelty-free and formulated without silicones.
Why can't I condition my hair before using K18?
I know, I know. It's really difficult to withhold the urge to condition hair before using K18, especially if you have dry and damaged hair. The reason conditioner is a big no-no is because K18 can't penetrate the hair cuticle to fix the keratin bonds when conditioner is present.
How often should K18 be used?
Experts recommend using K18 for six consecutive washes when starting out. From there, use it every two to four washes, depending on how often you wash your hair. If washing once per week (like curly-haired me), I recommend using it every wash.
What shampoo do you use with K18?
Any shampoo is safe to use with K18. Reviewers have found that they experience the best results after using a clarifying shampoo. I recommend using a silicone-free clarifying shampoo at least once per week to remove oil and buildup before using K18.
Can you use K18 on colored hair?
Reviewers with color-treated hair have found that K18 is safe to use on colored and highlighted hair. (I've used it on my dark brunette-dyed hair, and it hasn't dulled the appearance of my color or lightened it.)
What other reviewers have to say
K18 has more than 3,600 Amazon ratings and an average of 4.4 out of five stars. Here's what other reviewers have to say about it:
Verified Amazon purchaser, Christia Brown, writes, "Just finished bleaching my hair and used K18, and goodbye Olaplex! Olaplex never really worked for me anyway, and K18 does! Hair is beyond soft, I've got zero breakage and I've bleached my hair for over two decades."
"I was slightly skeptical about using such a small amount of product following a wash with a detox (clarifying shampoo)," shares Linda, a five-star reviewer. "My hair is normally a rat's nest without conditioner. I applied the product, ends to roots, thoroughly working it into the strands, and waited the full four minutes. My hair was so much healthier. The difference with one treatment convinced me to purchase a full size."
One Sephora reviewer attests to its powerful technology. "My colorist recommended this to me in the salon before Sephora even carried it," they share. "She said it was invented by the same people who made Olaplex, and that this was another level above Olaplex, so I decided to try it. I'll never go back! My hair was super bleach fried, heat damaged, dry dry dry. I have really thick and long hair and use just three pumps. My hair comes out so soft and bouncy."
Final verdict
I'm still on my curly-girl journey to revive my hair from all the heat and color damage it's undergone in recent months. And I'm thrilled to have K18 in my beauty arsenal to help revive my curls. The peptide technology of K18 is unlike any other hair product I have. The investment in this mask is absolutely worth it.
Plus, it doubles as a leave-in conditioner, hair gel and cream all in one without needing to layer on extra products. Whether you have straight, curly, wavy hair—or a mix of the three—K18 is for every hair type with more heat and color damage than they care to admit.
Where to buy K18
If you're ready for the best hair of your life, the K18 molecular leave-in hair mask is available on Amazon, Walmart and Sephora for $75. This is one splurge you'll thank yourself for.
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The post I Tried K18, the Better-Than-Olaplex Mask, and It Saved My Damaged Hair appeared first on Reader's Digest.
2022-06-20T16:51:05Z dg43tfdfdgfd