Editor’s Note: I’ve never cared a ton about my hair. Usually, I throw it back in a bun or douse it in dry shampoo. But lately, I’ve noticed my hair is breaking a little more than usual - and by a little more, I mean a lot more. After getting hit with a bunch of Instagram ads, I tried Olaplex. But after it fell short, I decided to give K18 a shot.
Before K18 - AKA, using Olaplex
I’m a big fan of bleach, coloring, and heat styling my hair, but that comes with damage - the worst being breakage.
After weeks of my shower drain getting clogged with big clumps of hair, I ordered Olaplex hoping for a quick fix. Olaplex is an instant hair mask that works to repair damaged and broken hair bonds from the inside out.
Their site has so many options, I didn’t even know where to start. I scanned their product reviews to see what was best. The hottest recommendations suggested that I start with No. 0 and No. 3 to repair my hair.
I was super excited to restore my hair to its former glory ASAP, but then discovered it was not nearly as quick as I’d hoped – or desperately needed.
First I had to apply Olaplex’s No. 0 to my dry hair and leave it in for 10 minutes. Then had to go back in and follow it with the No. 3 which also required that it be left in for another 10 minutes.
After 20 long minutes stuck in the bathroom, I rinsed, shampooed, and conditioned until finally I was out of the shower and could move on to styling my hair. For all the time it took, I was expecting to see major results but ultimately my hair was still fried-looking – maybe a stitch smoother and silkier.
After spending $16 for the mini version ($56 for the full), the lackluster results were a letdown. NEXT!
I saw a few articles comparing Olaplex and K18 - which reverses hair damage in just 4 minutes - and I couldn’t believe it. Could I really spend 1/5th of the time I did with Olaplex for possibly better results? I had to find out.
As I read more and more reviews from real users, and even pro stylists (I was not getting ripped off again!) I could see how much people were loving their results from K18’s Leave-In Molecular Repair Hair Mask. Like stronger, softer, smoother, and bouncier that lasts AND gets better with continued use? It doesn’t get better than that.
Although I’d been burned by Olaplex, I still intend to apply heat and dye my hair as I pleased, so I went ahead and ordered K18.
After K18
K18 uses biomimetic technology to restore broken disulfide bonds (what Olaplex does) AND broken keratin chains in the innermost layers of hair. The secret is in their unique, patented K18PEPTIDE™ which mimics hair’s natural structure, so it's recognized as natural for lasting results (unlike Olaplex which washes away).
I knew the science was legit, but how would K18 work for me and my routine? Well, since K18 repairs on the molecular level (where all hair is the same), it actually works for all hair types—one less thing to worry about!
The directions sounded easy enough, so I hopped in the shower. I shampooed my hair, skipped the conditioner, and jumped out. I towel dried my hair ‘til it was damp and added about 2 pumps (this highly-concentrated formula means you need wayyy less than a traditional mask, which I love). Trust me, a little goes a long way.
Then, I only had to wait 4 minutes before I could start styling. I didn’t have to get back in the shower or even rinse!
After using the Leave-In Molecular Hair Repair Mask after 2-3 washes, my hair had less breakage and finally felt strong, soft, and bouncy after so long. Even my lazy girl buns look so much healthier!
After using it for 4-6 washes, I switched to maintenance mode and used the Leave-In Molecular Repair Hair Mask every 4 washes. The full-size 50ml bottle I got has up to 50 uses, so this $75 treatment will last me a long time.
Thanks to K18, I can bleach, color, and heat style my hair without worrying about damage! My hair looks and feels so much healthier, it’s quickly become a staple in my haircare routine.
If you haven’t given K18 a try, order your mask now! Your hair will thank you.
