By reconnecting these polypeptide chains, the mask strengthens along the length and width of the hair, offering a full 360 approach. K18 is not organic because only natural ingredients can be certified organic. K18 uses both natural and synthetic ingredients because we prioritize cleanliness and safety.

With most hair treatments being either conditioners that encase strands in superficial hydration and shine, or repairing treatments that work to patch up damage for temporary results, K18 has broken the hair care mold. Enter: the K18Peptide – a patented molecule that travels to the very innermost layer of your tresses, where it repairs broken bonds and restores hair’s strength and elasticity. Usually, repairing formulas work on the outer structures — the hair bonds. But K18 is the only brand that dreams up products to work on the vertical polypeptide bonds, molecularly changing and repairing the polypeptide chains that have been broken, as well as reconnecting the disulfide bonds. This is biotech hair wizardry for stronger, healthier strands from within. K18 is designed to be used consecutively for 6 washes and then every 3-4 washes to maintain your healthiest hair possible. We do not recommend using K18 Mist or Mask prior to Brazilian or Keratin treatments. However, we do recommend that you use our K18 Mask on your first hair wash after treatment and for 6 consecutive times after.

My honest review of K-18

We recommend applying K18 to clean hair as products can include oils, silicones, and film formers which will act as a barrier and can alter the efficacy of the product. In severe cases of product buildup, it may be necessary to use a clarifying or detoxifying shampoo for best results so that K18 may penetrate into the cortex. Is K18 applied to dry or damp hair?

K18 is more effective when left in. The formula is lightweight and works on the inside of the hair, so the hair is left feeling clean and light, even without rinsing it out. Can I use styling products with K18? In comparison, Olaplex uses patented Olaplex Bond Building Technology ™, that rebuilds broken disulfide bonds to restore strength. The brand's popular weekly pre-shampoo treatment repairs and prevents damage, whereas the K18 mask works to restore your hair to its previous state.Benzyl alcohol is an aromatic alcohol used at 0.5% in the formulas and acts as a preservative. It does not contain ethanol and therefore is used in products that are marketed as alcohol-free. No, the formula is lightweight and works from within the hair so hair is left feeling clean and light. I have used it multiple times since trying it the first time, so yes! I now use it at least once every two weeks. Hannah Westbrook, Assistant Visuals Editor No, K18’s strengthening and smoothing results are clinically proven to remain in hair, even after repeated shampoos. K18Peptide™ is not able to regenerate bonds in the presence of too much water inside the cortex. However, the hair needs to be slightly damp to help with penetration of the product into the hair.

My daily haircare routine consists of a cold shower and letting my hair air dry. That’s it! I’m a big believer in air drying so that your hair curls naturally. I’ll use Moroccan oil shampoo and conditioner three times a week, but I can’t shampoo any more than that, otherwise my hair will become super dry. I’m really a less-is-more kind of hair guy, so it’s safe to say I’ve never done anything like the K18 treatment before. I was so impressed with the K-18 hair care line and noticed improved results almost immediately. My hair was more brushable, it had more shine, it looked healthier and it moved more freely. I noticed after about three uses, my hair started completely changing—like the entire biology of my hair shifted to the point where I felt like I had reversed several year’s worth of damage. I always worry that my hair will feel greasy after using moisturizing products/treatments, but this dries naturally and doesn’t leave any residue. I would say that maybe my hair is too damaged for this to repair, as I did notice it felt softer, but there definitely are still a lot of split ends in there. We highly encourage it. Our hair is not only damaged by color, but from heat, sun, products, water and environmental aggressors. K18 restores your hairs health and reverses any damage, everyone can benefit from K18.When using the K18 Leave-In Molecular Repair Hair Mask, did you follow the directions step-by-step or modify them at all? Javon Ford, a cosmetic chemist who makes his own skin-care products. On Tiktok, he shares his thoughts on popular beauty products to his 152,000-strong following. He is based in Los Angeles. In chemistry, the term “alcohol” is used to describe a broad range of organic compounds. Although the ingredients have “alcohol” in the name, they all behave differently and serve different functions in a formula. Many of them are very different in appearance and function from Denatured or Isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol. The K18 Leave-In Molecular Repair Hair Mask is an award-winning haircare product—it’s been compared to (and is purportedly more effective than) the industry standard, Olaplex’s No. 8 hair mask. K18’s hair mask has even been hailed as a replacement for conditioner. Does it actually work? Four W editors put it to the test, and gave their honest opinions. I was hesitant about not using conditioner and using K18 as a leave-in conditioner instead, but it made my hair feel significantly softer. I like how it is not heavy or does not change the weight of my hair. I still used my hair oil to control frizz, but my hair is naturally on the frizzier side. I saw real results in a short amount of time. I loved it and will continue using it! This size of the bottle is also perfect for traveling this summer. Jenna Wojciechowski, Fashion Market Editor