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The latter is also formulated with amino acids, which help strengthen the hair shaft. My hair isn’t in the worst shape, but the thought of repairing years of bleach damage (under a red gloss) with a leave-in product was too appealing to pass up. Plus, I haven’t had a haircut since early fall, so my usually bouncy hair is starting to look frail and scraggly, which is why a few weeks ago, I decided to give K18 a go. By reconnecting these polypeptide chains, the mask strengthens along the length and width of the hair, offering a full 360 approach. To maintain results in between appointments, Dawson recommends using the full K18 line for at-home maintenance. "I especially love using their Detox Shampoo to achieve a color-safe deep cleanse and the Leave-in Molecular Repair Mask to continue repairing and restoring the hair at home," she says.
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My name is Grace, I'm a beauty writer, and I have been bleaching my hair for years. As a naturally dark brunette, I have been getting blonde highlights for as long as I can remember to help brighten up my lengths. Traveling into the innermost layers of hair, our K18PEPTIDE™ renews strength along the width AND length of hair for lasting strength where it matters. When you consider everything, it doesn't appear that K18 is really a competitor to Olaplex — it's more like something that offers another level of hair restoration.
ingredients
This is why the brand refers to itself as "biomimetic hair care" – biomimetic meaning "mimicking biochemical processes," as it works to restore the hair's original structure. "I also see alcohol listed as a second ingredient on all of these, which can be drying to hair if it is not formulated properly," she points out. K18 works at a deeper level to molecularly change and repair the polypeptide chains that have been broken, as well as reconnecting the disulfide bonds. "K18 replicates the entire structure of these polypeptide chains," says Sahib. "When they break, [K18] goes in there and reconnects them as if they weren't damaged, bringing the chains back to the state that they were before they got chemically damaged. It mimics the structure." In comparison, Olaplex uses patented Olaplex Bond Building Technology™ , that rebuilds broken disulfide bonds to restore strength.
full-size leave-in molecular repair hair mask
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. That information was convincing and compelling enough for me to give it a shot. I started out with a few of their basic products, including their K18 Peptide Prep pH Maintenance Shampoo ($32) which was useful for someone like me who tends to use a ton of products in their hair. This product works deep within the cortex of the hair to heal the hair from the inside out, explains Kaeding. “If there is buildup on the surface of the hair, the peptide will not be able to penetrate and the product will just sit on the surface of the hair,” she says. She recommends a clarifying shampoo like the K18 Peptide Prep Detox Clarifying Shampoo ($34) to anyone who frequently uses dry shampoos, heavy oils or silicones so that the K-18 treatment can work to its optimal abilities.
Unilever to Buy Biotech Hair Care Brand K18 - WWD
Unilever to Buy Biotech Hair Care Brand K18.
Posted: Fri, 22 Dec 2023 08:00:00 GMT [source]
This at-home hair mask has been dubbed a better version of Olaplex—here's my honest thoughts
The mask quickly absorbs into your hair with minimal residue and is very lightweight—moreso than a traditional conditioner or leave-in—making it a great option for finer hair like mine. I had tried pretty much every hair product under the sun before someone recommended K18, the brand that’s beloved by celebrities by the likes of Hailey Bieber, Rihanna and Selena Gomez. I’m not one to fall for a product just because a Hollywood A-lister swears by it, but what caught my attention is the its promise to actually repair damage caused by chemical processing, hair highlighting, sun exposure, heat styling, you name it. One common gripe from professionals and consumers (and also this writer) is that hair-care treatments tend to take up a lot of time and require a fresh shampoo to start. Then, you apply your treatment and wait 10 to 20 minutes for it to take effect before rinsing the product out. Or, if it's something you use after the shower, your entire head has to be saturated with product for it to take effect.
That being said, I definitely use less of the K18 mask on my hair, so I do get more for my money. I had used Olaplex and various other brands for a long time, but I was ready to switch things up and try something new. Dubbed a better version of Olaplex, and used by the likes of Hailey Bieber and Rihanna, this mask has got somewhat of a celebrity status in the beauty world. It's worth noting that the brand recommends working it into the hair from the ends to the roots, however I did actually avoid the roots at first as I was worried about them looking (and feeling) greasy.
alix earle’s favorite dry shampoo for odor + oily hair
Keep reading to learn more about K18’s recently launched leave-in-mist. I’ve been using K18 for a few weeks now—every wash for four washes at first, as recommended by the brand, then about once a week—and the difference is pretty noticeable. My hair feels soft and smooth, and looks bouncier and healthier, especially when I blow it out.
Most bond builders make the outer structure of the hair — the hair cuticle — look smooth, glossy, and less damaged. As for the vertical polypeptide chains, though, they cannot be patched or "glued" together, which is where K18 comes in. As a mid-30-something who’s been coloring her hair blonde since middle school, you better believe my strands have seen their fair share of damage. Spending three hours in a salon chair every 2-3 months as my stylist sandwiches my hair in between tin foils to essentially fry it under a heat lamp has resulted in more split ends than I know what to do with.
i noticed there’s alcohol in the formula, isn’t that bad for you?
I have to admit, when it first landed on my desk, I was pretty sceptical. Unlike other hair masks, this is a leave-in formula that you don't rinse out. The idea of leaving a bond-repairing treatment in my hair had me feeling uneasy.
In fact, you don’t want to overdo it and use more product than you need. “Since K18 works deep within the cortex of the hair, whatever is not absorbed into this area will just sit on the surface of the hair,” explains Kaeding. “This could cause the hair to feel a little weighed down.” She recommends using just 1-2 pumps for short hair and 2-3 for longer hair.
Yusef notes that great hair starts with healthy hair and recommends the treatment to anyone, particularly those looking to reverse damage from heat, chemical services, and bleach. Celebrity colorist and co-owner of New York’s Mark Ryan Salon, Mark DeBolt—who is not affiliated with the brand—is also a fan of the mask as well as K18’s salon-only mist. He says he loves the mask in particular for his clients who are trying to grow out their hair, or who lighten with highlights. The K18 hair treatment is meant to work from the very first use, so it was time for me to give it a go. After using a detox shampoo to remove any product buildup throughout the week, I followed the instructions on the back of the bottle and skipped my usual conditioner in favour of the mask. The bottle says to towel dry your hair after showering, then apply the mask and wait for four minutes before styling.
Ford further explains that K18's bond builder is based on short chains of amino acids (peptides) that are already present in the hair, so it's a different mechanism. "No studies have been done comparing the two, so the best approach is to try both out and see if your hair likes it and whether or not you notice a difference versus using a nice hair mask," he notes. As any blonde knows, the coloring process is anything but short, but I was surprised at how quick the mist application was. "It sprays easily onto the hair and works in just four minutes, with no extra rinse required," Bell explains. "[The mist] is delivered at a higher pH than the [at-home Molecular Repair Mask] to ensure optimal delivery at the molecular level." I’m pretty skeptical when it comes to viral products—it’s practically my job to wade through what actually works and what’s B.S., but trust me when I say K18 is very much worth the hype.
Professionals within the US will also be able to shop directly from K18hair.com starting early 2021! The texture was similar to the Olaplex No.3 Hair Perfector, and I liked the fact that the bottle had a pump, making it a lot easier to get the product out. I have very thick, naturally curly hair, so I applied a good 3-4 pumps to the ends. Although the technology is seriously impressive, it's worth considering the difference in size and price. Look at it this way, you can get 100ml of the Olaplex No.3 Hair Perfector for £28, whereas the K18 mask will set you back £55 for 50ml.
"This product has truly given me the freedom to push my limits as a stylist," she says. The pro is such a fan of the two-step system that she now makes it a part of every salon service she does "because [every client] wants healthier hair." While the mist is strictly reserved for salon professionals (you’ll have to ask your colorist if they can include it in your service), I’ve heard nothing but rave reviews about the brand's professional-grade products. So, in the name of amping up my blonde hair, I was eager to let Dawson work her magic with the mist.
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