Olaplex was my go-to before I tried K18, and I still stand by it as a product, but I really love that K18 is a leave-in treatment rather than an in-shower mask. Having to let the Olaplex sit for 10 minutes felt like forever, especially when I wasn’t taking an everything shower (you know, the ones where you exfoliate and shave). With K18, you let it sit in your hair for four minutes post-shower to activate, and then, you can style your hair (or just let it air dry like I do).
I’ve found that my hair is softest the next day, so don’t be discouraged if your hair looks or feels the same the day you use it. One last thing: It is pretty pricey, but a little goes a long way. The 5 mL tube I bought has lasted ~five washes, and eventually, K18 can become a maintenance product so you won’t need to use it every time you wash your hair.
Promising review: “My hairdresser had been using this on my hair after every color for the past six or seven months. When I left the salon the first time I couldn’t tell a difference between the two products. However, with continued use, I noticed my hair looked better for longer after the salon. My color faded less. I could go longer between washings because my hair was healthier and required fewer other products applied to it daily. My heat styling was holding days longer because the ends of my hair weren’t splitting as much. K18 is a keeper for me! A fresh trim with color every five weeks, combined with this product has my 50-year-old head of hair looking glossy and youthful.” — polkm
