Tried and tested by A-listers Hailey Bieber, Selena Gomez and Khloe Kardashian, the K18 Molecular Repair Hair Mask is one to pick up for smooth locks.
If you are passionate about hair, the name K18 probably sounds familiar. The American brand is toted by celebrities like Hailey Beiber, Selena Gomez, Rhianna and even Khole Kardashian. Its popularity stems from its molecular formula that repairs hair internally and all in four minutes!
You've likely heard of K18 and its range of molecular-repair products that have gone viral across social media since it launched in 2020. In particular, its Leave-In Molecular Repair Hair Mask, which counts Hailey Bieber and Selena Gomez among its fans.
“Lots of hair masks I think are really important,” Kardashian told Allure, giving K18 a special shoutout as the brand she uses to keep her hair strong and healthy.
There might be a coating of product, sebum, oil, or metal + mineral buildup preventing our biomimetic peptide from penetrating your hair. Try using the K18 detox shampoo to clear buildup and make sure to skip conditioner before applying the K18 mask.
Comparing K18 and Olaplex depends on your hair's needs. K18 is best for internal repair, while Olaplex repairs and rebuilds disulfide bonds, making it a good option for overall strength and resilience. Both products are suitable for all hair types. The choice depends on hair type and desired outcome.
There might be a coating of product, pollution, hard water, and/or sebum buildup preventing our biomimetic peptide from penetrating your hair. Try using a detox shampoo and don't forget to skip conditioner, clearing the path for our peptide. Warm up the product in your hands to help evenly distribute + use less.
When starting out with K18 we suggest using the mask for 4-6 washes consecutively for progressive results. After those initial washes, you can go into maintenance mode and use it as needed. If that's every wash that's fine, every other wash, once a week, or a few times a month.
Why do you skip conditioner? K18 is most effective on clean, towel dried hair. Conditioner formulas use silicones and conditioning agents that form heavy coatings on hair that prevent K18 Peptide from penetrating to the broken disulfide bonds within the cortex.
Regular masking
Healthy hair = shiny hair, and the former is much easier to achieve when you're conditioning your tresses on the regular. "While most stars [like Kardashian] need to be made up in hair and makeup most days, they spend their off days allowing their hair to soak up a hair mask," explains Atkin.
That's what you can expect after 2-3 uses of K18. K18 was engineered to renew hair to a like new state, reinstating hair's core strength + elasticity in the innermost layers. So your hair may or may not look like that viral TikTok transformation you saw. You will experience the most dramatic results.
If the product you received is overly thick, sticky, watery, or has a harsh chemical smell, it's likely a fake. Batch Codes and Serial Numbers: Each authentic K18 product includes a batch code and serial number that can be verified with K18 customer support.
The K18PEPTIDE™ is clinically proven to repair damage from bleach + color, chemical services and heat* – with immediate and lasting results to restore strength, softness, smoothness and bounce to hair.
I'll bring you the positives first. My hair felt instantly thicker and a lot stronger. The volume was long-lasting, even after styling. I could tell that my strands were so much more resilient during straightening and I wasn't terrified that my hair would totally snap off, thanks to the bleach.
use around 3 pumps if…
If this sounds like your mane, between 2.5 to 3 pumps is going to be your sweet spot–but don't be tempted to go beyond that amount. As noted above, this mask is special because it's highly concentrated, which means it *is* possible to go overboard and weigh hair down with too much.
To use it, start with just one pump of the full-sized K18 mask (3 pumps of the mini K18 mask) and work it evenly into hair from ends to roots. Only add more as needed—this is a highly-concentrated formula, so you'll need way less than traditional masks or even conditioner.
Use 2-3 drops of the K18 Molecular Repair Hair Oil on wet hair. Once hair is brushed through, work 2-3 drops of oil into your hands and then pat onto ends and work up to mid-length and roots. And yes, K18 says you can use this regime every day if you're a daily hair-washer (although, it might be pricey).
Before applying K18 to your hair, it's important to make sure your strands are thoroughly detangled. This will help the treatment to evenly distribute through your hair and maximize its efficacy. To detangle your hair, you can use a wide-tooth comb or your fingers.
The way you apply the hair treatment is vital in getting the best results. Apply product to hair in sections, use a wide tooth comb to work product through evenly (avoid tugging or pulling your hair with your hands to remove knots). Most importantly, the K18 mask is designed to leave in for four minutes before styling.
After shampooing, you just hop out of the shower, towel-dry your hair and apply the treatment. After four minutes, you have the green light to style your hair how you normally would. The K18 experts recommend using it four to six times in a row when starting out, then every three to four washes as needed.
K18 is a highly concentrated formula, so a little goes a long way. We recommend following our dosage chart to find the optimal amount for your hair type. K18 should be used consecutively for 6 washes. After that, use every 3-4 washes to maintain the integrity of hair's health.
For most people, a little bit will go a long way, and using too much can actually weigh hair down or leave it feeling greasy. So, it's important to use just the right amount.
Although the formula doesn't explicitly regrow hair, you can experience improvements if there is underlying damage. The masks and mists improve the internal hair structure using molecular technology, so thinning caused by chemical and heat damage can be treated with K18.
We recommend using this for the first 4-6 washes after noticing hair damage (breakage, split ends, dryness, dullness) or after color and chemical services in the salon. After that, switch to the daily protection routine to maintain hair health in between K18 mask days, and use the detox shampoo + K18 mask weekly.