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As a curly girl, my hair care routine is crucial, so much so that I dedicate time to it every week. I often spend at least an hour in the shower washing, detangling and conditioning my hair before even styling and drying. And since I have low porosity hair (meaning moisture doesn’t like to stay), it’s essential for me to keep the conditioner on my strands longer (sometimes up to at 30 minutes) before rinsing them. So when I heard about the K18 Leave-In Hair Mask, I thought it was a joke. Could a hair mask really work its magic in four minutes without rinsing, especially on dry, color-treated curls? I decided to find out for myself. Here is my honest review after using it for a month.
What is K18 leave-in hair mask?
This leave-in treatment promises to repair damage in four minutes. The formula contains behentrimonium chloride, which is an ingredient that our friends at Brydie say “reduces frizz and adds shine,” as well as wheat protein to help strengthen strands, reduce breakage, and improve hair. general appearance of your hair. But the mask’s star ingredient is its peptide technology, which aims to repair damage caused to hair by bleaching, coloring, chemical treatments, heat, and daily wear and tear. According to the brand, the peptides can “reach the innermost layers of hair and reconnect the broken keratin chains responsible for hair strength and elasticity.” With continued use, the hair mask is said to strengthen strands, smooth frizz, and add softness to your hair.
What makes K18 Leave-In Hair Mask so popular?
It’s become a favorite among celebrities (like Sophie Turner, Selena Gomez and Rihanna), editors and hairstylists over the past three years. It’s also garnered over 2,000 5-star reviews on Sephora, with one reviewer saying, “This is a great hair mask.” As someone with fine, dry, damaged hair, I noticed that my hair looked healthier after just one use. [It’s] easy to use and repair my hair without weighing it down or making it greasy. And of course, it fell into the hands of TikTokers, who can’t stop talking about the hair mask.
The K18 Leave-In Hair Mask is also a favorite of another editor on the PureWow team. When I asked Commerce editor Olivia Dubyak why she recommended this hair mask, she replied, “I’m not someone who usually splurges when it comes to my hair products, but I I have fine, blonde hair that I highlight several times a year. bleach can therefore cause breakage. Last year I went rogue and dyed my hair dark brown and then started the process again to go blonde again, which really impacted my texture and ends.
She continues: “I started incorporating the K18 hair mask based on the words of a TikToker (in my defense, she is a trichologist) and my hair is thicker and much stronger than before. I also really like that it only takes three pumps of product to cover all of my hair, which helps the product last longer. For me, I started using it six washes in a row and then used it once every few washes.
My first impression of the K-18 leave-in hair mask
My first thought was that this little bottle couldn’t last a month. I have long, thick curls and rely on conditioner a lot. I even laughed out loud when I read the instructions because they said to start with one to three pumps. Madam, have you seen my hair? Luckily it said I could apply more if needed, which I did. I ended up using about three to four pumps for each of the eight sections of my hair.
The scent was very subtle, which I liked. It contains floral notes of jasmine and peony that aren’t too overpowering, but still leave a long-lasting scent on your hair. I recently hugged someone a few hours after washing my hair, and they were quick to compliment me on how good my hair smelled (which was definitely a nice confidence booster .)
How to use K18 leave-in hair mask
Once I was done shampooing, I applied the mask to equal sections of my hair. It’s pretty lightweight for a conditioner, especially compared to the thicker, creamier formulas I’m used to. At that point, I already felt like it wasn’t going to work for me. I was also skeptical because the instructions said to apply it to towel-dried hair. Again, I have low porosity hair, which means my strands need water to thrive. To my surprise, when I applied the mask to my towel-dried hair, it went on easily, covering every strand, which gave some hope.
What does a beauty editor think of the K18 leave-in hair mask?
K18
It took some adjustment during the first week as I had never left a hair mask on before. But after the fourth week, I realized how nice it felt to reduce the time I spent in my shower. I usually spend forever completely my hair care routine, but using a leave-in hair mask made the whole process faster and smoother.
Whether or not I applied additional styling products afterward, I noticed that my hair was softer, bouncier, and fuller. This leave-in mask doesn’t play. I wouldn’t say it completely minimized frizz, but I can also blame the humid New York summers for some of that. And I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but I have dealt with some serious buildup while using this mask. Don’t get me wrong, the first two days after washing my hair were great. My curls were thriving until I reached day three, at which point my scalp was irritated and my hair was dry.
Typically, I would wash my hair once a week, but because of the buildup from this mask, I had to start washing it twice a week, which was too much for me. My curls looked more and more like straw every day. I was starting to wonder if I was using the product correctly, but after looking at other reviews I saw that others had the same problem.
The K18 leave-in mask is marketed for all hair types, but I don’t think those with low porosity or fine hair will benefit much from using it. I also think my hair doesn’t do very well with a leave-in leave-in mask. Yes, my hair is softer and more manageable, but only temporarily.
So, is this a scam? No way. Many other critics (including my colleague Olivia) support this. I wouldn’t say it’s the worst thing I’ve ever tried on my curls. I just think other products work better for my hair. I’m also willing to try again in the near future. I may use a different shampoo beforehand or a different styling product afterward to see if that helps. After all, mastering your hair care routine is a science, right?
Buy it ($75)
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