K18 vs Olaplex; which is better against hair damage?
If you colour, dye or style your hair regularly, you probably know how important it is to protect and repair your hair. Damaged hair looks dull, dry and frizzy, and can break off easily. Fortunately, there are products on the market that promise to repair your hair on a molecular level. Two popular products are K18 and Olaplex. But what is the difference between these two, and which one is better for your hair? We're already giving it away, there's a reason we included K18 in our product range.
What is damaged hair?
It seems like a simple question, but you have to zoom in very far to understand how hair damage is treated. This is because K18 and Olaplex promise to repair your hair on a molecular level. They work by repairing the broken keratin chains and sulphur bridges in your hair. Two terms you would not easily come across in the average hair care product.
To understand what hair is, it is useful to first look at how it is constructed. A hair actually consists of two parts: the root and the hair shaft. The root is under the skin and the shaft protrudes above the skin. The hair shaft has three layers. The outer layer, called the stratum corneum, consists of flat, thin cells superimposed like roof tiles. They form scales, so to speak, that make the hair firm and protect it from damage. The remarkable thing is that these cells are actually already dead. This is what people mean when they say hair is dead. There are no living cells in your visible hair. Then the middle layer of hair. This is called the cortex and is made up of the protein keratin. These proteins link together to form long chains. A hair is mostly made up of these keratin chains. It is the material that gives the hair structure. These chains are what get damaged by heat styling, pulling and other outside effects. That damage can be prevented or even repaired with the right care.
What is K18?
K18 is a well-known hair care brand with a patented peptide technology that is clinically proven to undo damage to hair caused by chemical treatments, heat styling and environmental effects. K18 itself has developed a unique formula capable of reconnecting the keratin chains in the hair.
K18 has one main product, the K18 Leave-in Molecular Repair Hair Mask, which you can use at home as a progressive treatment. You apply the mask to towel-dried hair, after washing with your shampoo. The mask penetrates deep into the inner layers of your hair, and gives lasting results without washing it out. The mask is suitable for all hair types, textures and colours, and can also be used as a pre-treatment before a chemical treatment at the salon.
A leave-in treatment mask that works at the molecular level to repair hair damage in just 4 minutes. K18Peptide is clinically proven to repair damage from bleaching, colour, chemical treatments and heat. The mask has immediate and long-lasting results to restore strength, softness, smoothness and resilience in hair.
What is Olaplex?
Olaplex is a globally known and well-selling brand that has developed a unique active ingredient called Bis-Aminopropyl Diglycol Dimaleate. This unpronounceable substance, like the K18 mask, is capable of restoring broken sulphur bonds in the hair.
Olaplex has a line of products, the most famous of which is the Olaplex No. 3 Hair Perfector. You apply this product to damp hair, leave it on for about 15 minutes, then rinse. Then wash your hair with shampoo and conditioner. The No. 3 Hair Perfector repairs the outside of the hair strand, by sticking the broken sulphur bonds back together. No. 3 works as a temporary solution that you have to repeat regularly to maintain the effect.
Advice personalized to your hair needs
Take our Hairtest to find the best products for your hair within 2 minutes!
Lawsuit
Everyone is innocent until proven guilty, but at the Olaplex company there is additionally a worrying development going on. Namely, there is a lawsuit filed against them because women have experienced "serious injuries" and "hair loss" as a result of using Olaplex. This is mainly about shampoos called: Nº.0 and Nº.9. Olaplex contradicts this harshly, but it is something to keep in mind.
A leave-in treatment mask that works at the molecular level to repair hair damage in just 4 minutes. K18Peptide is clinically proven to repair damage from bleaching, colour, chemical treatments and heat. The mask has immediate and long-lasting results to restore strength, softness, smoothness and resilience in hair.
What is the difference between the hair treatment of K18 and Olaplex?
The main difference between K18 vs Olaplex is that K18 repairs both the keratin chains and sulphur bonds in the hair, while Olaplex repairs only the sulphur bonds. This means K18 is a more complete and durable treatment, renewing the hair from the inside out, rather than just repairing it on the surface. K18 restores your hair's beauty, with less frizz, more shine, softness, resilience and strength. Olaplex gives your hair a temporary boost, but does not solve the underlying problem of damaged keratin chains.
Another difference between K18 and Olaplex is that K18 is faster and easier to use. K18 only takes 4 minutes of your time, while olaplex needs at least 15 minutes to soak in. Plus, you don't need to rinse K18 out, as the active ingredients continue to do their job.
If you want to protect and repair your damaged or very damaged hair, we recommend you try K18. K18 is an innovative product with a patented peptide technology that repairs your hair at the molecular level, making it feel like new again. K18 is better than Olaplex because it is a more complete, longer-lasting, more natural, faster and easier treatment.
