{"id":605175611698,"title":"K18 Review: Is \"Biomimetic Hairscience\" BS?","created_at":"2023-04-02T23:19:49-04:00","body_html":"\u003cscript type=\"application\/ld+json\"\u003e\/\/ \u003c![CDATA[\n{\n \"@context\": \"https:\/\/schema.org\",\n \"@type\": \"Article\",\n \"headline\": \"K18 Review: Is 'Biomimetic Hairscience' BS?\",\n \"keywords\": \"k18, k18 review, k18 reviews, k18 hair, k18 hair review, k18 hair reviews, k18 hair mask, k18 shampoo, k18 hair products, k18 biomimetic hairscience, k18 vs olaplex, k18 before and after, k18 hair product, k18 molecular repair hair mask, k18 mask, how to use k18, k18 hair mask reviews, k18 shampoo reviews\",\n \"description\": \"Our research team analyzes the ingredients in K18's hair mask and shampoo based on medical studies to give our take on whether the products are likely to restore hair quality or if they're a waste of money. We highlight some questionable additive ingredients.\",\n \"url\": \"https:\/\/illuminatelabs.org\/blogs\/health\/k18-review\",\n\"author\": {\n \"@type\": \"Person\",\n \"name\": \"Calloway Cook\",\n \"url\": \"https:\/\/illuminatelabs.org\/pages\/calloway-cook\",\n \"sameAs\": \"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/calloway-cook\/\",\n \"jobTitle\": \"President\",\n \"knowsAbout\": \"entrepreneurship, dietary supplements, herbal supplements, eCommerce, medical research\",\n \"alumniOf\": {\n \"@type\": \"EducationalOrganization\",\n \"name\": \"S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University\"\n },\n \"memberOf\": {\n \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n \"name\": \"Illuminate Labs\"\n }\n},\n\"editor\": {\n \"@type\": \"Person\",\n \"name\": \"Beth Lertzman\",\n \"honorificSuffix\": \"M.D.\",\n \"url\": \"https:\/\/illuminatelabs.org\/pages\/beth-lertzman\",\n \"sameAs\": [\n \"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/beth-lertzman-md-856619118\/\",\n \"https:\/\/health.usnews.com\/doctors\/beth-lertzman-517042\"\n ],\n \"jobTitle\": \"Dermatology Reviewer\",\n \"knowsAbout\": \"skincare, collagen, cosmetics, surgery, wrinkles, ingredients, formulation, clinical trials, clinical research\",\n \"alumniOf\": {\n \"@type\": \"EducationalOrganization\",\n \"name\": [\n \"University of Delaware\",\n \"Drexel University College of Medicine\",\n \"University of Rochester\"\n ]\n },\n \"memberOf\": {\n \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n \"name\": \"Illuminate Labs\"\n }\n },\n\"image\": {\n\"@type\": \"ImageObject\",\n\"url\": \"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0047\/1524\/9737\/files\/K18_Thumbnail_Optimized.png?v=1680492473\",\n\"width\": \"2500\",\n\"height\": \"2500\"\n},\n\"citation\": [\n\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/29761728\/\",\n\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC5093181\/\",\n\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/32387382\/\",\n\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/20242976\/\",\n\"https:\/\/illuminatelabs.org\/blogs\/health\/plantur-39-review\",\n\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/3301220\/\",\n\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/30359701\/\",\n\"https:\/\/www.k18hair.com\/products\/leave-in-molecular-repair-hair-mask-50-ml\",\n\"https:\/\/illuminatelabs.org\/blogs\/health\/olaplex-review\"\n],\n\"mentions\": [{\n \"@type\": \"Thing\",\n \"name\": \"biomimetic hairscience\"\n },\n {\n \"@type\": \"Thing\",\n \"name\": \"molecular repair\"\n },\n {\n \"@type\": \"Brand\",\n \"name\": \"Molecular Repair Hair Mask\"\n },\n {\n \"@type\": \"Brand\",\n \"name\": \"PEPTIDE PREP Detox Shampoo\"\n },\n {\n \"@type\": \"Brand\",\n \"name\": \"K18PEPTIDE\"\n },\n {\n \"@type\": \"Thing\",\n \"name\": \"fragrance\"\n },\n {\n \"@type\": \"Brand\",\n \"name\": \"Manes by Mell\"\n },\n {\n \"@type\": \"Thing\",\n \"name\": \"charcoal powder\"\n },\n {\n \"@type\": \"Thing\",\n \"name\": \"benzyl salicylate\"\n },\n {\n \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n \"name\": \"Walmart\"\n },\n {\n \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n \"name\": \"Amazon\"\n },\n {\n \"@type\": \"Brand\",\n \"name\": \"Olaplex\"\n }\n],\n\"datePublished\": \"2023-04-02\",\n\"copyrightHolder\": {\n \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n \"name\": \"Illuminate Labs\"\n},\n\"publisher\": {\n \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n \"name\": \"Illuminate Labs\",\n \"url\": \"https:\/\/illuminatelabs.org\/\",\n \"description\": \"Illuminate Labs is the most transparent supplement company in the U.S., and is a leading publisher of research-based health information.\",\n \"knowsAbout\": \"supplements, science, nutrition, exercise, health, medication, pharmaceutical, wellness, diet, weight loss, medical research\",\n \"publishingPrinciples\": \"https:\/\/illuminatelabs.org\/pages\/editorial-guidelines\",\n \"memberOf\": [\n {\n \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n \"name\": \"U.S. Chamber of Commerce\",\n \"url\": \"https:\/\/www.uschamber.com\/\"\n },\n {\n \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n \"name\": \"Certified B Corp\",\n \"url\": \"https:\/\/www.bcorporation.net\/en-us\/\"\n },\n {\n \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n \"name\": \"Natural Products Association\",\n \"url\": \"https:\/\/www.npanational.org\/\"\n }\n ],\n \"logo\": {\n \"@type\": \"ImageObject\",\n \"url\": \"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0047\/1524\/9737\/files\/Illuminate_Labs_Favicon_48x48_7595c3cc-e27b-47b8-a4fe-edcc7ed9b29a.png?v=1666502785\", \n \"width\": 48,\n \"height\": 48\n},\n \"foundingDate\": \"2019-01-30\",\n \"sameAs\": [\n \"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/illuminatelabs\",\n \"https:\/\/twitter.com\/illuminatelabs\",\n \"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/illuminate-labs-supplements\",\n \"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UCpgSJAsIPb-fZ25djtTxBEA\"\n ]\n }\n}\n\/\/ ]]\u003e\u003c\/script\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0047\/1524\/9737\/files\/K18_Review_Article_Header_Image_Optimized.png?v=1680491716\" alt=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"dc\"\u003eK\u003c\/span\u003e18 is a hair care brand that positions itself as more scientific and research-based than the average consumer hair products brand. The company describes itself as “biomimetic hairscience” that provides “molecular repair.”\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eBut are these just fancy marketing terms or is K18 actually based on better science than most hair care brands? Do K18 products contain ingredients proven to repair and improve hair quality in clinical trials? Do they contain any questionable additive ingredients? And how do real users rate and describe the effects of K18?\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eIn this article we’ll answer all of these questions and more as we analyze the ingredients in two of K18’s most popular products: Molecular Repair Hair Mask and PEPTIDE PREP Detox Shampoo. We’ll give our take on whether each product is likely to improve hair quality or if it’s a waste of money.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eWe’ll also provide a cost comparison featuring which retailer sells K18 for the best price, and feature real, unsponsored K18 reviews including before-and-after images.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eK18 Hair Mask Ingredient Analysis\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0047\/1524\/9737\/files\/K18_Hair_Mask_Ingredients_Optimized.png?v=1680491733\" alt=\"K18 hair mask ingredients\" style=\"display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eThe ingredients in K18 Molecular Repair Hair Mask are shown above.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003ePolysorbate 20,sh-Oligopeptide-78\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e (trademarked as “K18PEPTIDE”) is the key active ingredient, and the brand claims that this ingredient “works on the molecular level.” However, we cannot find any evidence in clinical trials proving this ingredient to be effective, nor does K18 cite any on their product page.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eWe can’t even identify any clinical trials testing this ingredient or proving its safety.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eHydrolyzed wheat starch\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e is another strange active ingredient. We found \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/29761728\/\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eclinical studies\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e proving that hydrolyzed wheat protein is an effective natural hair conditioner, but we can’t find any proof of efficacy or safety of hydrolyzed wheat starch.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eThere are no active ingredients in this formulation that we can find clinical backing for, which is surprising especially given the price point ($75).\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e In the majority of Illuminate Health hair product reviews, we’re able to at least source clinical backing for one of the active ingredients.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eThere are a number of additive ingredients in K18 Hair Mask that we consider questionable from a health perspective.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eFragrance\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e is an ingredient category which was analyzed in a \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC5093181\/\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003emedical review\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e published in the \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eAir Quality, Atmosphere \u0026amp; Health\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e journal. After reviewing clinical trial data, the researchers concluded that fragranced consumer products can \"impose serious risks to human health.\"\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003ePhenoxyethanol\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e is a synthetic preservative shown to be toxic to human cells in a 2020 \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/32387382\/\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eclinical trial\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eBehentrimonium chloride\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e and \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003ebenzyl alcohol\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e are additional preservative ingredients, and \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003egeraniol\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003elinalool\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e and \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003ehexyl cinnamal\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e are additional fragrance ingredients.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eOverall we do not recommend this hair mask due to the additive ingredients and lack of demonstrated efficacy.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eBut how do real users rate and describe K18 products? We’ll review in the next section.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eReal, Unsponsored K18 User Reviews\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eA YouTube creator named Daniela Anguiera reviewed K18 in a video with over 100,000 views and shared before and after images:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ciframe width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/fsv-djhLV_A\" title=\"YouTube video player\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" allowfullscreen=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/iframe\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eAnother YouTube creator named “Manes by Mell” reviewed K18 and her review included a product demonstration, her thoughts after using the products for six months, and a comparison to another popular hair repair brand called Olaplex:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ciframe width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/eBESqzZNjgo\" title=\"YouTube video player\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" allowfullscreen=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/iframe\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eK18 Shampoo Review\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0047\/1524\/9737\/files\/K18_Shampoo_Ingredients_Optimized_36651cbc-c5a7-4440-842d-e2d9cb078563.png?v=1680491841\" alt=\"K18 shampoo ingredients\" style=\"display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eThe ingredients in K18 PEPTIDE PREP detox shampoo are shown above.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eSome of the active ingredients are similar, but there are some ingredients in this formulation we consider likely to be effective.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eCharcoal powder\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e was found to be effective in treating some skin disorders in a \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/20242976\/\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003emedical review\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e published all the way back in 1947, which suggests that this ingredient may improve scalp health and reduce the risk of conditions like dandruff.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003ePanthenol\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e and \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003eglycerin\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e also work synergistically to support a healthy scalp, as we referenced in our review of another hair brand called \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/illuminatelabs.org\/blogs\/health\/plantur-39-review\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003ePlantur 39\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eSalicylic acid\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e is a naturally-derived exfoliator, as shown in a \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/3301220\/\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eclinical trial\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e published in the \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eCutis\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e journal.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eWe can’t locate any ingredients shown to “detox” the scalp, nor have we come across any convincing clinical evidence that the scalp needs “detoxing” beyond regular washing and drying.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eLike the hair mask, this product contains a number of questionable additive ingredients.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eBenzyl salicylate\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e is a preservative and scent ingredient that was categorized as a “hazard class 2” in a \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/30359701\/\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eJapanese regulatory screening\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e due to its toxic effects in animal studies.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eFragrance\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e and \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003elimonene\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e (a fragrance ingredient) are also included in this formulation.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eWe do not recommend this product due to the additive ingredients, but we consider it to be better-formulated than K18’s hair mask.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eBut what retailer sells these products for the best price? We’ll review in the next section.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eWhich Retailer Sells K18 for the Best Price?\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eK18 is sold at a variety of online retailers. Here’s a price breakdown for the two products reviewed in this article:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eK18 Hair Mask\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eWalmart: $75 (free shipping but third-party seller)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eBrand website: \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003e$75 (free shipping\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e – \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.k18hair.com\/products\/leave-in-molecular-repair-hair-mask-50-ml\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003elink\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eAmazon: \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003e$75 (free shipping\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e – \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca rel=\"sponsored\" href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3nJoRwM\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003elink\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eK18 Detox Shampoo\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eWalmart: $41.93 (third-party seller)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eBrand website: $38 (plus shipping fees if single order)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eAmazon: \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003e$38 (free shipping\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e depending on plan – \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca rel=\"sponsored\" href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3zqSXYl\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003elink to official Amazon listing\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eK18 Hair Mask is the same price on all platforms. The Detox Shampoo is 5-10% cheaper on Amazon than on the brand’s website for single orders, because K18 currently charges shipping fees for orders under $50.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eWe recommend avoiding third-party sellers and purchasing directly from the manufacturer to reduce the risk of fake or counterfeit products.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eK18 vs. OIaplex\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eOlaplex is another hair care brand centered on technology and hair repair, so consumers are often curious about which is a better option.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eWe reviewed Olaplex extensively in our \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/illuminatelabs.org\/blogs\/health\/olaplex-review\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eOlaplex ingredients\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e article, and \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003ewe consider Olaplex to be a slightly better option than K18 although we don’t recommend either brand.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eAs documented in our ingredient analyses, both Olaplex No. 3 and Olaplex No. 4 contain at least one research-backed ingredient that’s clinically shown to either improve hair breakage resistance or support hair regrowth.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eWe were unable to identify such ingredients in K18’s shampoo, and only were able to identify scalp-supportive active ingredients.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eOlaplex contains a number of questionable additives like fragrance and synthetic preservatives which is why we recommend avoiding the brand.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eReal Customers Review K18\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eAmazon is a better resource for honest customer reviews than a brand’s website in our opinion.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eThe brand’s most-reviewed product on Amazon is their hair mask, which currently has over 2,700 reviews and an average review rating of 4.4 out of 5 stars.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eThe top positive review from a verified purchaser comes from a user named “Silvia” who claims that with a bit of customization it works well with her hair care routine:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e“After 4 minutes i add the rest of my hair products and my hair feels so soft. Go based on how it feels once you apply it, I followed the recommended 4 pumps and felt like my hair didnt need as much so I went down to 2\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e with the concentration of the top section since it has the most damage.” \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eThe top negative review from a verified purchaser is written by a user named “Jenny Baber” who claims it’s ineffective:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e“The 'bonding' claim is a gimmick! Feeling my hair right now after 6 consecutive uses. Still breakage. PLEASE save your money. This is just...snake oil...plain and simple.\u003c\/strong\u003e Just because science is claimed, doesn't mean the science works…”\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOur Clean Hair Care Picks\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0047\/1524\/9737\/files\/Shampoo_Image_20df2087-a8ba-4c39-adbe-7dd14757ec84.png?v=1666993226\" alt=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/ingreendients.com\/products\/daily-shampoo?aff=3\" rel=\"sponsored\"\u003eIngreendients Daily Shampoo\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eis our top shampoo pick, because it's formulated 100% from plants and contains research-backed active ingredients like acetic acid, derived from apple cider vinegar (ACV), which\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC8706394\/\"\u003eresearchers suggest\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\"can condition hair making it softer, silkier, shinier.\"\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003ca rel=\"sponsored\" href=\"https:\/\/track.revoffers.com\/aff_c?offer_id=267\u0026amp;aff_id=7240\u0026amp;url_id=7700\"\u003eHappy Head Topical\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eis our top hair growth solution.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThis formulation uses FDA-approved hair loss ingredients like minoxidil which is\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/12196747\/\"\u003eclinically shown\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eto increase hair count by 11%.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe brand also publishes the percentage concentration of each active ingredient, which is a sign of quality and transparency.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003ePros and Cons of K18\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eHere are the pros and cons of K18 in our opinion:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePros:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eGreat branding\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eShampoo contains some research-backed ingredients\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eMostly favorable customer reviews\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCons:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eContains fragrance\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eContains synthetic preservatives\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eExpensive\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eWe can’t identify any hair restoration ingredients\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eUnimpressive formulations for the price\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eConclusion\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eWe do not currently recommend any K18 products. We were unable to identify any active ingredients shown in clinical trials to improve hair quality or prevent hair damage in K18’s Hair Mask. The hair mask contained a number of questionable additive ingredients including fragrance.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eWe were able to identify some scalp-supportive ingredients and an exfoliating ingredient in K18’s shampoo, but no ingredients that we could identify were directly shown to improve hair quality or prevent hair damage. This product also contained a number of questionable additives.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eAlthough we don’t recommend either brand, we consider Olaplex to be a slightly better option than K18 because its formulations contain at least one ingredient that we could identify that’s proven to restore hair quality.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eOnline customer reviews of this brand are relatively favorable, and for consumers intent on purchasing K18 products, doing so on the brand’s website appears to be the best option for the hair mask, and doing so on Amazon appears to be the best option for the shampoo.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","blog_id":49281925193,"author":"Calloway Cook","user_id":26601750601,"published_at":"2023-04-02T23:32:09-04:00","updated_at":"2024-03-18T19:21:16-04:00","summary_html":"We analyze the ingredients in K18's hair mask and shampoo based on medical studies to give our take on whether the products are likely to restore hair quality or if they're a waste of money. We highlight some questionable additive ingredients.","template_suffix":"","handle":"k18-review","tags":"_related:hair, _related:shampoo"}

K18 Review: Is "Biomimetic Hairscience" BS?

K18 Review: Is "Biomimetic Hairscience" BS?


| |
| |
Read our Editorial Guidelines to learn more about what makes our site the premier resource for online health information.

K18 is a hair care brand that positions itself as more scientific and research-based than the average consumer hair products brand. The company describes itself as “biomimetic hairscience” that provides “molecular repair.”

But are these just fancy marketing terms or is K18 actually based on better science than most hair care brands? Do K18 products contain ingredients proven to repair and improve hair quality in clinical trials? Do they contain any questionable additive ingredients? And how do real users rate and describe the effects of K18?

In this article we’ll answer all of these questions and more as we analyze the ingredients in two of K18’s most popular products: Molecular Repair Hair Mask and PEPTIDE PREP Detox Shampoo. We’ll give our take on whether each product is likely to improve hair quality or if it’s a waste of money.

We’ll also provide a cost comparison featuring which retailer sells K18 for the best price, and feature real, unsponsored K18 reviews including before-and-after images.

K18 Hair Mask Ingredient Analysis

K18 hair mask ingredients

The ingredients in K18 Molecular Repair Hair Mask are shown above.

Polysorbate 20,sh-Oligopeptide-78 (trademarked as “K18PEPTIDE”) is the key active ingredient, and the brand claims that this ingredient “works on the molecular level.” However, we cannot find any evidence in clinical trials proving this ingredient to be effective, nor does K18 cite any on their product page.

We can’t even identify any clinical trials testing this ingredient or proving its safety.

Hydrolyzed wheat starch is another strange active ingredient. We found clinical studies proving that hydrolyzed wheat protein is an effective natural hair conditioner, but we can’t find any proof of efficacy or safety of hydrolyzed wheat starch.

There are no active ingredients in this formulation that we can find clinical backing for, which is surprising especially given the price point ($75). In the majority of Illuminate Health hair product reviews, we’re able to at least source clinical backing for one of the active ingredients.

There are a number of additive ingredients in K18 Hair Mask that we consider questionable from a health perspective.

Fragrance is an ingredient category which was analyzed in a medical review published in the Air Quality, Atmosphere & Health journal. After reviewing clinical trial data, the researchers concluded that fragranced consumer products can "impose serious risks to human health."

Phenoxyethanol is a synthetic preservative shown to be toxic to human cells in a 2020 clinical trial.

Behentrimonium chloride and benzyl alcohol are additional preservative ingredients, and geraniol, linalool and hexyl cinnamal are additional fragrance ingredients.

Overall we do not recommend this hair mask due to the additive ingredients and lack of demonstrated efficacy.

But how do real users rate and describe K18 products? We’ll review in the next section.

Real, Unsponsored K18 User Reviews

A YouTube creator named Daniela Anguiera reviewed K18 in a video with over 100,000 views and shared before and after images:

Another YouTube creator named “Manes by Mell” reviewed K18 and her review included a product demonstration, her thoughts after using the products for six months, and a comparison to another popular hair repair brand called Olaplex:

K18 Shampoo Review

K18 shampoo ingredients

The ingredients in K18 PEPTIDE PREP detox shampoo are shown above.

Some of the active ingredients are similar, but there are some ingredients in this formulation we consider likely to be effective.

Charcoal powder was found to be effective in treating some skin disorders in a medical review published all the way back in 1947, which suggests that this ingredient may improve scalp health and reduce the risk of conditions like dandruff.

Panthenol and glycerin also work synergistically to support a healthy scalp, as we referenced in our review of another hair brand called Plantur 39.

Salicylic acid is a naturally-derived exfoliator, as shown in a clinical trial published in the Cutis journal.

We can’t locate any ingredients shown to “detox” the scalp, nor have we come across any convincing clinical evidence that the scalp needs “detoxing” beyond regular washing and drying.

Like the hair mask, this product contains a number of questionable additive ingredients.

Benzyl salicylate is a preservative and scent ingredient that was categorized as a “hazard class 2” in a Japanese regulatory screening due to its toxic effects in animal studies.

Fragrance and limonene (a fragrance ingredient) are also included in this formulation.

We do not recommend this product due to the additive ingredients, but we consider it to be better-formulated than K18’s hair mask.

But what retailer sells these products for the best price? We’ll review in the next section.

Which Retailer Sells K18 for the Best Price?

K18 is sold at a variety of online retailers. Here’s a price breakdown for the two products reviewed in this article:

K18 Hair Mask

Walmart: $75 (free shipping but third-party seller)

Brand website: $75 (free shippinglink)

Amazon: $75 (free shippinglink)

K18 Detox Shampoo

Walmart: $41.93 (third-party seller)

Brand website: $38 (plus shipping fees if single order)

Amazon: $38 (free shipping depending on plan – link to official Amazon listing)

K18 Hair Mask is the same price on all platforms. The Detox Shampoo is 5-10% cheaper on Amazon than on the brand’s website for single orders, because K18 currently charges shipping fees for orders under $50.

We recommend avoiding third-party sellers and purchasing directly from the manufacturer to reduce the risk of fake or counterfeit products.

K18 vs. OIaplex

Olaplex is another hair care brand centered on technology and hair repair, so consumers are often curious about which is a better option.

We reviewed Olaplex extensively in our Olaplex ingredients article, and we consider Olaplex to be a slightly better option than K18 although we don’t recommend either brand.

As documented in our ingredient analyses, both Olaplex No. 3 and Olaplex No. 4 contain at least one research-backed ingredient that’s clinically shown to either improve hair breakage resistance or support hair regrowth.

We were unable to identify such ingredients in K18’s shampoo, and only were able to identify scalp-supportive active ingredients.

Olaplex contains a number of questionable additives like fragrance and synthetic preservatives which is why we recommend avoiding the brand.

Real Customers Review K18

Amazon is a better resource for honest customer reviews than a brand’s website in our opinion.

The brand’s most-reviewed product on Amazon is their hair mask, which currently has over 2,700 reviews and an average review rating of 4.4 out of 5 stars.

The top positive review from a verified purchaser comes from a user named “Silvia” who claims that with a bit of customization it works well with her hair care routine:

“After 4 minutes i add the rest of my hair products and my hair feels so soft. Go based on how it feels once you apply it, I followed the recommended 4 pumps and felt like my hair didnt need as much so I went down to 2 with the concentration of the top section since it has the most damage.” 

The top negative review from a verified purchaser is written by a user named “Jenny Baber” who claims it’s ineffective:

“The 'bonding' claim is a gimmick! Feeling my hair right now after 6 consecutive uses. Still breakage. PLEASE save your money. This is just...snake oil...plain and simple. Just because science is claimed, doesn't mean the science works…”

Our Clean Hair Care Picks

Ingreendients Daily Shampoo is our top shampoo pick, because it's formulated 100% from plants and contains research-backed active ingredients like acetic acid, derived from apple cider vinegar (ACV), which researchers suggest "can condition hair making it softer, silkier, shinier."

Happy Head Topical is our top hair growth solution.

This formulation uses FDA-approved hair loss ingredients like minoxidil which is clinically shown to increase hair count by 11%.

The brand also publishes the percentage concentration of each active ingredient, which is a sign of quality and transparency.

Pros and Cons of K18

Here are the pros and cons of K18 in our opinion:

Pros:

  • Great branding
  • Shampoo contains some research-backed ingredients
  • Mostly favorable customer reviews

Cons:

  • Contains fragrance
  • Contains synthetic preservatives
  • Expensive
  • We can’t identify any hair restoration ingredients
  • Unimpressive formulations for the price
Stay up-to-date on our research reviews

Conclusion

We do not currently recommend any K18 products. We were unable to identify any active ingredients shown in clinical trials to improve hair quality or prevent hair damage in K18’s Hair Mask. The hair mask contained a number of questionable additive ingredients including fragrance.

We were able to identify some scalp-supportive ingredients and an exfoliating ingredient in K18’s shampoo, but no ingredients that we could identify were directly shown to improve hair quality or prevent hair damage. This product also contained a number of questionable additives.

Although we don’t recommend either brand, we consider Olaplex to be a slightly better option than K18 because its formulations contain at least one ingredient that we could identify that’s proven to restore hair quality.

Online customer reviews of this brand are relatively favorable, and for consumers intent on purchasing K18 products, doing so on the brand’s website appears to be the best option for the hair mask, and doing so on Amazon appears to be the best option for the shampoo.




Illuminate Labs is a proud member of

Liquid error (layout/theme line 239): Could not find asset snippets/search-bar.liquid