Ask anyone who knows me, and they will confirm that I am a straight-shooter in almost every aspect, but none more so than when it comes to beauty products. I have dedicated many years of my career to busting myths and cutting through the abundance of marketing to identify products that really work.
I have also dedicated my career to finding solutions for my seemingly never-ending hair troubles. You see, my hair is very straight, very long, very fine, very flat and very overprocessed—meaning my hair dilemmas include greasiness, lack of volume, and, of course, breakage. However, this year, I am pleased to announce that I have made a major breakthrough thanks to three particular products from K18.
Yes, I am pleased to announce that 2025 has been the year I finally got to grips with my hair through the discovery of a three-product haircare routine from a brand that puts science, results and clinically proven performance at the core of everything it does. And the best bit? My new routine is really as simple as can be. (Trust me: if I can do it, anybody can.)
And whilst I've been leaning on this new routine for months, now that party season is officially in full swing, and my strands are facing arguably excessive heat styling, my hair has never been more reliant on these three products to ensure things stay strong, healthy, glossy and full of lift and texture. So, here's how I've nailed my dream hair situation with a simple trifecta of K18 products.
First of all, I'd like to caveat that this routine isn't game-changing in its setup. I have long known that a heat protectant will help prevent breakage, that a volumising spray will deliver lift at my roots and that a dry shampoo will keep my hair looking light and fresh. The thing that makes this lineup so special is the science behind the formulas. I can safely say that after over a decade of trying to find the right products for my hair, I have never come across formulas so advanced.
K18 is a brand rooted in bio-tech. You might know it best for its breakthrough Leave-In Molecular Repair Hair Mask, which really put the brand's K18PEPTIDE on the map. But the truth is, K18's molecule development didn't stop there; it's a brand dedicated to research, development and clinical testing. That's why K18 products are so much more than they first appear. Everything about them is designed (and proven) to promote hair health from the inside out, and the finished look is simply a bonus. Here's a breakdown of the K18 molecules that have made all the difference in my routine.
K18PEPTIDE
Where it's found: Whilst you can find K18's hero molecule, K18PEPTIDE, in several of its products (including the iconic Leave-In Molecular Repair Mask, Molecular Repair Hair Oil and the brand's in-salon system), the way I'm really utilising its benefits right now is in the K18 Astrolift Reparative Volume Spray(£44).
What it does: Repairs and reverses damage and protein loss from bleach, colour, chemical services and heat on all hair types at a molecular level, in just four minutes. It strengthens hair to such an extent that it actually reduces the chance of further breakage and damage, boosting hair longevity.
How it works: K18 identified several types of bonds that exist deep inside the hair's cortex, and when these bonds are damaged or broken, strands weaken and become more fragile. This molecule was created to repair broken polypeptide chains and disulfide bonds to improve hair durability and restore strength. Whilst conditioning products can create the illusion of softer, stronger hair, this molecule delivers the sort of strengthening bond repair that simply can't be imitated.
K18 Astrolift Reparative Volume Spray Formula: Alongside K18PEPTIDE to strengthen and repair, this volumising spray also contains palmaria palmata extract to boost hair volume and actually increase the diameter of hair fibres with just one use. Plus, maltodextrin copolymer delivers a flexible, touchable hold for humidity-resistant bounce.
resilicore
Where it's found: resilicore is the hero ingredient in K18's newest product, HeatBounce Conditioning Heat Protectant (£48).
What it does: This newly developed patented molecule has set the gold standard for every heat protection product that will come after it. Whilst most heat protectors coat the hair cuticle to deliver protection, resilicore penetrates the hair strand to protect the deepest cortex of the hair, where it fortifies to protect against colour fading, dryness, dullness and breakage.
How it works: K18 conducted heaps of research into the resilient proteins found in nature and discovered some with particular characteristics that champion flexibility and are able to withstand extreme temperatures. resilicore was created to mimic these abilities whilst penetrating deep into the hair cortex.
K18 HeatBounce Conditioning Heat Protectant Formula: Offering heat protection of up to 232°C whilst reinforcing the hair's inner bonds and reducing breakage by 85% when blow-drying, HeatBounce can be sprayed onto damp or dry hair to protect against heat, mechanical and UV damage. The cream-mist has a weightless feel that conditions and protects simultaneously.
odorBIND
Where it's found: K18's patented odorBIND ingredient can be found in the brand's Airwash Dry Shampoo (£48).
What it does: As the name suggests, odorBIND works to target and get rid of odours in the hair. This incredible molecule actually detects, traps and eliminates odours and releases a fresh, subtle fragrance instead.
How it works: The clever bioscientists at K18 sought to find nature's strongest odour-detection system. Once they had identified it, they were able to map its genome and recreate its abilities in a smart-release molecule, odorBIND, that keeps working for up to three days after the first application.
K18 Airwash Dry Shampoo Formula: This is dry shampoo, but not as you know it. It's not in an aerosol can, but rather Airwash is a wet spray that really does create the feeling of clean hair on contact. Alongside odorBIND to suspend and eliminate malodours, it also contains mineral-based translucent microbeads (not made from plastic, of course) that soak up excess oil and grease. With the addition of biotech-derived Mediterranean microalgae for soothing scalp benefits, this is a new-gen dry shampoo that works for all hair types and colours.
I'd like to start by saying that I have been using all three of these products at home almost daily for months now, so my hair is probably in one of the healthiest states it has ever been in. So, for the purpose of showing you just what these products can do, when it came to my hair prep for Who What Wear UK's Festive House dinner (no doubt one of the biggest events in my diary), a K18 blow-dry was a no-brainer.
Up until I started using these products, a supermodel-esque blow-dry had always been out of the question. The extreme heat it took to add lift and movement to my very straight, very fragile hair simply proved too damaging. Plus, the amount of product required to deliver any sort of texture and hold would drag down the roots and leave a greasy finish—less than ideal. But given that I already knew about these products' impressive capabilities, I figured an expert would be able to deliver a '90s-style bouncy blowdry without a hitch.
I prepped my hair first by washing with K18 Peptide Prep Detox Shampoo (£39) and applying the iconic K18 Leave-In Molecular Repair Hair Mask (£70). I then let my hair air-dry to around 80% before sitting down at our Festive House K18 blow-dry bar. To start with, HeatBounce was spritzed through my lengths for ample conditioning heat protection, before AstroLift was misted liberally into my roots and blow-dried in. Then it was time to use a tong to create some curls, which were set in pins for around 20 minutes or so until cool.
Finally, the pins were removed, and a few sprays of AirWash were applied to the mid-lengths to keep my hair looking soft and light whilst smelling next-level fresh (although it already smelled great after the full routine).
I can hand on heart say that I have never seen my hair look this good. Typically, this sort of high-heat blow-dry and tonging would lead to immediate breakage, but my hair actually felt (and looked) stronger than ever, thanks to the resilicore protection of HeatBounce and the strengthening properties of K18PEPTIDE in AstroLift.
And speaking of AstroLift, we have to talk about the volume. In the space of 30 minutes, my hair was totally transformed. The lift at the root was next level, and my hair didn't feel sticky, crunchy or weighed down in the slightest. In fact, my strands remained so light that the bounce lasted for at least eight hours before I climbed into bed after dinner. And the best part is that the look never felt over-styled or "too much", with the help of AirWash to maintain a natural-looking, fresh and light texture.
Gone are the days of blow-dries and styling mutilating my fragile strands—I'm in my hair longevity era now.
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