Although my skin type and hair texture don't always allow for it, I love to try new beauty products on a weekly basis. Granted, some products don't always work out, but I'm on an endless quest to find what I truly love—the products that make me swear off all others. As part of this quest, I was curious about biomimetic haircare brand K18. I talk to a lot of stylists, and it's one of the brands that they consistently recommend.
I initially didn't give it a second thought, because it seemed like it was exclusively for fine, thinner hair types or folks who bleach their hair. I'm also always a bit skeptical when it comes to products that claim to be for "all hair types." If having thick, coarse, 3c curls has taught me anything, it's that not all formulas are going to gel with your hair (cheers to learning this the hard way!). While K18 does say it is for all hair types and textures, I decided to give a few of the brand's products a go to see how they'd work for my curls. A few star products I tried included the brand's new Damage Shield Protective Conditioner ($36) along with the accompanying Damage Shield Protective Shampoo ($36). Keep scrolling for my honest thoughts.
First, I'll start with what I really liked about the shampoo. It's super gentle on the scalp and didn't dry out my hair, which is huge for me. My strands naturally err on the dry side, so it's tough to find a shampoo that doesn't dry them out further or leave my hair super frizzy. This provided just the right amount of lather without any stripping. Major points here! My only wish is that it provided a bit more in the detangling department. Many shampoos made specifically for curly hair work well because they provide extra slip and detangling, this didn't do that as much. That was, sadly, the only thing missing for me with this formula.
One thing that impressed me about this conditioner is that it's silicone-free. I recently came to the realization that a lot of hair products I was using contained silicones, like dimethicone, which aren't always great for curly hair. I really appreciated how much slip this gave to my hair and how soft it made it feel immediately after showering. Even when I hopped out and let my hair dry, it gave a lot of definition to my curls, and they felt incredibly hydrated for a few hours. The real test for me, however, is if that hydration will last longer than a few hours and if it will continue to hydrate my curls more and more over time.
Unfortunately, I found that my curls started to get frizzy and dry after a few weeks of using this. It was a bummer because I do really love these products. I just don't think they're quite right for my hair texture. Folks with fine or colored hair will love this duo, I think. Honestly, if K18 were to make a line specifically for curly and coily hair types, I'd be incredibly happy and would use it. The damage-shielding technology is there and the hydration is great, but for us folks with coarser hair, we just need a few more heavy hitters in the hydration department.
This was a favorite of mine in the suite of products I tried. It is one of the gentlest clarifying shampoos I've used. It contains K18's bond-repairing peptides, but it also contains activated charcoal and salicylic acid to really deep-clean the scalp. I used this once a week for a bit and loved it. Normally, I have to slather on heaps of conditioner after using a clarifying shampoo because most tend to dry out my hair pretty badly, but that was definitely not the case here. This one's a winner.
This is one of K18's most popular and talked-about offerings. I started to really embrace my natural hair texture about four months ago. I finally stopped flat-ironing my strands all the time, but years of straightening left quite a bit of damage in its wake. This hair mask is perfect for anyone else starting their natural-hair journey or anyone dealing with color or chemical damage. It helps to repair strands with patented peptide technology that reconnects broken keratin chains in the hair strand. Instead of conditioner, I used this two to three times a week and definitely noticed a difference in smoothness and the overall quality of my hair.
The brand's oil is weightless, softens frizz, and really adds a nice shine to the hair. I loved adding this on top of a cream after getting out of the shower, but I'm not sure it would be hydrating enough for my super-thick hair on its own.
More Damage-Fighting Products I Love
This treatment mask helps repair dry, damaged hair with a biomimetic emollient blend, meadowfoam seed oil, and cupuaçu butter.
I use Briogeo's Don't Despair, Repair Mask ($39) weekly to combat dryness and damage, but this new offering from the brand is also great to add to your arsenal. It's a nourishing pre-wash oil fortified with vitamins and lipids to help strengthen damaged or brittle hair.
This multitasking treatment absorbs into strands quickly and deeply hydrates your hair without making it greasy. Argan oil is the star ingredient—truly one of my favorites for soft, shiny hair.
A good leave-in can be hard to find for curls and coils. A lot of them either weigh your hair down or don't provide enough hydration, but this one is perfect! It's hydrating while still being lightweight and smells amazing.
This is one of my all-time favorite products for dry, curly hair. It locks in moisture so well with shea butter, jojoba oil, and vitamin E. It helped repair so much of the heat damage my hair suffered while adding definition and smoothing frizz.
