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Has ruined my hair K18

28 replies

PoppiesandPeonies22 · 15/07/2023 21:00

Had this post colour at the end of May, hairdresser previously used Olaplex - no problems. She didn't even really ask me just started putting it on and told me she wasn't using Olaplex any more and why K18 was superior, I have quite sensitive skin so was a bit annoyed but it was too late.

Anyway ever since my hair has been awful it felt lank and weird for over a week and then looked bone dry for a week, admittedly 'when' it's dry now it does look 'ok' still much on the drier side than it was before though.

However the texture of my hair is different, impossible to wash, almost like dolls hair, as soon it gets wet it clumps together and feels matted, can't work conditioner through and as i'm doing so it's coming out in clumps - it's been coming out for weeks now.

It's then impossible to get any sort of comb through, even with the lovely and I would say pretty rich blow dry cream I normally use. Again snapping with barely any combing. Normally I would let it air dry quite a bit before finising off with a round brush, I just cannot get the brush through until it is basically dry though now, by which time its set into the frizzy wonky mess it is if I don't blow dry it.

No new colour combo or anything, been colouring my hair for years and years, had similar hair fall after going v v light a couple of times. But it's much darker now and it was never this bad either time.

Tried an aveda conditioner and leave in spray which made it easier to handle but it just looks greasy when dry and has given me teribble scalp acne to boot!!

Only different thing is the K18 treatment. Has anyone else had this experience, what the hell do I do??

OP posts:
Mercurial123 · 16/07/2023 11:47

I bought into the K18 hype. The first few times, it was amazing. After that, it left my hair really dry and lifeless. I followed the instructions, and I applied it correctly. Aveda Botanical Repair helped, and I moved onto Living Proof Triple Bond complex, which works well for my hair.

PoppiesandPeonies22 · 16/07/2023 13:25

@Mercurial123 did your hair recover, mine is still awful and it's been 7 weeks? I can't think it can have been anything else.

OP posts:
Mercurial123 · 16/07/2023 13:49

Yes. I had 3" cut off and used Aveda and moved onto Living Proof. My hairdresser was amazed how awful my hair looked. The only new product I was using was the K18. My hair is now in good condition.

Platespin · 17/09/2023 15:20

Hi, I've just found this thread after researching online as I've experienced exactly the same thing. My hairdresser switched from Olaplex to K18 and for the first few times it was fine but after my last colouring with that as a treatment, my hair strands became SO weak and my hair is literally breaking off in clumps. I don't dare wash or even brush my hair as so much snaps. Again, after dying my hair for decades, the only thing to recently change was using the K18. I was wondering if you had had any further luck with finding something to repair your hair?

Socksandfrocks · 01/10/2023 12:44

Just found this too, I was debating trying olaplex. My hair was in very good condition and I wanted to get it to excellent so started using the k18 and it just breaks off and is really frizzy. Since I stopped using my k18 and using oils instead my hair has improved loads.

clipclop5 · 01/10/2023 23:18

K18 and Olaplex are both great if your hair is in need of protein, but if used unnecessarily/too often it can cause a protein overload giving you that horrible frizzy, broken, doll’s hair texture that you describe. Only reason I know is it happened to my DD! Her hair was genuinely like straw after a few months of use

Her hair started to improve immediately after stopping the Olaplex. Nowadays she just uses the Elvive Dream Lengths range and her hair is in the best condition it’s been in for years. The Wonder Water is absolutely amazing and works miracles. She’s tried all the fancy shampoos (Aveda, Living Proof etc) but still feels that nothing beats it!

Mercurial123 · 02/10/2023 03:36

K18 and Olaplex aren't protein treatments.

NutellaEllaElla · 03/10/2023 14:37

With bond building products, which K18 and Olaplex are, you need a moisturising conditioner as well to make your hair more elastic. As you've noticed, K18 and Olaplex make the hair brittle so it might snap more and they don't add moisture. They're still great products, but you need moisture too.

Mercurial123 · 03/10/2023 19:55

NutellaEllaElla · 03/10/2023 14:37

With bond building products, which K18 and Olaplex are, you need a moisturising conditioner as well to make your hair more elastic. As you've noticed, K18 and Olaplex make the hair brittle so it might snap more and they don't add moisture. They're still great products, but you need moisture too.

I do use a moisturising shampoo and conditioner. Olaplex never made my hair dry.

The Blow-dry Professor wasn't too complimentary on K18.

Cin69 · 06/10/2023 14:23

Hi I have had exactly the same issues and I am a hairdresser by trade so made sure I used it correctly then thought maybe the second time it would be better but worse, it's terrible I hate it I had to rinse it back out because I was worried my hair would just break away then I put a fanola reconstructive on for five minutes rinsed and it felt soft, shiny and could run my fingers through it again, just hoping I don't get anymore breakage. I went looking for reviews to see if others had the same issues and come across these reviews. I also found an article saying there is no proof of studies or claims they are making on k18 and that some of the ingredients is actually harmful to us and now that worried me because I did my pregnant daughters hair and her hair had the same affect as mine, so I think someone needs to actually look more into this product and I won't be putting it in my hair ever again or recommending it to anyone. Very annoying that it actually damaged my hair and cost so much money. Bye the way my hair is brown so low levels of colour damage .hope this helps others

Cin69 · 06/10/2023 14:29

Try fanola reconstructive mask it only on for five minutes it brought my back and I am so relieved

Shaktimomma79 · 22/11/2023 07:15

I went to a new hairdresser on Friday. They pressured me to do a k18 treatment because my hair is very damaged. Omg I had a horrible reaction to it. I’m allergic to wheat and no one mentioned that it had wheat in the formula. I have had horrible panic attacks and breathing problems ever since. I tried to wash it out and my hair went very hard and the smell stays in my hair. It doesn’t seem to come out at all even after washing it a few times.
I’ve used Olaplex for years now and had no problems with it. My hair is very damaged from bleaching but k18 just seems to make it feel hard and dry. I’m very unhappy and I’m still having pain in my jaws etc from the allergies and autoimmune reaction to it.
Im not sure what it takes to get This stuff out of my hair. LOL what a huge pain. I will never use this garbage again! I’m so upset that I wasn’t told it contained wheat also!!

Shanayao · 08/04/2024 22:48

K18 completely broke my hair! I was on my 5th time using it and now my bleached hair is weaker, in addition to it breaking off all over my head about 2" long. Horrific. Maybe it works for some people but if you have fun, processed hair, I don't recommend it.

Namethattunes · 08/04/2024 22:59

NutellaEllaElla i notice that you mentioned that yiu need additional moisture with k18 ? How do you do that because you have to leave k18 on the hair and notnwash it off dont you.. so if you add a conditioner does that have to be leave in ? Otherwise when uou rinse conditioner off - you wd also wash off the k18? Thanks

NutellaEllaElla · 10/04/2024 12:26

Namethattunes · 08/04/2024 22:59

NutellaEllaElla i notice that you mentioned that yiu need additional moisture with k18 ? How do you do that because you have to leave k18 on the hair and notnwash it off dont you.. so if you add a conditioner does that have to be leave in ? Otherwise when uou rinse conditioner off - you wd also wash off the k18? Thanks

It's the same with Olaplex. I have damaged/dry hair so I follow up with a deep condition. K18 says you leave it in for Minimum of 4 minutes so that's what I do. If you don't have a problem with dryness then you might not worry about skipping the conditioner occasionally.

Eden12356 · 22/09/2024 21:58

K18 is just another TikTok gimmick all the hairdressers all of a sudden rave about it like olaplex never existed. I think all the hairdressers and all of the influencers on social media got paid a lot of money to say they're switching from olaplex to k18 and that's why there's such hype about it I personally have damaged my hair from bleaching very severely and it did absolutely nothing for me. I used it correctly just as the instructions said and my hair even got worse.

GoldenMarbles · 05/10/2024 16:48

I wouldn’t recommend using Olaplex either. I’ve had the exact same experience with it as I did with K18. First few times were great then later they ruined my hair. I’m back to my old standard of Aphogee protein treatment, hoping to get my old hair back.

wizzywig · 05/10/2024 16:50

K18 was a waste of time for me too. Made it like dolls hair when it really needed love

MsJacksonIfYoureNasty · 06/10/2024 10:49

I had exactly the same problem. I couldn’t work out what the problem was. In the end I tried some really basic conditioner (Alberto Balsam 99p conditioner) and it sorted my hair out immediately. I know K18 isn’t a protein treatment but I think it was overloading my hair with something similar.

paisley256 · 06/10/2024 11:00

GoldenMarbles · 05/10/2024 16:48

I wouldn’t recommend using Olaplex either. I’ve had the exact same experience with it as I did with K18. First few times were great then later they ruined my hair. I’m back to my old standard of Aphogee protein treatment, hoping to get my old hair back.

I second the Aphogee treatment, brilliant stuff.

Ohmychristdawn · 06/10/2024 11:11

Hhhmmmn, there's something about this thread that's making my eyebrows raise. It reads very much like a hatchet job. I've never used K18, so can't comment but the op and some of the comments are suss imvho.

MILLYmo0se · 06/10/2024 11:15

Shaktimomma79 · 22/11/2023 07:15

I went to a new hairdresser on Friday. They pressured me to do a k18 treatment because my hair is very damaged. Omg I had a horrible reaction to it. I’m allergic to wheat and no one mentioned that it had wheat in the formula. I have had horrible panic attacks and breathing problems ever since. I tried to wash it out and my hair went very hard and the smell stays in my hair. It doesn’t seem to come out at all even after washing it a few times.
I’ve used Olaplex for years now and had no problems with it. My hair is very damaged from bleaching but k18 just seems to make it feel hard and dry. I’m very unhappy and I’m still having pain in my jaws etc from the allergies and autoimmune reaction to it.
Im not sure what it takes to get This stuff out of my hair. LOL what a huge pain. I will never use this garbage again! I’m so upset that I wasn’t told it contained wheat also!!

They knew you are allergic to wheat and just used it anyway?!

Mercurial123 · 06/10/2024 12:49

Ohmychristdawn · 06/10/2024 11:11

Hhhmmmn, there's something about this thread that's making my eyebrows raise. It reads very much like a hatchet job. I've never used K18, so can't comment but the op and some of the comments are suss imvho.

Buy some and try it for yourself? It wrecked my hair, but others swear by it.

PoppiesandPeonies22 · 07/10/2024 20:22

LOL @Ohmychristdawn are you UK sales and marketing for K18 🤣🤣…..what is ypu think is ‘suss’ about me 😂.

OP posts:
PoppiesandPeonies22 · 07/10/2024 20:32

I rarely use Mumsnet! Came on to see all these posts on here!!

Bloody awful stuff.

Yep @wizzywig that’s what mine was like for around 3/4 months. I did read that it is supposed to stay on your hair for a around 4 weeks…..yeah try 4 months. It obviously can’t have grown out so in the end must have washed off. This was with washing my hair 4/5 out of 7 days as I do a lot of exercise.

I just used and for most of that year a really thick none protein conditioner from a brand called Jessi Curl. This seemed to help the condition.

It’s still thinner but have had a lot of regrowth too, however this hasn’t grown in iykwim - 18 months on still have lots of much shorter regrowth.

Told hairdresser not to use again and have never had the problem again.

OP posts:
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