If you are anything like us, K18 products sit on a holy shrine in your shower or vanity. Beauty fans simply cannot get enough of their iconic leave-in hair mask, which just won a 2023 Byrdie Beauty Award, and because of that, the rest of their products have ascended to hair care royalty. However, one thing missing from every K18 stan’s routine was a conditioner. That is, until now.
As of December 22, K18 has officially created a conditioner to swap in place of their Leave-In Molecular Repair Hair Mask ($75) for all the days you need to wash your hair but aren’t in the mood to lather on the leave-in product. However, the new offering does some things the mask can’t promise.
Called the Damage Shield Protective Conditioner ($36), the brand claims it is “clinically proven to provide conditioning protection against damage from UV rays” for up to three consecutive days. Not to mention that it also helps protect against the damaging effects of mechanical styling and harmful environmental factors.
Courtesy of K18
Here’s how it works. The brand’s biotechnology-produced polysaccharide “acts as a biomimetic shield to protect hair against pollution,” according to the brand. The vegan-produced ingredient is inspired by natural microorganisms native to French Polynesia, which, for self-protection, form shields to protect against harsh environments.
The product also contains a ceramide blend. I am sure I don’t need to tell you about the benefits ceramides can deliver for your skin, but when used in your hair, they will target sites of the most intense damage, seal your strands, and help smooth and strengthen your hair overall.
The signature K18 peptide formula is the third piece of the puzzle. Peptides, like ceramides, are a known miracle ingredient for skin barrier protection, but they also work to replenish any hair proteins stiped from styling and washing. Vitamin E is the final ingredient credited with fortifying your hair. This ingredient repairs any oxidation in your hair, preventing breakage and fading color in the long run.
For the best results, K18 says to use the new conditioner in the shower after shampooing with their Peptide Prep pH Maintenance Shampoo ($36), ringing out any extra water once clean. A little goes a long way with this product, so apply a small amount to the middle and ends of your hair — that will do the trick and save you product in the long run.
If you are a fan of extra moisture and shine, you can use the new conditioner in combination with their iconic mask. After shampooing, apply the mask to ringed-out hair in the shower. Wait about five minutes, then apply a quarter-sized amount of conditioner to your hair without rinsing out the mask. Let it sit for a minute, then wash it out, and your hair will be all the more protected and shiny.
K18’s Damage Shield Protective Conditioner is available for professionals as of 12/22 and will be available for customers nationwide on 12/23.