You’ve likely heard of K18 and its range of molecular-repair products that have gone viral across social media since it launched in 2020. In particular, its Leave-In Molecular Repair Hair Mask, which counts Hailey Bieber and Selena Gomez among its fans.

Unlike popular bond-repair products, K18 sets itself apart from the rest due to its patented bioactive peptide treatment, which penetrates the inner-most layers of the hair to repair broken strands at a molecular level. It’s seriously sciencey stuff.

K18 has a curated line of products and releases are rare. However, the brand branched into new territory when it launched its first in-salon service, K18Repair. 

The professional chemical service aims to get to work in as little as four minutes to give hair a new lease of life. That means glossy, hydrated hair with some mirror-like shine. Being for professional use only, this is more potent and powerful than the products available to buy (we mere mortals can’t be trusted) and uses biomimetics to reconnect broken keratin chains. 

As someone who colours their strands and has a history of torturing them with heated hair tools, I’m always on the lookout for anything that can undo the damage I’ve caused. 

Having been a fan of the K18 product line, I was keen to see whether this new K18Repair treatment could one-up its famous mask, so I headed to Hadley Yates salon in Covent Garden to find out. 

As in-salon treatments go, K18’s was incredibly low maintenance. Instead of sitting in a hairdresser’s chair for hours, this promised to get to work in just four minutes. 

To prep, my hair was put into sections and misted with water before the reparative spritz was applied. After a very quick four minutes, my hair was washed as normal. Unlike usual, no conditioner was added as a final touch, which was daunting for my very tangly hair.

My stylist used a few products to prep my hair (like a heat protectant) but other than that, nothing else was applied. He then went in, blowdried and styled my hair with tongs as normal. 

From the get-go, I couldn’t believe how much shinier my hair was. I could almost see my own reflection. While the treatment is colour-safe, I found even it added more vibrancy to my five-month-old red hair. The before and after pictures truly speak for themselves. 

Considering this repair service starts from £30 (on top of the cost of your blow dry and depending on which salon you go to), I’d say it’s worth the price. Especially if you’re experimenting with colour and dying your hair. It’s essentially hair rehab for four minutes extra. What’s not to love?

K18Repair Service, from £40 at Hadley Yates.  

Image: Charlotte Bitmead