K18 Finally Dropped a Conditioner — Here's My Honest Review

Dear fans of the hair-care brand K18, our prayers have been answered. The brand finally has a conditioner to use when you aren't using the cult-favorite hair mask, and all I can say is "hallelujah." For the unfamiliar, K18's Leave-In Molecular Repair Hair Mask is not only editor-loved (it's me, I'm the editor — or at least one of them), but it's gone viral on TikTok more times than I can count.

The mask is supposed to be used in place of conditioner once a week, and on the off days, I would opt for a conditioner from a different brand — until now. For the last month I've been testing out the brand's newest product, the K18 Damage Shield Protective Conditioner ($36), and trust me when I say it's a total winner.

K18 Damage Shield Protective Conditioner

From

$36

$36 at Sephora

Keep reading for my full review of the K18 Damage Shield Protective Conditioner and find out why it's landed a permanent spot in my hair-care routine.

I'm picky when it comes to hair-care products. I have dry, fine hair, and although I'm always looking for products to condition it, I have to make sure the formulas won't weigh my hair down. I love blowing out my hair into a voluminous '90s style almost every time I wash it, but I've found if I use the wrong shampoo or conditioner, the entire look can become a mess.

This conditioner is lightweight and it leaves my hair feeling silky-smooth without adding extra weight. It also smells fantastic, and the scent lingers slightly on my hair even after it's dry, which I love. It doesn't leave behind a gross residue or make my hair feel greasy after use. Also, a little goes a long way. My hair is long, but I only need a quarter-sized amount to disperse it evenly throughout my hair.

First and foremost, K18 says you should use this conditioner only when you aren't using your Leave-In Molecular Repair Hair Mask. The brand recommends starting with its Damage Shield pH Protective Shampoo in the shower. Once you've rinsed, squeeze the excess water out of your hair, apply a quarter-sized amount of conditioner from mid-lengths to ends, and rinse.

I only wash my hair twice a week, so I use this conditioner once and then swap it out for the hair mask. I've tested the shampoo before, and although I do like it, I've found I get better results when I pair the conditioner with a hydrating shampoo from another brand. I have an oily scalp but dry ends, so I focus this product on the mid-lengths to ends of my hair only.

If you have an oily scalp like I do, I would suggest only applying this product to the mid-lengths to ends of your hair as the brand suggests. I've used it on my scalp a few times and found it to be a bit too heavy for that area since it's already prone to oil.

Rating:

★★★★★