OLAPLEX No.3 vs K18 Leave-In Hair Mask
They sit at different points in the wash. Olaplex No.3 goes on before shampoo, stays for at least 10 minutes and is rinsed out; its active, bis-aminopropyl diglycol dimaleate, relinks the disulfide bonds that bleach and heat break. K18 goes on after shampoo and stays in: it works in about 4 minutes on its own peptide, K18Peptide, with no conditioner for the first few uses.
OLAPLEX No.3 Hair Perfector costs 77% less per ounce: $10.05 / fl oz against $44.36 / fl oz.
OLAPLEX
No.3 Hair Perfector
$34
- Bond-repair treatment
- 100 ml, $10.05 / fl oz
- Sold by Amazon.com
- #10 in Hair Treatment Masks
K18
Leave-In Molecular Repair Hair Mask
$75
- Bond-repair treatment
- 50 ml, $44.36 / fl oz
- Sold by K18 Hair
- #1 in Hair Treatment Masks
Which one
OLAPLEX No.3 if you want a weekly treatment before you shampoo.
K18 Leave-In Hair Mask if you want a 4-minute leave-in with nothing to rinse.
Or a dupe for either
L'Oréal Paris Elvive Bond Repair Pre-Shampoo Treatment
for OLAPLEX No.3 Hair Perfector
$9.97 $12.99vs $34−80% per oz
#81 in Hair Shampoo on Amazon
Same job and same routine slot: citric acid bond builder worked through damp hair before shampoo, left 10 minutes.
What it does worse: The bonding chemistry is citric acid rather than Olaplex's bis-aminopropyl diglycol dimaleate, so very bleached hair may need it weekly rather than fortnightly.
COSRX Peptide 132 Ultra Perfect Hair Bonding Treatment
for K18 Leave-In Molecular Repair Hair Mask
$13.32 $23vs $75−93% per oz
#15 in Deep Hair Conditioners on Amazon
Both rebuild broken keratin bonds with a low-molecular-weight peptide (K18Peptide in one, Tripeptide-132 in the other), and both are aimed at bleach, color and heat damage.
What it does worse: This one is rinsed out after a few minutes instead of left in, and it is silicone-and-oil heavy, so fine hair can be left with a slight film K18 never leaves.
Questions
What is the difference between OLAPLEX No.3 and K18 Leave-In Hair Mask?
They sit at different points in the wash. Olaplex No.3 goes on before shampoo, stays for at least 10 minutes and is rinsed out; its active, bis-aminopropyl diglycol dimaleate, relinks the disulfide bonds that bleach and heat break. K18 goes on after shampoo and stays in: it works in about 4 minutes on its own peptide, K18Peptide, with no conditioner for the first few uses.
Which is cheaper, OLAPLEX No.3 or K18 Leave-In Hair Mask?
OLAPLEX No.3 Hair Perfector costs 77% less per ounce: $10.05 / fl oz against $44.36 / fl oz.
Is there a dupe for OLAPLEX No.3?
L'Oréal Paris Elvive Bond Repair Pre-Shampoo Treatment, about $9.97, 80% less. Same job and same routine slot: citric acid bond builder worked through damp hair before shampoo, left 10 minutes. The bonding chemistry is citric acid rather than Olaplex's bis-aminopropyl diglycol dimaleate, so very bleached hair may need it weekly rather than fortnightly. Half as much again in the bottle for about a third of the price.
Is there a dupe for K18 Leave-In Hair Mask?
COSRX Peptide 132 Ultra Perfect Hair Bonding Treatment, about $13.32, 93% less. Both rebuild broken keratin bonds with a low-molecular-weight peptide (K18Peptide in one, Tripeptide-132 in the other), and both are aimed at bleach, color and heat damage. This one is rinsed out after a few minutes instead of left in, and it is silicone-and-oil heavy, so fine hair can be left with a slight film K18 never leaves. About an eighth of the price per ounce.