You’ve probably heard about bond-building hair care — hair care products that are supposed to reverse the damage and heal the broken bonds in your hair. By now, nearly every hair care brand, whether drugstore or high-end, offers a bond-building hair care product. However, three of the most iconic products undoubtedly stand out: K18 hair mask, Olaplex No 3, and Redken’s Acidic Bond Concentrate Pre-Shampoo. And I’ve given each a try! Here are my thoughts, results, and observations.
Olaplex No 3
My bond-building hair journey began with the OG — Olaplex. This was back in 2021, after I inflicted serious damage on my hair with black box dye (blame it on the pandemic). Frankly, I was clueless. All I knew was that Olaplex was hugely popular on social media, and they boasted a patented ingredient that couldn’t be replicated. I grabbed my first bottle of Olaplex 3 and started using it before shampooing. Soon after, I also added a couple of leave-in products, like Olaplex No 6 and 7.
Did I get the results I hoped for? Not quite. No 3 was a letdown. However, I did find solace in the leave-in products. They left my hair soft and shiny, with No 7 doubling as a heat protectant. But… my hair still showed visible damage. To be fair, I was still using drugstore shampoos, conditioners, and heat-styling tools. So, I can’t say I gave it a fair shot. Nevertheless, with superior products available now, I wouldn’t recommend Olaplex.
Redken — Acidic Bonding Concentrate Intensive Treatment
I’m a huge fan of Redken hair care products! The All Soft line is my go-to. So, trying out the Acidic Bonding Concentrate Intensive Treatment was a no-brainer. The technology in this pre-shampoo treatment isn’t groundbreaking. They use citric acid to lower the pH level of our hair, which repairs broken bonds. Being under the L’Oreal umbrella, there are plenty of similar products on the market. From Kerastase Premiere to L’Oreal’s Ever Pure Bond Repair — all rich in citric acid. So, if you’re looking for a budget-friendly alternative, the drugstore route works too. I’ve tried both, and while I prefer Redken, L’Oreal’s products still deliver results.
Using this treatment sporadically, I notice my hair feeling softer, smoother, and looking shinier. It’s easy to use too. Simply apply it to wet hair, leave it on for 15 minutes, then shampoo and condition as usual. This could be the perfect product to upgrade your hair care routine and restore hair health. But don’t expect miracles, especially for severely damaged hair.
K18
Lastly, K18. I’ve been using it for a year now, and it’s hands down the best bond-building product out there. K18’s “magical” ingredient is the K18 peptide, which restores keratin chains, reversing damage from bleach, heat, mechanical manipulation, and the environment. However, it comes with a hefty price tag. That’s why I mulled over it for two years before taking the plunge.
I’ll include two pictures: one when I started using K18 and one a year later. My fine, fragile hair feels infinitely softer, and healthier, and looks fuller and shinier. What sets K18 apart is its convenience. Just shampoo, skip conditioner, apply the mask, leave it on for 4 minutes, and style as usual. If your hair is damaged and fragile, I strongly urge you to try K18. For me, it delivered visible results quickly and effectively.
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