Uploaded July 2026 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
Spot any differences? 👇 K-18 and Olaplex are two of the most popular bond-building treatments — but they do not work the same way. I tested both on the same wash day, one on each side of my head.
Watch the full comparison on my channel.
Different application methods:
K-18 — post-shampoo leave-in, four minutes, then style
Olaplex — pre-shampoo, 3 minutes, rinse out, then shampoo and condition as normal
Different repair techology:
Olaplex — relinks broken bonds, targeting disulfide bonds
K-18 — targets polypeptide protein chains
Neither weighed my hair down.
The complaint most people have about both is they expected a conditioning feel after shampooing out. Neither delivers that. The repair is internal. That is a mismatched expectation, not a product failure.
What most people also do not realize — not rinsing out K-18 could soften your gel's hold if left on, and skipping conditioner afterward may leave your hair feeling dry.
My recommendation for K18:
1. Shampoo
2. Apply K18
3. Rinse after 4 minutes
4. Optional: shampoo again
5. Optional: condition & rinse
Which one you choose comes down to your preferred application and your budget.
#curlyhair #bondbuilding #curlcoach #k18 #olaplex
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➜HAIR TYPE
• 3A-3B curls
• High porosity
• Medium to coarse texture
• Low density
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➜MY DISCOUNT CODES
★STRANDPRINT 5% off with code GENA: strandprint.com
★UMBERTO GIANNINI 20% off with code GENAMARIECO: us.umbertogiannini.com/GENAMARIECO
★MOP TOP 20% off with code GENA20: moptophair.com/gena20
★TOOTILAB 15% off with code GENAMARIE: tootilab.com/GENAMARIE
★ INNERSENSE 15% off first order with code GENA15: innersenseorganicbeauty.pxf.io/bkj9nx
★ OUIDAD 25% off with code GENAMARIE: bit.ly/GMOuidad
★ AG HAIR 20% off with code GENA20: agcare.sjv.io/eKgoyZ
★ BOUCLÈME 15% off with code GENA15: boucleme.us/GENA15
★ BOUNCE CURL 10% off with code GENAMARIE: glnk.io/x26q/genamarieco
★ JESSICURL 10% off with code GENAMARIE: shareasale.com/r.cfm?u=680741&m=137946&b=2278196
★ MINHA BEAUTY 10% off with code GENAMARIE: minhabeauty.com/?ref=GENAMARIE
★ CURLFRIEND COLLECTIVE 10% off through link: bit.ly/CurlfriendCollective
★ KITSCH 15% off with code GENA15: bit.ly/KitschGena15
★ HOT HEAD THERMAL HAIRCARE 10% off with code GENAMARIE: bit.ly/ThermalHaircareGM
★ CURLS MONTHLY $5 off: curlsmonthly.com/?ref=GENAMARIE
★ DIME BEAUTY SKINCARE 20% off with code GenaM20: bit.ly/DimeBeautyGM
FTC DISCLAIMER: This is not a sponsored video. Products are gifted. Links are affiliate links, which means I earn a small percentage when you order through my links. This does not impact the price you pay and is a way to support my channel in exchange for helping you discover the product.
Spot any differences? 👇 K-18 and Olaplex are two of the most popular bond-building treatments — but they do not work the same way. I tested both on the same wash day, one on each side of my head.
Watch the full comparison on my channel.
Different application methods:
K-18 — post-shampoo leave-in, four minutes, then style
Olaplex — pre-shampoo, 3 minutes, rinse out, then shampoo and condition as normal
Different repair techology:
Olaplex — relinks broken bonds, targeting disulfide bonds
K-18 — targets polypeptide protein chains
Neither weighed my hair down.
The complaint most people have about both is they expected a conditioning feel after shampooing out. Neither delivers that. The repair is internal. That is a mismatched expectation, not a product failure.
What most people also do not realize — not rinsing out K-18 could soften your gel's hold if left on, and skipping conditioner afterward may leave your hair feeling dry.
My recommendation for K18:
1. Shampoo
2. Apply K18
3. Rinse after 4 minutes
4. Optional: shampoo again
5. Optional: condition & rinse
Which one you choose comes down to your preferred application and your budget.
#curlyhair #bondbuilding #curlcoach #k18 #olaplex
New videos every Sunday, so please subscribe so you don't miss a new video! youtube.com/genamarie?sub_confirmation=1
💌 Subscribe to my blog via email and receive a Free Wash Day Calendar & Guide! https://genamarie.ck.page/d45316eaa1
Emails are sent 1x per week and include a copy of my latest blog post.
📆 CURL COACHING MEMBERSHIP: genamarie.co/curl-coaching
📝 HAIR TYPE QUIZ: genamarie.co/hair-type-quiz
📥 DIGITAL RESOURCES: genamarie.co/digital-resources
🗓 CURLY HAIR TRACKER & PLANNER: genamarie.co/product/curly-hair-tracker-planner
➜FOLLOW
• BLOG: genamarie.co
• EMAIL (business inquiries): info@genamarie.co
• INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/GenaMarie.co
• THREADS: threads.net/@genamarie.co
• FACEBOOK: facebook.com/GenaMarie.co
• PINTEREST: pinterest.com/GenaMarieCo
➜HAIR TYPE
• 3A-3B curls
• High porosity
• Medium to coarse texture
• Low density
➜SHOP MY PRODUCTS:
genamarie.co/shop
amazon.com/shop/genam
➜MY DISCOUNT CODES
★STRANDPRINT 5% off with code GENA: strandprint.com
★UMBERTO GIANNINI 20% off with code GENAMARIECO: us.umbertogiannini.com/GENAMARIECO
★MOP TOP 20% off with code GENA20: moptophair.com/gena20
★TOOTILAB 15% off with code GENAMARIE: tootilab.com/GENAMARIE
★ INNERSENSE 15% off first order with code GENA15: innersenseorganicbeauty.pxf.io/bkj9nx
★ OUIDAD 25% off with code GENAMARIE: bit.ly/GMOuidad
★ AG HAIR 20% off with code GENA20: agcare.sjv.io/eKgoyZ
★ BOUCLÈME 15% off with code GENA15: boucleme.us/GENA15
★ BOUNCE CURL 10% off with code GENAMARIE: glnk.io/x26q/genamarieco
★ JESSICURL 10% off with code GENAMARIE: shareasale.com/r.cfm?u=680741&m=137946&b=2278196
★ MINHA BEAUTY 10% off with code GENAMARIE: minhabeauty.com/?ref=GENAMARIE
★ CURLFRIEND COLLECTIVE 10% off through link: bit.ly/CurlfriendCollective
★ KITSCH 15% off with code GENA15: bit.ly/KitschGena15
★ HOT HEAD THERMAL HAIRCARE 10% off with code GENAMARIE: bit.ly/ThermalHaircareGM
★ CURLS MONTHLY $5 off: curlsmonthly.com/?ref=GENAMARIE
★ DIME BEAUTY SKINCARE 20% off with code GenaM20: bit.ly/DimeBeautyGM
FTC DISCLAIMER: This is not a sponsored video. Products are gifted. Links are affiliate links, which means I earn a small percentage when you order through my links. This does not impact the price you pay and is a way to support my channel in exchange for helping you discover the product.
