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K18 Hair Mask vs. Olaplex No.3 vs. Living Proof Triple Bond Complex: Comparison and Reviews 2025

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K18 Hair Mask vs. Olaplex No.3 vs. Living Proof Triple Bond Complex: Comparison and Reviews 2025

Today, our hair can be put through a lot and there are some most common hair-damaging culprits such as bleach, chemical treatments and excessive heat styling that can break hair bonds, leading to dry, damaged strands or hair breakage.Luckily, if you’re looking to reverse any damage done, hair technology has advanced to offer a new category of haircare: bond repair treatments which work on repairing and strengthening the hair bonds inside your strands.
Perhaps the most famous is the Olaplex no.3 hair perfector , followed by the K18 leave-in molecular repair hair mask. But, rather excitingly, there’s a new bond-repair treatment to compete with them – enter, the Living Proof triple bond complex.All three brands use patented technologies and offer professional in-salon and at-home treatments to repair damaged hair, but which is better? Does K18 work better than Olaplex or Living Proof? Today, we’ll compare at-home hair repair products from the three brands in this K18 Hair Mask vs. Olaplex No.3 vs. Living Proof Triple Bond Complex post.

K18 Hair Mask Review

What is K18 Hair Mask?

K18 full-size leave-in molecular repair hair mask is a leave-in treatment mask that works on the molecular level to reverse hair damage in just 4 minutes. The K18PEPTIDE is clinically proven to repair damage from bleach + color, chemical services and heat – with immediate and lasting results to restore strength, softness, smoothness and bounce to hair.

Lift your locks back to life with this incredible at home formula that repairs fibers and strengthens them using patented peptides molecular repair ingredients. The Keratin Restoring Complex soothes proteins, infusing moisture deep into breakage, while Jojoba Extract seals it all in for investment protection you can feel working!

Source:k18hair.com

K18 Hair Mask Features

A leave-in treatment mask for all hair types that clinically reverses damage in four minutes. The patented peptide technology works to repair damage from bleach, color, chemical services, and heat, restoring strength, softness, smoothness, and bounce to hair.

Key Benefits:

Restores strength, softness, smoothness, and bounce
Repairs damaged hair
Easy leave-in formula delivers lasting results

How Does K18 Hair Mask Work?

According to the brand, the K18 peptide sequence was found to have “just the right composition of cysteines, the structure, the adjacency, and the length” to fit between the keratin chains in damaged hair. Once inside, it binds itself with the chains while helping to repair the disulfide bonds.

This peptide sequence mimics the structure of keratin in the hair and is why K18 is called a “biomimetic” hair mask. Hair can’t repair itself because it doesn’t have any live cells to make this specific keratin peptide so K18 is positioned as “the next best thing” to create a “near-natural state of strength and elasticity.”

K18 Hair Mask Price & Size

K18 Hair Mask Pros and Cons

Pros	Cons
Restores, strengthens and repairs the hair in single usage Suitable for all hair types Reduces likelihood of future damage to hair Cruelty-free, vegan and colour safe	Can be costly depending on budget Because K18 applies to unconditioned wet hair, pay extra care and attention when brushing your hair

Where to Buy K18 Hair Mask?

k18hair.com
sephora.com: Up to 4% Cashback
spacenk.com: Up to 7% Cashback
walmart.com: Up to 4% Cashback

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Olaplex No.3 Review

What is Olaplex No. 3?

The Nº.3 Hair Perfector, infused with patented OLAPLEX Bond Building technology, is a pre-shampoo treatment that is proven to repair and strengthen hair from the inside out. Use the Nº.3 Hair Perfector alone or paired with OLAPLEX Nº.0 for maximum at-home repair.

Olaplex 3 Hair Perfector is an at-home hair treatment that reduces breakage and visibly strengthens hair. Olaplex Hair Perfector isn’t a conditioner or a replacement for a conditioner.

Source:olaplex.com

Olaplex No.3 Features

Olaplex No. 3 Hair Perfector comes in a 3.3 fluid ounce bottle. It barely makes the TSA liquid limits, so you should be able to pack the cream in your carry-on or toiletry bag without issue.

The product’s formula is vegan and cruelty-free. There’s also no gluten, nuts, parabens, phthalates or phosphates. It feels very much like a normal conditioner with its opaque, creamy white consistency. If used generously, the 3.3-ounce bottle should last up to ten uses.

Key Benefits:

Reduces breakage and split ends
Visibly strengthens hair
Restores healthy appearance and texture

How Does Olaplex No. 3 works?

Our hair’s structure features millions of disulfide bonds between the proteins that comprise our strands, giving them strength and elasticity. When these bonds are broken, that’s when our hair gets split ends and looks dry, frizzy and damaged.

Olaplex No. 3 contains Olaplex’s patented bond-building ingredient, bis-aminopropyl diglycol dimaleate, which penetrates the hair and rebuilds those damaged bonds. This results in hair that looks and feels healthier.

Olaplex No.3 Price & Size

Olaplex No.3 Pros and Cons

Pros	Cons
Reverses hair damage Reduces frizz Adds shine and smoothness to hair Restores and strengthens hair Suitable for all hair types	Takes longer to see results Requires more than one product to see effective results Can cause irritation to scalp Takes more time to use in a single use Depending on budget, can be costly

Where to Buy Olaplex No.3 Hair Perfector?

olaplex.com
sephora.com: Up to 4% Cashnack
heatherheinstyles.com
spacenk.com: Up to 7% Cashback

Living Proof Triple Bond Complex Review

What is Living Proof Triple Bond Complex?

Living Proof Triple Bond Complex Leave-in Hair Treatment is scientifically proven to make hair 8x stronger and more resistant to future damage while adding softness, smoothness, shine and manageability after just one use. The weekly, one-step treatment can be easily inserted into your post-shower routine—no rinsing needed. Triple Bond Complex creates a 3D network to fortify the hair fiber to improve the core strength.

This patent-pending technology makes hair 8x stronger*, smoother and shinier after one use. Leave this 450 heat protectant on for 10 minutes before adding your styler and heat for best results.

Source:livingproof.com

Living Proof Triple Bond Complex Features

This leave-in formula is good for all hair types and levels of damage. This leave-in formula is clinically shown to rebuild the structure of your hair via a patent-pending technology to prevent breakage, reduce visible signs of split ends, and offer heat protection up to 450°F/232°C.

Key Benefits:

Clinically Proven to Reconstruct Hair
Repairs and Protects Against Damage
Stylists Prefer Over Leading Bond-Builder

How Does Living Proof Triple Bond Complex Work?

Living Proof patent-pending hero ingredient, which is a vegan, plant-derived molecule, can actually penetrate hair and create new hydrogen, ionic and covalent bonds. It interacts with hair fibers, where it creates a 3D network within each strand of hair and, as the name implies, fortifies the hair structure, building new bonds to improve its core strength.

And it does more than just restructure damaged hair, by the way. The 3D Fortifying Technology also protects against future damage, allowing you to style without compromise, and is clinically proven to rebuild the structure of your hair.

Living Proof Triple Bond Complex Price & Size

Living Proof Triple Bond Complex Pros and Cons

Pros

Cons

Scientifically proven to make hair 8 times stronger
Stylists prefer Triple Bond Complex over the leading bond builder
Builds all three types of bonds in the hair: hydrogen, ionic, and covalent
Reduces visible signs of hair damage including split ends while preventing breakage + future damage
Heat protection up to 450°F/232°C

Expensive: The Triple Bond Complex line is definitely on the expensive side.
Scent: The scent of the Triple Bond Complex line is not some people favorite.

Where to Buy Living Proof Triple Bond Complex ?

livingproof.com: up to 2% Cashback
sephora.com: up to 4% Cashback
lookfantastic.com: up to 10% Cashback
Walmart: up to 4% Cashback

K18 Hair Mask vs. Olaplex No.3 vs. Living Proof Triple Bond Complex Comparison Side by Side

1.key Specifications

K18 Hair Mask

Hair Type	Fine, Medium, and Thick, All Hair Types
Hair Texture	Straight, Wavy, Curly and Coily
Hair Concerns	Damage/Split Ends/Breakage,Color Safe,Straightening/Smoothing
Product Form	Spray
Beauty Purpose	Damage Repair
Net weight	15 ml/ 50 ml
Fragrance Description	The light floral scent features notes of jasmine and peony.

Olaplex No.3

Hair Type	Fine, Medium, and Thick, All Hair Types
Hair Texture	Straight, Wavy, Curly and Coily
Hair Concerns	Frizz,Dryness,Damage, Split Ends, and Breakage
Product Form	Liquid
Beauty Purpose	Heat Protection, Strengthening, Smoothing
Net weight	100 ml/ 250 ml
Fragrance Description	Classical Olaplex scent

Living Proof Triple Bond Complex

Hair Type	Fine, Medium, and Thick, All Hair Types
Hair Texture	Straight, Wavy, Curly, and Coily
Hair Concerns	Damage/Split Ends/Breakage, Heat Protection, Shine
Product Form	Liquid
Beauty Purpose	Heat Protection, Strengthening, Smoothing
Net weight	15 ml/ 45 ml
Fragrance Description	A fresh citrus opening with a floral heart and a warm base

2.Ingredient

K18 Hair Mask

Highlighted Ingredients:

K18Peptide: Repairs damage from bleach, color, chemical services, and heat.

Here is a full list of K18 treatment ingredients:

Water (Aqua) (Eau), Alcohol Denat., Propylene Glycol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Dicaprylyl Ether, Cetyl Esters, Behentrimonium Chloride, Polysorbate 20,sh-Oligopeptide-78 (K18Peptide™), Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Hydrolyzed Wheat Starch, Isopropyl Alcohol, Tocopherol, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate, Citric Acid, Fragrance (Parfum), Geraniol, Linalool, Hexyl Cinnamal, Benzyl Alcohol.

Olaplex No.3

Highlighted Ingredients:

Bis-Aminopropyl Diglycol Dimaleate: Patented and proven technology to help repair broken bonds for stronger hair.

Here is a full list of Olaplex No.3 ingredients:

Water (Aqua/Eau), Bis-Aminopropyl Diglycol Dimaleate, Propylene Glycol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Cetyl Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol, Glycerin, Hydroxyethyl Ethylcellulose, Stearamidopropyl Dimethylamine , Quaternium-91, Sodium Benzoate, Cetrimonium Methosulfate, Cetrimonium Chloride, Fragrance (Parfum), Tetrasodium EDTA ,Polyquaternium-37, Benzyl Benzoate, Etidronic Acid, Ascorbic Acid, Phytantriol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Panthenol, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Citric Acid, Potassium Sorbate

Living Proof Triple Bond Complex

Highlighted Ingredients:

3-D Fortifying Technology: Patent-pending tech forms a 3-D network to help rebuild and resist damage.
Encapsulated Cellular Oil: Helps defend hair against thermal and UV damage and color fading.
Biomimetic Emollient Blend: Smooths and aligns hair fibers, resulting in softness and shine.

Below is a full list of Living Proof Triple Bond Complex ingredients:

Water/Eau/Aqua, Cetyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Isodecyl Oleate, Isopentyldiol, Dioctyldodecyl Dodecanedioate, Sodium Phytate, Phytosteryl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate, Olea Europaea (Olive) Leaf Extract, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Wax, Jojoba Esters, Linoleamidopropyl Dimethylamine Dimer Dilinoleate, C10-18 Triglycerides, Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil, Glyceryl Ricinoleate, Cyclodextrin, Propanediol, Glycerin, Pentylene Glycol, Ceteth-20, Steareth-20, PEG-75 Stearate, Polyglycerin-3, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, Cyamopsis Tetragonoloba (Guar) Gum, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Xanthan Gum, Caesalpinia Spinosa Gum, Fragrance/Parfum, Citric Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Gluconic Acid, Hydroxyacetophenone, Sodium Benzoate, Linalool, Hexyl Cinnamal, Citronellol, Citral, Limonene.

3.Ease Of Use

K18 Hair Mask

To use the K18 mask properly, follow these K18 instructions:

Shampoo your hair as normal. You can use your regular shampoo or use a K18 shampoo. You will see results regardless of the shampoo you use.
Do not condition your hair after shampooing.
On towel-dried hair, add one pump of K18.
How much K18 to use is a popular question so begin with one pump and add more as needed depending on length, thickness, and condition. Work evenly into hair from ends to roots, one pump at a time. The maximum dosage of K18 is 3 pumps.
Let the K18 treatment sit for 4 minutes.
You do not need to rinse out your K18 treatment.
After a quick 4 minutes, you are good to go. You do not need to use conditioner when you use this K18 hair treatment.
You can comb and style your hair as usual using your regular hair products e.g. heat protectant, hair oil or any styling products.

When your hair is first damaged, K18 advises that you apply the mask every 4-6 shampoos consecutively. After this point, you enter the “maintenance” stage, at which point K18 recommends using the mask every 3-4 washes to protect against daily damage.

Olaplex No.3

Wondering how to use Olaplex No.3 for the best results? Well, Olaplex’s official instructions for its No.3 Hair Protector are:

Apply a generous amount from roots to ends on damp, towel-dried hair.
Comb through once and leave on for a minimum of 10 minutes or more.
Rinse from hair, shampoo, and condition.
For best results, make the OLAPLEX Bond Maintenance® System your weekly routine: treat with No.3 Hair Perfector, cleanse with No.4 Bond Maintenance® Shampoo (sold separately), and hydrate with No.5 Bond Maintenance® Conditioner (sold separately).

The patent adds that the amount of product applied should be “sufficient to saturate hair.”

Living Proof Triple Bond Complex

Living Proof’s triple bond complex also differs from other bond repair treatments when it comes to how you use it. We’re giving it top marks for ease of use, as it couldn’t be simpler to fit into an existing haircare routine, and you only need to use it once a week.

Here is Living Proof Triple Bond Complex suggested usage:

Shampoo and Condition hair as usual.
Then apply 2 pumps to clean, damp hair.
Add more as needed based on hair length, texture, and level of damage.
Comb through. Do not rinse out.
For best results, wait 10 minutes before applying other treatments or stylers and blow dry.
Product does not require heat but you will see best results with heat activation.
Use weekly.

4.Time

K18 Hair Mask

When it comes to K18, it’s a much faster and simplified process. Simply wash your hair, skip conditioner, and use K18 as your leave-in conditioner. In 4 minutes, you’ll see the difference with your hair feeling softer and smoother.

Olaplex No.3

Olaplex, a pre-shampoo treatment, No.3 requires a slightly longer process in which it has to be kept in the hair for 20 to 30 minutes before being washed off.

Living Proof Triple Bond Complex

After applying Living Proof Triple Bond Complex, wait 10 minutes before applying other stylers and treatments.

5.Performance

K18 Hair Mask

K18 hair treatments have the power to transform tresses, delivering silky soft strands that look healthier with every wash.

Olaplex No.3

Olaplex No. 3 is a bit more heavyweight, so really does resurrect bleached hair and noticeably restores body and shine, while leaving a touchable softness to each strand.

Living Proof Triple Bond Complex

A weekly Living Proof Triple Bond Complex that makes hair 8x stronger* + more resistant to future damage while adding softness, smoothness + shine.

K18 vs Olaplex vs Living Proof: Which Hair Treatment is Better?

K18 hair mask, Olaplex No.3 and Living Proof Triple Bond Complex all repair hair, but they do so in different ways. This means you could technically use both together – use the Olaplex No.3 Hair Protector before shampooing, and use the K18 Hair Treatment after.

Another popular question regarding these three hair treatments is which is better: K18 v Olaplex vs Living Proof ?

K18 works on all hair types and it is the perfect hair treatment if you are tired of standing in the shower waiting for your regular hair mask to show results.

Olaplex 3 is the most comparable to the K18 treatment. For Olaplex 3, you need to wet your hair first, apply for 10 minutes and then shampoo out. K18 is quicker than Olaplex 3 and penetrates deeper to the polypeptide chains. Olaplex 3 is a bond builder and repairs bonds at the cortex. K18 repairs at a deeper level than Olaplex 3.

Olaplex 3 is less than half of the price of K18, which is another difference to consider.K18’s treatment is a thicker consistency and doesn’t require as much product per use, so it may last longer.

Living Proof Triple Bond Complex is also another expensive offering, on par when it comes to pricing with Olaplex and K18’s products. You may pay less for Olaplex up front, but when you break it down and take into account how much product you get per bottle and how much product you use per go (in the case of Olaplex that’s a lot more) there are mere pennies between them when it comes to price.

It’s as good as Olaplex and K18 when it comes to leaving hair feeling softer, smoother and more manageable, and over time hair feels stronger too. The ideal bond repair for busy people or those looking for a fuss-free, low-maintenance hair-and-beauty routine that works.

Bottom Line：

In conclusion, ALL K18 hair mask, Olaplex No. 3 and Living Proof Triple Bond Complex have their own benefits and target different hair concerns.

Who Should Buy K18 Hair Mask?

K18 doesn't just hide damage or patch it up leaving hair brittle, it transforms even the most extreme damage into hair that looks and feels like new.

K18 hair mask is safe to use on all hair types and textures, all generations, and was made to be used on all types of damage.

Who Should Use Olaplex No.3?

The Olaplex hair treatment is said to moisturize and repair the hair, thanks to the nourishing bond-building ingredient, leaving it shinier and smoother overall.

Olaplex No. 3 works on all hair types. This includes anything from virgin hair to highly processed and straight hair to naturally curly.

Who Should Buy Living Proof Triple Bond Complex?

Triple Bond complex is a weekly reparative treatment that repairs broken bonds and fortifies the hair fiber from cortex to cuticle. Leave-in conditioners are designed to deliver additional conditioning benefits to the surface of the hair fiber, such as detangling, smoothness, and softness.

All hair types will see the benefit from using Living Proof Triple Bond Complex, but especially those with dry, damaged styles that need TLC.

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