You have probably seen all the advertisements for bond rebuilding systems for long beautiful hair. One of the most popular on the market is the Olaplex system, but it actually is not my favorite. K18 has been what has revolutionized my hair. I have noticed tremendous improvement in the thickness of my hair and length retention. Yes, K18 can be pricey but well worth it.
So how exactly do these bond building products improve hair? Both work by rebuilding disulfide bonds.
We need to go back to the anatomy and structure of hair. Please refer to my prior post Hair Anatomy. A quick recap, hair has an outer cuticle layer, cortex, and inner medulla (for some). The cortex is where most of the strength of hair comes from and there are three major types of bonds that hold the cortex together. This includes hydrogen bonds, salt bonds, and disulfide bonds from weakest to strongest bonds. Hydrogren bonds are broken by heat. Salt bonds are disrupted by changes in pH. Disulfide bonds are usually damaged by chemicals. Bond repair systems focus on disulfide bonds as they are the strongest bonds for the cortex
However, what sets K18 apart from Olaplex is that it can repair polypeptide bonds which are at a deeper level than disulfide bonds. This is crucial for people that have more extensive damage or fragile hair like myself. It can help to provide additional strength to the hair so that it is not as prone to damage.
How do you know if a bond building system is for you?
Clues:
1. Limp hair
2. Fragile – easily broken strands
3. Brittle hair from chemical treatments (bleach/relaxers)
4. Split ends that you can’t control with regular trims
I am a licensed cosmetologist and work as a hair coach for clients. Hair care starts with proper nutrition/exercise, great hair products, and consistency. Let’s work together to get your hair healthy. I offer virtual coaching for anyone around the world. Do not settle when it comes to your hair. Like anything else, you have to work at it and invest in the right products for your hair.
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