This Aussie brand just launched a dupe for K18's viral hair mask
Because who has $100 to spend on a hair mask these days?
With over a million #K18Results videos on TikTok, and celebrity endorsements from Kim Kardashian and Simone Biles, it's not hard to surmise that the K18 Leave-In Molecular Repair Mask has officially reached viral-level, cult status.
However, although we completely endorse the product's innovative and speedy hair-repairing formula, what we can't get on board with is the price of the stuff.
A standard 50ml pump bottle of the K18 Leave-In Molecular Repair Mask will set you back $100 at Sephora and $99.95 at Adore Beauty — although you can sometimes snag it on sale at Amazon.
We're not arguing the value of K18's patented keratin repairing formula, we're just saying we don't always have $100 to splash on a haircare product. The cost of living crisis has had an impact on our nails and our trips to the hair salon, after all.
One day we'll have the spare change to indulge in such things, but for now, we're on the hunt for affordable alternatives that still deliver results.
Lucky for us, scalp-health obsessed, Australian haircare brand, Skelp, has just launched the perfect product to perform as K18's understudy in our haircare routines.
Introducing: skelp! Stay Hydrated Moisture Mask. A 250ml tube will set you back just $36 — that's five times the amount of product in a standard bottle of K18 — plus, you'll save $64 too.
What is the skelp! Stay Hydrated Moisture Mask?
The skelp! Stay Hydrated Moisture Mask is a hydrating hair mask treatment that only needs to be used once a week (so you can ration it if you're on a budget). It's formulated to promote moisture retention on the scalp, and lengths and ends of the hair, as well as, smoothing and detangling strands, and enhancing shine and softness. If you deal with an imbalanced or sensitive scalp, the Stay Hydrated Moisture Mask will help you with that, as it offers protection from the elements and environmental aggressors.
The skelp! Stay Hydrated Moisture Mask is formulated to work on all hair types too. Whether you sport a bouncy head of curls or poker straight strands, this moisturising hair mask will address the signs of dryness and damage that are keeping you from experiencing great hair days. The formula itself is also lightweight and non-greasy, so oily hair types can breath a sigh of relief, because this pick won't weigh your hair down with product build-up. It's also colour-safe and promotes the longevity and vibrancy of colour-treated hair too.
What is the skelp! Stay Hydrated Moisture Mask made of?
You're likely wondering, what's in the skelp! Stay Hydrated Moisture Mask that makes it K18's equal? Well, in short, a lot of ingredients that mimic naturally occurring fatty acids, proteins and molecular matrixes in the human body, which in turn helps them to be recognised and absorbed more effectively by the hair and scalp.
The skelp! Stay Hydrated Moisture Mask is enriched with a cohort of fatty acids that revitalise dry, dehydrated and damaged hair, by replenishing moisture levels and forming a protective outer layer. These fatty acids are also fantastic at soothing the scalp and smoothing flyaways. Hyaluronic acid and seaweed extract act as hydrating agents, binding moisture to the hair and skin, and they also boast calming and protective properties too.
Hydrolysed wheat protein acts as a bond-strengthening force in the formula, reinforcing moisture and broken bonds caused by heat, colour treatments and styling. While argan oil has been added to the mix to enhance shine, smooth the hair follicle and reduce breakage, and shea butter nourishes, repairs and restores the scalp and strands by trapping moisture.
Keen to try this K18 dupe for yourself? The skelp! Stay Hydrated Moisture Mask is currently available to shop online at the skelp! website.
Main image credit: @romeestrijd
skelp! isn't the only Aussie brand offering affordable alternatives to viral products. This $36 Sol de Janeiro body mist dupe is made in Australia and officially on our radar.
Briar Clark got her start in the media industry in 2017, as an intern for Marie Claire and InStyle. Since then, her keen interest in fashion and beauty has landed her gigs as a Digital Content Producer and Beauty Editor with titles like Girlfriend, Refinery29, BEAUTYcrew and beautyheaven. She loves the way seemingly innocuous topics like skin care and style have the ability to put a smile on people’s faces or make them think about themselves a little differently. A big believer in self love and experimentation, Briar has made a point of becoming the Australian beauty industry’s unofficial guinea pig for unusual treatments and daring hair trends. When she’s not testing out the latest beauty launches, Briar is big on broadening her horizons, mostly in the form of food but she’s also partial to travelling to new destinations both near and far (and of course, allocating an extra bag to bring their best beauty offerings home with her).
