Every client who sits in your chair deserves healthier hair when they leave, whatever service they booked. K18 makes that simple: one short ritual that slots into lightening, colour, relaxers, perms, smoothing, extensions and even a simple cut.

This guide walks you through exactly where K18 fits in each service, so you can protect results, upsell with confidence and build a repair add on that clients come back for.

What is K18REPAIR™?

K18REPAIR™ is K18's salon exclusive, 2 step damage repair service. It protects, strengthens and preserves hair health before and after every service, and reverses damage from lightener, colour, chemical services and heat in just 4 minutes.*

How it works. Both steps are powered by the patented K18PEPTIDE™. This biomimetic peptide mimics hair's own biology, so it clicks into the keratin structure like a puzzle piece. It travels past the cuticle to the innermost layers and reconnects broken polypeptide chains and disulfide bonds, restoring strength and elasticity from the inside out. Because hair recognises it as natural, it stays put rather than washing out like a topical treatment.

The 2 steps.

1. PRO molecular repair hair mist goes on before the service to fortify the hair and repair existing damage, so it can withstand what comes next.
2. PRO molecular repair hair mask goes on after the service to reverse any damage that occurred during it.

2 steps, 4 minutes each, no extra rinse. It works on all hair types, from fine and straight to curly and coily, and with every service on your menu.

Why it matters for your business. Healthier hair means you can push transformations further with confidence, deliver longer lasting results and give clients a reason to rebook. As an add on to every service, it also adds revenue to each appointment.

The core ritual: 2 steps, 4 minutes each

Every K18 service is built on the same two products. Learn this once and you can apply it anywhere.

1. Section clean, towel dried hair into 4 quadrants.
2. Mist: apply K18 professional molecular repair hair mist, 10 to 20 sprays per quadrant depending on your client's length, density and level of damage.
3. Wait 4 minutes.Do not rinse.
4. Mask: apply 1 to 3 pumps of K18 professional molecular repair hair mask, starting at the ends and working up towards the new growth.
5. Wait 4 minutes.Do not rinse.
6. Proceedwith your cut and/or style as usual.

Two golden rules run through every protocol below: never rinse the mist or mask straight off, and skip conditioner when shampooing before the mask, unless the protocol tells you otherwise.

Lightening, colour, toning and glossing

K18 + lightener or colour

Mist before you lighten, mask after you rinse.

1. Section clean, towel dried hair into 4 quadrants and apply the mist (10 to 20 sprays per quadrant).
2. Wait 4 minutes, do not rinse. Dry the hair if needed, then perform your technique and process lightener or colour as usual.
3. Shampoo with K18 PEPTIDE PREP® detox shampoo. Do not condition. Towel dry thoroughly.
4. Apply the mask (1 to 3 pumps, ends first, working up to the new growth) and wait 4 minutes. Do not rinse.
5. Cut and/or style as usual.

K18 + toning or glossing

Here the mist goes on after lightening, as a primer for your toner or gloss.

1. Process lightener or colour as usual, rinse and shampoo with K18 PEPTIDE PREP® detox shampoo. Do not condition.
2. Apply the mist (10 to 20 sprays per quadrant) and wait 4 minutes. Do not rinse, then apply toner or gloss.
3. Process as usual and rinse. If shampooing, use K18 DAMAGE SHIELD pH protective shampoo. Do not condition. Towel dry.
4. Apply the mask (1 to 3 pumps) and wait 4 minutes. Do not rinse.
5. Cut and/or style as usual.

Cuts and extensions

K18 + cut

No chemical service needed. This is the core ritual on its own, and the easiest way to introduce K18 to every client.

1. Section clean, towel dried hair into 4 quadrants, apply the mist and wait 4 minutes. Do not rinse.
2. Apply the mask (1 to 3 pumps) and wait 4 minutes. Do not rinse.
3. Cut and/or style as usual.

K18 + extensions

Prep the natural hair before installation so it is in the best condition to carry the extensions.

1. Section clean, towel dried hair into 4 quadrants, apply the mist and wait 4 minutes.
2. Shampoo with K18 PEPTIDE PREP® detox shampoo. Do not condition.
3. Apply the mask (1 to 3 pumps) and wait 4 minutes. Do not rinse.
4. Apply a small amount of K18 DAMAGE SHIELD protective conditioner from mid lengths to ends, then rinse thoroughly.
5. Install extensions as usual.

Texture and smoothing services

For relaxers, perms and thermal reconditioning, the mist goes on before the chemical service and again (or the mask) afterwards, so the hair is supported at both ends of the process.

K18 + relaxer

1. Section clean, towel dried hair into 4 quadrants, apply the mist and wait 4 minutes. Do not rinse. Dry if needed.
2. Apply and process relaxer as usual, rinse thoroughly and towel dry.
3. Apply the mist again and wait 4 minutes. Do not rinse.
4. Follow with neutralising shampoo. Do not condition. Towel dry thoroughly.
5. Apply the mask (1 to 3 pumps) and wait 4 minutes. Do not rinse.
6. Apply a small amount of K18 DAMAGE SHIELD protective conditioner from mid lengths to ends, then rinse thoroughly.
7. Cut or style as usual.

K18 + perm

1. Section clean, towel dried hair into 4 quadrants, apply the mist and wait 4 minutes. Do not rinse.
2. Wrap, process and neutralise the perm as usual. Remove rods and gently towel dry.
3. Apply the mist again and wait 4 minutes. Do not rinse.
4. Cut or style as usual.

K18 + keratin straightener

1. Section clean, towel dried hair into 4 quadrants, apply the mist and wait 4 minutes. Do not rinse.
2. Shampoo with the product recommended in your keratin service instructions.
3. Carry out the keratin straightener as usual.

K18 + thermal reconditioner

1. Section clean, towel dried hair into 4 quadrants, apply the mist and wait 4 minutes.
2. Apply and process the thermal reconditioner solution as usual, then apply neutraliser, process and rinse.
3. Apply the mask (1 to 3 pumps) and wait 4 minutes. Do not rinse.
4. Apply a small amount of K18 DAMAGE SHIELD protective conditioner from mid lengths to ends, then rinse thoroughly.
5. Style as usual.

Make it work in your salon

• Adjust the mist to the hair. Fine, short or healthy hair may need 10 sprays per quadrant; long, dense or heavily processed hair nearer 20.
• Use the wait time. Each 4 minute wait is a natural moment for consultation, aftercare advice or prepping your next step.
• Put it on the menu. Offer K18 as a named add on to every colour, texture and cut service so clients can see the value.
• Send them home with it. Recommend a K18 home care routine so results last between visits.

Ready to add K18 to your services? Speak to your Sweet Squared Business Manager or visit the Sweet Squared website to order and book K18 education.

• #Hair
• #Hair Salon
• #K18