TL;DR: K18 and Olaplex both fix broken bonds inside your hair, but K18 works fast (about four minutes, no rinse) while Olaplex builds strength over repeated visits. At Styling Company our K18 Treatment is $22, the K18 Luxury Blowout is $58, and stand-alone Olaplex is $49. Damaged, over-processed hair? Start with K18.
By Dana, Level 4 stylist at Styling Company
I get this question almost every week at the chair. Someone sits down, shows me a photo of frizz or breakage, and asks if they need K18 or Olaplex. Both are great. They just do different jobs. Let me walk you through how I actually choose between them so you stop guessing and start booking the right thing. Ready when you are, book here.
What's the real difference between K18 and Olaplex?
The short version: K18 uses a small peptide that slips inside the hair and reconnects broken keratin chains, and it does most of its work in about four minutes with no rinse. Olaplex uses a different chemistry that relinks the disulfide bonds that break during color and heat, and it tends to build results over a few sessions.
Think of it like this. K18 is the fast repair you feel right away, great before or after a big color or a smoothing service. Olaplex is the steady, repeat treatment that keeps strong hair strong over time. Neither one is a gimmick. I use both in the salon depending on what your hair is telling me. If you want to see the full menu of what we offer, the services page lays it out.
Which one is right for my hair?
If your hair is snapping, gummy when wet, or fried from bleach and hot tools, I usually reach for K18 first. It gives that instant reset, and the K18 Treatment is only $22 as an add-on. For a full pampering reset, the K18 Luxury Blowout at $58 pairs the treatment with a blowout so you leave looking finished, not just fixed.
If your hair is in decent shape and you color regularly, Olaplex is a smart maintenance move. Our stand-alone Olaplex is $49 and works beautifully layered into a color day to protect the bond as we lighten. And if your scalp feels tight, flaky, or just off, the Scalp Reset & Repair at $49 targets that instead, because healthy hair starts at the root.
Can I use both K18 and Olaplex together?
Yes, and honestly a lot of my Monmouth County clients do. They're not competitors in your routine. I'll often do Olaplex during a color service to protect the bonds while we process, then send you home with K18 habits for the weeks between visits. One handles the salon day, the other handles the maintenance. That combo is what keeps color-treated hair from getting brittle by month three.
If you're deciding where to spend first, and your hair is already damaged, start with K18. If your hair is healthy and you just want insurance during color, Olaplex earns its keep. Not sure? Tell me at your appointment and I'll feel your hair and make the call. That's literally my job.
How long do these treatments last?
A single K18 treatment holds for a few washes, and the more consistently you use it the more the repair compounds. Olaplex is similar. One visit helps, but the strength really shows after a few sessions spaced across your color appointments. Neither is a one-and-done miracle, and any stylist who promises that isn't being straight with you. Real repair is a habit, not a single trip.
Once your hair is stronger, everything else gets easier too. Your color holds better, your ends behave, and your styling lasts. Speaking of styling, if you want your fresh treatment to show off, here's how to make your blowout last so all that repair work stays looking polished.
Good to Know
How much is K18 at Styling Company?
The K18 Treatment is $22 as an add-on to any service. The K18 Luxury Blowout, which includes the treatment plus a full blowout, is $58. Both are on our treatment page.
How much is Olaplex?
Stand-alone Olaplex is $49 at our Belmar salon. It's often added to a color service to protect your bonds while we lighten or tone.
Does K18 replace my regular conditioner?
No. K18 is a repair step, not a daily conditioner. Use it as directed and keep your normal wash routine. Your stylist can set you up with a simple at-home plan.
Will these treatments fix split ends?
They strengthen the hair and improve how it looks and feels, but they can't glue a split end back together. Once an end is split, a trim is the only real fix. Repair treatments slow future breakage.
Can I get a treatment if I don't color my hair?
Absolutely. Heat styling, sun, salt water, and the Jersey Shore summer all cause damage too. Plenty of my treatment clients never color. If your hair takes a beating at the beach, a reset helps.
Should I get a treatment before or after color?
It depends. Olaplex often goes in during color to protect the bond. K18 works great after, or even as a stand-alone reset on its own day. I'll build it into your appointment based on what we're doing.
How often should I do a repair treatment?
For damaged hair, every visit for a stretch, then space it out as your hair recovers. For maintenance, once a month or alongside your color is plenty. It's not something you need every single wash.
What about the cost of getting color done here too?
If you're planning color alongside your treatment, it helps to know the numbers. Here's our breakdown of balayage cost in Monmouth County so you can plan the whole visit.
Your hair doesn't have to stay damaged, and you don't have to figure this out alone. Come in, let me feel your ends, and I'll tell you exactly which treatment your hair needs and why. Book your appointment and we'll build a plan that actually works for your hair. Styling Company is at 902 Main Street in Belmar, serving Spring Lake, Avon, Manasquan, Point Pleasant, Asbury Park, Wall Township, and the whole Jersey Shore.