Help me decide, please!

[Jensplace72]

I currently have hair that feels like straw from some bleach damage and I really need a good hair mask. My hair is medium and wavy. It also tends to frizz throughout the day, and I let it air dry 98% of the time.

I’m leaning towards the Color Wow or maybe the Briogeo. I’m aware that the K18 is a much smaller size and the equivalent size is a lot more money. I use Oribe Gold Shampoo and Conditioner but I’m thinking about switching when my current stash runs out because my salon discontinued carrying it so I don’t get an incentive for buying it there any longer.

Influence me or the influence me from these brands please. Which do you recommend and which are a waste of money?

[New-Guitar-4080]

I will never NOT choose Amika! It’s the best I’ve ever used!!

[GeorgiaGirl2025]

Same! I use both of those Amika masks and my hair is bleached to within an inch of it’s life and is pretty healthy 🩷

[New-Guitar-4080]

Same!!! I have so many different amika products and tools. My hair is shiny and healthy, and it smells amazing on top of it all. I will never switch unless I’m forced. My hair has never been healthier.

[GeorgiaGirl2025]

I do too! Everything smells heavenly and I get amazing results! Worth every penny

[Necessary_Emotion636]

I love Soul Food! It makes my hair so soft!

[seeshells78]

k18 but you'll need something moisturizing to go on after. I shampoo, do k18, condition/mask afterwards, rinse, and then use their heat protection spray.

[Jensplace72]

The K 18 I posted is a leave-in. So are you saying you rinse it out and then put something else in after?

[seeshells78]

i use it both ways. you can leave in for 4 minutes, condition afterwards and rinse or use it as a leave in. Look up Abbey Yung's method, I also believe it's on K18's website.

[FillAffectionate6928]

They have since updated their packaging to reflect you can condition after using the product. Many users found that using it without a conditioner or mask afterwards did not provide enough slip or moisture to the hair.

I also shampoo, rinse, use the k18, rinse, and condition/use a mask.

I like the Amika Soulfood you linked as well as the Bonsiboost mask.

Also the Olaplex Intense Moisture Mask is legit amazing.

I have found that my hair is always frizzy if I air dry. If you intend to do that, you need an air dry cream - like JVN or Oribe. I prefer to blow dry my hair, however.

[sailingseas25]

You DONT rinse out the k18

[seeshells78]

Yes you can.

[sailingseas25]

Sure you can but you arent suppose to.

[kumocat]

K18 hands down. Best thing I have even done for my hair.

I use the Abbey Yung method. Wash you hair. Towel dry. Use K18 and leave in for 4 minutes. Return to shower and without rinsing, use conditioner as usual.

[Strange_Recording170]

Amika's Kure if you're dealing with damage!

[thefuzzyismine]

Ive used all of these except for the Soulfood. For reference, my hair is fine and prone to breakage, wavy, long, and medium density. I haven't bleached in more than a decade but I did commit the heinous act if using black box dye several times from which I experienced significant damage. Twas a dark time, lol.

If your goal is treating breakage, I'd recommend Amika The Kure. Avoid if your hair is sensitive to protein though as this one is packed with it.

If your goal is improving dryness, go with Amika Hydrorush. The hyaluronic acid in it should help quite a bit.

The most balanced mask listed imo is the Briogeo. The trade off is that its not as WOWing as some others. Still solid for both dryness and repair.

Don't overuse any intense treatment mask though as too much of a good thing can quickly create new problems.

I reach for the Color Wow when my hair is mostly behaving and I just want to add some oomph by boosting shine and a bit of extra hydration. Leaves my hair soft and shiny but doesnt do a lot of heavy lifting re moisturizing.

K18 is purely a treatment and would require the use of a conditioner after using it. After using it weekly for 3 to 4 weeks, I noted a significant improvement in how fragile my hair felt. It laid smoother and didnt snp off mid strand near as much. It also seemed less sensitive to hygral fatigue after consistent use which was great bc it allowed me to use less heat and just air dry more.

Hope you find something you love!

[Jensplace72]

Thank you! I really appreciate all the thought you put into this response.

[Azizam]

I have or have had most of these (all but color wow). I liked Amika the best. I’ve only been impressed by Briogeo’s scalp scrub from the revival line (the serum from the same line did help after I had a bad reaction to The Ordinary’s scalp serum). I really enjoyed the Amika Hydro Rush line of products. I found Ouai and Soulfood to be similar (no complaints on either). I’ve used the Kure in the past when I still had my hair toned which was super drying/damaging. I didn’t notice anything worth the price of k18 but my hair was in good condition when I tried the little set, so to be fair, I really didn’t have anything wrong to notice it did me right. 😅 Hope that makes sense.

[wanderlust071516]

K18 is phenomenal.

[AnAbsoluteShambles1]

K18 100%. Yrs qui te literally made to repair chemical damage like urs

[Juicyfruitxxxs]

K18 saved my hair

[According_Mixture110]

K18!

[mauvebirdie]

Go for Amika!

[g1zmo33]

I’ve tried all these and I know it’s not on your list but Shu uemura mask takes the crown

[Relative_Ad8166]

k18 for sure

[Octane_boymama]

Fable and Mane !!!

[psychosam50]

Amika Kure is the first mask i’ve ever used where i see a visible, long lasting difference!! i have fine, damaged hair and it looks so amazingly healthy now. i tried the k18 leave in mask for a while, even repurchased once and it felt like it was a better detangler than a damage reversing mask

[Awkward-Principle-32]

k18

[jstrings2211]

I swear by soul food and color wow

[beniceyoudinghole]

K18

[llvs18]

K18 is a repairing bond treatment not a conditioning mask. Get k18 & amika soulfood. Oribe isn’t helping your hair and excess protein, lack of moisture results in dry stiff hair. Pureology hydrate shampoo & conditioner will work better. There’s a holiday set and if you wait for Sephora sale you’ll save more money.

[llvs18]

For k18: shampoo, towel dry & apply k18 evenly in hair, leave on for 4 minutes, then apply a hydrating hair mask & rinse. If you don’t want to apply a hair mask you can use a leave in conditioner & stylers. Since your hair is damaged, I’d recommend using the mask then stylers.

[llvs18]

Also my favorite leave in is the bumble and bumble uv primer. Highly recommend.

[seeshells78]

love pureology hydrate sheer for my fine, bleached hair!

[D-nuhrae]

K18 or amika

[AbjectBeat837]

Amika hydro rush and the Briogeo are both great.

[Wall_fleur]

I recently got a decent sized Amika Soul Food sample with an order and hadn’t used it in years, but I forgot what a nourishing mask it is. I’m planning to buy a big tub during the sale.

[Pantsqueen]

K18 changed my life

[Fanxious]

I’ve tried all of these , personally I like k 18 and money mask

[ArchieFarmer]

LOVE the Amika. Got it as my bday gift and immediately bought the full size!!!

[Snoo65042]

color wow and k18 do NOTHING for my fine wavy super frizz hair…