K18 - Damage Shield Shampoo

The K18 Damage Shield pH-Protective Shampoo is a mild, cleansing shampoo for everyday use. It cleanses hair and scalp without disrupting their natural balance. Its core active is sh-Oligopeptide-78, which K18 also calls K18PEPTIDE™.

A shampoo that stays close to the natural pH of hair and scalp keeps the hair cuticle lying flatter. That's the outer layer of the hair shaft. According to K18, that helps preserve colour, smoothness and shine. The Damage Shield Shampoo is meant for your regular hair-washing routine.

Who is the K18 Damage Shield Shampoo for?

It suits anyone who washes their hair daily or almost daily, for all hair types from straight to curly. If you've had a colour treatment, the Damage Shield Shampoo is aimed at that specifically: it cleanses without letting the cuticle swell more than necessary. If you regularly use a hairdryer or straightener, it fits well into your routine too. It's a set step before a product you leave in your hair, such as the K18 Hair Repair Mask.

How do you use the K18 Damage Shield Shampoo?

You use the K18 Damage Shield Shampoo like a regular shampoo, and it's suited for daily use. Massage it into wet hair, focusing mainly on the scalp. Rinse thoroughly and repeat if needed. For the best result, follow with the K18 Damage Shield Protective Conditioner, applied to wet hair from mid-lengths to ends.

Damage Shield Shampoo or Detox Shampoo: what's the difference?

Olivida sells two K18 shampoos. The Damage Shield Shampoo is the one for every wash: mild enough for daily use, without drying out or weighing down the hair.

The K18 Detox Shampoo has a different purpose. You use it not daily, but around once a week or as needed, in place of your regular shampoo. It contains activated charcoal and salicylic acid, aimed at built-up styling residue and metal particles from tap water. If you regularly use dry shampoo, hair oil or styling products, add the Detox Shampoo once a week. For the rest of the week, the Damage Shield Shampoo stays your everyday choice.

Active ingredients

sh-Oligopeptide-78 (K18PEPTIDE™). K18's proprietary peptide. A peptide is a short chain of amino acids, and keratin, the protein your hair is made of, is built from them. K18 states that this reduces protein loss during washing, so hair feels more resilient.

Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride. A conditioning polymer that coats the hair shaft, reducing frizz and tangles for smoother, glossier hair.

Sodium Phytate. A chelator, an ingredient that binds metal particles in the water so fewer of them stay on the hair.

Panthenol and Glycerin. Moisture-binding ingredients that attract and hold water, leaving hair feeling soft after washing.

Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate, Sodium Methyl 2-Sulfolaurate and Sodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate. The cleansing agents in the formula. These are sulfonates and a sulfoacetate, related to a sulfate, the surfactant found in many regular shampoos that can sometimes strip hair too thoroughly. These ingredients are chemically different and formulated to match the pH of scalp and hair.

Full ingredient list (INCI)

Water (Aqua) (Eau), Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Methyl 2-Sulfolaurate, Sodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate, sh-Oligopeptide-78, Panthenol, Glycerin, Sodium Phytate, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Disodium 2-Sulfolaurate, Caprylyl Glycol, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Benzoic Acid, Citric Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Chloride, Fragrance (Parfum), Limonene.

Frequently asked questions

What is K18 Damage Shield pH-Protective Shampoo?

K18 Damage Shield pH-Protective Shampoo is a mild cleansing shampoo in a 250 ml bottle. It's suited for daily use and cleanses hair and scalp with a pH-optimised formula.

Can you use K18 Damage Shield Shampoo every day?

Yes, K18 Damage Shield Shampoo is meant for daily use. The formula is mild enough for repeated washing, unlike a periodic deep clean such as the K18 Detox Shampoo.

What does pH-optimised mean for the K18 Damage Shield Shampoo?

A pH-optimised shampoo has an acidity close to that of hair and scalp. For the K18 Damage Shield Shampoo, that limits how much the cuticle swells, which helps preserve colour and shine.

What's the difference between K18 Damage Shield Shampoo and K18 Detox Shampoo?

You use K18 Damage Shield Shampoo daily as your regular cleansing step. You use K18 Detox Shampoo about once a week, against built-up styling residue and metal particles from tap water.

Take a look at the rest of the K18 haircare range too, including the K18 Detox Shampoo for your periodic deep clean.