It’s one of our most asked questions: How much of our leave-in molecular repair hair mask should you use? Well, the honest answer is that it totally depends. You see, even though all hair is biologically the same, everyone’s is a bit different in its own way. And that’s what makes it beautiful.

With that said, in this article we’re going to do our best to clear up this top query once and for all. Ahead, find the optimal K18 mask dose for your unique hair type, density, and length. 

why less is more

First, a little biotech background: Our award-winning mask is powered by the clinically proven K18PEPTIDE™, and it’s designed to work on the molecular level for all hair types. K18’s chemists follow a less-is-more formulation mentality, hence why it’s highly concentrated, and you only need to use a minimal amount for it to work its magic. 

The mask simplifies and minimizes steps in your hair routine and gets the job done–repairing damaged strands–in 4 minutes flat. It offers immediate and progressive results, so you can see a difference after just one treatment–with said results only getting better with time. Plus, it saves you time, money, and shelf space because a little goes a long way.

why your hair type, length, + density matter

In most cases, the more hair you have, the more pumps of the mask you’ll need to use. But it’s not always that cut-and-dry. For instance, you may have fine hair but a lot of it. Or perhaps you have curly hair but it’s on the thinner side. Similarly, maybe your stands are short but you bleach them super often. All of these discrepancies will influence how much of the mask your hair actually needs. 

Now, for the part you’ve all been waiting (and asking!) for. 

use a ½  pump if… 

You have super short or fine, thin strands that air-dry fairly quickly and within minutes with a blow-dryer. This tiny amount will repair damage from bleach + color, chemical services and heat*, all without weighing your hair down. And remember: You ultimately know your hair best, so if you don’t feel like it ends up being enough, you can always add a bit more. 

use 1 to 2 pumps if…

You have short thick hair, fine wavy/curly hair, chemically treated hair, or medium-thick long hair. How damaged your hair is matters, too. For example, if your hair is short and fine but you bleach it alot, it’s likely your strands will benefit from using 1.5 to 2 pumps. As always, if in doubt, start small with 1 pump, and build up to 2 if you feel it’s not enough. 

use around 3 pumps if… 

You have ultra-thick, medium-to-long, or curly-coily hair that takes forever and a day to dry. If this sounds like your mane, between 2.5 to 3 pumps is going to be your sweet spot–but don’t be tempted to go beyond that amount. As noted above, this mask is special because it’s highly concentrated, which means it *is* possible to go overboard and weigh hair down with too much. If you have extensive damage to repair, use it more ofter versus simply applying more.