Because we go where the hair is, we decided to put K18 to the ultimate test backstage at designer, Naeem Khan’s show in Times Square. Could our K18 leave-in molecular repair mask actually renew hair to a healthy canvas after days of pit crew styling with a blow-dry on one side and a flat iron on the other?

The answer, according to Spoke & Weal Salon Owner and hair stylist, Jon Reyman, is yes.

Let’s just say NYFW 2021 wasn’t Jon’s first rodeo. Leading up to 15 shows during fashion month and directing backstage teams in New York, London, Milan, and Paris Jon has seen it all when it comes to styling—and the stress that styling hair through.

“When we’re backstage, model hair health and damage is very obvious in a lot of ways. The model’s hair is constantly getting heated, blow-dried, pressed, curled, and moved around. So, there’s always the threat of damage,” says Reyman.

Flat-ironing alone causes keratin chains or polypeptide chains to break (these are what’s responsible for hair core strength and elasticity.) That breakage allows the keratin chains to move around slightly and assume a position that results in straightened hair; however, excessive heat damages keratin chains, resulting in dry, lackluster, frizzy hair. Too much high temperature can also trap water molecules between keratin chains, causing bubble deformities to form in the hair shaft, leading to the deterioration of the cuticle and further hair breakage.

Unfortunately, even over-brushing can damage hair. Brushing too hard pulls hair past the point of its elastic recovery and weakens the bonds that hold keratin together. And while most of us probably won’t be strutting it in a New York City warehouse anytime soon—or having our hair straightened then curled then teased then twisted in the course of a few hours—we are putting our hair through all kinds of damage daily.

For Jon, a healthy canvas is critical to speed and results backstage. “When we’re working with models’ hair, their hair health is absolutely essential because I need to be able to move it and mold it and bend it. It needs to have the elasticity I’m looking for. I’m always making sure that the hair is protected and for me, K18 is really the foundation for that for every model.”

K18 is that reset button for stylists and for clients, renewing damage from the inside out. A healthy canvas to start with allows stylists can push their creativity further and clients to keep expressing themselves without worrying about the integrity of their hair health.

So follow the call of 100 trends. Change your hair like you change your clothes. With our K18Peptide™ you can be empowered to start fresh, start over, start again—backstage or not.