'I tried the $20 product that's supposed to rival K18. Here's my honest verdict.'

Mamamia's Tried and Tested series is your review of the latest to hit our desks in beauty, health and wellbeing. You won't find any #sponsored content here, just honest, relatable and independent advice. This week, Mamamia's Beauty Editor trials Hairification H24 Complex Leave-In Repair Hair Mask.

Hair has had a MAJOR moment in 2024, with more and more hair launches popping up on the market than ever before — from scrubs to serums and masks, haircare is the new skincare.

However, while there are lots of new players out there, chances are you're still loyal to cult brands like Olaplex and K18 — in fact, you might have a few of these products kicking around your cupboard. They're popular for good reason and have become big names in the hair treatment game, thanks to their ability to repair damaged strands and make hair stronger, smoother and healthier.

The catch? They're not exactly the cheapest hair products.

Watch: Speaking of hair, here's Mamamia's morning Editor Cassandra Green showing us how to nab effortless beachy waves. Post continues below.

And while there are a lot of similar products out there trying to mimic the effects of bond-building technology, few are actually as good as these OGs. Especially when it comes to the K18 Leave-In Molecular Repair Mask. At $99.95 for 50ml, it's an investment.

However, the good news is that the internet claims to have discovered a dupe for this cult favourite hair treatment — and it costs less than half the price.

It's called Hairification H24 Complex Leave-In Repair Hair Mask. And at the very attractive price of $20, it's a helluva lot cheaper than K18.

But is this $20 product actually a good alternative to K18?

I put it to the test to find out.

What is Hairification H24 Complex Leave-In Repair Hair Mask?

Described on the website as the "ultimate undercover agent", Hairification H24 Complex Leave-In Repair Hair Mask is a (you guessed it!) hair mask that promises to reverse damage on coloured or stressed stands and return your hair to its former glory in just four minutes. Just like K18.

Here's what it looks like:

Image: Supplied.

The product also has some big claims and promises to strengthen hair by up to 312 per cent (look, I'm not a numbers person, but the fact that it is over 100 per cent seems very noteworthy?), while claiming to fuse broken bonds (due to colouring and heat damage) and increasing the smoothness of the hair.

Sounds pretty good, no?

How did you go with it?

Before we get into it, just a bit of a background on my hair. I'm a big fan of heat tools — my hair is.... not. Meaning? It cops its fair share of heat damage (and YES I use heat protectant, mum!) and can get quite dry and brittle.

So, nourishing hair masks that promise instant results (did I mention I'm also lazy?) are my love language.

But onto the product.

I've used this newbie over the past week or so, applying it to clean, towel-dried hair after double cleansing with H24 Hair Repair Peptide Shampoo. (If you don't already double cleanse with your shampoo but tend to wear lots of product in your hair every day, I can assure you this technique will change the health of your hair in itself).

The formula comes in a handy pump pack with a red lid, which trumps those annoying tubs you need to stick your hands in/the squeezy tubes you have to snip open. It has a gel-creme texture and doesn't have a hectic scent (it's pretty mild).

As per the instructions, I placed one to three pumps into my palm and rubbed my hands together to emulsify the formula into a thick, creamy, white paste. And it emulsifies good.

I worked it evenly through my hair, smooshing it all in from mid-lengths to ends, and left it at least four minutes before adding any other products to my hair (this is supposed to give the active ingredients enough time to penetrate the hair). I then combed it all through with a wide-tooth comb.

No rinsing. No fluffing around.

Here's what it looks like on my hand:

Image: Supplied.

The packaging said you're supposed to use this for the first four to six washes and then as required. I've used it for three washes in total and can already see a difference in the look and feel of my hair.

Everything looks shinier, smoother and less frizzy, and I genuinely feel like my hair is easier to style.

I used a blowdry brush after washing it and it *literally* took five minutes and my hair looks way better than when I usually slave over it for ages. At work the next day, I received so many compliments (looks so shiny! Healthy! Is it longer?) which is just a good time in itself.

Here's what my hair looked like before trying the mask (left) and after (right).

Before (left) and right (after). Image: Supplied.

Does the $20 hair treatment compare to K18?

Now, the biggest thing for me with hair treatments is that although I try a lot of different products, I'm never consistent with anything. That's why I'm a firm believer that if a hair treatment is quick and easy, you're more likely to use it. And this one literally takes minutes.

While I can't speak to the long-term results, I can say that my hair feels significantly softer, shinier and less frizzy. It just looks... better. Healthier. Stronger.

Would I drop nearly $100 on another hair treatment when I can get really similar results for less than half the price? Probably not.

If you're looking for where you can save some money in your (maybe already spendy) beauty routine — I'd probably tell you this budget-friendly option can give you VERY similar benefits to swankier versions on the market, without breaking the bank.

So, if you're someone with heat-damaged hair or coloured hair and you've been looking for an affordable hair treatment that works, give it a whirl!

Want more tried and tested goodness? Click below:

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Want to hear more from Erin Docherty? Oh, thank god! Follow her on Instagram or read more of her stories here.

Have you tried either the Hairification of K18 mask before? What are your thoughts? Share them with us in the comment section below.

Feature image: Supplied.