K18 PEPTIDE PREP™ Detox Shampoo

Give hair and scalp a proper reset with K18 PEPTIDE PREP™ Detox Shampoo, a color-safe, non-stripping clarifying shampoo designed to remove stubborn product buildup, excess sebum and metals from hard or tap water while helping maintain hair strength.

Unlike a regular daily shampoo, PEPTIDE PREP™ is designed as a deep-cleansing treatment used approximately once a week or whenever buildup becomes noticeable. K18's clinical testing reports that one wash removes 99% of product buildup, 95% of sebum and 76% of copper, leaving hair cleaner and better prepared for treatments and styling products.

The pH-optimized formula combines Activated Charcoal, Salicylic Acid and patented K18PEPTIDE™. Charcoal helps absorb dirt and excess oil, Salicylic Acid helps clear accumulated sebum, while K18PEPTIDE™ helps reduce protein loss during cleansing. Despite its powerful clarifying action, the formula has a pH of 3.8–4.2 and is designed to cleanse without leaving hair excessively stripped or dry.

Detox → Remove Buildup → Remove Excess Oil → Target Metals → Prepare for Repair

Why You'll Love It

• Removes 99% of product buildup after one wash*
• Removes 95% of sebum after one wash*
• Removes 76% of copper after one wash*
• Helps remove metals associated with hard and tap water
• Powered by patented K18PEPTIDE™
• Contains Activated Charcoal
• Contains Salicylic Acid
• Deep-cleans the hair and scalp
• pH-optimized at 3.8–4.2
• Color-safe
• Non-stripping formula
• Helps create a clean canvas for K18 molecular repair treatments
• Designed for approximately once-weekly use or as needed
• Suitable for all hair types

*K18 clinical testing after one wash.

What Does K18 PEPTIDE PREP™ Detox Shampoo Do?

Hair can gradually accumulate more than ordinary dirt.

Dry shampoo, styling products, oils, sebum and minerals or metals from water can remain on the hair and scalp. Over time, this buildup can leave hair feeling heavy, greasy or dull and may interfere with how well subsequent haircare products perform.

PEPTIDE PREP™ provides a deeper cleanse than your regular shampoo. K18 says it targets common metals found in tap and hard water, including copper, nickel, cadmium, lead, zinc and iron, while also clearing excess oil and styling-product residue.

Importantly, it is formulated without fillers or ingredients intended to leave deposits behind, creating a cleaner starting point for products such as the K18 Leave-In Molecular Repair Hair Mask.

Who Is It For?

Ideal for:

• Hair with heavy product buildup
• Oily scalp and roots
• Frequent dry-shampoo users
• Hair exposed to hard water
• Dull or heavy-feeling hair
• Frequent styling-product users
• Hair that doesn't feel completely clean after normal shampooing
• Color-treated hair
• Bleached and chemically processed hair
• Fine hair weighed down by buildup
• Curly or coily hair with accumulated styling products
• Anyone using the K18 Molecular Repair routine
• Anyone wanting a regular weekly scalp and hair reset

Pair Me With

• K18 Leave-In Molecular Repair Hair Mask – apply after detoxing to create the optimal clean starting point for K18's 4-minute molecular repair treatment.
• K18 Molecular Repair Hair Oil – lightweight finishing treatment for repair, frizz control, shine and heat protection.
• K18 DAMAGE SHIELD pH Protective Shampoo – use for regular wash days when a deep detox cleanse isn't needed.

What's the Best Clarifying Shampoo for Product Buildup Without Drying Hair Out?

The challenge with clarifying shampoo is getting a deep enough cleanse without leaving damaged or color-treated hair feeling stripped.

PEPTIDE PREP™ combines strong buildup removal with a pH of 3.8–4.2. In K18 consumer testing, 90% said their hair felt clean without feeling dry.

That makes its positioning particularly strong for:

Heavy Buildup + Oily Roots + Hard-Water Residue – Over-Stripped Hair

Can K18 Detox Shampoo Remove Hard-Water and Metal Buildup?

Yes. This is one of the major differences between PEPTIDE PREP™ and an ordinary shampoo.

K18 specifically developed it to target metals associated with tap and hard water, including copper, iron, nickel, zinc, cadmium and lead. In K18's testing, one wash removed 76% of copper.

This can be particularly relevant when hair becomes dull, heavy or difficult to manage despite regular washing.

It is important, however, not to position this as a complete professional chelating or salon corrective treatment for every possible mineral-related hair problem. Its verified claim is targeted buildup and metal removal as part of a clarifying shampoo.

K18 Detox Shampoo or DAMAGE SHIELD Shampoo – Which Should I Use?

They serve different purposes.

PEPTIDE PREP™ Detox Shampoo → deep cleansing

Use approximately once weekly or as needed to remove heavy product buildup, excess sebum and metals.

DAMAGE SHIELD pH Protective Shampoo → regular cleansing

Use for normal wash days when you need to cleanse hair without performing a full clarifying reset.

K18 itself describes PEPTIDE PREP™ as its shampoo for less-frequent heavy-duty washing, while DAMAGE SHIELD is the regular protective cleansing option.

A practical routine is:

Regular washes → DAMAGE SHIELD

Weekly / heavy buildup → PEPTIDE PREP™ Detox

Mini PEPTIDE PREP™ Detox Shampoo For Gentle Clarifying 1.8oz | K18Hair

Replace your regular shampoo with PEPTIDE PREP™ once weekly or whenever a deeper cleanse is needed.

Apply to wet hair and scalp.

Massage thoroughly to loosen excess oil, product residue and buildup.

Rinse completely.

Repeat if necessary.

When Using the K18 Molecular Repair Hair Mask

Use:

PEPTIDE PREP™ Detox Shampoo → Rinse → Towel-Dry → K18 Molecular Repair Hair Mask → Wait 4 Minutes → Style

Do not condition before applying the K18 Mask.

The detox shampoo creates a particularly clean canvas for K18's molecular repair treatment.

Water (Aqua) (Eau), Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate, Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine, Salicylic Acid, Charcoal Powder, sh-Oligopeptide-78, Panthenol, Glycerin, Sodium Phytate, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Caprylyl Glycol, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Citric Acid, Potassium Hydroxide, Sodium Hydroxide, Fragrance (Parfum), Benzyl Salicylate, Limonene.