I'd put the money into a K18 mini and keep the wash products simple: L'Oréal Paris EverPure Moisture Shampoo and Conditioner. The three cost $50.98 at the checked US prices. This is a starter basket for someone considering K18 after coloring or bleaching, with conditioner for ordinary wash days. The important detail is the order: conditioner does not go before K18 on treatment days.
If you already have shampoo and conditioner that suit you, I'd keep them and buy only the treatment. There is no reason to replace two useful bottles to match this list.
Shop this routine
US prices checked October 30, 2026. These are one-time purchase prices before tax and delivery, without subscription savings or temporary offers. Select the listed size at the retailer. Stock can change.
L’Oréal Paris EverPure Moisture Shampoo
8.5 fl ozKeep your existing shampoo if it suits you.
K18 Leave-In Molecular Repair Hair Mask
15 mL miniMini size. Leave four minutes before adding other products.
L’Oréal Paris EverPure Moisture Conditioner
8.5 fl ozFor ordinary wash days. Do not use before K18.
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The complete basket is $50.98. Keeping your own wash products brings the new purchase to $29.00. These bottles will run out at different times, so neither figure is a monthly cost.
Before tax and delivery. Each shop link opens the retailer separately.
Start with an ordinary shampoo
EverPure Moisture is my lower-cost choice for the cleansing step. Ulta lists the 8.5 fl oz shampoo at $10.99 and describes it as intended for dry, color-treated hair. It leaves more of the basket budget available for the treatment you're trying.
Sulfate-free does not tell me whether a shampoo will feel gentle on every scalp. This one contains fragrance, and I would keep an existing shampoo if its cleansing and scent already suit you. A different brand name on the treatment bottle does not, by itself, justify replacing it.
The color-treated hair shampoo guide compares alternatives if you need a different cleanser. I would choose that product for your scalp and wash habits, rather than buy a whole repair range automatically.
Use the K18 mini to decide whether the routine suits you
The 15 mL mini has the lower starting cost. At the brand's listed $29 for 15 mL versus $75 for 50 mL, it costs about $1.93 per mL rather than $1.50. You pay more for each milliliter to spend less on the first bottle. I'd accept that trade if I were unsure about committing to the treatment.
K18 describes its peptide treatment as addressing damage from bleach, color, chemical services and heat. Those are the brand's claims; this shopping list does not establish how much improvement you will see. If you're still deciding between treatment formats, read our K18 versus Olaplex comparison.
I would also check the dosage on the mini itself. Its pump instructions differ from the larger bottle, and hair length and density change the amount needed. I would not buy it on the assumption that one mini provides a fixed number of treatments.
Keep conditioner for the washes that need it
The $10.99 conditioner gives you a separate option for washes without K18. Its ingredient list includes cetearyl alcohol, amodimethicone and behentrimonium chloride. It also contains fragrance. I would choose it as a conventional conditioning step, without treating it as a cheaper version of K18's peptide formula.
For ordinary washes, Ulta's directions are to apply after shampoo, leave for one to two minutes and rinse. If you already prefer another conditioner, keep it. The matching shampoo and conditioner are convenient choices, not a requirement for this basket.
The order changes on treatment days
Follow the directions for the exact K18 bottle you buy. The brand's current instructions give this sequence:
- Shampoo, rinse and towel-dry. Skip conditioner before the treatment.
- Apply K18 using the amount specified for your bottle and hair.
- Wait four minutes before combing or adding other products. Leave the treatment in.
K18 says conditioner can follow the four-minute wait if needed. I would try the basic sequence first and see whether you need that extra step. Its initial directions call for four to six consecutive washes, then use as needed; that is a wash count, not a daily schedule.
This basket covers washing and treatment. It does not include a styling product or heat protectant. If you use heated tools, keep the appropriate protection in your existing routine and include its cost when planning a complete restock.
What I'd leave out of the first order
I would not add another repair treatment while deciding whether this one suits my routine. That makes it harder to work out which product is useful, and raises the initial bill. A second mask can wait until there is a specific gap to fill.
I'd also avoid buying extras just to reach a delivery threshold. Compare the final delivered cost of the listed products with collecting locally where available. Check that the K18 selection still says 15 mL before paying: switching to the $75 bottle takes this same basket to $96.98.
How I chose this basket
I checked US product listings, pack sizes and directions from K18, Ulta and Sephora. The recommendation is based on cost and how the products fit into a wash schedule. We have not performed a controlled test of this three-product combination or measured its effect on breakage.