The Sarah K SOS Recovery Treatment 1000ml is a professional-strength, protein-rich rinse-off treatment from Sarah K's Brazilian repair line, designed for hair compromised by bleach, color, chemical smoothing, or persistent heat damage. Built around hydrolyzed keratin and hydrolyzed collagen with a supporting amino-acid and protein blend, it helps reinforce stressed fibers in a single 5-to-15-minute rinse-off application. The Step 2 of Sarah K's Power Recovery protocol, it works as a salon in-chair reconstruction treatment, and equally well as a weekly home-care rescue after your usual clarifying wash.

What it is

SOS Recovery Treatment is the Step 2 of Sarah K's two-step Power Recovery protocol. It is an acid-balanced rinse-off treatment that the brand positions as "Reconstruction - Intensive Repair - Fiber Strengthening". The formula combines hydrolyzed keratin and hydrolyzed collagen as the protein duo, supported by carbocysteine (a sulphur-containing amino acid), hydrolyzed wheat protein, and macadamia oil. The Plantcol marker on the label is Sarah K's signature plant-derived active complex. Although labeled for professional use -- the salon context the brand was built for -- the format (1000ml flip-cap bottle, 5-to-15-minute leave-on, rinse) also makes it accessible as a weekly home-care rescue between salon visits.

Key ingredients

The active composition follows the INCI on the label, with the proteins front-loaded:

• Hydrolyzed keratin (#2 in the INCI) -- short-chain keratin peptides small enough to penetrate the cortex, where they help refill protein gaps in porous or damaged fiber.
• Hydrolyzed collagen (#3 in the INCI) -- a second high-concentration protein that supports elasticity and surface smoothness.
• Carbocysteine -- a sulphur amino acid related to cysteine, the building block of the disulfide bonds that give hair its structural strength.
• Hydrolyzed wheat protein -- a smaller-molecular-weight protein that helps even out porosity and add moisture binding.
• Macadamia Ternifolia seed oil -- a botanical emollient with a fatty acid profile close to the scalp's natural sebum.
• Methicone + Polyquaternium-10 -- a conditioning film that lays the cuticle flat for slip, shine, and easier combing.

The full INCI is printed on the bottle.

What you can expect

The first noticeable change is at the surface: hair feels denser, the cuticle lies flatter, and shine returns where it had been dulled by chemical processing or chronic heat styling. The acidic pH (2.5-3.5) supports cuticle closure, sealing the protein blend into the fiber and helping reduce porosity. Over repeated weekly applications, hair often regains a sense of "weight" -- the springy resistance that healthy strands have and damaged hair loses. Pulling, twisting, and styling become less stressful on the fiber, and brittle ends become less prone to snapping. Salon professionals position SOS Recovery as a chronic-damage rescue rather than a quick fix; the difference is most visible after three to four weekly sessions in succession on visibly stressed hair, then with frequency tapered as the fiber feels stronger.

Who it is for

SOS Recovery is built for hair that has been through chemical or thermal stress: post-bleach, post-color, post-relaxer, post-keratin or other chemical smoothing, or after seasons of daily heat styling. It is also appropriate for naturally porous hair that struggles to retain moisture, and for fragile mid-lengths and ends that snap or split during combing. Use it as the Step 2 of the Power Recovery protocol after a clarifying wash, or as a stand-alone weekly rescue alongside your regular home-care shampoo and conditioner. Salon professionals use it as an in-chair reconstruction treatment between chemical services and as a hydrating-fortifying mask in detox-and-restore protocols.

Pro tips

• Always clarify or deep-cleanse before applying. Buildup blocks protein penetration -- the Step 1 Power Recovery Shampoo, or a clarifying / micellar alternative, prepares the cuticle.
• Squeeze excess water from towel-dried hair before applying. A soaking-wet fiber dilutes the treatment; a damp fiber takes it up cleanly.
• For severely damaged lengths, work through with a wide-tooth comb section by section to ensure even coverage.
• If hair starts to feel stiff or dry after several sessions, that is protein overload. Pause for two to three weeks and follow with a hydrating mask before resuming.
• Rinse with cool or lukewarm water to keep the cuticle sealed.

How to use

1. Wash your hair with the Power Recovery Shampoo Sarah K, or with the Sarah K Clarifying Shampoo with Micellar Water, to remove buildup and prepare the cuticle.
2. Towel-dry until your hair is damp but no longer dripping.
3. Apply a sufficient amount of SOS Recovery Treatment over all the lengths, from mid-shaft to ends. Avoid the scalp roots.
4. Comb through with a wide-tooth comb to distribute evenly.
5. Leave on for 5 to 15 minutes -- 5 minutes for routine maintenance, 10 to 15 minutes for visibly damaged or chronically stressed hair.
6. Rinse thoroughly with cool or lukewarm water.

Suitable for weekly use during recovery, tapering to every two weeks and then monthly maintenance once strength returns.

In short

A salon-grade, professional-strength protein reconstruction treatment from Sarah K's Brazilian line, designed for hair compromised by bleach, color, chemical smoothing, or chronic heat damage. Built around hydrolyzed keratin and hydrolyzed collagen with a supporting amino-acid and protein blend, an acidic pH that supports cuticle closure, and a single 5-to-15-minute rinse-off application as the Step 2 of the Power Recovery protocol. Plantcol technology, dermatologically tested, made in Brazil. Use it as a weekly home-care rescue or as an in-chair professional reconstruction treatment.