Kevin Murphy
Rester en vie
Oil-free repair and detangling without weight. Seals the cuticle. Primes waves and curls.
A weightless, oil-free leave-in mist that repairs, detangles and seals the cuticle with an acidic pH — for dry, damaged and colour-treated hair of any density.
- Hydration
- Dry hair
- Repair
- Treat
Oil-Free · Leave-In · Acidic pH 3.5–4.5 · Weightless · Sulphate-Free · Colour-Safe · Vegan
This is probably for you if…
- Fine hair needing repair without weight
- Post-colour pH reset
- Wavy and curly 2A–3A primer
- Oil-free moisture and detangling
In stock + ready to ship
Unopened + unused items may be eligible for exchange or store credit within 14 days. Returns policy
- Free shipping $100+Canada + U.S. · duties included
- Packed by ModaBowmanville, Ontario
- Earn Inner CirclePoints on eligible orders
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$190.50$170.70You save $19.80
What it does
- Oil-free formula — repairs and detangles without weight on fine hair
- Acidic pH 3.5–4.5 seals the cuticle and locks colour in after chemical services
- Hydrolyzed Silk smoothes damage; Ivy Extract adds shine and moisture barrier
- Kevin Murphy-recommended primer for wavy and curly hair types 2A–3A before air-drying
Perfect for
- All hair types — especially fine
- Colour-treated
- Wavy and curly 2a–3a
How to use
- Spray onto wet hair.
- Wait 5–10 seconds.
- Comb through root to tip.
- Blow-dry or air-dry as usual.
Routine step
Why we like it
The Moda Team Review
As a White Haven Kevin Murphy salon, Staying Alive is one of our most versatile leave-in recommendations. It covers fine hair that needs repair without weight, post-colour pH reset after chemical services, and a primer for wavy and curly types before air-drying — without switching products.
Read full stylist notes
The fine-haired colour client who has tried leave-in treatments before and found them all too heavy — their hair goes flat within an hour of blow-drying and they stop using the product. We give them Staying Alive. Oil-free, pH 3.5–4.5, spray, wait, comb. They come back saying it is the first leave-in that has not ruined their volume while actually making their hair feel better. Kevin Murphy built Staying Alive around the principle that fine and colour-treated hair needs genuine repair benefits — not just surface conditioning — and that the delivery system cannot add weight. The oil-free formulation with Hydrolyzed Silk and an acidic pH is the answer to that constraint. It fits within the THICKENING regimen specifically because weightless repair is foundational to any fine hair routine.
Moda
What’s inside — and why it’s there
The ingredients worth knowing.
- Hydrolyzed SilkLow molecular weight silk peptides penetrate the cuticle and bind to cortical proteins, filling gaps in damaged hair structure and creati...
- Acidic pHThe isoelectric point of hair is around pH 3.67. Formulating at this range keeps the cuticle contracted and tightly closed — reducing moi...
- Hedera HelixContains saponins and Vitamin C that form a film on the hair surface, helping prevent moisture loss while reflecting light for visible sh...
How to use
Use it the way we would.
- Spray onto wet hair.
- Wait 5–10 seconds.
- Comb through root to tip.
- Blow-dry or air-dry as usual.
- Do not rinse — leave-in.
Moda stylist tipThe pH of 3.5 to 4.5 makes this a legitimate post-colour tool. After a colour service opens the cuticle, applying Staying Alive on wet hair before drying helps reseal it and restore the hair’s natural acid balance. Most clients do not know this step exists.
Reviews
Questions? We get them.
Good to know.
The questions we hear most about this product. If yours isn’t here, a real stylist will answer.
Ask ModaI have fine hair that goes flat easily. Will Staying Alive weigh it down?
No — Staying Alive is oil-free by design, specifically because fine hair cannot carry the weight of most leave-ins. The repair and conditioning benefits come from Hydrolyzed Silk and botanical extracts rather than from oil. Kevin Murphy formulated it as part of the THICKENING regimen, which is built around fine hair that needs treatment without weight.
Can I use Staying Alive after a colour service to help seal the colour in?
Yes — Kevin Murphy specifically recommends it as a pH balancer post-colour treatment. The acidic pH of 3.5 to 4.5 helps reseal the cuticle after a colour service has opened it, locking colour molecules in and restoring the hair’s natural acid balance before drying. Apply to wet hair immediately after the service rinse.
I already use Everlasting Colour Leave-In. Is Staying Alive just the same product for different hair?
No — they are built for different jobs. Everlasting Colour Leave-In uses KM.BOND proteins to rebuild bonds and is part of a colour-specific system. Staying Alive is a lightweight repair and detangling mist with an acidic pH, designed for daily use across any routine without adding weight. If fine hair and zero weight are the priority, Staying Alive is the right choice.
Can I use Staying Alive on wavy or curly hair before air-drying?
Yes — Kevin Murphy specifically recommends Staying Alive as a primer for wavy and curly hair types 2A–3A before air-drying. The acidic pH seals the cuticle to reduce frizz as the hair dries, and the oil-free formula does not disrupt curl pattern or add crunch. Spray on wet hair, wait 5–10 seconds, comb once, then air-dry.
Is Staying Alive a heat protectant, or do I need something else for that?
No — Staying Alive does not carry a rated heat protection temperature. It is a repair, detangling and cuticle-sealing leave-in. If you use hot tools regularly, pair it with Heated Defense — Kevin Murphy’s dedicated heat protectant rated to 232°C / 450°F — applied after the Staying Alive step.
Works with this
Works with this.
Returns
Unopened + unused products may be eligible for exchange or Moda store credit within 14 days.
Returns policy
Need help choosing?
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