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Original poster

Anyone experience hair damage from using Olaplex

53 replies

themessygarden · 16/02/2023 23:05

www.bbc.com/news/health-64662934

My daughter started using Olaplex several months ago, her hair has never been in such bad condition, it is dreadful, dry, brittle and a lot of hair loss, she never even considered it might be caused by Olaplex, but now with this report, it looks like she could also be one of those users who have actually damaged their hair by using this product.

Anyone else have a poor outcome when using it?

OP posts:
CaponeOnTax · 16/02/2023 23:07

Saw this and .. well how about that. I have unopened olaplex in my stash - might donate it? Is that ethical?

aintnothinbutagstring · 16/02/2023 23:16

I always have it when I go to the hairdressers. I have an itchy head after going - maybe for a day or two, I assumed it must be the hair dye but now I think could it have been olaplex. Had quite a bit of hair shedding after the last visit - which has improved in the few months of not going (no money!). It really makes you think about what you put on your hair/skin.

Perry34 · 16/02/2023 23:16

Olaplex has been out for almost ten years.
in it’s infancy , there were only 3 salon based products. It seemed genuine at the time of trialling, and was a fairly small business. Olaplex worked from the inside so you couldn’t actually see or feel the results immediately, so there was that factor of there being no visible proof to the user.

However, teamed up with professional conditioners , clients left salons buzzing about how their hair felt 😂

Word got round and Olaplex began to grow and started chucking out highly priced (and highly diluted) mass-market shampoos etc (4 and onwards) It all seems to have a gone a bit wrong at this point, and a bit of a money grab.

I used to use Olaplex a lot years ago, but I did actually suspect something was wrong in the last two years and dumped it. My hair was becoming fairly wrecked .I hadn’t changed my colour routine I’ve been doing for ten years.

I’ve replaced it with k18 but I suspect that’s a bag of shit too 😂

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Beauty
BeautifulDayintheneighbourhood · 17/02/2023 06:50

I e never used it but have some from advent calendars. What do I do with it?

Ndd135632 · 17/02/2023 06:53

It’s sulphate free. All the chemicals that sulphate free shampoos use instead of the trusted sulphates always make my hair feel unwashed, dry and straw-like.

Cosycover · 17/02/2023 07:10

Yep. Doesn't suit my hair at all. I chucked mine in the bin.

dudsville · 17/02/2023 07:23

That article refers to a small group. We need to see what the outcome is.

For me i find olaplex is a good product but only when used on rotation. When i tried it as my only shampoo and conditioner it did harden my hair, but this was immediately resolved by the next wash with a different product. I presumed it was protein overload, but maybe this lawsuit will lend some clarity.

Ndd135632 · 17/02/2023 07:33

dudsville · 17/02/2023 07:23

That article refers to a small group. We need to see what the outcome is.

For me i find olaplex is a good product but only when used on rotation. When i tried it as my only shampoo and conditioner it did harden my hair, but this was immediately resolved by the next wash with a different product. I presumed it was protein overload, but maybe this lawsuit will lend some clarity.

Probably because the next product contained sodium laureate sulphate which actually is a super efficient surfactant, washes out effectively and pulls the dirt with it. I simply don’t understand why people use sulphate free shampoos which don’t clean the hair as effectively. And are full of 3-4 other chemicals which then linger in the hair - that’s what causes that dry, strawlike, unclean feeling.

Ndd135632 · 17/02/2023 07:38

*laureth! Autocorrect didn’t like that!

Wincarnis · 17/02/2023 07:40

Makes my head itch, I don’t use it any more, waste of money afaic

maeveiscurious · 17/02/2023 07:58

@Ndd135632 sodium laureate sulphate is too harsh for curly hair, I do agree though the alternatives are limited

Ndd135632 · 17/02/2023 08:03

@maeveiscurious thats what the marketers indeed say to sell. But it’s a surfactant that washes out of your hair taking dirt and grease with it. If you were to put it on your wrist under a plaster for 24 hours then yes I would agree. But you wash it out immediately along with all the dirt and grime. But the alternatives simply don’t wash out as efficiently - they are simply a myriad of other chemicals - some even more harsh than the original sulphate (see sodium c14-16 olefin sulphonate) and that’s why sulphate free shampoos don’t clean as effectively and can leave hair strawlike. But it’s a good marketing story you have to give it that.

Plump82 · 17/02/2023 08:06

Ndd135632 · 17/02/2023 07:33

Probably because the next product contained sodium laureate sulphate which actually is a super efficient surfactant, washes out effectively and pulls the dirt with it. I simply don’t understand why people use sulphate free shampoos which don’t clean the hair as effectively. And are full of 3-4 other chemicals which then linger in the hair - that’s what causes that dry, strawlike, unclean feeling.

Show quote history

@Ndd135632 would you be able to recommend a shampoo? You seem pretty clued up and I'm not but have dry hair at the ends buy oily at the roots.

HerbalTeaAndCake · 17/02/2023 08:07

Didn't work for me.

maeveiscurious · 17/02/2023 08:34

Ndd135632 · 17/02/2023 08:03

@maeveiscurious thats what the marketers indeed say to sell. But it’s a surfactant that washes out of your hair taking dirt and grease with it. If you were to put it on your wrist under a plaster for 24 hours then yes I would agree. But you wash it out immediately along with all the dirt and grime. But the alternatives simply don’t wash out as efficiently - they are simply a myriad of other chemicals - some even more harsh than the original sulphate (see sodium c14-16 olefin sulphonate) and that’s why sulphate free shampoos don’t clean as effectively and can leave hair strawlike. But it’s a good marketing story you have to give it that.

I have curls so the brand I use is oil based and I found some drying, but the sulphate shampoos make my hair like straw

Iamatissuebox · 17/02/2023 08:41

@Plump82 me too! Only last night was looking for ideas what to use - dry, brittle, frizzy horrible ends and greasy roots

It was only cut last week so not split ends or anything and I try to take good care of it ☹️

I have some unopened Olaplex 8 in my drawer and not sure if to use it now…

RudsyFarmer · 17/02/2023 08:46

With these reports and the reports of the eyelash serums causing fat loss around the eye, I’m suddenly really glad I’m such a slattern when it comes to my beauty regime.

I honestly think we’re also going to end up with a HUGE class lawsuit against Botox at some point.

PatchworkElmer · 17/02/2023 08:55

No. 3 is very good for my (curly) hair. I use it once a fortnight or so.

magicthree · 17/02/2023 09:02

Ndd135632 · 17/02/2023 07:33

Probably because the next product contained sodium laureate sulphate which actually is a super efficient surfactant, washes out effectively and pulls the dirt with it. I simply don’t understand why people use sulphate free shampoos which don’t clean the hair as effectively. And are full of 3-4 other chemicals which then linger in the hair - that’s what causes that dry, strawlike, unclean feeling.

Show quote history

I have used sulphate free shampoos for years, and my hair is in much better condition, and looks better. Any time I have tried a shampoo with sulphates it goes horribly fluffy and loses its curl. My hair most certainly is not dry, strawlike, or feels unclean - and I'm 63 and would say my hair is in the best condition of my adult life.

Ndd135632 · 17/02/2023 10:30

@Plump82 @Iamatissuebox the one I always go back to us Tresemme Keratin Smooth shampoo and conditioner.

@magicthree which one do you use? Every sulphate free shampoo makes my hair feel unwashed and strawlike but am willing to give another a try.

VenusClapTrap · 17/02/2023 10:36

I’ve been using it for a few months and haven’t noticed either a deterioration nor an improvement. Which is usually my experience and why I tend not to bother with fancy ‘grooming’ products on the whole. That said, I am a sucker occasionally and splash out if someone does a solid sales job on me. Or if something has pretty packaging and a nice smell.

validnumber · 17/02/2023 10:36

Perry34 · 16/02/2023 23:16

Olaplex has been out for almost ten years.
in it’s infancy , there were only 3 salon based products. It seemed genuine at the time of trialling, and was a fairly small business. Olaplex worked from the inside so you couldn’t actually see or feel the results immediately, so there was that factor of there being no visible proof to the user.

However, teamed up with professional conditioners , clients left salons buzzing about how their hair felt 😂

Word got round and Olaplex began to grow and started chucking out highly priced (and highly diluted) mass-market shampoos etc (4 and onwards) It all seems to have a gone a bit wrong at this point, and a bit of a money grab.

I used to use Olaplex a lot years ago, but I did actually suspect something was wrong in the last two years and dumped it. My hair was becoming fairly wrecked .I hadn’t changed my colour routine I’ve been doing for ten years.

I’ve replaced it with k18 but I suspect that’s a bag of shit too 😂

I've just bought k18 too.

Ndd135632 · 17/02/2023 10:38

K18 is the next stage tech after the bonding olaplex one.

myteethwerefine · 17/02/2023 10:59

Yep, used it once or twice and was shocked by how awful it left my hair.
There was another thread on here a while back where the op was asking whether anyone else had had bad results so it's interesting to see that article.
I've gone back to using (my pricy but worth it) Aveda.

alloalloallo · 17/02/2023 11:02

No damage, but it does make my hair feel horrible.

It makes it look so greasy, even straight after washing it, but it feels like straw.

No breakage or hair loss though. I binned it.