Olaplex - does it live up to the hype?

[didireallysaythat]

I have no idea what it is but from what I can gather it will transform my locks from shabby, dull and rather flat into something glossy, bouncy and looking like I've just stepped out of a hair salon.

Is it that good? Will my life be transformed?

In my experience, no. I’ve got very coarse, frizzy hair. My hairdresser recommended olaplex to smooth it out and improve the overall condition and structure of my hair. I bought the shampoo and conditioner, used it regularly but it made absolutely no difference. I was really disappointed. That being said, I have friends who have used it and their hair looks great.

Yes, it is.

I was very sceptical, especially as a tiny bottle of Olaplex 3 us like 26 quid. But I do think that it has made quite a difference to my heavily bleached hair. I also use it before I am going to bleach my hair, and I really think it makes my hair stronger and able to cope with the bleach better.

Also, a little goes a long way, I thought I would get like one use out of that tiny bottle, but it's not the case!

I would add I have only ever used Olaplex 3 and at home, I've never had the in salon stuff or the shampoos etc.

I've got the leave in cream (no 6) and the oil (no 7). The cream is quite good and the oil is ok. Maybe would buy the no 6 again but probably not the no 7 oil. My hair is high lighted a bit near the bottom (needs a trim now) and quite dry at the ends as a result.

It's amazing. I use no 3 one a week-ish and it transforms my hair from straw to silk. Best hair product I've ever used.

So I started using no.3 and the shampoo and conditioner and hated it. It made my hair feel awful. Told my hairdresser and she said well that’s because you haven’t had it mixed in with your colour. So I did and since then it has transformed my hair. I really won’t use anything else now.

I find it confusing! How do you know what to use??

Is it only for coloured hair? I only get to the hairdresser once or twice a year so can't go down the coloured route (and I don't want to!)

I like no 3 but not as much as elasticizer, I love no 6 though, would happily repurchase

@DentalWorries what's the mix??

No 6 turns my hair from frizzy straw into smooth loveliness. The shampoo and confit oyster are meh in my opinion.

It is good! I've been using the number 3 at home once per week for about 3 months now and my hair never looked so good!

Confit oyster?! Conditioner 🤦🏼‍♀️

I was allergic! In salon stuff was always fine, it made my hair lovely and soft after colour treatments, but the at home shampoo and conditioner made my scalp itch and flake off in chunks (sorry eek) and my hair became very brittle. My eyes and face itched like mad too so it took a while for me to realise it was the olaplex, I thought it was something I had put on my face but process of elimination confirmed it. A year on and patches of my scalp are still recovering. I’m never usually allergic to anything so would recommend a patch test first - just in case.

I've used the shampoo and conditioner before and they've lovely, but I've now found something a bit cheaper that works just as well. I don't have bleach/dye-damaged hair, I just like very hot showers which fries my hair!

I use n3 and n8 and it’s really made my highlighted hair so much better. The shampoo and conditioner are okay but nothing special for me, but I think the n3 and n8 are the ones worth buying. I actually leave it on overnight and wash out in the morning rather than leave for just 10 mins.

@asfuckedascanbe1224 just the salon one they use, not sure what number it is. It’s £25 so not cheap but I have bleached blonde hair so worth it imo

So 3 and 6 sound popular, the shampoo and conditioner not so much.

I'll go look them up

Anyone know if the equivalent plex range available from superdrug is half decent???

I use no 3 here once a week and I find it keeps my fairly ratty thinning straw hair looking slightly less shite.

I know this product well from a professional angle.

1. Yes, it is the real deal. At a scientific level it stacks up and genuinely does something different (forms covalent bridges on broken keratin bonds in the hair).

1. The same is not true for all products that have slapped a -plex on the end of their brand name. Olaplex is a patented product, so imitations doesn't do exactly the same thing. They can repair bonds, but to the same degree. Worth paying for the real thing.

1. The numbering system is to some degree a guide of how high the concentration of active ingredient is in the product. No.3 is the highest concentration of active ingredient a consumer can usually lay their hands on. Hairdressers have access to salon-level concentration treatments (No.2 and No.1). No.2 is like No.3 but even more effective - you can only get it as a salon treatment. No.1 is what goes into your bleach to stop it from ruining your hair, and has the highest concentration of active ingredient. The shampoos, conditioners etc have a weaker concentration than the No.3 so prob not worth it alone unless you are using No.3 regularly. But if you are already using No.3 and love it, might as well get the shampoo and conditioner too and make your life/hair even better.

1. If you are a regular buyer of No.3 and have a good relationship with your hairdresser, ask if you can buy a bottle of No.3 but have them add a few drops of No.1 to it (give it a good shake afterwards to mix it through). This is an off-book technique that will bump up the effectiveness of your No.3 to closer to No.2 level. You're not technically meant to do it, but I know some hairdressers will for regular customers as a 'bonus' so worth asking the question!

@CheekyHobson great post, thank you.

Yes thank you @CheekyHobson - really helpful.

I did smile at the idea of building up a relationship with a hairdresser. I had a great hairdresser once but since time I moved I've had a series of terrible experiences (result isn't proportional to price!)