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Original poster

Olaplex for dummies (and on a budget)

26 replies

DailySheetWasher · 03/05/2022 07:24

I'm looking for some advice on trying out Olaplex.

My hair is long, thick, coarse, wavy and bleached, so it'll take as much moisture as I can throw at it. It's pretty healthy considering the abuse it gets from styling etc. but I'd like it more sleek and shiny.

The number system confuses me. If I was to splash out on one, possibly 2 products from the Olaplex range to use at home, where would you suggest I start to get most bang for buck?

(NB. I am loosely following curly girl/no poo so not really interested in their shampoo or conditioner.)

Thank you!

OP posts:
Sweetpea1989 · 03/05/2022 07:28

Number 3 is the best I’d say.

Scoobydoooo99 · 03/05/2022 07:29

So I follow the curly girl religiously and I believe we can only use no3 which a CH friendly however I know alot of people is the oil so smooth over curls after “scrunch the crunch”
Someone bought me 4 of them which I used before CG however I only now religious buy no3 as I feel it’s the only one to justify the high price tag regularly.

Original poster
DailySheetWasher · 03/05/2022 07:29

Actually I could use the conditioner as a final treatment after washing, if that's one of the better products in the range. It's far too expensive to co-wash with though!

OP posts:
AdamRyan · 03/05/2022 07:30

3

felulageller · 03/05/2022 08:18

Superdrug do a fake olaplex which is worth a try.

Even better is the tubs of hard coconut oil you can get in the food bit of the supermarket.

Saturate you hair with it and leave it in overnight. Keep doing this and you will have new hair.

Cactuslockdown · 03/05/2022 08:24

My hair sounds like yours and my hairdresser recommended 6 and 7 to add in together after towel drying. It feels much better when straight and it dries naturally really nicely, curly/wavy and soft

Rina66 · 03/05/2022 08:30

I love the 10 minute mask (7) and the oil (8), there's now a 9 which is a serum which is meant to be great for frizzy hair, so I'll be getting that next. I'm not keen on the shampoo.

Original poster
DailySheetWasher · 03/05/2022 08:40

Thank you all, it was looking pretty unanimous for 3 there but later replies have me furiously googling!

@felulageller do you know the name of the Superdrug stuff? And do shampoo out the coconut oil? If so that may not work for me as I don't use shampoo at all.

OP posts:
AnchorWHAT · 03/05/2022 08:46

Sadly olaplex did nothing for me at all.

Mercurial123 · 03/05/2022 09:41

I would say 3 6 and 9 are the best for my frizzy, curly and dry hair.

TheMooch · 03/05/2022 09:46

Have you tried the Faith in Nature Joboba conditioner (costs about £5) ?

Totally game changer for my dry frizz. Even my hairdresser is commenting on the improved condition. Someone told me it's like Curly Girl.

dudsville · 03/05/2022 10:12

I like olaplex. When I was looking into it I splashed out on a sample size of all the products. At the time it was available on Amazon, but I've since looked in order to try to give it as a gift to someone and I can see that it's not often available. I thought 1 was a faff, 3 is ok, the shampoo and conditioner (4 and 5) are great for me, 6 is ok but only in such a small amount, so it will last ages. The hair oil (7?) is good but I won't purchase again as I can't see that it adds anything.

I alternate the 4 and 5 with Aveda Dry Hair remedy shampoo and conditioner, and I alternate 3 with Philip Kinglsey Elasticizer Extreme. And my new addition is I alternate 6 with Hair Food, I think it's by Garnier.

In order to find out what works best for you though do think you need to invest in it as a project and be ready for some disappointment when cult products don't work for you!

Howdidthathappen1 · 03/05/2022 10:16

I've got wavey bleached hair and whilst olaplex was OK it wasn't life changing- I'm not on to hair syrup- initially an impulse purchase from Instagram but now on my 3rd bottle - amazing stuff - massively reduced frizz and my hair is in good soft condition- finally

NoHayDosSinTres · 03/05/2022 10:22

I have long dark wavy hair. Tried it all.

what gave me the best hair of my life is Cocochocco keratin treatments, done at home.

olaplex did nothing for me. Had better hair with heated jojoba oil with some essential oils painted on my hair and left for an hour. Also, letting hair air dry and not washing it that often gave me the best hair.

Bellex · 03/05/2022 10:27

Olaplex number3:wet hair, get some argon oil run it through the bottom and then put Olaplex number 3 over it and leave it as long as you can

Iknowthis1 · 03/05/2022 10:45

3 didn't do much for me so I bought 0 to compliment it. In combination they were ok but not at all worth the money.

BackAgain777 · 03/05/2022 12:17

The dupe is called REVOLUTION PLEX.
It's not just Superdrug, its available in a lot of places now including Boots.
The number 3 is the bond restructuring treatment.
They also do various shampoos, conditioners and styling products.

Good range.

ArabeI · 03/05/2022 12:26

Olaplex 8 (the masque) and the hair oil (my favourite). Though I agree with 3 if your hair is bleached. I also sometimes use number 6 after washing and conditioning.

I think there's a new product out, possibly a serum, but I haven't tried that.

QualityGuarantee · 03/05/2022 12:40

I tried it after reading so many raving reviews and it did absolutely nothing for my hair, not a damn thing. Alberto Bassam makes my hair softer, seriously.

superplumb · 03/05/2022 19:54

1 and 2 done at salon. Then 3 4 5 6 7 8 at home. As you go up the numbers, it gets weaker. 3 is good. I like 6. 4 and 5 are shampoo and conditioner and ove not tried that. 7 is the oil which is ok but over priced. There is also a 0 now which I've tried and is also rubbish imo.

CinnamonJellyBeans · 03/05/2022 20:48

I read some reviews and information and it seems that Olaplex gives you protein, which is no good if your hair needs moisture. Apparently, it's very counterproductive if you choose the wrong treatment. My extensive research has revealed:

If your hair feel horrible and dry, it needs protein.

If your hair feels horrible and dry, it needs moisture.

If you are baffled by this, you can try the trichologists' version of witch-ducking: Simply take a strand of hair and stretch it. If it breaks, it needs moisture.

I think that my hair needs moisture. I know this because I bought Olaplex 3 and left it on all day. I was expecting daily mail "tresses" but it turned out like the Prof from Back to the future.

One thing I did find out though is that silicone in products, like Moroccan oil builds up on your hair and stops it absorbing moisturising ingredients from your conditioner. I have stopped the Moroccan oil and bought some Garnier Honey leave in conditioner, which has no silicones and lots of natural oils. I'm happy with the results so far and it's a damned sight cheaper than Moroccan oil, which is mostly silicone and not much argan oil at all.

BackAgain777 · 03/05/2022 23:28

Yeah the protein and moisture balance thing is baffling.
Surely every hair strand will break when you stretch it? How much stretch is normal or too much or too little?
I read is you struggle to hold a style like a curl, you probably need protein as your hair is TOO moisturized.
I just try to use both protein rich and moisturising things in my hair care.
For example, I'll do a Plex treatment but then an intensive moisturising treatment like a deep conditioning masque for an hour.
There is also hair porosity (how much it absorbs moisture, if water "beads" on your hair or is absorbed quickly), curl pattern, etc. It's all very technical!
I "think" my hair like protein because it is always softer and shinier after a protein treatment.
But I'm also anxious about protein overload which is apparently a thing too.

Trying to follow a curly girl modified system just now so invested in a lot of curly girl products but they are VERY pricey!

Original poster
DailySheetWasher · 04/05/2022 00:29

This is all very interesting and helpful, thanks!

My hair is given so much moisture (and no silicones). It's washed with conditioner, conditioned with a richer one (usually the Garnier stuff in pots), then has leave-in added daily and a coconut oil-based curl cream every couple of days.

So I'm going to give the protein a go - I'm outside the UK but will be back in a few weeks and will give the cheapo Superdrug version a go I think, before deciding whether to invest in Olaplex.

@TheMooch can I pick up Faith in Nature at Superdrug, Boots etc? That will save me bringing conditioner with me, I go through a LOT of it cowashing!

OP posts:
WhatsitWiggle · 04/05/2022 00:38

I highlighted my dark, curly hair last year and I do now find that olaplex helps it behave when it starts to frizz. I use about once a month so not that often, and in between using CG friendly products works for me. I've got the revolution version too - not quite as good IMO but as it's a third of the price, I'll take it as good enough.

TheMooch · 04/05/2022 14:04

Hello fellow frizz, dry hair nightmare.

I tend to get my Faith in Nature from Eco shops (refill my bottle!). And get it online.
Holland and Barrett stock it
ck their products. Sainsburys sometimes and I got my 1st bottle from TKMaxx.