Olaplex Review: The Game-Changing Hair Products You Need To Try

Do you feel like the humidity is your hair’s nemesis? The warmer months are around the corner for some of us, and I am constantly searching for products that will help fight the frizz of my naturally straight hair.

If you are like me and looking for anti-frizz products that don’t weigh your hair down and help with damaged tresses, Olaplex might be what you are looking for!

This Olaplex review post contains affiliate links, and any purchases made through these links will result in a commission for me at no extra cost to you. Please read my Disclosure for additional information.

What Is Olaplex and What Does It Do?

A few summers ago, beauty bloggers were raving about a hair care line that helps with damage and frizz: Olaplex.

Initially, I was confused about how to use it because it’s a multi-step system that starts in the salon, so I made a note and forgot about it for a while.

When I continued to hear about how fantastic it was, I did some research. Olaplex is a hair care system that targets damaged bonds in the hair on a molecular level to repair and strengthen your hair. The result? Smooth, shiny, strong hair.

There are multiple steps in the system, starting with No. 0 Intensive Bond Building Hair Treatment.

Olaplex Review

The Olaplex haircare system currently has nine at-home products, which are labeled as numbered steps, starting with Olaplex No. 0.

Note that steps No. 1 and No. 2 are in-salon Olaplex treatments.

No. 0 is an at-home version of Olaplex’s salon treatment: “Stand-Alone Treatment.” No. 0 contains the highest concentration of Olaplex’s patented bond-building technology of any Olaplex at-home product.

The more often this treatment is used, the healthier your hair will become. Each bottle of No. 0 should provide approximately 4-6 uses.

How to Use Olaplex No. 0 Intensive Bond Building Hair Treatment

You can use No. 0 on its own to repair hair, but it is formulated to be applied before No. 3. This treatment works on all hair textures and is ideal for damaged hair.

• Apply No. 0 to clean dry hair. You should apply it from root to tip and saturate your hair. Leave it on your hair for 10 minutes or longer. Do not rinse.
• Next, apply No. 3 to your hair (on top of No. 0) for another 10 minutes or longer.
• Next, rinse your hair and then shampoo and condition your hair as usual.

I love the No. 3 treatment, so I was excited to try No. 0 to see if it would improve my results.

The product comes out of the bottle in a thin stream, so it took quite a while to saturate my entire head of shoulder-length hair. I’d say I used about 1/3 of the bottle.

I waited for 10 minutes and then applied No. 3 for 10 minutes. I rinsed and then shampooed and conditioned my hair.

I followed with No. 6 Styling Creme. My hair dried very quickly with a hairdryer without any tangles or knots. It left my hair super smooth, very soft, shiny, and manageable.

I didn’t notice a huge difference between using No. 3 alone and No. 0 And No. 3 together.

Olaplex notes that you may not see as noticeable results with No. 0, but the product works within your hair structure.

I think this product would most benefit those with very damaged hair. I like knowing that every time I use this treatment, it’s working to strengthen my hair and protect it from future damage.

For more on this No. 0, see my post on how to use Olaplex 0 and 3 together.

Olaplex Step No. 1 Bond Multiplier

Step No. 1 Bond Multiplier is a salon treatment for broken disulfide bonds to repair and prevent further damage to your hair. It is mixed with lightener, color, or chemical services.

Olaplex Step No. 2 Bond Perfection

The next step is No. 2 Bond Perfection. This is another salon treatment applied after hair is colored or chemically treated and pre-shampooed to continue the process of repairing broken bonds.

It is a weekly treatment that aims to rebuild the broken disulfide bonds and repair damage from chemical treatments or heat styling.

Step No. 3 is not a conditioner, but rather a treatment for broken hair and can benefit anyone, not just those with colored or chemically treated hair.

Use it on damp hair for 10 minutes (or longer), rinse, and then shampoo and condition your hair.

No. 3 Hair Perfector comes in a small bottle, so while I don’t use a huge amount every week, I make sure to use enough to coat the lower half of my hair well. This area of my hair has the most breakage and split ends.

I feel those damaged ends have really benefited from No.3 Hair Perfector. Using No. 3 in conjunction with Olaplex’s shampoo and conditioner has helped repair my hair.

In my opinion, this step in the Olaplex system is absolutely worth it.

Both are color-safe and moisturizing while reducing breakage and frizz.

In my opinion, these products live up to the claims. No other shampoo or conditioner has made my hair so manageable, reduced the frizz, and strengthened my hair like Olaplex.

The shampoo is lightly scented and concentrated, so you don’t need a lot to get a great lather. The conditioner is also lightly scented and rich, leaving my wet hair smooth after rinsing.

Using only the shampoo and conditioner, my hair feels weightless. They provide moisture, shine, and manageability.

I no longer battle with the hairbrush working through knots and frizz. This saves my tresses from even more hair damage.

This Olaplex shampoo and conditioner duo continues to be a go-to shampoo and conditioner for my hair after first trying it almost two years ago.

It can be used on damp or dry hair and reduces drying time, smooths the hair shaft, and reduces frizz for up to 72 hours. It hydrates hair and protects hair with a balanced pH between 4.0 and 5.0.

Because this styling cream is very concentrated, you only need a very small amount. Don’t let the small bottle discourage you from trying it.

You apply it to your mid-length to the ends of your hair, and you will notice the smoothing effect. It smells so good, too!

I apply this to my damp hair before drying, and I notice a reduction in frizz and flyaways without my hair feeling weighed down.

Sunflower, moringa seed, and pomegranate seed oils smooth your hair cuticles, adding shine and softness.

The oil coats the hair to provide heat protection up to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C). It also is perfect for frizzy hair as it tamps down the frizz and flyaways and improves shine.

Damaged hair will appreciate the UV protection, the oil’s ability to protect from future damage, and shorten drying time as well, and as we all know, the less heat you have to apply to your hair, the better.

The oil also extends wear for color-treated hair and is softening and detangling.

This oil is very concentrated, so you only need a few drops. While concentrated, it is also lightweight and doesn’t weigh my hair down.

I like using it to tame flyaways and to touch up my ends when my hair is especially frizzy. Mixing a few drops of the oil into the styling cream works well, too.

NOTE: I love all Olaplex products in their at-home haircare line. But if I had to choose between the Bonding Oil and the Styling Cream, I would choose the styling cream. I see better results, i.e., less frizz, softness, and smoothness, with the styling cream.

Related Post: Affordable Olaplex Alternatives for Frizzy & Damaged Hair

The sulfate-free formula is designed to neutralize brassiness and brighten your hair color after only one use. It’s been proven to increase the brightness of blonde hair three times as much as other purple shampoos.

Like other Olaplex products, this blonde enhancer toning shampoo uses Olaplex’s patented Bond Building Technology and Bis-Aminopropyl Diglycol Dimaleate to rebuild weakened and broken bonds in your hair while neutralizing unwanted yellow tones and strengthening your hair.

It’s vegan and color-safe.

The sulfate-free formula cleanses, repairs, and tones your hair while hydrating your tresses from root to tip. Lather onto wet hair and let process for 2-3 minutes before rinsing. (Start with a minute and increase from there for more brightening effects.)

For a more intense toning treatment, you can leave it on your hair for up to 5 minutes. Use 2 to 3 times per week or as often as required to neutralize brassiness.

Although I have blonde hair, I have never been a huge fan of purple shampoos, but since it is Olaplex’s newest shampoo, I couldn’t resist.

Unlike the original No.4, the shampoo has a thin texture and a very concentrated purple-pigmented color.

It looks like purple dye or ink when poured into my hand. Luckily, once mixed with water, the intensity fades and turns a light purple shade. It has the beloved Olaplex scent and produces abundant tiny bubbles.

This Olaplex purple shampoo rinses cleanly with no hint of purple leftover. I must say, I’ve noticed my blonde hair is brighter. A lot brighter!!

For that reason alone, I think it is worth my purchase. I didn’t have too much brassiness to begin with, but it did help to neutralize the slightly yellow tones in my hair.

I make sure to follow up with a moisturizing conditioner such as Olaplex’s conditioner or this one, which is my latest drugstore love.

Overall, I think this is an excellent product for blondes looking to brighten their hair color and neutralize unwanted yellowness. Olaplex continues to impress!

This hair serum is a leave-in, silicone-free hair serum formulated with Olaplex Bond Building Technology.

The serum also contains red algae extract, which bonds to wet hair to shield against pollutants, thanks to its antioxidant content.

The antioxidants protect against free radical damage that can cause hair damage, frizz, dryness, breakage, and split ends. No.9 works to protect hair against pollution for 48 hours.

The serum nourishes hair and protects it from heat damage, working for all hair textures and colors. It improves shine, protects against static and tangles, and leaves hair soft and smooth.

Apply a small amount to damp hair during your styling routine and work through hair from root to tip. Use more for longer hairstyles.

I like Olaplex’s hair oil, and really like the styling cream, so I was hoping that the serum would bring the best of both of those products to its formula: the lightweight frizz-fighting benefits of the oil and the smooth definition of the cream.

The serum has a silky, lightweight, clear gel texture. It comes in a pump bottle, which makes dispensing controlled, quick, and easy.

It coats the hair, leaving my damp hair slippery, smooth, and easy to comb through. Blow-drying is easy with this serum, as it tackles tangles and improves manageability.

This Olaplex product has the signature Olaplex scent, but it’s not as strong as some of their other hair products. This serum is weightless in my hair!

This may be my favorite Olaplex styling product of all!

It leaves my hair incredibly shiny, bouncy, and easy to manage but doesn’t provide any hold.

After using this hair serum, my hair is soft, smooth, and healthy-looking. I love the styling cream, but the serum feels so much lighter in my hair.

The Bottom Line: Olaplex Haircare Products

The other day, I switched to a different shampoo and conditioner. That was when I could really tell the difference. My hair simply felt heavier and frizzier.

Back to Olaplex I go, especially as the summer months heat up.

I am constantly testing shampoos and conditioners, but Olaplex will definitely be my go-to haircare for the humid months.

It’s hard to pick the best Olaplex hair product since I like every single product from Olaplex, but my current favorite is the Hair Serum.

New To Olaplex?

If you are new to the brand, I would start with No. 3 Hair Perfector along with the shampoo and conditioner (you can purchase them as a bundle here), which help transform dry, damaged, frizzy hair and restore hair health.

Thanks for reading!

Read Next: The Ordinary Hair Care Review