Olaplex Products: Explained
Olaplex Products: Explained
Olaplex is one of the most talked about hair care brands, available in almost every salon and wanted in almost every home. But what exactly does it do? Keep reading as we break down and explain the hair industry’s most elusive and exclusive patented products…
Keep ReadingEveryone’s heard of Olaplex, right? Whether you’ve used it or simply seen a product online or in a salon - Olaplex is known to everyone in some way, shape or form. However, does anyone (other than our hairdressers) actually know what it is or what it does?
At Stranded Hair Group, we will never recommend you a product without first doing a deep-dive into it ourselves. Our team is built of hair industry professionals, committed to sharing the best of our knowledge and expertise - which we do, in blogs just like this one.
We also know how important your hair is to you, so before you even read the rest of this blog, let it be known that we love and wholeheartedly recommend Olaplex!
In this blog, you will learn about what Olaplex is and how it works, alongside the different products and treatments available in the system, its pros and cons and whether or not it is safe for coloured hair. By the end, you know everything you need about the Olaplex system and have the knowledge to decide whether or not they are the right products for you.
- What is Olaplex?
- How does Olaplex work?
- Which Olaplex products do hairdressers use?
- What Olaplex products can I use at home?
- What are the pros and cons of using Olaplex?
- Can you use Olaplex on coloured hair?
- Is Olaplex worth the hype?
What is Olaplex?
Olaplex was founded in 2016 as a salon-exclusive hair care brand, with products designed to repair extremely damaged hair.
Since then, Olaplex has become a household name. Offering both in-salon treatments and take-home products, the Olaplex system works to repair hair from styling, heat, chemical and environmental damage - no matter your hair type or where you are.
How does Olaplex work?
Our hair contains millions of disulfide bonds. These bonds give our hair its structure and, when the cuticles are intact and aligned, make hair look and feel shiny, strong and healthy.
Working on a molecular level, Olaplex’s patented technology and multi-step process restores damaged hair from the inside out. Bis-Aminopropyl Diglycol Dimaleate, Olaplex’s main ingredient, repairs the hair’s bonds and strengthens the hair from within, for immediate results.
Olaplex is suitable for all hair types, with a wide range of products to meet almost every hair need.
Which Olaplex products do hairdressers use?
Hairdressers, when trained in Olaplex, have salon-exclusive access to two products which cannot be purchased by the general public. These are Olaplex No.1 Bond Multiplier and Olaplex No.2 Bond Perfector.
Olaplex No.1 Bond Multiplier
Olaplex No.1 Bond Multiplier rebuilds broken bones and begins the process of preventing damage and repairing the hair. This can be used as a stand-alone salon treatment or can be added to colours and chemicals, to prevent the service from compromising the integrity of the client’s hair.
Olaplex No.2 Bond Perfector
Olaplex No.2 Bond Perfector is the second step of the Olaplex system and is a necessity after using Olaplex No.1. Olaplex No.2 continues to build and link the bonds together, without having colour or chemicals working against it.
What Olaplex products can I use at home?
Whilst Olaplex was originally a salon-exclusive brand, there is now an incredibly wide range of products available to the general public to be used at home. These products are Olaplex No.0 to Olaplex No.9 - simply excluding No.1 and No.2 as the salon treatments.
All Olaplex home-use products contain the same patented bond-building technology.
Remember - you do not need to purchase all the products in the Olaplex system for them to work on your hair. However, Olaplex reports better results with more products you do choose to use. We recommend choosing products that work best for your hair type.
TOP TIP:
Hairdressers know exactly what they’re talking about when it comes to using Olaplex - consult yours to find out which products will be best for your hair needs
Olaplex No.0 Intensive Bond Builder
Olaplex No.0 Intensive Bond Builder (RRP £28) is a hair treatment that boosts the efficiency of Olaplex No.3, for a deeper repair whilst strengthening and protecting the hair.
Olaplex No.3 Hair Perfector
Olaplex No.3 Hair Perfector (RRP £28) is not a conditioner, but a pre-shampoo treatment using the patented bond technology, to repair and strengthen the hair from the inside out.
Olaplex No.4 Bond Maintenance Shampoo
Olaplex No.4 Bond Maintenance Shampoo (RRP £28) is a shampoo that repairs and protects, by re-linking broken bonds, whilst hydrating and nourishing the hair.
Olaplex No.5 Bond Maintenance Conditioner
Olaplex No.5 Bond Maintenance Conditioner (RRP £28) works in the same way as the shampoo does, by protecting, repairing, hydrating and nourishing the hair.
Olaplex No.6 Bond Smoother
Olaplex No.6 Bond Smoother (RRP £28) is a highly concentrated leave-in cream that smooths, conditions and protects the hair, whilst also reducing frizz and flyaways for up to 72 hours.
Olaplex No.7 Bonding Oil
Olaplex No.7 Bonding Oil (RRP £28) is a repairing, lightweight, leave-in oil that smooths and softens the hair, whilst also protecting it from heat damage, up to 230℃.
Olaplex No.8 Bond Intense Moisture Mask
Olaplex No.8 Bond Intense Moisture Mask (RRP £28) is a highly concentrated and highly moisturising leave-in hair mask that leaves the hair feeling effortlessly weightless, soft and healthy.
Olaplex No.9 Bond Perfector Nourishing Hair Serum
Olaplex No.9 Bond Perfector Nourishing Hair Serum (£28) is a silicone-free antioxidant hair serum that coats the hair and protects it from pollution and heat damage (up to 230℃). It also reduces static and tangles, whilst increasing shine.
What are the pros and cons of using Olaplex?
As with anything, there are certain pros and cons to using the Olaplex system. You should always consider these before investing - especially if you are on a tighter budget.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Suitable for all hair types | Can become quite expensive |
| Large range of products to suit almost all hair needs | Cannot purchase easily - only specialist retailers stock it |
| Only need to use a small amount - lasts a long time | Not all products are available to the general public |
| Cruelty-free, vegan and colour-safe | Needs multiple steps for best results |
| Repairs and strengthens hair | Products need to be left on hair for certain amount of time - can take a while to do |
Can you use Olaplex on coloured hair?
Yes - Olaplex is safe to use on coloured hair!
According to Olaplex, their products can be mixed into all colours and lighteners to lessen the damage caused by these services. Olaplex can also be used to maintain and repair colour-treated hair at home for healthy, strong, beautiful-looking results.
Is Olaplex worth the hype?
You came to this blog searching for the answer to the most deep-rooted question anyone interested in hair has ever asked - ‘What is Olaplex?’
Since reading, you have learnt about how Olaplex works and how it repairs and rebuilds hair bonds using its patented technology. You have learnt about the different salon and home treatments available and what they specifically do and support. You have also learnt about the pros and cons of Olaplex, as well as how safe it is for coloured hair.
So is Olaplex worth the hype? Absolutely!
What now?
At Stranded, we believe and have built our brand on the foundation that educated customers are confident customers! Whilst our quality, clip-in hair extensions can provide an instant self-esteem boost, knowledge lasts forever - and that’s why we’re so dedicated to doing our research and writing blogs, just like this one.
If you found this blog as helpful as we believe you did, head over to the Stranded Blog for more hair care and salon-secret educational content. Our top blogs on these topics include:
