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Olaplex Review: Are the Products Worth the Price?

Olaplex Review: Are the Products Worth the Price? I Mirra Skincare

Via Olaplex

Out of all the popular beauty products TikTok has brought to us, one hair care product line may come to mind - Olaplex. Olaplex has been touted in aesthetic self-care ritual videos due to its clean packaging and out-of-this-world hair results. Is the hype we see on TikTok real? Are the products truly worth the price? I decided to test the product line out for myself. Today, I am here to give my honest Olaplex review after using six of their products over the course of almost two years. Before jumping into my Olaplex review, let’s take a brief look at what Olaplex is all about. 

 

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Contents

1. All About Olaplex: Origins and Science

2. An Honest Olaplex Review

3. Final Thoughts

Key Points

  • Olaplex haircare line has patented technology in their products 
  • Olaplex is committed to being an ally to the planet and the health of our bodies 
  • Olaplex products are worth the price if you purchase the right products

All About Olaplex: Origins and Science

Olaplex haircare dates back to 2014 tracing its origins to a small garage in California. Fast forward to today and they are an outrageously successful brand with an expansive product line and revolutionary patent technology. 

Olaplex patented technology consists of their single ingredient Bis-Aminopropyl Diglycol Dimaleate. This ingredient repairs broken disulfide bonds in our hair, thus Olaplex products are bond builders, not conditioners. It is important to repair broken disulfide bonds because these bonds are “what give[s] the hair its structure, strength, and stability”. This patented technology is present in all of their products.

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Aside from having science-backed patented technology in their products, Olaplex is committed to being an ally to the planet and the health of our bodies. Olaplex products are cruelty-free, vegan, and non-toxic. Product formulas are free of parabens, sulfates, phthalates, gluten, nuts, and phosphates. 

Not to mention, Olaplex saves 44,000 gallons of water from being wasted, eliminates 33M pounds of Green House Gas Emissions, and protects 57M trees from being deforested. 

An Honest Olaplex Review 

No.0 Intensive Bond Building Treatment

Olaplex’s intensive bond building treatment is a priming product. The product is designed to be used before applying their No. 3 Hair Perfector treatment. According to Olaplex, the formula of this product “delivers the highest concentration of the patented bond building technology of any Olaplex at-home product”. The product retails at $28 for 5.2 fluid ounces. 

I purchased the No.0 intensive bond building treatment when it was released in the fall of 2020. When the product first released, it had an awful application design. The application consisted of one fine tip that required the bottle to be upside down and aggressively squeezed. Envision a barbeque ketchup and mustard bottle but thinner and longer. Needless to say, the product was not user-friendly and made product application incredibly difficult. In fact, Olaplex received so much negative feedback that they redesigned the packaging into a spray bottle for easier application. 

Aside from product application, I did not notice a difference in my hair when I added it to my hair care ritual as a primer for No.3. Granted, my product application process was a doozy, so I may have never been able to get the product dispersed evenly over my head. 

Overall rating: 4/10. I would not be opposed to giving it another chance. 

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No.3 Hair Perfector

The hair perfector is Olaplex’s staple product that arguably helped the brand claim its fame. The product is #1 in prestige hair care and one bottle is sold every 3 seconds. How about that for popularity? 

The No.3 hair perfector is a “weekly at-home treatment that reduces breakage and visibly strengthens hair." Each bottle includes 3.3 fluid ounces of product for $28. 

This is my HOLY GRAIL hair ritual product. I would die on a hill for No.3. No hair treatment has restored or made my hair as strong, healthy, shiny, and full as this product has. After coloring my hair (bleach blonde, full-head of highlights might I add) I will use the treatment twice a week. On a normal weekly basis, I will use it once a week.

Overall rating: 10/10. This product is worth the price. 

No.4 Bond Maintenance Shampoo and No.5 Bond Maintenance Conditioner

Olaplex’s shampoo and conditioner works to restore and nourish the hair, fight frizz, and repair broken bonds. The formulas are color-safe, so you do not have to worry about it ruining your last trip to the salon. Shampoo and conditioner are sold separately for 8.5 fluid ounces and $28 per bottle. 

I wanted to love these, I really did. The products did a great job initially, but over time my hair began to lose the softness and shininess the products added at the beginning. I do not believe the shampoo and conditioner worked as an “everyday” shampoo and conditioner for my hair. Instead, it worked best as a once-a-week bond maintenance wash. I will have to add that I loved the consistency and emulsification of the shampoo. 

Overall rating: 7/10. I would not purchase the large bottles, but I would consider re-purchasing the mini size for weekly bond maintenance. 

No.6 Bond Smoother

The bond smoother is a leave-in styling treatment designed to condition and strengthen the hair while styling. The product speeds up blow dry time, defines air-dried curls, and fights frizz for up to 72 hours. It retails at $28 for 3.3 fluid ounces of product. 

I have thoroughly enjoyed using this product in conjunction with their No.7 bonding oil. It has truly sped up my drying time (even before I got my Dyson Airwrap), kept my flyaways tamed, and softened my hair even after using styling tools. Aside from styling, I enjoy using the bond smoother after I get out of the shower and let my hair air dry. 

Overall rating: 9/10. The product is a staple in my haircare ritual. Not to mention, it smells amazing. This product is well worth the price!

No.7 Bonding Oil

Last but not least in my Olaplex review, we have their No.7 bonding oil. It is a reparative styling oil with key benefits of repairing damaged hair, working as a heat protectant against up to 450 degrees, and restoring hair texture. The oil is $28 for 1 fluid ounce. 

As I mentioned previously, I love using the No.7 bonding oil in conjunction with the No.6 bond smoother. I will apply both before styling my hair for added protection and nourishment. The only hiccup I have run into with the bonding oil is accidently applying too much to my hair. I have thin strands of hair, so even the tiniest overload of product will make me look like a greaseball. So, I caution that a little goes a long way. 

Overall rating: 8/10. No bad things to say here! Well worth the price since one small bottle lasts forever. 

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Final Thoughts

That wraps up my Olaplex review! Olaplex is far from perfect, but they do have science and a few outstanding products on their side. Additionally, the brand continues to make adjustments to product packaging and release new products as consumers give their feedback, showcasing their eagerness to grow and develop. 

All in all, Olaplex products are worth the price if you purchase the right products! If you loved this Olaplex review, check out our Tula skincare review, our Ordinary skincare review, and our Rare Beauty review

Written by Lauren Conklin

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SOURCES:

  1. https://olaplex.com/
  2. https://olaplex.com/pages/our-story
  3. https://olaplex.com/pages/how-it-works

 

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