Olaplex No 3: What Is It and How To Use This Treatment For Hair

Imagine reading rave reviews like these about a hair care product…

AHHHHMazing

Love. Love. Love. Love. Love!!!!!!!!

Magic in a bottle.

Olaplex 3 obsessed!

I know what you’re thinking. Sounds too good to be true!

But that’s what actual users are ravin’ about Olaplex!

Even if it sounds over the top maybe now you’re also just a wee bit curious about Olaplex? Like what it is? And if it really is the game changer some would have you believe it to be?

Olaplex No 3 is an at home hair reparative treatment used to resuscitate dry, damaged hair. Those who have zapped the life out of their mane with bleach find it particularly helpful. Even better, to prevent further chemical trauma it can be mixed with coloring products to minimize damage.

Then to clear up a couple other common misconceptions this rebonder is NOT a conditioner. It’s also NOT a protein treatment. But it is more like a reset button for problem hair havoc.

Now I’m guessing that’s just one question you may have about this.

So since you’re asking, how about if we share answers to seven things you may be wondering about.

Because the curious thing to me is as fabulous as this stuff is supposed to be seems few really understand what it is and what it does.

So whether you’re a hardcore member of the bleach brigade or have dry, brittle strands “just because” you’re going to want to keep reading. As doing so will let you gain a better understanding what some call a bottled super power.

What exactly does Olaplex do?

Glad you asked.

Let’s back up a step. To understand what it does you have to understand a little hair science.

You see your hair is made up of keratin proteins. They are held together by bonds called disulfides which literally means two sulfur atoms. Think of this bonding as those atoms holding hands and it’s what gives your hair its strength.

During coloring, heat styling, straightening, perming, or even just sun exposure those bonds can be weakened or broken.

To fix that there a patented chemical in Olaplex, and if you must know it’s bis-aminopropyl diglycol dimaleate, and the amazing thing is it will actually fuse those two sulfurs back together.

Pretty nifty, huh?

It’s almost like waving a little magic wand over your head and presto chango you have locks that are noticeably silkier, shinier and stronger.

In other words hair that is healthy with fewer split ends that’s more resistant to breakage.

Here’s a video that looks at the science behind hair.

Watching it you may leave you feeling like you’ve time traveled back to high school chemistry and that’s okay. It never hurts to challenge our brains every once in a while even if your eyes glaze over.

Yeah it can be more than you ever wanted to know. Or you may find it fascinating.

Just to review the reason you need a bond multiplier is practically anything you do to your hair, like coloring, hot styling, shampooing, just being out in the sun, will weaken the bonds and can compromise your beloved mane.

How do you use Olaplex No 3 Hair Perfector at home?

Nothing to it.

Basically use it like you would any hair mask only without washing your hair first. It’s designed to be shampooed and then conditioned out of your locks.

• Rinse your hair – you only want to apply to damp hair.
• Towel dry.
• Comb through a generous amount from roots to ends.
• Leave it as long as you wish keeping in mind it is moisture activated so only works on wet strands. So once your locks dry it stops working. But the longer it has to sink in the more it does for your hair.

Look. This is like anything else. The label may say 10 minutes minimum but 30 is probably better.

But if you were told 30 minutes you might not start to use it because we’re … Always. In. A. Rush.

Right?

Yet once you start using it it’s doubtful you’ll ever stop because of the difference it makes. Especially if you’re a blonde hair coloring addict.

If you’re going to wait 30 minutes or longer before shampooing, or overnight even, you’ll want to slip on a shower cap and maybe a towel turban over that to keep your hair from drying. Because again it only works on damp hair.

Tip: If it dries in your hair before you want it to you can always give your hair a quick spritz with a continuous spray bottle to reactivate the Olaplex.

You might want to start with total hair saturation and then back off how much product you apply each time until you get to the right amount for your hair without jeopardizing effectiveness.

Or you might sleep in it from time to time. Then in the morning treat your hair an oil treatment and then wash it all out.

Or if you’re a heavy styling product user you might want to use a clarifying shampoo first to remove any product, chlorine or mineral buildup because that and oil can prevent Olaplex from penetrating your strands properly. Then shampoo the product out as usual after you’ve left it in for how long it takes to work best for you.

Finally if you are a curly girl you can twist your strands, even finger coil them after applying. Doing so can give you unbelievable hair.

How often should you use it?

It’s designed to be a weekly treatment so that’s the official Olaplex recommended frequency.

But per the company’s blog you can’t over use the product. So using it more often WILL NOT harm your hair.

That means no worries. Those with badly compromised hair can start off using it as often as two or three times a week to accelerate how fast it works it’s magic on your strands. (Just remember this stuff is not exactly cheap. But your hair is worth it right?)

Then to maintain the health of your strands apply whenever you feel your mane is starting to look stressed out or feel a little brittle or extra dry and obviously when you color.

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Can you leave it in overnight?

The Olaplex Facebook page doesn’t discourage you from leaving it overnight although they do point out it has done the most it’s going to do for your strands after 45 minutes.

Just keep in mind damp hair is vulnerable hair. Your tossing and turning at night might actually lead to more strands snapping off.

Is Olaplex a waste of money if I don’t dye my hair?

Depends. Even if you don’t color but you love your hot styling tools or standing under a hot shower or expose your hair to merciless UV rays often you may see a difference with Olaplex.

Oh yeah and if you’re looking for more hair care tips and tricks like this please follow our Pinterest boards where we share all kinds of fabulous finds and helpfulness!