Olaplex has been the trendy hair care brand for years, and I finally took the plunge. This Olaplex review started after washing my hair five times with the shampoo, conditioner and No.3PLUS treatment. Then I kept going for three months, because I couldn’t stop.
Some context on my hair. It’s wavy and very thick, and I wear it long. It’s thick enough to hold any shape I give it, which I love. The downside is that once it grows past my shoulders, the ends start to break unless I’m using a really good hair mask.
Then I went to the Maldives, and my ends got fried. High UV, salt air, scuba diving and nonstop sunshine will do that. I’ve spent the past year dealing with dry, brittle, gross dead ends, and I refuse to chop all of my hair off.
It doesn’t help that I live in an apartment building in San Francisco. My landlord is constantly adding weird water filters, and I have a filtered showerhead, and my hair was still dry. I dye my hair too, so I’m always color-treating it. I’ve tried every shampoo under the sun.
I tried Olaplex because I know it’s part of the Abbey Yung hair method (the viral routine from trichologist Abbey Yung that starts with a pre-shampoo bond repair step), and that method is all about soft, healthy hair.
My Quick Olaplex Review Verdict
Yes. It’s worth it. From the very first wash my hair felt softer, and my dry ends got noticeably less dry. Three months in, my hairstylist asked me what I’d been doing differently. More on that below.
The catch is the cost. You need the whole system, the No.3PLUS runs out fast, and you’ll be rebuying it.
What I Used (The Olaplex Strengthening Shower Set)
I used the Olaplex trio set, which Olaplex sells as the Strengthening Shower Set. It comes with three full-size products:
- N°.3PLUS Complete Repair Treatment (100 ml, $34 on its own)
- Nº.4 Bond Maintenance Strengthening Shampoo (250 ml, $34)
- Nº.5 Bond Maintenance Strengthening Conditioner (250 ml, $34)
The set is $102 at full price. I’ve seen it on sale for $83 to $86, so it’s worth waiting for a sale if you’re not in a hurry.
How I Use Olaplex in the Shower
The order matters, and it’s different from most hair masks.
Step 1: No.3PLUS on Wet Hair for 3 Minutes
Get in the shower, wet your hair, and apply the No.3PLUS from roots to ends. Let it sit for three minutes. Rinse.
Most of the hair masks I use go on dry hair for 10 or 20 minutes. I even put rosemary oil on my roots and leave it overnight. This one is quick and you don’t have to plan ahead, which is awesome. So many times I’ve wanted to do a hair mask, stepped into the shower and thought “well, darn it, I forgot to do it beforehand.” Not a problem with this one.
Step 2: Nº.4 Shampoo
A little goes a long way. It lathers up in your hands SO much, like you’re making a bubble bath as a kid. Even with hair as thick and long as mine, you need way less than you think.
Step 3: Nº.5 Conditioner
It feels like a normal conditioner. It’s strong, though, so a small amount covers everything. Olaplex says to apply it to your mid-lengths and ends and leave it on for one to three minutes.
Pro-tip: Olaplex recommends the No.3PLUS every one to three washes. I used it every single shower, which is why mine ran out so fast. If you’re trying to stretch a bottle, use it two or three times a week. I just felt like I really needed to supercharge my dry ends and it worked.
I plan on switching to every 2-3 washes now.
My Olaplex Results After 5 Washes
After the first wash my hair was instantly softer. By wash five, it was stronger, less brittle and still soft days after I’d washed it. That last part surprised me the most. Usually the soft feeling is gone by day two.
By wash six, I knew I’d be buying it again.
My Olaplex Review After 3 Months
Okay, update. I’ve been using Olaplex for three months now, and every time I travel and can’t use it, my hair looks sad. It’s not as hydrated, and I can tell within a couple of washes.
The real proof came at the salon. My hairstylist and I have been trying to cut and save my ends for a year. Last month he looked at my hair and said, “Oh my God, Kara, what have you been doing differently?”
Full transparency: I’ve also been taking Nutrafol to grow my hair out faster, so Olaplex isn’t the only thing I changed. But he noticed a huge difference compared to my appointment three months before, and Olaplex is the biggest change in my routine.
Olaplex Pros and Cons
Pros
- Hair felt softer from the first wash, and the softness lasts for days
- Dry, fried ends got noticeably less dry
- The No.3PLUS only takes three minutes and goes on in the shower
- The shampoo and conditioner last forever (I’m three months in and still have both)
- Color-safe, sulfate-free and protein-free, according to Olaplex
Cons
- It’s an investment. The set is over $100 at full price
- The 100 ml No.3PLUS is tiny. With long, thick hair, mine was empty after about five showers of daily use
- You need to use the products together to see results, so buying only the shampoo won’t get you there
Olaplex Product Reviews, One by One
Olaplex No.3PLUS Review (Formerly the No.3 Hair Perfector)
If you’re searching Olaplex No.3 Hair Perfector reviews, this is the new version of it. Olaplex reformulated the cult No.3 into No.3PLUS. The old formula sat on damp hair for 10 minutes or more. The new one takes three minutes in the shower, and it’s protein-free and keratin-free.
Olaplex says it’s clinically proven to make hair three times stronger after four uses (compared to bleached hair). I can’t measure that at home lol. What I can tell you is that my ends stopped feeling like straw.
My only complaint is the bottle size. I wish the set came with a bigger one, especially since thick hair eats through it. Olaplex does sell a 250 ml size for $68, so if you’re committing, that’s the smarter refill.
Olaplex Nº.4 Shampoo Review
This is the product that blew me away first. The lather is huge, it doesn’t strip my hair, and it smells fresh and citrusy without being perfumey. Olaplex says a 250 ml bottle gets you up to 100 washes, and that tracks with how slowly mine is going down.
Heads up, the regular Nº.4 is made for medium to coarse, thick hair, which describes my wavy hair to a T. If your hair is fine, Olaplex makes a Nº.4FINE version for $34 that’s built for volume.
Olaplex Nº.5 Conditioner Review
The least exciting of the three, but it does its job. It detangles my thick hair well and doesn’t weigh my waves down. It’s the one I’d swap out first if I were on a budget, but I like how it works with the shampoo.
Is Olaplex Worth the Money?
Worth it if you have dry, damaged or color-treated hair and can commit to using it consistently for a few months. It’s especially worth it if your hair is long and the ends start breaking once it grows past your shoulders, like mine. I’d say six months of steady use will get your hair in the best shape.
Skip it if you want one bottle that fixes everything. The results come from using the system, and the No.3PLUS refills add up.
Is Olaplex Bad for Your Hair?
This question comes up a lot because of a 2023 lawsuit. Nearly 30 customers sued Olaplex, claiming the products caused breakage and hair loss. Olaplex denied the claims and released results from independent third-party labs saying its products don’t cause hair loss or breakage.
I’m not a dermatologist, so I can only tell you what happened to my hair. Mine got stronger and less brittle, and my stylist noticed. If you have a sensitive scalp or a history of reactions to hair products, patch test first and check with your dermatologist.
Does Olaplex Work on Black Hair and Curly Hair?
My hair is wavy, not curly or coily, so I’m going off what Olaplex says here. The brand says No.3PLUS works on every hair type and texture, including coily hair, and it’s protein-free (a plus if your hair is sensitive to protein). For curls and coils, Olaplex also makes Nº.4CURL and Nº.5CURL, which are designed to define and hydrate.
If you have Black hair and have used Olaplex, I’d love for you to share your experience in the comments so other readers can hear from someone who’s tried it.
What About the Olaplex Nº.7 Bonding Oil?
I haven’t tried the Nº.7 Bonding Oil yet, so I won’t pretend to review it. It’s a styling oil you use after washing, and it runs $32 to $56 depending on size. If you’ve been reading Olaplex Bonding Oil reviews and want me to test it next, tell me in the comments.
Olaplex Review FAQ
How good is Olaplex?
For dry, color-treated, sun-damaged hair like mine, really good. My hair was softer after one wash, and after three months my stylist noticed a huge difference.
Is Olaplex good for thick hair?
In my experience, yes. My hair is wavy and very thick, and the regular Nº.4 and Nº.5 are made for medium to coarse, thick hair. They cleanse and detangle without weighing it down. Just know you’ll go through the No.3PLUS faster than someone with fine hair.
Does Olaplex help with split ends and breakage?
It helped mine. My ends usually break once my hair grows past my shoulders, and after three months of Olaplex my stylist saw a big improvement. It won’t bring dead ends back to life, so you’ll still need trims, but it makes a big difference in how the rest of your hair holds up.
How long does it take for Olaplex to work?
I felt a difference after the first wash. The bigger change, stronger and less brittle hair, showed up over the first five washes and kept improving over three months.
How often should you use Olaplex No.3PLUS?
Olaplex recommends every one to three washes. You can use it daily (I did), but it’ll run out much faster. Whimsy Writer Jafie wrote an Olaplex review a few years ago and she only used is every other wash and had similar results.
Is Olaplex color-safe?
Yes. Olaplex says the No.3PLUS, Nº.4 and Nº.5 are all color-safe. I dye my hair and haven’t noticed my color fading faster.
Do you need to use the whole Olaplex system?
For the results I got, yes. I used the treatment, shampoo and conditioner together every time. You can buy them separately, but buying the set on sale costs less.
What do Olaplex treatment reviews say?
Most Olaplex treatment reviews I’ve read say the same thing I found: softer hair right away and stronger hair with consistent use. The common complaint is price.
My Final Verdict on Olaplex
I’m obsessed and I’ll keep buying it. My dry ends are less dry, my hair stays soft between washes, and my stylist noticed the change. It’s an investment, and the small No.3PLUS bottle drives me nuts, but it’s the first routine that’s made a difference after a full year of fighting fried ends.
Grab the Olaplex trio set if you want to try the full routine, or pick up the No.3PLUS treatment on its own if you already love your shampoo.
Have you tried Olaplex? Drop a comment below and tell me what it did for your hair.
