I first discovered Olaplex while binge-watching YouTube hair videos (it’s sort of a pastime of mine). Back in early 2017, my hair began to shed excessively, which in retrospect, was a result of above-average stress levels and poor hair maintenance.
I’ve always subscribed to this mantra: “Don’t touch your hair and it will thrive.” While not over-manipulating your strands does keep more of them on your head, the least I could have done to mine was keep them moisturized.
As it turns out, there’s a term for this tried-and-true method in the (natural/relaxed) hair community. It’s called moisturizing and sealing. I’ve implemented it into my haircare regimen, but have been careful to use mostly water-based hair products since I’m not a fan of limp, oily hair.
I’ve also started using Olaplex and I’m so glad I did because I’ve gotten amazing results. Before using Olaplex, my hair was falling out in chunks, after just one use, I saw little to no breakage. Mind blown!
So just what is Olaplex?
Olaplex is a three-part treatment formulated to permanently rebuild broken disulfide bonds in the hair that are often caused by chemical processing and thermal damage. Apparently, consumers are only supposed to be able to get their hands on Olaplex No. 3, the take-home treatment. The first two treatments — No.1 and No.2 — are only available to salon professionals. However, retailers like Amazon and Walmart said “no, that just won’t do!” Needless to say, I’ve managed to get my hands on the entire kit!
A word of caution: Be careful about buying Olaplex on Amazon as there are many sellers advertising counterfeit products.
Here’s a quick rundown on how to use Olaplex No. 1, 2 and 3 to salvage your weakened tresses (please be aware that while effective, Olaplex is not a miracle treatment).
Olaplex No. 1: Bond multiplier — rebuilds broken disulfide bonds and can be applied to the hair as a stand-alone treatment or combined into chemical products like bleach or relaxers. For more information on Olaplex No.1, click here.
Olaplex No. 2: Bond perfector (not optional) — continues to rebuild remaining broken disulfide bonds and should be applied after all chemicals have been rinsed out of the hair. Leave it on the hair for 10-20 minutes. The longer you leave it on, the more effective it is. For more information on Olaplex No.2, click here.
Olaplex No. 3: Hair perfector (not a conditioner) — this take-home treatment should be applied to towel-dried hair. Then should be combed through the hair and left on for a minimum of 10 minutes (the longer, the better). I even left it on for an entire day once! For more information on Olaplex No.3, click here.
The kit is quite pricey, I was able to find it at Walmart for $78, but you might be able to get a bargain if you have a hair stylist friend purchase one on your behalf.
With that said, I employ you to use your best judgment if you do decide to give Olaplex a try, it’s worth saying once more, there are several counterfeit products on the market.
You can find No. 3 (authentic) for $28 on the Olaplex website. Also, I forgot to mention, you can purchase each treatment individually.See you next time!
Photo: Brooklyn Blonde
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