Olaplex
Olaplex bond building care, from the No.3 weekly treatment to shampoo, conditioner, masks, oils and serums. We explain what each number does, which one to start with and how often to use it for coloured or damaged hair.Read more →
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What Olaplex bond building actually does for damaged hair
Olaplex is a bond builder, not a conditioner. That single difference explains most of the confusion around the range. Its patented ingredient, bis-aminopropyl diglycol dimaleate, is made to reconnect disulfide bonds: the internal links inside the hair that bleach, permanent colour and high heat break open. A conditioner sits on the outside of the hair and makes it feel smooth straight away. A bond builder works inside the hair shaft, so what you notice is strength and elasticity, less snapping when you brush.
The numbers are a system, not a ranking
The numbers show the order in which products were launched, not how strong they are. No.1 and No.2 are salon only and go into the colour or bleach itself. Everything else is made for home use. No.0 is a watery primer that goes on dry hair before No.3. No.3 is the weekly pre-shampoo treatment and the product most people mean when they say Olaplex. No.4 and No.5 are the maintenance duo you can slot into our shampoo range, with No.4P and No.5P adding purple pigment for blonde and grey hair. No.6, No.7 and No.9 are leave-in products for smoothing, shine and heat protection up to 232 degrees. No.8 is the moisture mask.
The range suits you if your hair is bleached, highlighted, regularly heat styled or simply feels brittle at the ends. If your main problem is dryness rather than breakage, a moisture step matters more, so compare it with the hair masks we stock before you buy the full system.
Why we stock Olaplex
We are brand-neutral and outcome-first. We carry Olaplex because the bond building technology is patented, clinically tested by the brand and consistent from bottle to bottle, not because a big range sells well. We buy directly from the brand, without intermediaries, so what reaches you is authentic. Our compliance team checks every product before it goes live, we test products ourselves and independent labs spot-check batches. Inside the range we are honest about priorities: No.3 does the repair work, the styling products are useful extras rather than a starting point. You can read how we select our brands.
Honest expectations before you buy
Bond building is a repair job, not a reset. Split ends cannot be glued back together by any product, they need cutting. Hair that has lost most of its structure will feel stronger but will not go back to virgin condition. Give No.3 at least ten minutes on damp hair, use it weekly and judge the result after three or four washes rather than one.
Two more points people learn the hard way. Olaplex No.3 and No.0 are not conditioners, so hair can feel stiff if you skip the shampoo and conditioner step afterwards. And bond builders do nothing for hair growth or a flaky scalp, which is a different concern with different hair treatments. Used for what it is designed to do, on colour damaged or heat damaged hair, it is one of the few categories where you can feel the difference within a month.
Frequently asked questions
What is Olaplex and what makes it different from a hair mask?
Olaplex is a bond builder. Its patented ingredient, bis-aminopropyl diglycol dimaleate, is designed to reconnect broken disulfide bonds inside the hair, the internal structure that bleach, permanent colour and high heat damage. A mask or conditioner works mainly on the surface and makes hair feel soft immediately. Olaplex targets strength and elasticity instead, so results show as less breakage rather than instant slip. Many people use both: one for structure, one for moisture.
Which Olaplex product should I start with?
Start with No.3, the weekly pre-shampoo treatment. It carries the highest concentration of the bond building ingredient of the single at-home products and delivers the most noticeable result on its own. If your hair is heavily bleached or multi-processed, add No.0 as a primer before it. After that, No.4 shampoo and No.5 conditioner keep the effect going between treatments. The styling products can wait until you know how your hair responds.
What does each Olaplex number actually do?
The numbers reflect launch order, not strength. This is what each one is for:
| Product | What it is | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| No.1 / No.2 | Salon only | During colour or bleach |
| No.0 | Pre-treatment primer | Dry hair, before No.3 |
| No.3 | Weekly bond treatment | Pre-shampoo, 10 minutes |
| No.4 / No.5 | Shampoo and conditioner | Every wash |
| No.4P / No.5P | Purple toning duo | Blonde or grey hair |
| No.6 | Leave-in smoothing cream | Damp hair, before drying |
| No.7 | Bonding oil | Damp or dry hair, before heat |
| No.8 | Moisture mask | Weekly, after shampoo |
| No.9 | Leave-in serum | Damp hair before styling |
How often should I use Olaplex No.3 and how long do I leave it on?
Once a week is the standard rhythm, twice a week while hair is recovering from bleach. Apply it generously to damp, detangled hair, leave it for at least ten minutes, then shampoo and condition as usual. Leaving it on longer than the label suggests does not speed up repair, and more product does not either. Because it is not a conditioner, always follow with a conditioner or mask, otherwise hair can feel stiff.
Can I use Olaplex if my hair is not coloured?
Yes, if the damage is there. Disulfide bonds also break from daily straighteners and tongs, chlorine, sun and rough brushing, so uncoloured hair that snaps mid-brush can benefit. If your hair is virgin, air dried and simply dry or frizzy, a moisture product will do more for you than a bond builder. Bond building addresses structure, not hydration, and paying for repair you do not need is easy to avoid.
Does Olaplex contain protein, and can it cause protein overload?
The core bond builders do not work through protein. Olaplex states that No.0 contains no protein, and the bond building molecule is not a keratin or hydrolysed protein. That is why many people who react badly to protein treatments tolerate it. Some products in the range do contain other conditioning ingredients, so check the label if you are sensitive. If hair feels stiff or straw-like, the usual cause is skipping the conditioning step, not protein.
Can I combine Olaplex with another bond builder such as K18?
Yes, they target different things. Olaplex works on disulfide bonds, while K18 uses a peptide aimed at the broader keratin chains, and it is left in rather than rinsed. A common approach is No.3 as a pre-shampoo treatment on wash day, and the peptide leave-in after shampooing on other days. Do not layer both in the same ten minutes. Give each one its own step so you can tell what is working.
Is Olaplex vegan and how is its safety regulated?
Olaplex formulas are vegan and the brand does not test on animals. Products sold in the UK must also meet cosmetic product safety rules, which require a safety assessment, a named responsible person and restrictions on specific ingredients. Olaplex reformulated to remove lilial in line with those ingredient rules. Every batch we receive comes directly from the brand and passes our own compliance check before it goes on sale.
What can Olaplex not do for my hair?
It cannot repair split ends. Once the fibre is split, no product rejoins it, so a cut is the only fix. It will not regrow hair, treat a flaky scalp or change your hair's natural texture. Hair that has been bleached to the point of stretching like elastic when wet may feel temporarily stronger, but the lost structure does not fully come back. Where it earns its price is keeping colour damaged hair usable between salon visits.
