So I just realised that I’ve been using the Olaplex system for over a year now! As you guys know I like to try products for a decent amount of time before I review them, so I think after a year my opinion is well and truely cemented! If you have been thinking about trying this product out, I’m sharing how I’ve found using it over a year, what products out of the range I use, and whether I’d recommend it. Here’s my in-depth Olaplex review.
Olaplex No. 4 Bond Maintenance Shampoo
My first Olaplex product I ever started using was the Olaplex No. 4 Bond Maintenance Shampoo, and this was well over a year ago. I have highlighted blonde hair which gets super super dry if it’s dyed too much. When I started using this shampoo, I was doing full highlights on my hair religiously and it was becoming so dry and straw-like. I was super impressed by how well this shampoo foamed up and left my hair feeling clean and healthy, but not stripped dry. Slowly but surely after using Olaplex No. 4 for a few months, I noticed my hair feeling healthier, smoother and much much less dry.
Fast forward, and I am dying my hair a lot less, opting for touch-up highlights or half head foils. My hair is so healthy, hardly splits and feels soft and lush. I put a good part of this down to the fact that I use my Olaplex as my main shampoo! I use this usually once per week, and alternate every second or third time with a purple shampoo. I have to say I swear by this shampoo and highly recommend it if you have dyed (and especially blonde) hair.
Olaplex No. 5 Bond Maintenance Conditioner
After about three months of using the No. 4 Shampoo (and seeing such good results), I decided to also invest in the Olaplex No. 5 Bond Maintenance Conditioner and the No. 3 Hair Perfector. This conditioner is gloriously thick (to the point where you need to keep the bottle upside down to get it out easier!), and it’s one of the most hydrating conditioners I’ve ever used. I find you only need a small amount, and I tend to use it only every 2-3 washes as since it’s so hydrating, using it every wash is almost too much!
This conditioner works really well on dry, blonde hair HOWEVER I do find if I use it too close to my scalp, my hair does get oily quicker. As a guideline, I usually wash my hair every 3 days, but if I use the conditioner over my whole head, including the roots, then I find I have to wash it after 2 days. What I often do is use this conditioner just on the ends and mid lengths (basically any hair that goes into a low ponytail!) This means there is no residue left on the scalp and is a good option if you want hydrated ends but tend to get oily roots.
Olaplex No. 4P Blonde Enhancer Toning Shampoo
The 4P Blonde Enhancer Toning Shampoo is a relatively new shampoo for Olaplex and I’ve only been using mine for the past couple of months. It’s a purple toning shampoo designed for blonde and grey hair to keep those brassy tones away. It’s an extremely pigmented purple shampoo and works by depositing colour into the hair to keep it a lighter, cooler blonde than a brassy blonde. I’ve found many purple shampoos to really dry my hair out, but this one is the best of both worlds – offering a good colour management while also keeping the hair hydrated. Like I said, I’m still fairly new with this one, and I’ve only used about a quarter of the bottle since I only use it every second or third wash, but so far so good. I’m impressed with this Olaplex Purple Shampoo!
Olaplex No. 3 Hair Perfector
The Olaplex Hair Perfector is known as the miracle worker as it really is one of the best treatments that I’ve used on my hair. It’s not a conditioner, but can be used in place of a conditioner, however I wouldn’t use it all the time. I tend to use this one maybe every 2-3 weeks and will conditioner one or two times in between.
This product works best on damp hair, so about 30 minutes – 1 hour before I’m ready to wash my hair, I dampen it off. I then apply a generous amount through my hair, focusing on my roots and mid-lengths rather than going too close to my roots. I then tie my hair up and let this treatment work it’s magic for a while before washing it out thoroughly and then finishing with the Olaplex Shampoo.
This stuff leaves my hair seriously soft and feeling really healthy, and the more regularly I use the Hair Perfector, the better my hair looks. It’s a life saver for blonde hair and is an absolute must in my opinion if you are a bottle blonde.
Olaplex Review
Overall I’m super impressed with the Olaplex system! The four products I have tried really have made a huge difference to my hair and I swear by them! While I do tend to love my natural beauty products, I haven’t found another natural shampoo and conditioner that competes with Olaplex, so I choose to use the system at the moment (even though they are definitely NOT natural!)
While I love all four products, my top two are the shampoo and conditioner, and if you are in the market for new hair products, I highly recommend you give them a try. You can often buy the Olaplex products in bundles, which often make them much cheaper (click here to shop the Conditioner + Shampoo combo)
There are a few more products you can get in the system (which I am yet to try!) including;
- No. 6 Bond Smoother – Adds moisture, smooths and strengthens
- No. 0 Intensive Bond Building Treatment – Primes hair to absorb nourishment (meant to be amazing when used before No.3)
- No. 7 Bonding Oil – Adds shine, strengthens and heat protects.
- No. 8 Bond Intense Moisture Mask – Moisturises, smoothes and adds shine
