Five Uses of Olaplex Treatment

Last Updated on January 3, 2023 by Gaga

What Is the Olaplex Treatment?

Olaplex is a reconstructive hair treatment developed by scientists for repairing damaged hair and preventing future damage. Olaplex active ingredient – Aminopropyl Diglycol Dimaleate works on a molecular level to repair and restore disulfide bonds in the hair, giving strength and elasticity to hair fibers. When hairstylists add Olaplex to hair color, bleach, or neutralizer, this component shields against the damaging effects of chemicals and helps to improve hair quality. This makes it possible to perform chemical services with minimal damage to the hair.

The Olaplex system consists of three essential components:

  1. No.1 Bond Multiplier (highly concentrated)
  2. No.2 Bond Perfector
  3. No.3 Hair Perfector
hairdresser performing salon hair repair treatment

Different Uses of Olaplex

There are several ways to use Olaplex to improve the health of your hair:

  1. As a standalone hair-repairing treatment
  2. Bleach services, highlights, balayage, color
  3. Permanent waving
  4. Keratin treatments
  5. Hair relaxing and thermal reconditioning treatments

1. Olaplex as Stand-Alone Repairing Treatment

The ‘Stand-alone Olaplex Bond Reparation Treatment can be done whether you have had a chemical service or not. Heat styling and tension from combing and brushing can also weaken hair’s protein bonds and cause damage inside the hair shaft. Olaplex Bond Repair Treatment is a proven way to rebuild the strength of heat-damaged and mechanically abused hair.

If your hair has build-up from hair products and minerals, you need to clarify it with a chelating shampoo prior to the treatment.

Olaplex Bond Reparation Treatment steps:

  1. Fill a non-spraying applicator bottle with 3oz (90ml) of lukewarm water.
  2. Add 1/2oz (15ml) Olaplex No.1 into the application bottle and mix them together.
  3. Wet the hair thoroughly (if there wasn’t a need to wash it) and towel dry.
  4. Fully saturate the hair with the solution. You may comb through to endure that every strand is coated with the solution.
  5. Leave it on for 5-7 minutes.
  6. Don’t rinse.
  7. Apply a generous amount of Olaplex No. 2 Bond Perfector to your hair and comb through it to distribute it evenly.
  8. Leave it on for 10 – 20 minutes or more.
  9. Rinse.
  10. Shampoo and condition as usual.
blonde woman after getting Olaplex repair treatment.jpg

2. Using Olaplex to Go Lighter

Hair damage has been a major problem since the invention of hair dye. To lighten hair a colorist needs to “break the bonds” in your hair. The lighter you go – the more bonds are broken! A drastic color change can sometimes cause serious hair damage including breakage and dryness.

Olaplex has the ability to reconnect broken disulfide bonds in the hair shaft and minimize the chances of breakage. The product increases hair elasticity and enables hair to withstand more dramatic color changes with less or no damage. Olaplex makes your hair stronger and healthier, and your color will last longer.

Hair can be colored or lightened to any level with minimal damage to the strands. Dark hair can go blonde faster and blondes can have their hair even blonder without being fried. Olaplex literally goes into hair and reverses damage from previous exploits and also prevents damage to your hair that would be caused by chemicals during color service.

Olaplex Colour Change – Dull Brunette to Power Blonde by Tom Smith

Bond Multiplier

Bond Multiplier can be mixed directly into your color/bleach to protect your hair before any damage.  It works with any type of color including permanent, semi, or demi hair color, glosses, toners, and high lift. Olaplex step 1 reconnects hair bonds broken during exposure to chemical services, heat styling, and mechanical abuse.

Bond Perfector

This is the second step of the Olaplex system and is applied after the color processing has been completed and the hair has been rinsed and towel dried. In this step, your hair is saturated with the Olaplex Bond Perfector to ensure that all the newly formed bonds in your hair stay intact. The product is left on the hair for a minimum of 10 to 20 minutes. After rinsing out the product the hair will be shampooed and conditioned.

a beautiful blonde woman with long curly hairstyle

Why is Olaplex Important for Blondes?

If you start with dark hair color, you will need to use bleach to pull the pigment out of your hair and get your hair as light as possible. Lightening, if you don’t do it properly, can seriously compromise your hair’s structure. Repeated bleaching in a short period of time can leave hair weak and inevitably lead to breakage.

Platinum blonde which has become the hottest hair trend requires serious bleaching. Many women can’t achieve their dream hair color because bleaching would be too harsh on their previously highlighted, porous, bleached-out, and already compromised hair.

Olaplex is especially essential for anyone who wants to go more than three shades lighter to reach their desired hair color. The product allows for more frequent hair coloring and makes it possible to lighten your hair to new levels with minimal damage. Re-bleaching previously bleached hair is now easily achievable and you might be able to go platinum without ruining the integrity of your hair. Brunettes can now go platinum blonde in one day without frying their hair.

3. Using Olaplex Before Keratin Treatment

a woman with keratin-treated hair and Olaplex pre-treatment

Olaplex works very well as a strengthening pre-treatment for Brazilian Blowout or keratin treatment. Olaplex Stand Alone Treatment should be performed prior to keratin service. Olaplex will penetrate the hair shaft to strengthen hair internally before the hair shafts are coated with the keratin treatment. The result is stronger and more flexible hair that is resistant to breakage. Olaplex also enhances hair softness and shine and maximizes the benefits of keratin treatment and Brazilian Blowout.

Olaplex can also repair hair damaged by a keratin treatment but make sure to wait at least three weeks after keratin service before using Olaplex.

4. Olaplex Before and After Perm

cheerful woman with permed hair nourished ba Olaplex

A perm is a procedure that breaks numerous bonds in the hair. If the integrity of your hair has already been compromised an Olaplex treatment is recommended to prepare the hair for perm service. Take equal amounts of Olaplex No. 2 and a protein conditioner and mix them in a bowl. Apply to towel-dried hair concentrating on the most damaged areas of the hair. Use a hot dryer heat to dry the mixture in the hair completely. Then, mist the hair with water and proceed with the perming process.

As a restorative post-treatment, diluted Olaplex No. 1 should be applied over neutralizer over each rod to repair the damage caused by the perm. Leave Olaplex No.1 Bond Multiplier in the hair for about 5 minutes. For very damaged hair rinse and towel blot rods and then re-apply Olaplex for another 5 minutes.

You don’t have to wait 48 hours to shampoo your hair after doing neutralization with a neutralizer enriched with Olaplex.

5. Olaplex for Relaxed Hair

The best way to protect the hair from the chemicals in relaxers is to perform a treatment with Olaplex before and after your relaxer process. Olaplex may be added to your sodium hydroxide relaxers as well as to your neutralizing shampoo.

How to incorporate Olaplex into your relaxing procedure depends on the desired level of straightness.

Can Olaplex No. 3 Save Your Relaxed Hair? by Style Domination

Related Article

What is No. 3 Hair Perfector?

The tiny bonds within our hair are constantly being compromised due to thermal, mechanical, and chemical processes. No. 3 Hair Perfector is a take-home product that helps to maintain the health of the hair between salon visits.
The No. 3 Hair Perfector contains the same active ingredient as both the No.1 and No. 2. It will continue to link bonds within the hair, making hair stronger, softer, and shinier. The product is designed to use once a week before shampooing your hair. It should be applied to damp hair and left on for a minimum of 10 minutes. Afterward, your hair should be shampooed and conditioned.

A gorgeous blonde woman with nourished curly hair

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About the author

Website | + posts

Gaga is a blogger and founder of the Softer Hair website. She often says that insomnia is to blame for her first blogging attempts. Being the night owl, she hated the morning alarm. She left her office job and returned to what she loved most - writing.

 

37 thoughts on “Five Uses of Olaplex Treatment”

  1. Hello! Can I use this Olaplex treatment (in salon) if I’m not coloring my hair (haven’t color for almost 2 years I think)? Half is all grown out and ends still have old blond in them. Will it still help? Can I still use No3 at home on this hair?

  2. You have to use number 1 and 2 first for number 3 to have any effect.
    You don’t have to dye your hair to use this. Just use it as a treatment.

  3. Hi, can I use Olaplex no.1 twice in one session? once with bleach and second with permanent color or toner?

  4. Hello
    My hair is badly damaged from getting a keratin straightening treatment put through it
    Now it is a burnt course and seems slit all over. I hate going out even to work.
    Can any of your products help with this?

  5. To prevent future damage to hair, refrain from chemical treatments, limit the use of hot styling tools and stop using chemicals to style your hair. You need to give your hair time to recover.
    Wash your hair with a sulfate-free shampoo, and avoid too frequent shampooing. Condition your hair each time you shampoo. Finish hair rinse with slightly cool water. Use natural hair care products.
    Do deep conditioning treatments weekly or biweekly to infuse your hair with moisture.
    Use a hot oil treatment with a plastic wrap.
    Use lightweight hair oils like argan or jojoba oil to smooth the cuticle and restore some shine.
    Have a good trim to remove split ends and revive damaged hair.
    Next time when you apply chemical treatment make sure to follow the instructions so that the chemicals don’t stay too long in your hair.

  6. I have straighteNed my haor chemically.is it fine to get an Olaplex treatment done.I hope it does not make my hair curly. please help

  7. It is best to apply Olaplex treatment before chemical straightening service. Wait a few weeks after chemical straightening treatment and use Olaplex to revitalize and strengthen damaged hair. Olaplex treatment will not affect the level of straightness achieved or change the shape of your strands.

  8. Hi There,

    Do you know if it is ok to use Olaplex No 3 after a Brazilian blowout or could it potentially make the blowout not last as long?
    Thanks in advance!

  9. When applied after the Brazilian blowout service, Olaplex cannot penetrate the hair properly to strengthen it. If used immediately after Brazilian blowout Olaplex No 3 won’t be effective. Olaplex take-home treatment is most effective if you use it when your treatment starts to wear off.

  10. I used Olaplex as pretreatment and applied before my Beach wave perm. Now reading I should have also used it in the perm solution but didn’t. My hair was badly damaged all over, breaking very dry and coarse. How long do I have to wait to use the Olaplex treatment to help fix my hair? Can it be used the same day, my hair needs rescue???

  11. It would be advisable to consult your stylist before next chemical service. You can use Olaplex No.3 once a week to strengthen dry hair. You can also try The Neutral Protein Filler by Colorful to repair some damage and give your hair a healthier appearance. Don’t use it more than once a month to prevent protein overload. Combine with deep conditioning treatment to replenish moisture.

  12. Hello, BEFORE doing the Olaplex treatment for No.1 and No.2, Would I have to wash my hair? Do I just shampoo and towel dry to apply Olaplex? or do I apply to dirty dry hair?
    I’ve tried watching youtube videos but nobody tells you what to do before Olaplex is applied. Some people have their hair wet while I see others have it dry. Please Help thank you!

  13. It is best to apply Olaplex No 1 to dry hair, then without rinsing, follow with Olaplex No2. Hair should be shampooed after rinsing Olaplex. Generally, you don’t have to wash hair before the treatment. The exception is when your hair has product buildup – you need to clarify first to allow the treatment to work. If you have hard water at your home, use a chelating shampoo to clarify.

  14. Hi,

    Is it okay to use just Olaplex No 2, Bond perfector as a stand-alone treatment?
    I got my highlights and my hair has become weak.

  15. When doing a lightening service prior(same day) as Brazilian blowout, is it safe to use Olaplex in my bleach if I will be following the service with a Brazilian blowout??

  16. Ask your stylist to analyze the condition of your hair to find out if it is able to undergo two chemical treatments on the same day. Olaplex mixed with bleach will protect your hair from the chemical damage.

  17. Hi.my friend rebond my hair 2 days ago but the outcome was not good, it makes my hair dry, hard and frizzy.., to repair the damage, she had to do Brazilian blowout, the outcome was not also good, it is also dry and frizzy….can I use Olaplex treatment to bring back the life of my hair, to make it smooth, shiny and soft? thank u..i hope u could help me with this.

  18. Hi I’m thinking of getting Shishido straightening done on my black hair can I use olaplex3 after it’s been done for extra treatment will it ruin my straightening

  19. Consult your stylist on how to use Olaplex before and after straightening treatments. You can use Olaplex number 3 to repair damaged hair after chemical treatments. It will not negatively affect your straightening results.

  20. I had thermal reconditioning done (Milbon) in a process where my hair was first straightened and then put on perm rods. I basically just made my previously curly/coily hair much more manageable, without losing the curl. I absolutely love it. I had been using Olaplex No. 3 prior to this treatment and the stylist says that I should stop because of protein, but I am not sure I understand why this is a risk. I really like Olaplex and think it could be a good thing. Is there anything that you can share with me?

  21. I must admit that I don’t understand why you need to stop using Olaplex No.3 prior to thermal reconditioning. Olaplex doesn’t cause buildup or coat your strands. Maybe, your stylist just knows more about your hair.
    However, I didn’t find that the manufacturer recommends using the Olaplex hair perfector after thermal reconditioning.
    To stay on the safe side, you can use Olaplex shampoo and conditioner, which complies with the manufacturer’s instructions.

  22. According to the manufacturer’s directions, Olaplex doesn’t require heat to work. If your hair is damaged, you should refrain from using heat.

  23. Hi. My hair is long, gray, wavy and frizzy. Most of the time I just wash and go. Will Olaplex help with the dryness and frizzies? If so how’s would be the steps used. Thank you in advance. Gail

  24. Olaplex is supposed to prevent and reverse the damage. To combat dryness and frizz consider hair care products that contain hyaluronic acid and silk proteins. Keratin enriched hair shampoos and conditioners help combat dryness and reduce porosity which results in less frizzy hair. Hot oil treatments, pre-shampoo treatments, and hair masks for dry hair are also worth considering.

  25. Hi what happens if you leave oplex no 3 in your hair after shampoo and moisture mask and do not rinse it out but style your hair as normal. I have curly hair it tends to get dry and frizzy rarely greasy and has been bleached blonde

  26. Olaplex is not supposed to be left in your hair. To combat dryness and frizz, you might want to use keratin enriched leave-in conditioner. Make sure to use Olaplex No 3 in accordance with the directions.

  27. Hi! I was wondering if After putting Ola Plex 1 on for 10 minutes and then adding Ola Plex 2 for 20 minutes, can I then add a conditioning mask for an additional 20 min and get Conditioning results as well as strengthening results?

  28. I have a curly perm in my hair right now, with 2 cm of growth already and I was planning to use Olaplex num 3 because I can see some damage in my hair, but I am worry that the treatment will dissolve my perm, because Olaplex 3 will restore bonds right? Should it affect my curls?

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