I’ve been using the Olaplex Hair Repair System for over a year now, finishing the entire bottles of the No. Hair Perfector, No. 4 Shampoo, No. 5 Conditioner, and No. 6 Bond Smoother. Here’s my honest review of it.

Olaplex’s hair repair system consists of four core products: No. 3 Hair Perfector, No. 4 Shampoo, No. 5 Conditioner, and No. 6 Bond Smoother. The system claims to use their patented technology to restore broken bonds of the hair strand. Learn more about how it works on the Olaplex website. At the time of this article, each of the Olaplex products cost $28 for the 8.5 fl oz No. 4 and No. 5, as well as the 3.3 fl oz No. 3 and No.6. The products also have gentle ingredients, free of sulfates and harsh detergents.

The Olaplex company went public on Sept. 30, 2021, with their stock price opening higher than anticipated (predicted $17-$19 and actually opening at $24.50). It is certainly a product on the rise, but is it for everyone?

How to Use Olaplex Hair Repair System

Start with the No. 3 Hair Perfector, which should be applied to damp, towel dried hair at least once a week. They recommend applying from root to tip and keeping on at least 10 minutes before washing off with the No. 4 Shampoo. While some people like to apply for 30 minutes or longer-and some even sleep with it on-it only works while the hair is damp. Follow by rinsing off and then applying the No. 4 Shampoo and No. 5 Conditioner. Having fine hair, I only use conditioner on the ponytail lengths of my hair.

After washing and towel drying, I blow dry my hair until it is almost dry but still slightly damp. At this point I apply just a small amount of the No. 6, just on the ponytail lengths. This works as a heat protectant as well, so after applying I finish drying my hair.

I tried using the No. 3 just once a week, as well as each time I wash for three times in a row to see if I noticed any difference-I didn’t.

The Verdict on the Olaplex Hair Repair System

While I do have fine hair, I don’t consider it to be particularly damaged. Here’s how I think the system worked for me overall.

No. 3 Hair Perfector

The No. 3 is touted as the star of the system. Unfortunately, I can’t honestly say that I feel any difference after using it. Recently they introduced the No. 0 treatment that is supposed to enhance the No. 3. I haven’t tried this yet, but it seems annoying to have to add yet another step.

Shampoo & Conditioner

As for the shampoo and conditioner…it’s not my favorite. In fact, for my fine hair that is prone to getting oily quickly, I don’t think it is the best shampoo/conditioner. I try to practice hair training (waiting as long as possible between washes), and here is a comparison between day 2 hair after using Olaplex vs. after using a different shampoo and conditioner.

As you can see, the scalp and hair look quite a bit more greasy after using the Olaplex shampoo/conditioner than after a different shampoo/conditioner. Because of this, I probably won’t be sticking with this combo.

No. 6 Bond Smoother

Of all products in the system, the No. 6 is my favorite. It had a noticeable impact after the first few uses, but over time, I think it isn’t making as much of a difference. Maybe that means it has worked and repaired my hair. I’m planning to take a break from it and come back to see if that makes a difference. Of all the products, this is the one that I would purchase again.

The Final Word

All in all, I don’t think it’s the perfect system for me, but as the company grows I predict they well come out with more customizable products for different hair types. While I’m not crazy about the entire system, it’s something worth trying because it is a quality product.