In case you haven’t heard, Olaplex is a revolutionary new hair treatment used by the likes of Kim Kardashian, Kate Hudson and Emma Stone. It’s applied alongside and after colouring to improve the condition of damaged or dry hair. Hairdressers and clients are raving about it, and as someone who usually has very frazzled locks – I desperately wanted a slice of the action!
So how does it work? Originally developed in the US and identified by celebrities as ‘life changing’, Olaplex is a ‘bond multiplier’ which works to repair the hair bonds that are broken during colouring and heating. The difference between this and other hair conditioning treatments, is that Olaplex is supposed to repair the hair, rather than coating it in a moisturiser.
Olaplex is usually mixed in with colouring products, but can be used as a standalone treatment. Applying Olaplex is a 3 step process. Steps 1 and 2 are products that are applied by your hairdresser, and step 3 is given to you to take home. You need to use a small amount once a week, applying it before washing hair, and leaving it overnight if possible.
Step 1 of my Olaplex treatment was mixed my usual hair bleach before being applied. Once on it ITCHED. I’m talking about teeth-grittingly itchy, so bad that I had to scratch my wet hair! This came as a surprise to me, as I haven’t ever reacted to any hair or skin product in the past, but my hairdresser seemed to think this was the norm. After roughly 20 minutes the itchiness (and increasing anxiety) eased and I managed to regain enough composition to stride to the wash basins for step 2.
Step 2 was applied after washing off my bleach and colour, and left for (a minimum of) 15 minutes. Being the owner of catastrophically knotty hair (especially after a colour) I was completely astonished to see my hairdresser smoothly slide her comb through my hair with ease!
Alas the treatment didn’t give me amazing locks representative of models’ in magazines… BUT after a wash, hot blow-dry and a quick trim, I quickly concluded that my hair was in a much better condition than before my bleach. In fact, I don’t think my hair even looks damaged – dare I say it… its even a bit healthy?!
To my surprise, my flyaway ‘baby hair’ above my ears seems to have sobered up a little, and my hair feels lighter, thicker but less frizzy. My hairdresser was able to leave bleach on for a good 45 minutes as opposed to the regular 30 minutes to avoid disastrous damage – giving me a brighter, less brassy do. So not only does Okaplex actually improve the condition of my hair while bleaching, it enables better colour and revolutionary advancements in what is achievable with colour.
I’m still to use the take-home step 3 (which comes in the worlds smallest conditioner bottle – comparable to a tester) but my mind is made up – Olaplex isn’t a miracle, but it IS fantastic and in my opinion – an essential treatment for every colouring visit. And at £25 for an add-on treatment, an absolute steal.