Before our Olaplex shampoo review digs into the brand’s game-changing products, let’s get some initial pros and cons on the table: Pros The result was bis-aminopropyl diglycol dimaleate 1, an invention never before seen in the hair care industry. The secret behind OLAPLEX’s incredible success? The brand’s patented bond building technology and bond maintenance system. Working on a molecular level, the brand’s bond building innovation is the first of its kind, repairing strands’ broken disulphide bonds, caused by heat and colour damage. This active system works by repairing and realigning the torn disulphide links, rather than just increasing the density of the hair, like typical repair systems do. When it comes to hair care brands that offer alternatives to Olaplex, there are several options available. Here are some notable brands that are known for their hair repair and strengthening products: Despite being diehard Olaplex fans, it’s fair to say that after a couple of uses, we were left impressed with Aldi’s pre-wash treatment. Our hair did feel smoother and shinier.

If you're a hair aficionado—or desperately trying to fix a botched bleach job—then the best Olaplex products might need no introduction. The hair-care brand is beloved by celebrities, top colorists and stylists, and reviewers alike, and has made a name for itself as a must-have for color-treated hair. Matrix Bond Ultim8: Matrix Bond Ultim8 is a professional hair care brand that provides bond-building treatments similar to Olaplex. Their products help to strengthen and protect the hair from damage caused by chemical treatments and heat styling. It has been about 2 months now since I last used olaplex products and my scalp is still very itchy every single day and I still lose a lot of hair, much more then I ever used too! Joico Defy Damage: Joico Defy Damage is a line of hair care products that offer protection and repair against various types of damage, including chemical processing, heat styling, and environmental stressors. Their products aim to strengthen and fortify the hair while maintaining its color and vibrancy. Redken pH-Bonder: Redken pH-Bonder is another brand that offers a bond-building system to repair and protect the hair. Their products are designed to maintain the hair’s integrity during coloring or bleaching processes, minimizing damage and breakage.Having got my mitts on the Olaplex No.8 I decided, for a brief moment, to do exactly what I was told for my hair. I freshly shampooed, applied (a few more than) the recommended 2 pumps, swooned over the delicious scent – not strictly in the instructions but I challenge you not to do the same – and worked the product through my mid-lengths to ends with my fingers.

Teaming up with scientists and experts, he and Darcy set out to create the ultimate recipe for happy and healthy hair.The ingredient in question was butylphenyl methylpropional – also known as “lilial”, a synthetic scent that’s used in several cosmetic products as well as laundry detergents and household cleaners. Under the EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics Database, it’s listed as a possible concern for developmental/reproductive toxicity, and having been monitored for the past few years by the European Commission Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety, in 2020 the EU regulatory authority announced its intent to have it phased out by March 2022. Enhanced Color Results: Olaplex can make a significant difference in the outcome of hair color treatments. It can help achieve vibrant and long-lasting color, especially for blonde shades, making them stand out. Water (Aqua/Eau) ,Cetearyl Alcohol,PPG-3 Benzyl Ether Myristate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride , Cetyl Alcohol,Octyldodecyl Ricinoleate, Quaternium-91 , Cetrimonium Chloride, Divinyldimethicone/Dimethicone Copolymer , Behentrimonium Chloride , Glycerin , Isododecane Cetyl Esters , Bis-Aminopropyl Diglycol Dimaleate , Panthenol , Phospholipds, Dimethicone PEG-7 Isostearate, Hydroxypropyl Guar, Glycine Soya (Soybean) Oil, PEG-45M, PEG-7 Amodimethicone, Amodimethicone, C12-13 Pareth-23, C12-13 Pareth-3, Disodium EDTA, Polysilicone-15, Camellia Sinensis Seed Oil, C11-15 Pareth-7, Sodium Polyaspartate, Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin, Crambe Abyssinica Seed Oil, Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Oil, Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Oil, Laureth-9, Trideceth-12, Butylene Glycol, Citric Acid, Ahnfeltiopsis Concinna Extract, Silica, Acetic Acid, Etidronic Acid, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Propylene Glycol, Sodium Acetate, PEG-4 Laurate PEG-4 Dilaurate, BHT, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, PEG-4, Pseudozyma Epicola/Camellia Sinensis Seed Oil Ferment Extract Filtrate, Pseudozyma Epicola/Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil Ferment Filtrate, Tocopheryl Linoleate/Oleate, Helianthus Annus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Quaternium-95, Propanediol, Helianthus Annus (Sunflower) Seed Extract, PEG-8, Punica Granatum Extract, Morinda Citrifolia Fruit Extract , Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract, PEG-8/SMDI Copolymer, Palmitoyl Myristyl Serinate, Sodium, Polyacrylate, Tocopherol, Biotin, Phenoxyethanol , Chlorphenesin, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Iodpropynyl Butylcarbamate, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Fragrance (Parfum) , Citral, Hexyl Cinnamal, Limonene This patented ingredient works to restore the millions of disulfide bonds in our hair from the inside out, repairing damage and enhancing its stability, health, and radiance.

But despite the acclaim, there still seems to be a little confusion around what the products actually do. We'll clear things up: Unlike other hair treatments that add moisture and shine to the outer layers of damaged hair (pretty straightforward stuff), Olaplex works on the molecular level to repair the disulfide bonds that give hair its strength and break through heat-styling, color, and chemical treatments—and was the first brand to make this bond-building technology available in an at-home treatment. (The secret? A little active ingredient called bis-aminopropyl diglycol dimaleate.)B3 Brazilian Bond Builder: B3 Brazilian Bond Builder is a line of hair care products formulated to restore and strengthen the hair. Their products work by reattaching and rebuilding the bonds in the hair, resulting in healthier and more resilient strands. The ingredients included in Olaplex products vary depending on the specific product. However, the following information provides insights into the ingredients used in Olaplex products and their purpose: Olaplex was the result of years of research conducted by husband-and-wife team Dean and Darcy Christal. Dean grew up within the beauty industry, as his brother ran a tanning shop, his dad was a distributor for several retailers, and his mother operated a hair salon. By restoring these broken bonds, it offers lasting hair repair, which is how Olaplex came to be recommended by almost every hairstylist out there. This technology is particularly beneficial for anyone with bleached or color-treated hair, but it can also help reverse damage done from brushing, chemical processes, intense hairstyling, and environment aggressors. Hair Repair: Olaplex works on a molecular level by restoring the hair’s broken disulfide bonds, which can be damaged during chemical treatments like bleaching and coloring. It helps to repair and strengthen the hair, making it less prone to breakage and damage.