Olaplex for Thinning Hair: Does it Work?
It is no secret that having a head full of hair makes you look attractive. The hair complements other facial features, making them more prominent.
On top of that, it makes you feel good about your appearance, which boosts your confidence considerably. Unfortunately, not everyone is blessed with a head full of thick hair, and problems such as thinning hair and baldness are fairly common for such people.
Luckily, you can mitigate this problem to a great extent with the help of hair treatments. And due to the prevalence of this problem today, there are many such treatment options available, with Olaplex being one of them.
But the problem is that not all chemical hair treatment products are effective. This, in turn, can cause you to feel skeptical about using them, and we fully understand.
In light of that, you may ask – is the Olaplex hair treatment any good in adding shine and treating thinning and damaged hair? That’s what we intend to find out. So, dive in!
What Is Olaplex?
For those of you who do not know what it is, let us give you a brief idea about Olaplex. At first glance, you might think that Olaplex is a single hair product to get rid of all your hair problems. In reality, it is a series of products that helps you to rebuild and maintain your hair.
Each product in the series performs a specific task, which, in turn, helps to resolve the issue of hair thinning. The whole hair treatment system comprises nine different products, conveniently numbered between 0 and 8 (make no mistake, there is actually a product numbered 0).
Thus, to get the best results for your thinning problem, you need to start at Olaplex No. 0 and gradually work your way up to Olaplex No. 8. However, some of them are intended for professional use in hair salons, which means you don’t need to worry about them that much.
All of the active ingredients in these products work in tandem with each other to repair your damaged hair strands and ensure proper hair growth. Besides, using them on a regular basis will help maintain your hair health and prevent any further hair loss.
What Does Olaplex Actually Do?
Many of us today use different coloring products on our hair to make it look more stylish. But what we do not consider is that such coloring products and dyes contain bleaching chemicals. These chemicals break the disulfide bonds in our hair, which in turn makes the hair fragile, and accelerates hair fall.
That is where the Olaplex hair treatment system comes into the scene. Each of the products is designed to negate the effects of the bleaching chemicals used in hair colors and dyes. When used appropriately, it helps to prevent the hair bonds from breaking while using hair dye.
Subsequently, any broken bonds in the hair are rebuilt after the bleaching or dyeing process is completed. That way, you can color your hair to your heart’s content without needing to worry about thin or frizzy hair problems.
So, to answer the primary question – yes, Olaplex does actually work, provided you use it in the correct manner. That said, many people might not get the desired results after using it. More often than not, this can be attributed to incorrect usage of the hair treatment system. Keeping that in mind, we have described how to use it correctly in the following section.
How To Use Olaplex Hair Treatment System?
When it comes to using the Olaplex treatment system for thin and dry hair, many people may get easily confused by the different products. Because of that they feel a bit skeptical going in. But believe us, once you get the hang of it, you won’t have to use any other treatments for your fragile hair anymore.
For most users with thinning, frizzy hair, the standalone product recommended by hair stylists is the Olaplex No. 3 Hair Perfector treatment. It has the primary components to repair broken and damaged hair so that you can say goodbye to your thin hair problems.
However, if you want the full treatment for healthier hair, then you should use all the products in the proper sequence. This is especially true if you color your hair on a regular basis.
So, if you want to learn more about how to use it, then keep reading below.
1. Olaplex No. 0: Intensive Bond Building Treatment
Usually, you would be starting at step number 1, but with the Olaplex hair treatment system, you begin at step 0! There’s a reason for this strange numbering though, since it is more of a preparatory step before you get started with the actual process.
Olaplex No. 0 is essentially a bond-building product that you apply to your hair to keep it protected from damage. It contains chemicals that prime the hair strands for the subsequent treatment process. Likewise, if you intend to visit the salon to get your hair dyed, you should apply it beforehand to mitigate the adverse effects of bleach.
2. Olaplex No. 3: Hair Perfector
The next step in your at-home hair treatment process is the Olaplex No. 3 Hair Perfector. It contains a blend of ingredients that provides moisture to your hair and repairs any minor breakages.
As such, it is possibly the most crucial product to repair your hair thinning problem. Not only does it help during the bleaching process, but it can also be used to tackle the hair damage sustained on a daily basis.
The latter is the reason why this one is recommended as a standalone treatment by stylists. But as we have mentioned before, it should be used in conjunction with the others if you are bleaching your hair.
Ideally, you should apply it at least twice a week if you are using it as a general hair treatment product. For bleaching sessions, in particular, you will need to use it as per your requirements. Similarly, it would help if you consulted the usage instructions before you get started.
After applying it to your hair, you should let it sit for at least 10 to 15 minutes. Then you can rinse it off to proceed further with the process.
3. Olaplex No. 4: Bond Maintenance Shampoo
The Olaplex No. 4 should be used after you’re done with the previous step, or else it won’t have the desired effect. As you can guess from the name, this is a shampoo, which means that you can apply it like any other regular shampoo. And we would recommend replacing your existing shampoo with this one, as multiple products may have unwanted effects.
One of the primary ingredients in the Olaplex No. 4 Bond Maintenance Shampoo is coconut oil. It strengthens the bonds and keeps your fine thin hair strands from breaking. Apart from that, the Olaplex shampoo has a balanced overall composition that makes the shampoo favorable to use for most hair types.
4. Olaplex No. 5: Bond Maintenance Conditioner
After you’re done shampooing your hair, you should follow it up with the Olaplex No. 5 Bond Maintenance Conditioner. It complements the shampoo to make your hair strands stronger and resistant to breakage.
Besides, thanks to the active ingredients in the conditioner, it helps your hair and scalp retain the necessary oils and moisture, preventing it from drying out. Regularly using it with the shampoo also improves the overall hair quality, which is definitely a bonus if you want thick and healthy hair.
5. Olaplex No. 6: Bond Smoother
The Olaplex No. 6 Bond Smoother is a complementary treatment that helps to strengthen the disulfide bonds in your hair even further. As such, it helps with quick hair restoration and maintenance so that you can get long and fine hair in a short time.
It contains a blend of vitamin E and coconut oil, both of which help to smoothen frizzy and fragile hair. And if you apply it regularly, your hair will feel softer.
Additionally, you can use it regardless of your hair type. So, it doesn’t matter if you have chemically bleached thin hair, virgin hair, or any other type of hair; the cream can be applied without any issues.
6. Olaplex No. 7: Bonding Oil
Let’s be honest – having thicker hair is not the only thing you need to look dashing; you need your hair to shine as well. This is where the Olaplex No. 7 comes in, for it eliminates the frizz and roughness in your hair to make it smooth and shiny.
The unique formulation makes this oil very lightweight, meaning that it doesn’t weigh down on your hair and scalp. Besides, it offers heat protection, which is helpful for those who have to remain exposed to the sun for extended periods.
7. Olaplex No. 8: Bond Intense Moisture Mask
This is another complementary weekly treatment that helps to make your hair smooth, shiny, and healthy. The active ingredients in this infuse moisture in your hair while simultaneously keeping it nourished, thereby reducing the risk of hair loss and thinning.
8. Olaplex No. 1: Bond Multiplier
If you’re wondering why we have placed the Olaplex No. 1 all the way over here after the others, then allow us to explain. Both Olaplex No. 1 and Olaplex No. 2 are generally used by salon hair stylists, meaning that they are not suited for at-home treatments. In other words, unless you are a professional hair stylist, you won’t be able to use them appropriately on your own.
With that out of the way, let’s see what the Olaplex No. 1 Bond Multiplier actually does. In essence, it is a solution that keeps your hair protected when you get it bleached at hair salons.
Typically, the hair stylist will mix the bond multiplier directly with the hair color. Once they get an even mixture, they will use it to bleach your hair. The ingredients present in it minimize the adverse effects of bleach and keep the disulfide bonds in your hair strands intact.
In that context, the correct amount of bond multiplier needs to be added, or else it might not have the desired results. And after it has been applied to your hair alongside the bleach, the hair stylist will let it sit for a while before rinsing it off.
9. Olaplex No. 2: Bond Perfector
Once the coloring solution and Bond Multiplier have been rinsed off your hair, the stylist will follow up by applying the Olaplex No. 2. The solution is basically a hair mask that prevents damage to your color-treated hair.
Even after using the previous bond building hair treatment, there are chances that the bonds may break at certain spots. By masking the hair strands, the bond perfector allows the broken strands to heal, which ultimately prevents your hair from thinning out.
Benefits Of Olaplex Hair Treatment
Now that you know how to use it, here are some of the key benefits of using Olaplex treatments over other hair treatments.
- Offers extended protection for your hair
- It uses ingredients that are not harmful to your hair
- The home treatment products are easy to use
- Works on most types of hair
Drawbacks Of Using Olaplex Hair Treatment
While it is definitely a great solution for your thin hair issues, it does come with some drawbacks. They have been listed below for your convenience.
- The hair treatment process is quite lengthy
- Multiple products make it an expensive hair treatment solution
Final Words
The Olaplex hair treatment system is indeed a working solution for thin and weak hair. But as you can see, the entire process needs to be followed if you want to get the best results.
And it does not work that well for other types of hair problems, such as burnt or brittle hair. However, considering how effective it is at restoring the lost thickness and shine of your hair, we’d say that it is a worthy investment.
And if you use it regularly, you can keep your hair looking healthy and beautiful for a long time. That is what we all look forward to, isn’t it?