Frequently Asked Questions

Disulfide bonds are in all three main parts of the hair:

• Cuticle • Cortex • Medulla (if the hair has one)

Most people think about how Keratin (proteins) make up the hair, forming polypeptide bonds (long chains) that are kept in alignment by hydrogen, salt and disulfide bonds.

The overall internal structure resembles ladders that have been twisted into a shape resembling a multi-fiber cable called microfibrils. These then combine to form macrofibrils which are contained in the cortex. These “cables” stay in alignment, resisting twisting and bending, as a result of disulfide bonds. They are held together in the cortex with a microcellular cement that also contains an abundance of disulfide bonds.

All hair contains millions of disulfide bonds which give the hair its structure, strength and stability. When all the bonds, especially the disulfide bonds, are intact and in alignment, you have healthy, beautiful, shiny, touchable hair. When disulfide bonds are broken, it results in damage.

Hair is damaged daily. Split ends, frizz, lackluster Color, thinning and dryness can all be related to broken disulfide bonds.

• Flat irons, curling irons, and blow dryers all cause damage due to the high levels of heat being used.

• Mechanical damage such as brushing, friction, tugging and pulling on wet hair affect the bonds.

• UV damage from the sun, humidity, extreme hot/cold weather conditioners, pollution, etc. all have a negative impact on the hair’s bonds.

• Chemical services can also cause damage. These services include Color, Lighteners, Perms, Relaxers, Keratin Treatments, and Japanese Straighteners/Thermal Reconditioners.

The chemicals and/or thermal tools being used react with the disulfide bonds breaking them and causing protein loss, leaving behind damaged hair. When damage occurs, it affects the disulfide bonds throughout the entire hair fiber.

All hair types (natural, curly, fine, straight, etc.) derive most of their integrity from healthy, properly paired, disulfide bonds. When hair is damaged via thermal, chemical, mechanical or environmental factors, these disulfide bonds are broken apart resulting in single sulfur hydrogen bonds.

What happens after a disulfide bond breaks? There are two reactions that can take place. The first reaction is that the single sulfur hydrogen component pairs with a single oxygen molecule. This makes a perfect pair with no further damage taking place.

The second reaction is where damage occurs. A single sulfur hydrogen molecule will pair with three oxygen molecules creating S03, or what is known as a sulfate group. The protonated sulfate is known as Cysteic Acid. Cysteic acid then eats the protein out of the hair.

In the case of chemical services, OLAPLEX works by pairing with the single sulfur hydrogen bond faster than the three oxygen molecules can.

OLAPLEX is beneficial for all hair types. Whether your hair is Color Treated, Texture Treated, Virgin or anything in between, it is damaged on a daily basis. OLAPLEX assists in both preventing that damage and repairing it, returning the hair to a virgin like state. OLAPLEX is compatible with all manufacturers chemical service products. Your hair is an investment, and the only accessory that you never take off. In fact, it’s the only thing short of plastic surgery that can change the way you feel about yourself. Everyone wants beautiful, healthy, manageable shiny hair and with OLAPLEX, that can become a reality!

VIRGIN HAIR

OLAPLEX is great for virgin hair. It helps to repair existing damage while protecting it from thermal, mechanical and environmental damage. OLAPLEX strengthens and prepares the hair for future services.

COLOR TREATED HAIR

OLAPLEX can be mixed into all Colors and Lighteners to lessen the damage caused by these services. OLAPLEX is also used to maintain and repair Color Treated hair for healthy, beautiful looking hair.

CURLY AND NATURALLY TEXTURED HAIR

OLAPLEX rebuilds, restructures and improves moisture retention to curls that have lost their shape. OLAPLEX infuses curly hair with added moisture and condition for beautiful bouncy, resilient curls. Fragile curly hair has more lightening and chemical service options when OLAPLEX is used.

STRAIGHT HAIR

OLAPLEX will strengthen straight hair, improving manageability, movement and shine. The condition of the hair won’t be compromised using thermal styling options such as curling irons, hot rollers, etc. when the hair is treated prior with OLAPLEX.

TEXTURE SERVICES (PERMANENT WAVES, RELAXERS, THERMAL STRAIGHTENING/RECONDITIONING)

OLAPLEX helps to maintain the integrity of the hair before, during and after all texture services. Texture services last longer, and the hair stays in better condition when OLAPLEX is used correctly. Damage-free Color and Lightening Services performed after any texture service are possible when properly using them with OLAPLEX.

EXTENSIONS

OLAPLEX can be used on all 100% human hair extensions. Some extensions have a Keratin coating on them which can sometimes act as a barrier to the OLAPLEX Treatment. Extensions sometimes are treated with textile dyes which can lead to unpredictable results with Color or lightening. With any type of glued in or taped in extensions, we recommend keeping OLAPLEX off those areas to avoid possibly loosening them. When in doubt, always perform a Strand Test on extensions as results may vary.

OLAPLEX is the only patented true bond builder in the market. Our technology, processes, and formulations are protected by patent registrations and applications in the US and abroad. This page is provided to satisfy the virtual patent marking provisions of various jurisdictions including the virtual patent marking provisions of the America Invents Act and to further serve as notice under 35 U.S.C. §287(a).

The following list of OLAPLEX products may not be all inclusive, and other OLAPLEX products not listed here may be protected by one or more patents.

N°1 Bond Multiplier for use under US Patent No. 9,095,518

N°2 Bond Perfector; and N°3 Hair Perfector for use under US Patent Nos. 9,095,518

Additional patents may be pending in the US and elsewhere.

N.°0 is an intensive repair booster that absorbs deeply into the hair. It’s designed to work in tandem with N.°3 in order to receive the intense repair. While N.°3 Hair Perfector can be used on its own, we do not recommend using N.°0 alone.

Yes, it will provide some repair, but is designed to work as a two-part process.

OLAPLEX technology works best when the product is wet in the hair. N.°0 is a watery liquid that will dry quickly. Using N.°3 over it, keeps the hair damp so both products can continue to work during the process.

No. N.°0 needs to fully absorb into the hair for at least 10 minutes. This allows the N.°3 to be pulled deeper within the hair structure.

All hair types & textures will benefit from this. More intensely damaged hair will see the most dramatic results at first. The more often N.°0 is used, the healthier the hair becomes. Results may not be as noticeable, but it is still working within the hair structure.

You can leave the OLAPLEX N.°0 and OLAPLEX N.°3 in longer! However, the efficacy will diminish past 30-45 minutes or when the hair is dry. Rinse, shampoo & condition for best results.

In September 2020, the EU regulatory authority announced their intent to phase out Butylphenyl methylpropional commonly referred to as "lillial" by March of 2022. At Olaplex, lilial was previously used in small amounts as a fragrance in N°.3 Hair Perfector. It is not an active or functional ingredient. While this phase out is limited to the EU, out of an abundance of caution, Olaplex proactively removed lillial from our N°.3 Hair Perfector globally.

Read more detailed information here. Please be advised the experts are not affiliated with Olaplex.

Yes! You can use N°.3 even if you have not tried the salon treatment yet. This is because the entire OLAPLEX line shares the same active ingredient to repair broken bonds in the hair.

N°.3 Hair Perfector is formulated for at-home care and maintenance. When used alone without the in-salon treatment, OLAPLEX N°.3 acts as a mini treatment.

For best results with N°.3: Apply to damp / towel-dried hair, apply a generous amount of N°.3. Comb through and let process for a minimum of 10 minutes. Then shampoo and condition!

As a company, we do not recommend sleeping in OLAPLEX treatments as it could get into your eyes. However, we have received great feedback from people who have used it this way.

OLAPLEX N°.3 reaches its max efficacy at 30-45 minutes however OLAPLEX is actively working in the hair as long as the hair remains moist.

Generally, no, you do not need to shampoo before using N°.3. However, if you have a lot of product on your hair, it is always a good idea to cleanse the hair before your treatment. Use your best judgment.

Yes, each OLAPLEX product is free of sulfates, phthalates, DEA, aldehydes, formaldehyde, gluten, parabens and safe for all hair!

Yes, the N°.4 shampoo and N°.5 conditioner are both formulated for daily/ every wash use!

No, there are no silicones in OLAPLEX N°.4P.

The scent of N°.4P is sweet grapefruit.

Yes, the surfactant system we chose provides luxurious lather, while gently cleaning the hair.

No, OLAPLEX N°.4P does not contain proteins.

This will depend on the length of hair this is applied on. A 250ml would lead to about 50 applications if you use about 5ml per application.

Yes, OLAPLEX N°.4P is safe for color-treated hair.

OLAPLEX N°.4P is perfect for any hair type with medium to light blonde tones (levels 7 and up) in which yellow or brassy tones need to be controlled.

Purple shampoos provide toning benefits for blonde or lightened hair by counteracting brassy and yellow tones. On the color wheel, purple is the opposite of yellow, which is why purple cancels out yellow. It also works on grey hair that can sometimes have a yellow characteristic.

OLAPLEX N°.4P Blonde Enhancer Toning Shampoo combines a high amount of pigment concentration with our patended bond-building technology & mild surfactants to provide a highly concentrated purple shampoo to deliver 3X brighter results (compared to top brands), yet gentle enough for frequent use.

The surfactant used in OLAPLEX N°.4P is mild, providing a gentler cleansing of the hair, while providing the nourishing benefits of OLAPLEX.

Yes, depending on the amount of brassiness you want to eliminate. However, we recommend 2-3 uses a week.

N°.4C Bond Maintenance Clarifying Shampoo is officially launching June 28th.

N°.4C Bond Maintenance Clarifying Shampoo is ideal for all hair types that experience excess product buildup, excess oil, or those living in areas with hard water.

Yes, N°.4C Bond Maintenance Clarifying Shampoo is formulated with our exclusive broad-spectrum clarifying system that deeply cleanses to remove impurities like minerals from hard water and the discoloration caused by chloring from swimming pools and rinses them from hair.

OLAPLEX N°.4C Bond Maintenance Clarifying Shampoo is sade for permanent haircolor. During the first two weeks of coloring hair, clarifying is not recommended as this can cause haircolor to fade faster. We recommend checking with your stylists when using a clarifying shampoo on color-treated hair.

Yes, the exclusive broad-spectrum clarifying system deeply cleanses to remove impurities resulting in brighter, more vibrant clarity. It can be used on natural blondes or those that have taken their hair lighter.

We recommend using N°.4C Bond Maintenance Clarifying Shampoo once every 1-2 weeks or as needed as an alternative to cleansing with with N°.4 Bond Maintenance Shampoo.

No, it does not contain proteins.

No, it does not contain silicones.

Yes, the surfactant system we chose provides luxurious lather while gently cleansing the hair.

A 250ml bottle contains approximately 50 applications when using 5ml per application. Application amounts will vary based on the amount used and hair length.

We recommend waiting two weeks after a smoothing treatment before using OLAPLEX's N°.4C Bond Maintenance Clarifying Shampoo. This allows enough time for that initial coating from the smoothing treatment to wear off again for OLAPLEX to pentrate effectively.

A buildup of damaging impurities, excess oil and product buildup weigh down the hair. Clarifying the hair clears away impurities from the hair's surface allowing for optimum results of your styling products.

No, it deeply cleanses without stripping essential moisture. As a result, the hair is left brilliantly clean and touchably soft, never dry or straw-like.

Yes, the N°.4 shampoo and N°.5 conditioner are both formulated for daily/ every wash use!

N°.6 can be applied to both damp and dry hair and can be both air dried or blow-dried into the hair.

Olaplex N°.6 can be used daily on wet and dry hair, however, the effects of N°.6 work up to 72 hours so you shouldn't need to use it daily unless you wash and condition your hair daily.

Olaplex N°.6 does contain heat protection for use when blow-drying hair but is not rated for 450 degrees. We suggest using a separate heat protectant along with N.°6 when using any other heat styling tools on your hair.

N°.6 is a smoothing cream, N°.7 is a lightweight oil. Both contain our patented active ingredient for repair. N°.6 focuses mainly on repair, moisture and smoothing the hair for 72 hours. N°.7 will give UV and heat protection up to 450 degrees, smoothness and glass-like shine along with repair. These can be used on their own as well as mixed together.

Yes! Every hair type can benefit from deep hydration, plus additional repair. It’s a luxurious part of weekly self care for your hair.

Nº.8 is meant to be used as often as needed to rebalance the moisture in the hair. You cannot overuse Olaplex Nº.8 and many people do use it as often as every wash.

Nº.3 Hair Perfector is not a mask or a conditioner; it works inside the hair structure to relink broken bonds. Nº.8 Bond Intense Moisture Mask is a deep conditioning mask that repairs & hydrates the hair. Both can be used on a weekly basis to strengthen & repair the hair.

Yes, you can leave Nº.8 in longer than the recommended amount of time. You cannot overuse Nº.8

You can, though your hair will not benefit from the full potential of the treatment by cutting time down.

Nº.5 is meant to be used as your daily conditioner providing the hair with the main components of a conditioner as well as the repair from the active ingredient. Nº.8 takes it a step further providing the hair with extra moisture while being lightweight and leaving the hair healthy with body and fullness as well as including the repair from the active ingredient.

The anti-damage hair shield is a silicone free, weightless, antioxident-rich serum that increases manageability, provides style memory, and protects from heat and pollution. N.°9 increases manageability (anti-static & anti-tangle), provides style memory, heat protections up to 450 degrees F, protects against environmental pollutants, and has a satin shine.

Apply 1/2 pump from mid-shaft to ends (more for longer, coarser textures) on damp hair.

N.°9 increases manageability (anti-static & anti-tangle), provides style memory, heat protection up to 450 degrees F, protects against environmental pollutants, and has a satin shine.

N.°9 is an anti-damage hair shield, silicone free, weightless, antioxident-ruch serum that increased manageability, provides style memory, and protects from heat and pollution. N.°6 is a styling treatment - with primary benefits of anti-frizz control for up to 72 hours, faster blow-drying, while smoothing, moisturizing and strengthening the hair.

450 degrees F/232 degrees C

N.°9 Bond Protector shields pollution for up to 48 hours while potent antioxidents neutralize free radicals to prevent damage.

Particles and pollutants penetrate the cortex and cuticle. They cause free radicles by oxidizing the hair structure, which destroys the sequence of amino acids and proteins, and breaks down the bonds in the hair fiber. The damage results in less shine, dryness, brittleness and breakage.

Visit our Stylist Locator page in the footer.

Email support@olaplex.com for our Distributor list

OLAPLEX begins repairing hair bonds upon first use! OLAPLEX’s patented ingredient, Bis- Aminopropyl Diglycol Dimaleate, is designed to target the millions of disulfide bonds within our hair that give it structure and stability. These bonds can be damaged or broken in numerous ways, including heat from styling tools, color and chemical treatments, brushing, environmental factors and the natural aging process. Users of OLAPLEX can protect their hair and expect visibly healthier, stronger and more vibrant hair.

All OLAPLEX products are labeled with instructions for recommended use. It is not possible to “over bond” hair when using OLAPLEX products as instructed.

OLAPLEX’s products work to protect hair and relink existing bonds, not create new ones. As bonds constantly face damaging forces like heat from styling tools, color and chemical treatments, brushing, environmental factors and the natural aging process, they need to be strengthened on a continuous basis. Everyone has broken hair bonds to some extent! Even if you have healthy hair, you will have some level of damage that OLAPLEX would be able to repair.

OLAPLEX offers professional grade products only approved for salon use, including our Nº.1 and Nº.2 products, which use OLAPLEX’s patented formula to rebuild broken bonds to strengthen the hair. In addition, OLAPLEX’S 4-In-1 is an in-salon mask that protects hair while adding intense moisture, shine, smoothness and body. OLAPLEX’s salon-grade products are highly concentrated in order to provide the most optimal results. However, this high concentration means that these products should be handled and applied by expert stylists who have knowledge of the science behind OLAPLEX and understand the unique needs of every individual’s hair. Olaplex offers and encourages professional stylists to become certified in use of the Olaplex professional products. In order to be certified, a stylist must study a product knowledge training manual and pass a test.

OLAPLEX products work on extensions that are 100% human hair. The bonds in human hair used for extensions can be damaged just like the hair on our heads, and OLAPLEX’s products are scientifically formulated to penetrate and repair hair from the inside out by rebuilding broken bonds at the molecular level.

When treating extensions with any products, OLAPLEX or otherwise, we recommend testing the product on a few strands before using it on the full set of extensions. Companies can label extensions as being 100% human hair as long as they contain 80% human hair or more, which can prevent OLAPLEX from being fully effective.

OLAPLEX takes the health and safety of our customers very seriously, and our products are formulated to be safe and effective when used as instructed. Although we cannot speak to the safety and effectiveness of non-OLAPLEX products, we recommend individuals consult their hair stylist for advice on creating a hair care regimen suitable for achieving their desired results, which may include products from different brands.

All OLAPLEX products contain a recommendation on the packaging for how long the product is safe and effective to use after opening. See the image below for where to find this information on your OLAPLEX product (the icon in the green box). Once this time period has passed, the product should be discarded and re-purchased for maximum safety and effectiveness.

Yes. Like most cosmetic products, OLAPLEX should be stored in a cool, dry place away from high temperatures or direct sunlight. Conditions such as prolonged high moisture or heat have the potential to chemically alter the product, causing a negative formulaic reaction.

OLAPLEX products do not contain any plastics. OLAPLEX’s patented ingredient, Bis- Aminopropyl Diglycol Dimaleate, is designed to target the millions of disulfide bonds within our hair that give it structure and stability. Bis- Aminopropyl Diglycol Dimaleate is not a plastic and it doesn’t coat your hair—it is scientifically formulated to fortify hair from the inside out by rebuilding broken bonds at the molecular level.

OLAPLEX products No. 4 and No. 6 contain minimal hydrolyzed vegetable protein, also known as peptides, at very low levels (0.0025% in No. 4 and 0.000625% in No. 6). Our other products do not contain any forms of protein. Peptides such as those in OLAPLEX’s No. 4 and No. 6 are chemically very different than standard proteins, and therefore do not weigh down hair.

Keratin, for example, is a naturally occurring protein in hair and makes up about 95% of hair mass. Haircare products use fragments of keratin to supplement damaged hair keratin and restore the hair’s strength and shine.

Our third-party laboratory partners run a series of rigorous safety and clinical tests above and beyond industry standards on both skin and hair to ensure all OLAPLEX products are safe and effective. In addition, our products are regulated by the FDA, which is the U.S. government agency responsible for enforcing compliance with the regulations that govern cosmetic products in the U.S.

Before our products are made publicly available, we conduct a human repeat insult patch test (HRIPT), which is the standard human clinical test used for personal care and pharmaceutical products. Further clinical testing is done on hair itself to measure the response and effectiveness of our products to fortify hair and rebuild broken bonds at the molecular level.

All products go through numerous rounds of testing before being made available to the public. We conduct additional periodic testing as needed.

We do not publish the results of our product tests; however, we do provide ingredient labeling and safety data sheets for each of our products, which are available on our website.

Yes. OLAPLEX utilizes third-party owned and operated factories to manufacture our products, all of which comply with Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP). GMP ensures that products are manufactured according to the highest standards for safety and quality control in the industry. As part of their compliance with GMP, our contracted factories must conduct industry-standard testing of their facilities prior to manufacturing every new batch of a product. This testing ensures that there are no environmental micro contaminants present during the manufacturing process, and our factories are required to retain the results of these tests for quality assurance.