Hot-diggity it’s almost Friday! And we have literally no plans for the weekend! #praise I’m hoping to head to the lakehouse today or tomorrow for a quick visit and drop some things off. My parents are going to stay next week, and I want to make sure everything is comfortable and easy for them. It’s literally the first time they’ve left their house in 14 months, so I want it to be great.

Today we’re talking beauty, and it’s a post that’s been highly requested for awhile. A couple times each month I do a Q&A on my Instagram Story, and one topic pops up each and every time… Olaplex! Which products, what order, how often… you name it, when it comes to Olaplex, inquiring minds want to know!

It’s no secret I drank the Olaplex kool-aid since I’ve been talking about it on repeat for over a year… in fact, I credit it with repairing my broken hair and restoring shine and strength. I started with the No. 3 Hair Perfector and was so immediately blown away by the difference, I began introducing new Olaplex products one at a time. It wasn’t long before my entire hair routine was made up of Olaplex products.

After all, considering what I spend to get my hair cut and colored, investing in the care and maintenance is worth it!

Flutter Sleeve Blouse | White Jeans | Double Strand Necklace | Similar Gold Bead Bracelets | Lipstick in ‘I Can’t Wait’

Flutter Sleeve Blouse | White Jeans | Double Strand Necklace | Similar Gold Bead Bracelets | Lipstick in ‘I Can’t Wait’

There’s an actual science behind the Olaplex system, which is what makes it so effective. Our hair is made up of millions of bonds, which give hair its structure, stability, and strength. Heat from curling irons and blow dryers, color and chemical treatments, friction from brushing and pulling, and environmental factors like sunlight and UV exposure and extreme weather, all compromise these bonds. Poor little fellas don’t stand a chance!

But Olaplex restores damaged hair by repairing the bonds from the inside out! Once all the bonds are intact and in alignment, you have healthy, beautiful, shiny, touchable hair! Sign me up!

Initially created just for salons, Olaplex products allowed professionals to reach new heights in color and care. Hair wasn’t just healthier, it took on a completely different quality… blondes were brighter, brunettes more radiant, and redheads more vibrant.

Olaplex No. 0 Bond Building Hair Treatment | Olaplex No. 3 Hair Perfector | Olaplex No. 4 Bond Maintenance Shampoo | Olaplex No. 5 Bond Maintenance Conditioner | Olaplex No. 6 Bond Smoother | Olaplex No 7. Bonding Oil

 

Olaplex No. 3 Hair Perfector | Olaplex No. 4 Bond Maintenance Shampoo | Olaplex No. 5 Bond Maintenance Conditioner | Olaplex No. 6 Bond Smoother | Olaplex No 7. Bonding Oil

 

How to Olaplex:

Why yes, I did just turn Olaplex in to a verb, but that’s just how powerful I believe it to be!

 

Step One // Olaplex No. 3 Hair Perfector

The product that made Olaplex famous, the No. 3 Hair Perfector is a miracle worker. This best-seller is an at-home treatment, not a conditioner, that reduces breakage and visibly strengthens hair, improving its look and feel. It will restore your hair’s healthy appearance and texture by repairing damage and protecting hair structure.

At least once a week, I run a wet brush through my dry hair to slightly dampen it, then saturate from root to tip with No. 3 Hair Perfector, and pull it back in a low ponytail. I usually do this before a workout since I’ll be showering after. I leave it on for a minimum of 45 minutes, but have even gone so far as to sleep in it. (I’m not sure if that’s recommended.)

I also use it 2-3 days in a row immediately prior to having my hair color-treated to improve the strength and integrity before exposing it to chemicals. My only complaint is it doesn’t come in a bigger bottle!

Sugarplum Tip: The Olaplex No. 0 Bond Building Hair Treatment is a booster for the No. 3 that primes hair for deeper repair. You apply it first to dry hair, let soak for 10 minutes, then proceed with the No. 3. I find the bottle design hard for application, so haven’t been using it every time.

However, now that I know it provides 68% more repair and 3-times stronger hair when used in tandem with the No. 3 Hair Perfector, I think I’ll use it more often! Transferring it to a small spray bottle would make for easier application.

 

Step Two // Olaplex No. 4 Bond Maintenance Shampoo

The original bond builder, No. 4 Bond Maintenance Shampoo repairs damaged hair, split ends, and frizz by re-linking broken bonds, while also protecting it from environmental stressors. It leaves hair easier to manage, shinier and healthier with each use. N°4 is color-safe and proven to reduce breakage and strengthen all types of hair, especially those needing clarifying and oil-control.

A little goes a long way with this highly concentrated shampoo, so a bottle lasts longer than you’d expect. To get the most out of it, I rub a dollop between my palms until it’s warmed and emulsified before applying to my hair. Massage into your scalp and throughout hair until it forms a big lather, then rinse clean. Olaplex uses the highest quality, water-soluble, lightweight silicones that rinse fully from the hair with no buildup. My hair literally feels pliable after shampooing!

I shampoo 2-3 times a week, but it’s formulated for daily use. If following the No. 3 Hair Perfector, I simply rinse the treatment out before shampooing.

Olaplex No. 3 Hair Perfector | Olaplex No. 4 Bond Maintenance Shampoo | Olaplex No. 5 Bond Maintenance Conditioner

Step Three // Olaplex No. 5 Bond Maintenance Conditioner

The Olaplex No. 5 Bond Maintenance Conditioner is both highly moisturizing and reparative! It’s formulated for all hair types, to use daily or every time you shampoo. It is color-safe, won’t weigh down even the finest hair, plus it strengthens and will leave your hair stronger than ever.

Apply a generous amount after shampooing, concentrating on ends to mid-shaft. I keep a wide-tooth comb in the shower to fully distribute the product. For an added hydration boost, mix 2-3 drops of Olaplex No 7. Bonding Oil with the No. 5 Bond Maintenance Conditioner in your hand, then apply and leave on for 3-5 minutes before rinsing thoroughly.

Olaplex No. 6 Bond Smoother | Olaplex No 7. Bonding Oil

Step Four // Olaplex No. 6 Bond Smoother

My second favorite product in the Olaplex lineup, the No. 6 Bond Smoother is the first product I’ve tried that actually allows my hair to air-dry frizz free!! A highly concentrated leave-in smoothing and styling cream, N°6 strengthens, moisturizes, and speeds up blow-dry times.

Excellent for all hair types, including colored and chemically treated hair, it eliminates frizz and flyaways for up to 72 hours. Rub a pea-sized amount between your palms, and apply to clean, towel-dried hair from mid-length to ends. Comb through and style as usual. The formulas are so concentrated, I’ve been using same bottle of No. 6 Bond Smoother and Olaplex No 7. Bonding Oil for over a year!

Sugarplum Tip: For added heat protection up to 450-degrees, I mix 4-6 drops of Olaplex No 7. Bonding Oil with the No. 6 Bond Smoother, then apply to mid-length to ends before heat styling.

No 7. Bonding Oil is a highly-concentrated, weightless reparative styling oil, that dramatically increases shine, softness, and color vibrancy, while minimizing flyaways and frizz, and providing UV/heat protection of up to 450°F. I also rub a few drops through my ends on 2nd and 3rd day hair for a little boost.

Olaplex No. 6 Bond Smoother | Olaplex No 7. Bonding Oil | Similar Thumb Ring

Olaplex No. 6 Bond Smoother | Olaplex No 7. Bonding Oil | Similar Gold Bead Bracelets | Similar Thumb Ring

Olaplex No. 0 Bond Building Hair Treatment | Olaplex No. 3 Hair Perfector | Olaplex No. 4 Bond Maintenance Shampoo | Olaplex No. 5 Bond Maintenance Conditioner | Olaplex No. 6 Bond Smoother | Olaplex No 7. Bonding Oil

Olaplex No. 3 Hair Perfector | Olaplex No. 6 Bond Smoother | ghd Classic Curl Iron | Drybar Self-Grip Rollers | Drybar Hair Brush (Similar HERE) | Dyson Hair Dryer

Each of the Olaplex products are highly effective on their own, so it’s not essential to use the entire line to see improvement, but I can almost guarantee you’ll be so impressed by the transformation of your hair, you won’t want to use anything else!

If you’re looking to start small, definitely go with Olaplex No. 3 Hair Perfector first, followed by No. 6 Bond Smoother! My hairdresser is amazed each time I come in at the transformation of my hair! It’s stronger and shinier, with noticeably less damage and breakage.

Olaplex just released the No. 8 Bond Intense Moisture Mask, so of course I was first in line to try it! This highly concentrated reparative mask adds shine, smoothness, and body while providing intense moisture to treat damaged hair. I’ve only used it a handful of times, so I can’t speak to it yet, but the Olaplex goal is hair so visibly healthy, you can skip the styling!

Can you imagine!? So tell me, are you on the Olaplex train with me? Oh, and if you’re wondering, Nos. 1 and 2 are for use just in salons!

 

[More Sugarplum Beauty Files]

Beauty Files | ‘Happy Place’ Hair & Makeup
Beauty Files | Worth The Splurge?
Beauty Files | Winter’s Heavy Hitters
Beauty Files | Hair Essentials
Easy Summer Makeup and Some Go-To Lip Colors

 

 

*Photos by the darling and talented Audrie Dollins. This post is created in collaboration with Nordstrom and ShopStyle Collective, but all product selections, styling, and Rapunzel dreams are my own. Thank you for supporting Hi Sugarplum sponsors!*