- Olaplex’s range of at-home products is hugely popular and universally beloved after making the transition from salons to homes. The cult haircare brand's line-up now includes a shampoo, conditioner, hair oil and styling cream. There are so many Olaplex products that it can be confusing to know the best Olaplex for damaged hair or which Olaplex is the best.If you're torn between Olaplex No.3 vs. 6 vs. 8, we've broken down the pros and cons of each—so which of these hair repair products is best for you? What is the difference between Olaplex No.3, 6 and 8? Is Olaplex No.3 better or No. 6? Who should use Olaplex No 8? Or Can we use Olaplex 3 and 6 together? We will talk through the difference between Olaplex No.3, 6 and 8 to help you decide whether Olaplex 3, 6 or 8 is for you. After reading this, you will know exactly which Olaplex to use!
How About Olaplex?
Olaplex is a system that permanently rebuilds the damaged disulphide bonds in your hair that are broken during the chemical process.What makes OLAPLEX the worldwide phenomena that it is, is its patented active ingredient Bis-Aminopropyl Diglycol Dimaleate. It works on the hair internally to seek out and repair broken disulphide bonds caused by chemical, thermal, mechanical and environmental damage. It's dramatically improves the hair strength, and provides immediate results for all hair types.
Olaplex products help repair all types of chemical damage, like relaxing and keratin treatments, as well as perms and coloring. If you've over-bleached or had your hair highlighted for years, Olaplex allows you to rebuild the strength, structure and integrity of your hair. It goes further than a traditional hair mask, helping to reverse damage rather than simply glossing over it.Olaplex is free of silicones, sulfates, phthalates, DEA, aldehydes and gluten and is never tested on animals.
What Are The Stages of Olaplex?
Olaplex is a multi-step, hair strengthening treatment. Steps 1 and 2 are in-salon services only and must be administered by the professionals; while steps 0 and 3 through to nine, as well as the brand new N°4C, 4P are available as at-home products.
Basically, the stand-alone treatment done in salons is No. 1 and No. 2. The at-home equivalent (just a little less potent) is a treatment done with No. 0 and No. 3.
Olaplex Pros and Cons
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Olaplex No.3 vs. 6 vs. 8 Overview
1.Olaplex No.3 Review
What is Olaplex No. 3?
The Nº.3 Hair Perfector, infused with patented OLAPLEX Bond Building technology, is a pre-shampoo treatment that is proven to repair and strengthen hair from the inside out. Use the Nº.3 Hair Perfector alone or paired with OLAPLEX Nº.0 for maximum at-home repair.
Olaplex 3 Hair Perfector is an at-home hair treatment that reduces breakage and visibly strengthens hair. Olaplex Hair Perfector isn’t a conditioner or a replacement for a conditioner.
Highlighted Ingredients: Bis-Aminopropyl Diglycol Dimaleate: Patented and proven technology to help repair broken bonds for stronger hair.
Olaplex No.3 Features
Olaplex No. 3 Hair Perfector comes in a 3.3 fluid ounce bottle. It barely makes the TSA liquid limits, so you should be able to pack the cream in your carry-on or toiletry bag without issue.
The product’s formula is vegan and cruelty-free. There’s also no gluten, nuts, parabens, phthalates or phosphates. It feels very much like a normal conditioner with its opaque, creamy white consistency. If used generously, the 3.3-ounce bottle should last up to ten uses.
How to Use Olaplex No.3?
Olaplex No.3 should be applied to damp (not dripping wet hair) before shampooing. Apply it across the whole of your head, focusing on the mid-lengths and ends, and leave it to work for a minimum of 10 minutes. Then, use other shampoo and condition as usual. Using these two products 1-3 times a week before washing in conjunction with each other will make a world of difference for your locks.
Olaplex No.3 Pros and Cons
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Price and Where to Buy Olaplex No.3 Hair Perfector?
2.Olaplex No.6 Review
What is Olaplex No. 6?
Olaplex No 6 Bond Smoother is a leave-in reparative styling cream that you use after washing your hair. The creamy Olaplex styling product protects all hair types including colored and chemically treated hair.
Olaplex 6 packs MANY benefits including strengthens, hydrates, moisturizes, and speeds up blow-dry times. Olaplex Bond Smoother is also great for smoothing and eliminating frizz and flyaways for up to 72 hours. Olaplex 6 is very light, creamy and only a little of Olaplex Bond Smoother is needed for results.
Highlighted Ingredients: Bis-Aminopropyl Diglycol Dimaleate: Patented and proven technology to repair broken bonds for stronger hair.
Olaplex No.6 Features
To keep the hair moisturized and conditioned, No.6 has the power of coconut oil, vitamin E, fermented argan oil, and sealift. These ingredients sooth the hair and provide anti-aging benefits to keep the follicle in tip-top shape. For supreme nourishment, grapeseed oil steps in with rich compounds such as beta-carotene, vitamins D, C, E, essential fatty acids and polyphenols to protect and nourish hair.
To further fight the battle of damaged hair, Bond Smoother uses Phytantriol and Panthenol to help prevent damage and thicken hair, while improving luster and sheen. Panthenol works synergistically with Phytantriol for enhanced results.
How to Use Olaplex No.6?
Apply to the lengths and ends of damp/dry hair before styling or blow drying. Apply to mid-length to ends, comb through and style as desired. Start with 1/2 pump for shoulder-length hair. Use more for longer, thicker hair. Less for fine or short hair.
Olaplex No.6 Pros and Cons
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Price and Where to Buy Olaplex No.6 Hair Perfector?
3.Olaplex No.8 Review
What is Olaplex No. 8?
Olaplex No. 8 Bond Intense Moisture Hair Mask is a concentrated reparative mask to treat dry or damaged hair for weightless moisture, smoothness, body, and shine. OLAPLEX Bond Building Technology™is proven to relink disulfide bonds damaged by chemical services, heat, and styling.
This is a deeply conditioning, reparative mask treatment for dry or damaged hair. It penetrates hair and seals in active ingredients by smoothing the cuticle for lasting efficacy. This mask also rinses clean for weightless moisture, smoothness, body, and shine that last through multiple washes and is good for all hair types.
Highlighted Ingredients: Bis-Aminopropyl Diglycol Dimaleate: Patented and proven technology to repair broken bonds for stronger hair.
Olaplex No.8 Features
The multi-benefit, reparative mask works to moisturise, smooth, and uses their unique formulation to repair brittle, weak and damaged locks. It’s perfect for hair that has suffered from chemical treatments and environmental damage. Plus, it doesn’t weigh down your hair, but instead adds plenty sexyvolume and body.
How to Use Olaplex No.8?
No.8 can be used once or twice a week in place of your usual hair mask or conditioner, rather than being added to your full Olaplex routine. Simply apply to clean, damp hair mid-length to ends and work through with fingers. Leave for 10 minutes and rinse thoroughly.
And for the deepest repair possible at home, use with Nº.0 Intensive Bond Building Hair Treatment + Nº.3 Hair Perfector once a week or as needed.
Olaplex No.8 Pros and Cons
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Price and Where to Buy Olaplex No.8 Hair Perfector?
Olaplex No.3 vs. 6 vs. 8 Comparison Side by Side
Base Formula
Since they’re part of the Olaplex family, all Olaplex No.3, 6 and 8 contain the hero ingredient—the bis-aminopropyl diglycol dimaleate molecule - which helps to repair weak and injured bonds in the hair, to keep strands strong and healthy and help you out if you're looking for how to repair damaged hair.
However, No.6 and No.8 has a very different function from Olaplex No.3.
No.3 is a more clinical strengthening treatment, with a higher amount of the bis-aminopropyl diglycol dimaleate molecule—making it arguably a better choice for colored hair.
No.6 is leave-in reparative styling cream that eliminates frizz, hydrates, and protects all hair types. It’s formulated for all hair types and textures, including colored, chemically treated, and gray hair.
No.8 is “a conditioning mask” and the nourishing ingredients in the formula reflect that—so basically it's like the best moisturizers for dry skin, only for your hair.
Extra Ingredient
Olaplex No.3 Hair Perfector contains a higher percentage of the bis-aminopropyl diglycol dimaleate molecule and fewer pampering ingredients—aloe and jojoba oil are the only two notables on the ingredients list.
Olaplex No. 6 Bond Smoother, on the other hand, is reparative leave-in styling treatment infused with bond building technology to strengthen and protect hair from everyday damage and chemical services. It also promotes faster blow dries and has up to 72 hours of frizz control
The Olaplex No.8 Bond Intense Moisture Mask adds shine and body as well as throwing copious amounts of moisture, for frazzled hair. In addition to the bis-aminopropyl diglycol dimaleate molecule, there is hyaluronic acid, a moisture-attracting molecule that holds 1,000 times its weight in water; ceramides for locking in that hydration; amino acids to build resilience, plus avocado and rice bran oils.
Application
Olaplex No. 3 is used before you wash your hair as a treatment. simply apply it on damp hair for 10-20 minutes before shampoo and conditioner.
Olaplex No. 6 is a styling product used after you wash your hair.Simply apply 1-2 pumps to wet shoulder-length hair. Use more for longer, thicker hair; less for fine or short hair.
Olaplex No. 8 is used AFTER you wash your hair with shampoo.You simply work out how much product is needed and apply the product to freshly-shampooed, damp hair from the mid-lengths to the ends, and leave it on for 10 minutes (the brand recommends 2 pumps for shoulder-length hair; use less or more depending on length).
Feeling of Use
Olaplex No. 3 - It's a creamy formula that feels like a hair mask, and is easy to work into strands.
Olaplex No. 6 - A whipped cream, it adds hold and creates definition but without any stickiness or crunchiness.
Olaplex No. 8 - One push on the airless pump will dispense the right amount of product to add shine and moisture to dry, damaged hair.
Results
Olaplex No. 3 - No.3 is a bit more heavyweight, so really does resurrect bleached hair and noticeably restores body and shine, while leaving a touchable softness to each strand.
Olaplex No. 6 - The versatility of this product is great. It can be used on all hair types, whether you prefer to blow dry or air dry. It defines and smoothes air-dried curls for 72 hours, while it transformed slightly kinky strands into sleek, shiny sheets of hair.
Olaplex No. 8 - Independent clinical trials on Olaplex No.8 reveal strands have two times more shine, four times more hydration and six times more smoothness, after just one 10-minute session.
Olaplex No.3 vs. 6 vs. 8 Full Comparison Table
ATTRIBUTE | OLAPLEX NO.3 | OLAPLEX NO.6 | OLAPLEX NO.8 |
Item Form | Liquid | Liquid, Cream | Liquid |
Material Feature | N/A | Vegan | Compostable |
Hair Type | Damaged | Normal | Damaged |
Product Benefits | Repair damaged hair and broken bonds with Olaplex | Strengthens, hydrates, moisturizes and speeds up blow dry times while smoothing. Eliminates frizz and flyaways. | Based on Clinical Results: 2x Shine, 4x Moisture, 6x Smoothness, and 94% saw more Body |
Price | $30.00 | $30.00 | $30.00 |
Olaplex No.3 vs. 6 vs. 8: Which Should You Buy?
Olaplex No.3
Olaplex No 3 is a no-brainer for anyone who colors their hair, as it targets and strengthens weak bonds with almost drone-like precision. But the real beauty of Olaplex No 3 is that you can use it even if you don’t bleach your hair - perhaps you just heat-style a lot or have chemical straightening treatments.
Anything that changes the structure of your hair—even curling tongs or blow dryers—can dry out and damage strands so you’ll see a noticeable difference with Olaplex.
Olaplex No.6
Olaplex 6 is definitely a product that is worth it for really strengthening hair and repairing any damage.
Olaplex 6 packs MANY benefits including strengthens, hydrates, moisturizes, and speeds up blow-dry times. Olaplex Bond Smoother is also great for smoothing and eliminating frizz and flyaways for up to 72 hours.
Olaplex No.8
The No.8 has a vegan, non-toxic, cruelty and sulfate free formula which makes it suitable for all lifestyles and hair types. Deeply hydrating treatments are beneficial for all hair-types and textures, and the more often No.8 is used together with other Olaplex products, the healthier and stronger the hair becomes.
Whilst the No.8 may produce more noticeable results for those with damage as it is designed to repair and revive hair, the mask provides a luxurious treatment for everyone, leaving hair two times shinier after just one use.
Bottom Line
In conclusion, ALL Olaplex No. 3 Hair Perfector, No. 6 Bond Smoother and The Olaplex No.8 Bond Intense Moisture Mask have their own benefits and target different hair concerns.
If Your Hair Is Damaged And You Need Substantial Repair, The Olaplex No. 3 Hair Perfector Is The Recommended Choice. It Has The Highest Bond-Building Technology And Can Restore Lost Links Between Bonds.
On The Other Hand, If You Struggle With Frizz And Flyaways, The Olaplex No. 6 Bond Smoother Is A Great Option To Smoothen And Soften Your Hair.
And Olaplex No. 8 Provides Intense Moisture And Shine, Along With Smoothing Effect And Noticeable Body. Olaplex 8 is Perfect for Hydrating and Moisturizing Hair After it’s Been Repaired by Olaplex 3.
Read More:
An Ultimate Guide to Choose the Right OLAPLEX Number for the Best Results!
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