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How To Use Olaplex For The Shiniest, Healthiest Hair

Including their new No. 0 Treatment, which like the rest of the range, also smells amazing.

by Rebecca Fearn

Updated: Feb. 20, 2024

Originally Published: Aug. 21, 2020

Courtesy of Olaplex

We may receive a portion of sales if you purchase a product through a link in this article.

Olaplex is a brand that has allowed hairstylists to live out their wildest dreams when it comes to colouring their clients' hair. The ground-breaking products from Olaplex work to repair disulphide bonds in hair, which can become damaged by harsh colouring (like bleach), as well as excess heat. The line has eight products in total, and is popular both in salons and at home. Here's how to use Olaplex for best results.

What is Olaplex?

It's worth pointing out that Olaplex as a 'system' is designed to restore broken bonds in the hair, which in turn makes hair smoother, stronger, silkier, and more resilient. The brand started out in salons, and two of their products are still strictly for professional use only. However, there are now six at-home formulas that can be used by everyone, including their original treatment and some newer styling heroes. All products contain Olaplex's patented molecule, bis-aminopropyl diglycol dimaleate, which works to repair disulphide bonds in hair, which are partly responsible for that healthy look and feel we're all after.

What is Olaplex No. 0?

The latest addition to the line is the No. 0 Intensive Bond Building Treatment Kit, which has been formulated to intensify the effects of the original No. 3 treatment. It helps to prep hair for nourishment, and works to strengthen and protect locks as a first step.

No. 0 is promisingly inspired by professional products, and contains the highest concentration of that impressive patented molecule we mentioned above. You should apply No. 0 on wet hair, leave it for 10 minutes, then add your No. 3 treatment on top.

To learn more about how to use No. 0 and the other products in the Olaplex range, keep scrolling.

We only include products that have been independently selected by Bustle's editorial team. However, we may receive a portion of sales if you purchase a product through a link in this article.

The professional duo

Olaplex No. 1 & No. 2

This duo is a salon-only treatment, which means it's purely for hair professionals, and you won't be able to pick it up to have at home. No. 1 is the Bond Multiplier, often used on coloured hair at the salon, as a mix-in to bleach, and applied directly to foils with colour. It can also be used as a standalone treatment, too. No. 2 Bond Perfector is then applied after the colour has been rinsed out, and left for up to 20 minutes.

The newbie

Let's just get this out of the way: I do know how to count, but this is the first treatment in the set that is available to be used at home, hence why 0 has been placed after 1 and 2. The new Intensive Bond Building Hair Treatment is used to intensify the effects of the No. 3 treatment. It should be applied to wet hair, and left for 10 minutes, before applying your No. 3 treatment. Leave on for around 40 minutes, or as long as your hair remains relatively wet, which is when the treatment works best.

The OG

This is the product Olaplex is best known for. No. 3 Hair Perfector is a bond-building treatment, applied to wet hair prior to shampooing (and 10 minutes after you've applied No. 0, if using), and left for a minimum of 10 minutes. The product works to redress the damage done by heat and colour, and is best used weekly (ideally several times a week) for cumulative results.

The maintenance shampoo

No. 4 Bond Maintenance Shampoo is used to (as its name suggests) to help maintain the hair's recovery from damage, alongside the rest of the Olaplex system. The shampoo is designed to be used after the No.3 treatment, to wash it out and give your hair a cleanse. It is sulphate free and vegan, and has a really lovely smell – as does the rest of the range!

The silky conditioner

The perfect accomplice for the No. 4 shampoo, No.5 Bond Maintenance Conditioner continues the work by nourishing, moisturising, and protecting hair that's in the process of recovery. It leaves hair feeling and looking super silky, and you'll get better results if you leave it on for a few minutes before rinsing out.

The frizz smoother

The first of Olaplex's styling products, No. 6 Bond Smoother can be used on damp or dry hair to smooth out frizz, while continuing to build the broken bonds in hair. It's a leave-in product, and one that is a nice addition to the range for glossy, silky locks that last.

The final step

The final product in the current range is another styling hero: No. 7 Bonding Oil, which is designed to be used on damp or dry hair. As well as smoothing, fighting frizz, and making hair smell amazing, it also protects against heat. The bottle may be little, but it lasts absolutely AGES.

This article was originally published on Aug. 21, 2020