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Want to truly get the best of your Olaplex products and transform your damaged hair? Here’s exactly how.
If you have damaged hair it’s likely that you know about Olaplex products. They really are one of the top brands in this field seeing their unique bond-building patent.
You probably have seen a lot of people before and after photos, decided to try them and your hair is not having this wonderful transformation. Why is it?
The answer is actually pretty simple, you’re using them wrong! Don’t worry, I was also very confused at first but, after extensive research, I finally found the best way to use them to actually see results as well as get the most out of them.
Here’s every step you need to take to use Olaplex No. 0 and Olaplex No. 3 to see actual results.
- Wash your hair with shampoo (use a detoxifying shampoo once a month)
- Get out of the shower and remove excess water by patting your hair with a towel
- Apply a generous amount of Olaplex No. 0 to all of your hair (from roots to ends!)
- Wait 10 minutes
- Apply a generous amount of Olaplex No. 3 to all your hair (from roots to ends!)
- Clip your hair up and place a shower cap, then a towel around your hair
- Wait 45 minutes
- Wash your hair as normal (meaning shampoo and condition)
- Dry and style your hair
Also, the frequency with which you use them is crucial, don’t miss out on that!
If you really are serious about fixing your damaged hair I suggest you check out the ultimate guide to repairing damaged hair.
How to use Olaplex No. 0 and No. 3 together
In order to get maximum benefits from these products there are a few steps you need to keep in mind. I know it seems like a lot but I promise you it will pay off.
1. Wash your hair only with shampoo
According to the brand, Olaplex products work best on clean hair. This is why it makes sense to remove any build-up you may have with a detoxifying shampoo. Use it only once a month though, especially if you don’t have an oily scalp.
I recommend the Neutrogena anti-residue shampoo it is one of my favorites, you can see a really big difference after a few months! The Ouai detox shampoo is also a great option.
If you really don’t want to spend the money then shampoo your hair twice, this is what I did when I just started. Your girl is also watching her money 😂, I know if you have to purchase both Olaplex No. 0 and No. 3 is not exactly cheap.
I have to say though, when I switched to detox shampoo I really noticed a difference so, if you can, absolutely buy one.
2. Get out of the shower and towel dry your hair
This step is crucial. In order for the Olaplex technology to work your hair needs to be damp. According to the brand, potentially they could work even with dry hair but your hair would need to be completely saturated with the product to the point it looks wet.
So, yes, technically if you wanted to use Olaplex No. 0 and No.3 on dry hair you could, but if you have long hair like me this would basically mean using half a bottle each time and boy do I not have the money for that 😂.
Don’t be fooled by Olaplex instructions on their site, the brand stated it works best on damp hair.
Of course, you don’t want your hair to be dripping wet. As I said, softly dampen your hair with a towel before you take the next step.
3. Apply a generous amount of Olaplex No. 0
Think of Olaplex No. 0 as a primer to maximize hair repair. Actually, No. 0 is the most potent among all Olaplex products. This is why I recommend using both No. 0 and No. 3.
The product comes with a convenient nozzle. You want to spray it evenly throughout your hair from root to ends, you want all your hair to be coated with product.
4. Wait 10 minutes
Now you simply need to wait for ten minutes so No. 0 has time to work its magic.
5. Apply a generous amount of Olaplex No. 3 to all your hair
Now it’s time to apply Olaplex No. 3. Similarly to No. 0 you want to coat all your hair from root to ends. I know you want them to last longer (at least I did) but they won’t work properly if you don’t use enough product.
No. 3 has a conditioner-like consistency while No. 0 is a liquid.
6. Clip your hair up and place a shower cap, then a towel around your hair
Please, DO NOT SKIP this step. Once you applied the product, Olaplex technology starts repairing your hair’s disulfide bonds but as soon as your hair dries down it stops working!
This is why we want to keep our hair damp for longer. We can achieve that by using a shower cap and then placing a hair towel on top as they will keep the water from evaporating.
7. Wait 45 minutes
I know this may sound a little controversial but here it goes. On the Olaplex site, they suggest you keep the No. 3 on for ten minutes.
Recently though they stated that, as long as the hair is still wet, their technology can work for up to 45 minutes. Basically, waiting 10 minutes would be a total waste of your money, and waiting more than 45 minutes a waste of your time.
If you end up with the product on your hair for more than an hour don’t worry, it’s still safe but you simply won’t benefit from it.
8. Wash your hair as normal
After the 45 minutes have passed it’s time to wash your hair like you normally would. Meaning shampoo and condition like normal.
I highly recommend you prefer a hair mask to a regular conditioner as it will maximize the softness of your hair by nourishing them properly. Contrary to what most think Olaplex No. 3 is not a conditioner so it won’t nurture your hair.
If you want something to further boost the repair even more I suggest you use either keratin or protein shampoo and hair mask duos.
Be mindful though, if you don’t have visibly damaged hair, you don’t want to use keratin hair products every single time you wash your hair as it can lead to protein build-up.
For the keratin duo, I suggest you try the Fanola keraterm shampoo and hair mask.
Unfortunately, they were so good and made my hair so silky smooth that I abused them leading to protein build-up. At this point, my hair was so saturated with keratin that it looked dull and heavy.
Of course, using a detox shampoo once a month will definitely help but still, be mindful of how much you use them. They do work amazingly if you use them right!
Plus, for their quality, they are extremely cheap if you ask me!
Instead, if you want something you can use as much as you want I highly recommend L’Oreal professional absolut repair shampoo and hair mask. They are my absolute favorite!
I’ve noticed my hair was shinier and smoother from the first time I ever applied them. Not only do they help repair your hair but they do it without leaving residue on the hair fiber.
This means you won’t need to worry about protein build-up. Actually, I feel like they leave my hair super light and flowy.
If you’re on the hunt for something to help maintain your hair healthy, definitely try them out!
9. Dry and style your hair
Now you can proceed to your normal hair styling routine.
How frequently you need to use Olaplex No. 0 & No.3
As I hinted before, the frequency with which you do this treatment matters. You want to start by repeating this process once a week for two months, then follow it once a month until you’re happy with the results.
Of course, after you stop using Olaplex No. 0 and No. 3 if you notice your hair is a little damaged you can start using them again. For example, if you bleach your hair you can do it for 2-3 washes after you bleached them.
Also, if your hair is severely damaged, it’s probably best for you if you repeat the routine 2-3 times a week for the first month at least.
Basically, your hair-washing schedule will look like this:
- First month: once a week.
- Second month: once a week.
- Third month: once a month (make sure to use the detox shampoo on the same day in this case).
Why they are worth your money
All Olaplex products contain their patented ingredient: bis-aminopropyl diglycol dimaleate.
To put it simply, besides keratin our hair is made up of cysteine: this specific protein features a sulfur atom. In healthy hair these proteins are bonded together by disulfide bridges, this specific bond is weakened or broken when we use harsh treatments such as bleaching.
Olaplex’s patented ingredient repairs damaged disulfide bridges in our hair. This way it effectively repairs hair fibers and provides a healthy look and feel to our hair.
Personally, besides my wonderful experience with these products, they are worth every penny because of this science-based ingredient.
This post was all about how to use Olaplex No. 0 & No. 3 to actually get results.
Want to finally repair damaged hair
Here’s the ultimate guide to repairing damaged hair once and for all.
