What is Olaplex and how does it work?
Olaplex has been one of the biggest hair trends of recent time. We can probably remember when Kim Kardashian made headlines with her apparent overnight hair transformation. Going from what looked like her natural dark colour to a near platinum blonde.
With this unbelievable result, Olaplex was catapulted into the mainstream and into the salons across the globe. What if this magical stuff? Is it only for celebrities with their own private stylists? How can I get my hands on this? Were all questions being asked by women eager to experience the results.
What is Olaplex?
Olaplex is the brainchild of Dean Christal, the founder the product who teamed up with Dr’s Craig Hawker and Eric Pressly. Together they worked to develop a new molecule that works from within the hair strand to strengthen and repair damaged hair where the structure has broken down.
It maximises the strength of the hair by reconnecting broken disulphide sulphur bonds in the hair, which in turn gives hair a thicker look and a healthier and stronger feel. When hair is coloured and subjected to regular heat and chemical treatments, the hair bonds break down. Olaplex allows you to rebuild the strength, integrity and structure of the hair. And best of all, it’s compatible with all hair types!
Who should use it?
Olaplex is perfect for clients who regularly colour or lighten their hair and those with overall damaged hair that has become “fried” and worn out from constant hot tool use. Olaplex is an ideal option for clients wanting to go lighter or want to try colour techniques such as balayage, highlights and dramatic colour tint changes. One of the other reported benefits is it’s ability to allow the processing time to be extended beyond the typical processing time. Without the addition of Olaplex, on a dark to light colour transformation, the lightener would need to be removed much sooner in order to protect the integrity of the hair. Olaplex helps to maintaining the integrity of the hair allowing for longer processing times. This makes it a must have for the time poor client who wants that dramatic change in fewer sittings.
Is it a free pass?
Olaplex, although amazing, is simply one of many tools in a stylist’s arsenal. It is not a miracle fix for severely damaged hair. As with any chemical process, there are limits and conditions where it’s effectiveness may be reduced. If you are considering using Olaplex to go from black to white blonde in one session, you should speak to your stylist first. Olaplex does not mean you can bleach your hair multiple times without destroying the hair.
How does it work?
Olaplex is a three-part treatment, the first two of which have to be carried out in a professional salon. Olaplex is only stoked in professional salons, you can head over to their website to find salon locations who use Olaplex.
It works in three stages;
No 1. Olaplex Bond Multiplier – This can be put on the hair as a standalone treatment, or if you’re getting your colour done, it is mixed with the bleach and put directly onto your hair in the foils.
No 2. Olaplex Bond Perfector – This is then put on the hair once the bleach is rinsed off. The Bond Perfector is left on for approximately 20 minutes to get the most out of its chemical repairing process.
No 3. Olaplex Hair Perfector – This is a take home treatment, which we recommend you use once a week. Apply to damp hair, comb through, and leave in for a minimum of 10 minutes before washing out as normal. You can also maximise the effect of the Hair Perfector and leave in overnight, just as Kim K recommends.
Although Olaplex does not have the ability to completely reverse the damage from continuously chemically processing your hair, it can help mend and improve the overall strength of your hair, giving it more endurance and longevity to the harmful elements we put it through every day.
We use and recommend Olaplex.
The Lounge & Co. xoxo
