Best Olaplex Dupes [Review] in 2022

Olaplex is a well-renowned brand within the hair industry, but they tend to be on the higher end of the price range. Their products do work wonders; after all, they are far more concentrated than your next brand, so a little will go a long way– hence the price tag.

But do you really need to invest in Olaplex? Are the dupes just as good?

There are many Olaplex dupes on the market; while they may not be as good as the real thing, they are pretty incredible for the price tag. A personal favorite of mine is the Revolution London Plex range; they offer a brilliant dupe range at one-third of the price.

In this buying guide, I will be running through everything you need to know when buying Olaplex dupes, whether they are worth it or whether it is worth investing in Olaplex itself. I will also provide some handy hacks to finding the best Olaplex dupes on the market.

So what exactly is Olaplex, and why does it come with such a steep price tag? Well, Olaplex is a renowned brand in the hair industry, best known for repairing broken disulfide bonds within the hair. These broken bonds cause hair to become brittle, leading to damage.

Olaplex works to repair compromised hair and help repair these bonds caused by thermal, chemical, environmental, and mechanical damage.

Olaplex’s Patented Bond Building Technology works on a molecular level. Their main ingredient, “Bis-Aminopropyl Diglycol Dimaleate,” is a single molecule that dramatically improves hair strength, protecting and repairing from the inside out.

All hair types (natural, curly, fine, straight, etc.) all benefit from using Olaplex. We derive most of our integrity from healthy, properly paired disulfide bonds. When hair is damaged, these bonds are broken apart, which results in breakage.

So what’s with the steep price tag?

Well, for starters, the scientific patented technology that goes into their products goes unmatched; you cannot beat the results you get from using Olaplex. Plus, all their products are extremely concentrated, meaning that a little goes a long way.

So, in short, yes, they are definitely worth the price tag. The best hair professionals swear by Olaplex because it works to strengthen hair from the inside out; Olaplex has changed the entire hair game by repairing near-impossible strands.

So if your hair is extremely damaged and you want healthy shine, stronger, and the ultimate restoration, then Olaplex is worth getting over any dupe; it offers impossible transitions to take place and repair to happen that seems impossible.

Yes and no, there are some pretty great Olaplex dupes out there from other professional and drugstore brands, but either these dupes are just as expensive or contain silicones and sulfates, which are not ideal for the hair. So it’s all about being savvy in your search.

Olaplex uses a distinct active ingredient “Bis-Aminopropyl Diglycol Dimaleate,” that works on a molecular level. So while many dupes try and replicate this, they haven’t quite got it down to a tee just yet. This is why Olaplex is above many other brands.

My two favorite Olaplex dupes are Redken and Revolution. Redken doesn’t really count as a dupe because it is a leading competitor with Olaplex, but Revolution’s dupe has been raved about across social media.

Redken pH Bonder works just as well at repairing hair bonds, plus it is much cheaper than their usual range costing only £13. However, they do not offer this over in the States, so the next best thing is the Acidic Bonding range which is a similar price to Olaplex.

The Revolution Plex range is a great budget-friendly drugstore dupe. It offers some similar qualities to Olaplex, but since it is a drugstore brand, it is not as high quality. Plus, it is not suitable for all hair types as it contains silicones which will build up on your hair without using sulfate shampoo.

Olaplex, however, does not have any direct dupes, just products that are very similar products that are worth considering, but in general, most of the close dupes are similar in price, so you may as well invest in the Olaplex range.

You only really need Olaplex No. 3 as a minimum and potentially the shampoo and conditioner. That way, you can reap all the benefits that Olaplex has to offer without breaking your bank. Plus, for most of their products, you only need a pea-sized amount, so they’re worth the investment.

Here are some of the top frequently asked questions around Olaplex dupes:

Does olaplex have a dupe?

While Olaplex doesn’t have a direct dupe, there are some products that are very similar. Their ingredients work together to mend broken and damaged hair bonds to make hair more manageable. Redken is brilliant for replicating this process.

I personally love Redken as an alternative to Olaplex, it is by far my favorite Olaplex dupe, but it tends to have a similar price tag. Both brands work to repair the hair cuticle and hair bonds within the strand on the inside out.

So while there are no direct dupes, there are some similar brilliant products to try.

Is there a dupe for Olaplex No. 3?

As I just said, there are no direct dupes for Olaplex, but my favorite close Olaplex dupe is from the Revolution Haircare Plex range. Their No. 3 is a brilliant pre-treatment before shampooing and conditioning to help repair damaged strands.

Unlike Olaplex, Revolution contains silicones in their Plex 3 product, so it is not an ideal choice for those with curly hair. A great alternative is B3 Instant Restore & Protect Reconstruct, which is very similar to Olaplex 3 and doesn’t contain silicones.

However, this treatment is actually more expensive than Olaplex itself, so if you’re looking for a dupe, then you may as well go for Olaplex.

Is there a dupe for Olaplex No. 6?

Yes and no; as I said earlier, there are no direct dupes for Olaplex, but there are brands that have used similar ingredients to create their own “dupe” of the product. I personally love OGX Bonding Plex Bonding Cream as a dupe for No. 6.

It works to smooth the hair cuticle and protect the hair when styling. It is one of the cheapest Olaplex dupes around and contains a shampoo and conditioner as well as the styling cream. It works wonders to reduce frizz and help to repair damaged hair.

However, there are traces of silicones in these products, which means it is not ideal for those doing the Curly Girl Method.

As Olaplex becomes more and more popular in the professional hair industry and across social media, dupes keep popping up from nowhere. There are some pretty incredible Olaplex dupes on the market that are just like Olaplex.

So if you’re looking for an alternative to Olaplex, then you are not out of luck. There are many to choose from for an affordable price point. But just a top tip before you delve into your search, look out for silicones and sulfates as they can actually damage your hair!

Just a piece of advice, if you’re looking for an Olaplex dupe and find one that is similar in price, then invest in Olaplex as many dupes are less concentrated than the real thing, so the Olaplex will most likely last you longer.

Thinking of investing in Olaplex instead? Then check out my full guide of the best Olaplex products and happy shopping!