How To Use Olaplex 3

How To Use Olaplex No. 3– The Ultimate Guide

So let’s talk about Olaplex No.3 Hair Perfector; it is the legendary product that Olaplex is best known for; it put Olaplex on the map and has been working wonders for damaged hair ever since.

But what is Olaplex No.3, and why is it so good?

Olaplex No.3 Hair Perfector is a weekly at-home treatment that works to repair the broken bonds within the hair follicles. It contains the same ingredients as Olaplex No 1 and 2 and which are used by professionals for serious damage repair.

It is a conditioning treatment that works as an in-between salon treatment to help repair the bonds in your hair at home to help repair and restore compromised hair but can be used on all hair types.

Have I got you hooked yet?

Well, wait until you hear this; the Olaplex No.3 Hair Perfector works almost instantly to repair broken bonds; plus, for extremely damaged hair, you can use it in combination with No. 0.

But I will go into how to do this shortly. Enough of me rambling on; I’m sure you want to get to the best bits of the Olaplex No.3, and I’m here to show you why you need it in your routine.

Olaplex No.3 has been a staple in my routine for a few years now; I now swear by it!!

What Is Olaplex?

For the newbies here not too sure what Olaplex is, be sure to check out my full guide of what is Olaplex and how do you use it? , I talk about everything you need to know.

But in short, what is Olaplex?

Olaplex is a well-known brand in the beauty industry, known to revolutionize the hair care game. Its proven technology is known to repair damaged hair from the inside out.

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.

Our hair is made up of millions of disulfide bonds that make up the structure, giving your hair its strength and stability. When these bonds are broken, that is when damaged hair occurs.

These bonds are responsible for holding together the keratin fibers that make up your hair.

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.

When our hair is damaged, it connects to three oxygen molecules which result in damage and breakage. Olaplex works by helping the hair pair the single sulfur hydrogen faster so the three oxygen cannot pair with this molecule to prevent damage.

The Olaplex treatments work together to repair bonds and damage caused by chemical treatments, thermal damage from heat styling, environmental factors, and mechanical damage. It works to strengthen hair and repair broken bonds within the hair follicle.

Olaplex can be added as part of a chemical service or be used as an at-home treatment to help get your hair in the healthiest state possible for natural shine and strength.

What Is Olaplex 3?

So now we’ve covered the basics of what exactly is Olaplex, what is Olaplex No.3? Is it worth buying? Olaplex No. 3 Hair Perfector uses ingredients from both no.1 and 2 but as an at-home treatment.

It was designed to be used in between chemical and color treatments to help prevent and repair damage caused by chemical treatments such as bleaching.

It is a weekly at-home treatment that reduces breakage and visibly strengthens hair to improve the look and feel of all hair types. It is recommended to be used once or twice a week (depending on the condition of the hair) on damp hair from roots to ends.

It works to maintain strength, restore internal strength, structure, integrity, softness, and shine to your hair.

How Does Olaplex No.3 Do?

Olaplex No.3 Hair Perfector uses a single molecule, free of silicones and oils, to dramatically improve hair strength and protect it from within. It provides shocking immediate results!

Their patented system noticeably repairs extreme damage to hair; it turns dry, brittle hair into soft, shiny, and more resilient hair. It provides structural repair from within.

It works to repair bonds by speeding up the bonding process, so the hair reconnects to a single oxygen molecule rather than three oxygen molecules. In layman’s terms, it repairs bonding in the hair.

For the ultimate bonding treatment, you can use Olaplex No. 3 and No. 0 together; they make the perfect pair for repairing extremely damaged bonds. It uses Olaplex Bond Building Chemistry to help revive dry and damaged hair.

Olaplex No. 0 preps the hair for intense repair, which boosts the benefits of the No.3. This dynamic duo works together to give your hair the most powerful at-home treatment.

I will go into detail on how to use Olaplex No. 0 and 3 together shortly.

All in all, the key benefits of Olaplex No.3 is that it strengthens and repairs hair structure, restores health and texture, maintains strength and integrity while reducing breakage.

How To Use Olaplex No. 3:

The best way I like to use the No.3 treatment is to hop in the shower after a long day at work to wash my body and then dampen down my hair. I will then comb my hair through to remove any tangles and towel dry.

I then apply Olaplex No.3 to my towel-dried hair– I tend to use a microfiber towel for my hair as your regular cotton towel can be quite harsh on hair and cause damage.

I only apply just over a pea-sized amount and rub it into the mid-lengths and ends of my hair; no need to use a generous amount as a little goes a long way.

I will then comb through my hair again using a wide-tooth comb to ensure even coverage over the ends of my hair. This will help penetrate deep into the hair follicle.

I will then twist the ends of my hair and tie it up in a loose bun on top of my head using a silk or satin scrunchie; I will then go about my evening, and then by the time its time to go to bed, it should be dry enough to sleep in.

The next day I then rinse out the treatment and follow up using the Olaplex 4 and 5 as part of the three-part system recommended by Olaplex.

Can you use it on dry hair?

Yes, you can, but you will reap the most benefits of using it on wet hair as it does not work as well when the hair is dry. So using it on damp, towel-dried hair is recommended

How Long To Leave Olaplex 3 On Hair:

You must leave Olaplex No.3 for a minimum of 10 minutes for it to work its magic, but the longer it is on, the better results you will have. Olaplex recommends that you leave it on for 30-45 minutes.

This is because it stops being effective once your hair has dried (which is usually around this mark). But it doesn’t mean you have to take it off at this stage, but it will only work to a certain point.

But can you leave Olaplex 3 on overnight?

Absolutely! Olaplex states that you can leave the Olaplex No. 3 treatment on overnight just make sure your hair is tied up in a bun, so it doesn’t come in contact with your face and eyes.

Using Olaplex twice a week is recommended after using hair dye, having a color treatment, keratin treatments, or any chemical services to help repair the damage caused by these treatments.

It is actually recommended that you use Olaplex No.3 before your keratin treatment to protect the hair. But after it is recommended to wait two weeks as the Olaplex won’t be able to penetrate the hair.

If you have dry hair or dull hair but are not particularly damaged, you can use Olaplex No.3 once a week or twice if you feel like your hair needs it. But in most cases, once a week is enough.

How To Use Olaplex No. 3 On Curly Hair:

All hair types can reap the benefits of Olaplex No.3, even curly hair! Olaplex no.3 is free from all harsh chemicals such as sulfates and parabens and only uses water-soluble silicones.

Which are safe to use on curly hair and while doing the Curly Girl Method!

The best way to use Olaplex No.3 on curly hair is to apply a generous amount of Olaplex 3 to the hair from the roots to the ends, on damp, towel-dried hair (with a microfiber towel, of course), and then combed through.

Be sure to check out the best Olaplex products for curly hair!

You should leave it on your hair for a minimum of ten minutes, but the longer you leave it on, the better; Olaplex recommends rinsing it off after 30-45 minutes. Rinse your hair, shampoo, and condition.

Olaplex Bond Strengthening Shampoo and Conditioner (No. and 5) are also safe to use on curly hair because all Olaplex products are free of harsh chemicals like sulfates and silicones (they only contain water-soluble silicones which work with retaining moisture).

Curly-haired girls can also benefit from Olaplex’s treatment mask, No. 8, as it deeply nourishes and promotes the natural shape of the curl, so you can use it as a treatment instead of using the conditioner.

Curly-haired girls can seriously benefit from using Olaplex, especially if they have particularly damaged curls.

How To Use Olaplex 0 and 3:

Using Olaplex No.0 and 3 is the ultimate duo for an intensive at-home reparative treatment; the two go hand in hand and work wonders in repairing compromised hair.

Olaplex No. 0 is a deep bonding treatment; it primes the hair for maximum repair. Just like when we do our makeup, most products work best after using a primer. So No.0 is used as a primer for the No. 3 treatment.

It is part of the two-part process for an intensive at-home reparative treatment.

It works best on damp hair, No. 0 is a watery liquid that dries quickly, but when No.3 is applied over it, it helps keep the hair damp so both products can work together to offer maximum repair and bond restoring. It is scientifically proven to offer 68% more repair.

The No.0 contains less of the active ingredient than the stand-alone treatment as it was created during COVID-19 lockdown so clients could perform the treatment at home, so they didn’t need to spend as much time in the salon.

No. 0 is a salon-worthy treatment that works on all hair types and textures (just like their entire line). It is best for those with intensely damaged hair and who want to see results fast!

The best way to use Olaplex No.0 is to apply it to clean, dry hair and comb it through to ensure even coverage. You should use it with the No. 3 treatment as despite the No. 0 treatment working alone, it works better and offers better results when paired with No.3.

Leave the No. 0 treatment on for 10 minutes and then apply Olaplex No.3 Hair Perfector directly on top of the No.0. Comb it through again and leave it to sit for a minimum of 10 minutes, but if you want better results, then you should leave it on for longer!

Then once you’ve left it for a while, you can shampoo and condition using the Olaplex No. 4 and 5 for the ultimate results.

 I have covered a full guide on how to use Olaplex 0 and 3 together and why they make the perfect pair when repairing damaged hair. 

Summary:

Using Olaplex No.3 will be sure to change your life and entire hair game; it will make your hair stronger, eliminate frizz, and works to repair environmental, mechanical, chemical, and heat damage from the inside out.

If you want to check out the full Olaplex range and my top recommendations of the Best Olaplex Products to splurge on, then be sure to check out my full guide.

Want to know more about Olaplex? Check out my full Olaplex Review  or my Olaplex No. 3 Review for the ultimate rundown of these amazing products. 

What makes Olaplex so brilliant is that they work to help the environment, and they’re ideal for all hair types. They are gluten-free, free of harsh chemicals like sulfates, vegan, and all in all, very sustainable products.

They put hair care and the environment first when creating their products which revolutionized the hair industry even more to be more sustainable and still high quality.

You can use Olaplex No.3 in pair with the Olaplex No. 4 and 5 as the ultimate 3-step-treatment. Or, if you have extremely damaged hair, then the Olaplex No. 0 and 3 are the perfect pair.

Whatever you choose, Olaplex No.3 is arguably the best product in their range for the general public. It uses the best qualities of professional No.1 and 2 but as an at-home treatment.

Your hair will thank you for this one!