Spotlight On: Olaplex No. 3

An icon, under the spotlight.

In 2020, new beauty launches are flying thick and fast. Every day, we are presented with a new, you-beaut product – each promising to change our lives and ensure we never (ever!) get a wrinkle or have a hair out of place.

Despite all of the noise in the market, there are a handful of old-faithful products that have stood the test of time. Why? Because they work – and they have a loyal following of fans to prove it.

Previously, we’ve covered Estée Lauder Double Wear Stay-in-Place Makeup, Crème de la Mer and Sisley Paris Black Rose Cream Mask.

Today, we’re throwing the spotlight on Olaplex No. 3. If you’re a bottle blonde, you probably know and love this product. (If you’re a bottle blonde and you don’t have this product, keep reading – it could change your life hair.)

The name: Olaplex No. 3 Hair Perfector Treatment

The sell: According to the brand’s website: “Our global best-seller is an at-home treatment, not a conditioner, that reduces breakage and visibly strengthens hair. It will restore your hair’s healthy appearance and texture by repairing damage and protecting hair structure. It will improve your hair’s overall look and feel.”

The price tag: $50 / 100ml

The loyal legion of fans: Remember when Kim Kardashian appeared at Paris Fashion Week in 2015 sporting platinum blonde hair? (And I mean platinum – see a refresher here.) Well, just between you and I, Kardashian’s hairdresser used Olaplex to help take her hair from brunette to the blondest of blonde. Since then, it’s been reported that the reality TV star has continued to use the range to keep her hair in good nick throughout a myriad of colour changes.

Khloe Kardashian, Drew Barrymore, Rita Ora and Emma Stone have all used Olaplex to help bring their bleached hair back from the brink, on the advice of celebrity colourist Tracey Cunningham.

How it works: Olaplex No. 3 is the real deal. This intensely nourishing formula helps to revive damaged hair and bring it back to life. It reinstates health and adds shine by relinking the bonds that were broken down during the colour process. 

Let’s rewind for a second. Hate to be the one to tell you but your killer highlights are killing your hair. The process of lightening hair actually breaks down the internal bonds. Unfortunately, only a percentage of those broken bonds are naturally reformed – this is why bleached hair gets more and more brittle over time, eventually leading to split ends and breakage. Enter: Olaplex. It can repair existing damage and prevent hair from degrading by reinstating those broken bonds.

The best way to use it: For the full experience (and the healthiest blonde possible) you should start the Olaplex process in the salon. Spoiler: you’ll need a hairdresser for this part. Olaplex No. 1 Bond Multiplier is added directly to colour or lightener to protect hair during the lightening process. Then, Olaplex No. 2 Bond Perfector is applied after a colour service to link disulphide bonds while restoring the structure and integrity of the hair. Olaplex No. 3 is the next piece of the puzzle: it’s the at home treatment to build on the results of No. 1 and No. 2 when you’re in-between treatments. 

Not to be confused with a conditioner, No. 3 is a treatment. For best results, the brand recommends applying it to towel-dried hair and leaving on for 10 minutes before washing out. (Our girl Kimmy K prefers to leave it on overnight.) You can then wash the formula out and follow with a conditioner and/or leave in conditioner if you feel so inclined. 

The benefits: Healthy hair! Even post-bleach! With consistent use, Olaplex No. 3 has the power to create visible change to colour damaged hair. 

The verdict: 9/10. (One point docked because nothing/no one is perfect.)

Have you tried Olaplex No. 3? What did you think? Tell us in the comments below.