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Have you heard of Olaplex? Suddenly everyone seems to be talking about this product at the moment - saying it is the ultimate insurance for hair.
But how does it actually work?
We asked Olaplex South Africa, a beauty editor, a new Olaplex user, and a hair salon offering this new wonder product to their clients, more.
Olaplex South Africa says:
Why is Olaplex so revolutionary?
All salon services, yes ALL, cause damage to hair. Some are mild and some, like Japanese straightening, can be very severe. Over time consumers have become used to this and have tried to mitigate the damage by not processing their hair too much. All known remedies simply mask the effects and none repair the hair: that includes oils, waxes, silicones and other moisturising agents.
Damage is caused to the hair when the disulphide bonds in the hair are broken (this has to be broken for the chemical service to work) and many of them aren’t relinked at the end of the process. These broken bonds attract oxygen molecules and start to secrete an acid which eats the protein in the hair. That is the main cause of damage to hair. Olaplex is the only product (with 2 international patents granted and 6 pending) that relinks these bonds, thus repairing and restoring hair’s health.
Why is it called “insurance” for your hair?
It is a bit like driving your car. There are many perils on the road and if you have insurance, you are protected as you drive around. Olaplex protects your hair from damage caused by salon chemical services and if you have any damage, it will repair your hair. It is much like car insurance but this will not protect you, if you say, drive your car off a cliff. Olaplex has to be used correctly: it is hair insurance, not hair invincibility!
Is it safe for at home use?
There are 3 Olaplex products, all containing the same active ingredient in varying strengths. No.1 is used for maximum repair and is also mixed in with the salon chemicals for maximum protection. No.2 is used to complete the relinking after a chemical service. No.1 and 2 are only available from Olaplex salons. No.3 is a take-home product to be used to further repair your hair at home if it is damaged, or to maintain your hair’s health between salon visits. Again, No.3 is only available from salons. Olaplex is perfectly safe and is free of silicone, sulphates, phthalates, DEA, aldehydes, gluten and is never tested on animals.
Does it work on natural hair?
Olaplex only works on natural hair because only natural hair has disulphide bonds. It can be used on all hair types and textures (Caucasian, African, Asian and Indian) and on all previously chemically processed or virgin hair, as well as straight, wavy, curly, kinky, fine, normal and coarse hair. Olaplex works with all chemicals: perms, relaxers, keratin, Japanese and other straighteners, colours (direct, semi, demi and permanent, toners and glosses, ammonia based and free, as well as all known delivery systems including oil) and with all lighteners (bleach, super lightening colours, highlights, foils, meché, balayage, ombré).
With the upsurge in barbering and facial hair, it is being used increasingly on beards and moustaches as well.
Any long term effects?
Olaplex cannot cause any damage, harm or injury if it is used in quantities in excess of recommendations and cannot be overused, unlike for example protein treatments. There is simply nothing that can go wrong when used or overused. There is no deposit inside or externally on the hair. Using Olaplex regularly has no effect on being able to colour, lighten or do any other salon service. In fact, the converse is true. Using Olaplex regularly continuously improves the integrity of your hair, making it stronger and healthier. Colour lasts longer, shine is improved and hair feels softer and silkier.
Lastly, the reparative benefit of using Olaplex is permanent. It is not a superficial coating. It penetrates the hair shaft and relinks the broken bonds. Only subsequent chemical services can damage or affect these bonds.
What Olaplex client and beauty ed, Eloise Dreyer, thought:
Why did you decide to try Olaplex?
I colour and bleach my hair very regularly and Olaplex is the best there is to improve hair condition, while also neutralising the damaging effects.
Was there a massive difference in your hair’s texture?
After my very first Olaplex treatment I felt a difference. My hair was countless times stronger, no breakage on the brush when I blow-dried and the overall feel of my hair improved considerably. Olaplex is not bleach. It is a treatment system that improves quality for when you bleach or colour. Even virgin hair that has never been coloured can improve it's quality with Olaplex. Many people think Olaplex colours hair, it is merely the world's best condition-improver!
Will you continue using it?
Most definitely. I will be using the 3-step Olaplex system every 6 weeks when I re-do my colour.
Nicole Raab of Style Bar and Retailbox.co.za, says:
Why use this product?
To protect and repair the hair from chemical damage. It allows customers to go lighter with less damage, but it's not actually a lightening product.
What has the reaction been from your customers so far?
Customers love it, they love the idea of being able to repair the hair while colouring too. So they are now less scared of bleach, and who doesn’t want perfect healthy hair?
Is this just a fad or is it something that can be sustained?
We think it is something that might be sustained, with all the hype and media around it and we haven’t seen any bad or negative results. It may phase out in winter but that's only seasonal.
