About a year ago, I suffered a hair setback. For about three years, my relaxed hair was thriving, growing to a length I had never achieved. Towards the end of lat summer though, my hair gave up on me. It was limp, dried out and completely lost its glossiness. It was right then where I decided to try Olaplex No. 3 Hair Perfector to breathe some life back into it.
What Is Olaplex?
Olaplex No. 3 Hair Perfector is a bond-building treatment that claims to reduce breakage and visibly strengthen hair. Not a conditioner, but a “wash out” cream that improves the look and feel of hair, protects the hair’s structure and restores healthy appearance and texture. That’s all I needed to know and ordered up a bottle immediately.
It’s worth mentioning that Olaplex No. 3 relinks broken disulfide bonds in the hair caused by chemical, thermal and mechanical damage, three things I was guilty of. The relaxer process is a harsh one and couple that with my abuse of the flat iron and curling iron, I felt that this could really help me out.
How To Use Olaplex No. 3
Directions on the bottle state to generously apply the product to unwashed, towel-dried hair, from root to tips. Leave on for 10 minutes or more, then rinse, shampoo and condition hair as you normally would.
Olaplex can be used as frequently as you wish, but I suggest once a month. At $30 CAD a bottle, once a month doesn’t hit the pocket as hard.
Lastly, I didn’t feel that “applying a generous amount to hair” was necessary. I used just enough to coat the hair; therefore, a bottle can last be about three months if used accordingly.
What I Did Instead
During my online research, I discovered that apparently, Olaplex No. 3 works better on hair when “wetter” than towel dried. So, I hopped in the shower, wet my hair, gave it a quick squeeze with a microfibre towel (gentler on hair than regular terrycloth towels) and proceeded to apply the product.
I left it on for about 15-20 minutes instead of only 10. I would have left it on longer, but had visions of it destroying my hair and me becoming a meme. Sigh.
The Result
After rinsing, washing and deep conditioning, my hair felt amazing…truly soft, silky and incredible. The difference was almost immediate. When I rinsed the Olaplex No. 3 out of my hair, my hair felt instantly silky. There were zero tangles and I ended up using less conditioner.
I then air-dried my hair, brushing it out with a Wet Brush occasionally throughout the drying process to keep it straight. Again – my hair felt incredible. Moisturizing and sealing then followed, and I whipped it up into a bun.
The Verdict
This product is a huge recommend for all hair types, including relaxed hair. It left my hair feeling wonderful. The dry, “crispy” ends were replaced with silky, glossy strands. I am really happy with the results!
The best part about using this product was the slip it gave my hair when I rinsed it out in the shower. Olaplaex No. 3 Hair Perfector gave my hair a great slip, leaving it completely tangle-free. I was so impressed, that I ordered another bottle from Sephora.
Have you tried Olaplaex No. 3 on your hair? What did you think?
Dominique is a Canadian-based fashion and beauty influencer with a strong voice in Ottawa’s black community. Since launching her blog Style Domination in 2015, she has amassed a global fanbase. Dominique shares her life through beautiful imagery and compelling story-telling that speaks to her fans on a personal level. She’s been featured in The Guardian, Flare, The Kit and Cityline. She also hosts events for Dress for Success, the Gem Conference, and has been named a United Way Person 2 Know for the past three years.
Thanks for the share… I think I’m gonna give it a try. Hopping that the “slip”you mentioned can help me detangle my mane
Author
Hi there! It really worked well for me. You may also want to try Joico Moisture Recovery Conditioner. An incredible detangler!!
This is really intriguing. I’d love to try this one. Your hair looks amazing dear!
Jessica | notjessfashion.com
Author
Thanks, Jess! Stay stylish!
Love olaplex, I agree that it is a game changer. Olaplex 6 (a leave in) and 7 (oil) is out now. I have #6 and again it’s just brilliant at keeping my hair smooth and tangle free
Author
Yes! I saw that! I meant to order some during the Sephora sale. So good!
HI Dominique, you look amazing! Thank you for this article. I’ve been wanting to try Olaplex for the longest but was afraid seeing that I relax my hair. I assumed this was a protein treatment that would break my hair. Have you used the shampoo & conditioner?
Author
Hi Nicole! I have yet to test out the shampoo and conditioner, but just ordered the new bonding oil. Excited to try it out! I’ll be sure to snag the shampoo and conditioner to test out for you guys too.
At which stage of the relaxing should I used this? I stretch from 11-13 week usually so I want to know if I should used this a week before a relaxed or a week after freshly relaxed hair. What do you recommend?
Hi Mimi! I suggest doing a deep protein treatment before you get your next relaxer! Aphogee 2 step is amazing. Then each wash day incorparate your Olaplex #3 into your routine. You’ll be very satisfied!
Have you tried the shampoo? Do you recommend as main shampoo? Also how often do you wash your hair?
Author
I have tried the shampoo. It was good. That being said, NO – I would not use it as a main shampoo. The olaplex products should be used sparingly. I use the Olaplex No. 3 once a month, once every 1.5 months!
Great review! Thank you. I totally love Olaplex. My hair was so damaged, after some Olaplex Treatments my hair looks and feels so much better. For me the best hair products on the market.