Question: I’ve used the Olaplex No.3 twice now and both times my hair felt worse than before! Very dry and so frizzy with a residue like feeling but I was sure to wash it all out… I then used a dime size amount of it mixed with verb ghost oil on my damp hair before blow drying and got better results…. anyone know why?

Abbie Castilla: Did you shampoo your hair beforehand? Olaplex is not necessarily meant to make your hair “feel” better initially. It works from the inside out to make your hair stronger. Try using a good moisturizing conditioner afterwards.

Jazmine Arzate: I did everything right. I’m just shocked at how much worse it feels. I don’t expect it to feel great after use but I also didn’t expect it to feel worse I assumed it would feel the same because it’s working from the inside out. I understand the concept of Olaplex it’s a bond repair system.
Sabrina Thierry: Hi! Did you apply to clean hair?
Jazmine Arzate: Yes
Heather Crosby: Samantha Boykin
Jennifer Boyce: Hi Jazmine! Jennifer with Olaplex. For best results we recommend using Olaplex #3 on clean damp/towel dry hair. Most use about a half ounce(around the size of two quarters)and comb through for 10-30 min. Then you want to shampoo well and condition. Olaplex is a strength treatment and has no moisture or protein that hair still needs-but it does help your conditioner work even better. Some users leave a pea size amount in as a styling aid after using as a treatment but this is by personal preference and has no reparative benefit. Hope this helps! ?
Jazmine Arzate: I did all of this. I guess I expected my hair to feel the same and not worse after. I understand the concept of it not being a treatment to soften or moisturize hair. But to feel as gross as it did after using makes me skeptical. And I was not skeptical going into using it. I was actually an Olaplex hair model and was amazed at my results.
Jennifer Boyce: You can also try a good clarifying treatment. Many times products and minerals will slowly build up over time on the hair and prevent Olaplex and conditioners from working correctly. I use and recommend this as a once a month part of your routine. Olaplex should only make hair feel stronger. Mine feels softer after I wash and condition weekly. Hope you’ll give this a try ??
Aura Mae: It has been my experience that any time I feel like Olaplex isn’t working as expected, I do a clarifying treatment and then everything works better.
Karissa Swick: I use the shower cap trick Jennifer told me about to make sure my hair stays moist! Cuz after 30 mins my hair would be dried. Try the shower cap after u apply it!
Karissa Swick: I also paired it with coconut milk when I styled it. It makes ur hair feel like silk! Don’t use a lot of it though or ur hair will get greasy
Jazmine Arzate: Joseph Cuozzo Joico lustrelux and Joico revitaluxe.
Jazmine Arzate: Karissa Swick I already have
Wendy Hutchison: Are you using a good silicone free conditioner after washing the Olaplex out?
Jazmine Arzate: Yes
Wendy Hutchison: You’re in the U.S.? See if you can get a jar of Shea Moisture Jamaican Black Castor hair masque. Comes in a jar. After washing the Olaplex out, apply the hair masque, plastic cap, let it set for about 15 to 30 minutes, rinse. That masque has been a super help. No silicones, vegan, cruelty free to boot! Usually can find in CVS, Target, stores like that.
Jazmine Arzate: Wendy Hutchison yes I’m in California actually! I currently use a mask that consists of part Joico lustre lock and part Joico revitaluxe which work wonders! I’ll have to check out the one you’re referring to.
Mags Kavanaugh: You didn’t mention you used a conditioner afewards which is very important to do and not just an oil.So rinse out the #3, shampoo, then rinse and apply a conditioner for 5 minutes then use your oil.
Jazmine Arzate: I always condition. This post above is not my hair care routine. I tried the oil/Olaplex mix on a different day after shampooing and conditioning and was stating I got better feeling hair from that then from an actually 10-30 min treatment before shampooing and conditioning.
Parker Watson: Since you mentioned it feeling better with oil, it sounds like you need to have a clarifying treatment done, then do it, & follow with moisture.
Bella Luz: What would be good for clarifying treatment?
Jennifer Boyce: I love Malibu C Undo Goo shampoo
Bella Luz: Like once a month,or more you think?
Wendy Hutchison: Depends. Are you using products with silicones and film formers? I’d clarify, then find products that don’t have those. I usually co-wash, clarify once or twice a month and once a month definitely do a full demineralization with Malibu Undo Goo and Crystal Gel. Have a nice processing cap to use with the crystal gel, then Olaplex, then use use the cap again with Shea Moisture JBCO masque.
Bella Luz: Awesome! Thank youDo I find these in ulta?
Bella Luz: I dont use products much..I use hemp shampoo and conditioner,and home masks.
Wendy Hutchison: Shea Moisture last I was there they did have some of the lines, also try CVS, Walgreens. The Malibu Undo Goo shampoo you can get from their site. The Crystal Gel is a professional only product. I’m lucky enough to have a licensed friend who will pick them up for me, she knows I know how to use it.
Bella Luz: Yup! Thats what I thought,to do the moisture mask after 1-shampoo goo2-gel…See more
Wendy Hutchison: I go straight from second shampoo to masque, skip the conditioner step.
Bella Luz: Ah,ok!Do you know which is the best color developer for less damage ?
Wendy Hutchison: I’m not coloring at all right now due to medical conditions and medications, but when I do, I use direct dyes. Best course imho is to assess your hair and scalp, think about your lightening/coloring history, product use, etc. Use direct dyes (semi-pe…See more
Bella Luz: I think I would have to use developer for the roots…I use this one
Wendy Hutchison: I’d see a professional to have my hair assessed and talk about what you want to do
Laura Nick Stewie: I think if u do the olaplex 2 more times u will notice a difference because I did
Amanda Blanchard: Just a thought but I’m wondering where you got your #3, could it be that’s it’s not authentic?If it is, my suggestion would be to have more regular #1/2 treatments done, clarifying shampoo because there could be a build up from product that could be blocking the Olaplex from doing its job
Jazmine Arzate: Got it from an Olaplex verified salon.
Niki Nichols: I’ve experienced this with my own hair and some clients hair – it almost always means there is buildup of some type on the hair preventing olaplex from properly penetrating the hair. Malibu undoo goo shampoo is great for clarifying at home, or their well water and swimmers shampoos if that is the cause of the buildup. 🙂
Jazmine Arzate: Thank you! I wasn’t expecting people to question me and tell me I was doing it wrong or question the authenticity of my product lol this makes a lot of sense so I’ll clarify and try it again ?
Donna Hogg: Jazmine Velez, those questions get asked because wrong usage and unauthentic product are frequent causes of mishaps, no reflection on you! Olaplex users are some of the most friendly helpful people you’ll meet online, and I think they were just trying to get to the source of the issue, so it can be solved!! ??
Lori Wood Holloway: Malibu hard water treatment shampoo took my hair from feeling dry (forever, no matter what I used) to moisturized after the first shampoo and before conditioning. All the years I though I had dry hair. It was water deposits! Give it a try! I Olaplex weekly and have never felt dry. It may just be a timing thing. Build up peeked at the same time you did #3. Who knows but trust me, I’ve had these things happen with clients (not Olaplex) and of course blamed myself but for the life of me couldn’t figure out what I did wrong. I didn’t! Rocks were sitting on the hair! Whew! Malibu Crystal Gel Salon Treatment saved the day!! It’s so safe you could drink it. Educators for them do!! ?