Strengthening my hair has been my main priority over the last six months. For my whole life, I have struggled with thin, fine hair that breaks very easily. I have naturally curly hair, with plenty of frizz, and maintaining moisture and healthy is hard when it feels like everything weighs it down. If you have spent any time on the internet at all looking for a way to repair hair damage, I can almost guarantee you have stumbled upon Olaplex No. 3.
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Olaplex is a brand that has stamped a BIG footprint in the hair care world with its claims to molecular level repair of damage to hair. They have even patented their science and chemistry!
WHAT IS OLAPLEX NO. 3
The Hair Perfector No. 3 is a leave-in treatment or mask that is meant to be used at home on damaged, color-treated, or compromised hair. It is suitable for all hair types and is free of all the things – phthalates, sulfates, parabens and phosphates. It is also vegan, gluten, nut, and cruelty-free. Whew!
I can’t lie. This particular product has SO many claims that I didn’t really think it would make that big of a difference for me. “Restore your hair at a molecular level?” Yeah, ok! I honestly assumed it would be a thick, heavy, leave-in treatment that left me washing my hair three times to get any volume back in. I was very wrong!
HOW I USE OLAPLEX NO. 3
I did a LOT of reading on how to use No. 3. Mainly because it isn’t cheap, and I wanted to get the most bang for my buck. It seems that a lot of people say that it is only effective when your hair is damp, while others claim it keeps working as long as it is in your hair. I don’t think it is great for your scalp to keep your hair wet overnight, but after poking around overnight seemed to provide the best results.
The first time I did the treatment, I decided to just go for what the instructions say. Can’t go wrong. Get your hair damp, apply, leave in for 10-20 minutes. You are then supposed to jump in the shower and wash as normal. While I did find my hair to feel pretty silky and nice after this, I wasn’t blown away or anything.
My second time around, I decided to leave it in overnight. I wasn’t going to wear a plastic cap to keep my hair damp (this can cause actually cause fungal infections and bacteria growth, especially in warm weather). I threw my hair up in a top knot, laid a towel over my pillow, and slept in the treatment. It is like you get BRAND NEW HAIR! I swear!
If I need to have a great hair day. If my locks are feeling blah. Or if the frizz and fly aways just can’t be tamed. I know doing an overnight Olaplex No. 3 is my ticket to fixing all my hair woes.
Combining this with my Navy Hair Care shampoo and conditioner (use code MADDY for 30%) off has been my perfect hair care cocktail. Using higher quality heat tools and heat protectant every single time I style my hair has made all the difference in my hair strength and quality.
