Over the past few weeks, I have faithfully been using 3 products that have made a noticeable difference in my hair: Olaplex #3, Olaplex #6, and Moroccanoil. I saw the biggest difference after using Olaplex #3 (I seriously saw improvement overnight), but all of these products combined have helped my hair look and feel great between washes and hair appointments.
A few months ago I felt like my hair wasn’t how it used to be – it wasn’t as shiny, the ends were dry, and I had a lot of breakage. Most of the breakage is my own fault; I’m constantly touching and playing with my hair, I use heat on it almost daily but I wasn’t using heat protectant consistently, and I wasn’t getting a haircut often enough. I knew if I wanted to see an improvement in my hair I needed to start the process by using a heat protectant and (try) to stop touching it so much. Additionally, I started making appointments to get my hair cut every 8 weeks.
I purchased Olaplex #3 after reading all the positive reviews online. When you read the reviews, it almost seems like it’s a miracle in a bottle – people say it makes their hair shiny, soft, and smooth. The instructions on the bottle say to apply on damp hair from roots to ends once or twice a week, depending on how damaged your hair is. They recommend combing the product through your hair and leaving it on for a minimum of 10 minutes then rinsing it from your hair, shampooing, and conditioning (this isn’t a leave-in conditioner!) I initially only used #3 once a week – it’s $28 for 3.3 fluid ounces, so I wanted to make it last.
After using it for a few weeks I wasn’t really seeing a difference, and I was pretty disappointed. I told myself that I was going to finish the bottle I had but I wasn’t planning on re-purchasing it. I just so happened to watch a few of my favorite Instagram influencer’s stories about #3 and she was explaining how she used it. She explained how she didn’t use it on damp hair but rather dry hair – she uses a generous amount on her hair and leaves it on for an hour or more. I figured I would try her method before concluding that it didn’t work for me. The day I was planning to wash my hair I put a decent amount of product in my hair, pulled it into a ponytail, and let it sit for a little more than an hour. I then washed and conditioned my hair like normal and let it air dry. I was shocked at how much better it worked – the next day my hair felt so much softer and looked shinier. I also felt like it styled better. Ever since then, I use #3 twice a week on dry hair, leaving it in my hair as long as possible. It hasn’t completely helped with the breakage I have, but I’m hoping it will once I get my hair cut and all the dry ends are chopped off!
The next product that has significantly helped my hair is Olaplex #6. I use this on days I wash my hair, and I apply it once it has air dried for a little bit. A little goes a long way, so only a small amount is necessary. I apply it from the mid-length to the ends. Olaplex #3 and this product have helped reduce frizziness and fly-aways. #6 is also supposed to help speed up your blow dry time.
Moroccanoil does a great job of keeping my hair moisturized and shiny between washes. Because I use heat on my hair almost daily, the ends can feel very dry. I use the oil primarily on the ends of my hair, but occasionally I will use it from the mid-length to the ends. I only apply it to dry hair; I have never tried it on wet or damp hair. Since it is oil, I start off with a small amount and use more if necessary because I don’t want my hair to look greasy. I also think this product has helped reduce frizziness. It is also good to use if your hair is staticky.
Again, I think Olaplex #3 has made the biggest difference in my hair. It is much softer, shinier, and overall looks much healthier. I still struggle with breakage and fly-aways on the top of my head by my roots, so I’m going to lather some #3 all over that area the next time I’m preparing to wash my hair to see if that helps at all. I’m also getting my hair cut next week, so all the dry ends will be gone and I’m excited to see if that will help these products perform even better.
One final note: the heat protectant I use is the CHI 44 Iron Guard Thermal Protection Spray – found here on Amazon, currently 34% off!
*I do not get commission for purchases made through links in this post. I am also not affiliated with any of the above mentioned apps or products*
Thoughts From A Lefty 