Olaplex for Curly Hair Review: Is It Worth Your Money? (2022)

I think that you heard about magic Olaplex hair treatment already. Its manufacturer says that this patented formula will save your dry, damaged, brittle hair and that Olaplex can even rebuild your hair. Would Olaplex work for curly hair? Is it worth your money?

Olaplex label states that it’s good for any hair type and any hair length, too, and hairstylists around the globe are raving about this product.

I want to be honest with you: I’ve tried it and I’m not sure if I’m going to buy this at-home treatment again. In my opinion, Olaplex is a bit too pricey and the bottle is very small.

Olaplex No 3 Hair Perfector ingredients list (INCI)

Let’s take a look at Olaplex No 3 ingredients: 

Water, Bis-Aminopropyl Diglycol Dimaleate, Propylene Glycol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C), Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E), Retinyl Palmitate (Vitamin A), Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Phytantriol, Panthenol, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Wheat Amino Acids, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Cetyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Stearamidopropyl Dimethylamine, Hydroxyethyl Ethylcellulose, Quaternium-91, Cetrimonium Methosulfate, Cetrimonium Chloride, Fragrance (Parfum), Polyquaternium-37, Tetrasodium EDTA, Magnesium Nitrate, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Magnesium Chloride, Methylisothiazolinone, Etidronic Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Phenoxyethanol, Citric Acid, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Benzoate, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil

Did you know that ingredients are listed in order of predominance? As you can see, sweet almond oil (emollient) is at the end of the ingredients list. That means that there are only a few drops of that oil in the Olaplex bottle. 

Olaplex also contains proteins that are good for damaged hair. Vitamin A & E are also good for your hair but the price point is very high.

Olaplex No4 shampoo for curly hair

Let’s review Olaplex Shampoo No4 and if it is suitable for curly hair.

First things first! We have to see the ingredients list:

Water (Aqua/Eau), Sodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate, Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine, Potassium Cocoyl Glycinate, Disodium Cocoyl Glutamate, Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate, Potassium Cocoate, Decyl Glucoside, Glycereth-26, Bis-Aminopropyl Diglycol Dimaleate, Cocamidopropylamine Oxide, Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate, Glycol Distearate, Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate, Methyl Gluceth-20, Acrylates Copolymer, PEG-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate, Amodimethicone, Citric Acid, Sodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate, Polyquaternium-10, Ethylhexylglycerin, DivinylDimethicone/Dimethicone Copolymer, Polyquaternium-11, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, C11-15 Pareth-7, Laureth-9, Glycerin, Trideceth-12, C12-13 Pareth-23, C12-13 Pareth-3, Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein, PG-Propyl Silanetriol, Panthenol, Acetic Acid, Tetrasodium EDTA, Pentasodium Triphosphate, Sodium Hydroxide, Disodium EDTA, Helianthus Annus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Tocopherol, Prunus Armeniaca (Apricot) Kernel Oil, Pseudozyma Epicola/Camellia Sinensis Seed Oil Ferment Extract Filtrate, Pseudozyma Epicola/Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil Ferment Filtrate, Quaternium-95, Propanediol, Helianthus Annus (Sunflower) Seed Extract, PEG-8, Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract, Punica Granatum Extract, Rosemarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract, Musa Sapientum (Banana) Fruit Extract, Origanum Vulgare Lear Extract, Morinda Citrifolia Fruit Extract, Articum Lappa Root Extract, PEG-8/SMDI Copolymer, Sodium Hyaluronate, Palmitoyl Myristyl Serinate, Sodium Polyacrylate, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Biotin, Benzoic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Fragrance(Parfum), Citral, Hexyl Cinnamal, Limonene

Ingredients in bold are not suitable if you are following the curly girl method (CGM), as they are silicones or cleansers that might dry your beautiful curls out.

The price for the 8.5 fl oz is around $28. So obviously this shampoo is not the cheapest choice.

Is it worth buying Olaplex shampoo if you have curly hair? I want to be honest with you so I’m going to say no. There are shampoos with better ingredients for half the price.

How to use Olaplex No 3?

How frequently you would have to use Olaplex No 3 depends on your hair condition. If your hair is very damaged and dry, use it every time before washing your hair. 

If your hair is overall healthy, use it once a week, just like a deep conditioner.

How to use Olaplex Hair Perfector? It’s a pre-shampoo treatment. Dampen your hair and apply Olaplex No3 evenly from roots to ends. Leave it for at least 10 minutes, then rinse and shampoo your hair as usual. I recommend leaving it for at least an hour.

Olaplex No 3 benefits for curly hair

I believe that thousands of people worldwide are loving this at-home treatment for various reasons but there are the main four, based on customer reviews on Amazon:

#1 Less frizz

#2 Voluminous curls

#3 Extra moisture

#4 Protects hair color

How to use Olaplex at home?

Well, it makes no sense to use Olaplex No3 at home if you haven’t had an Olaplex treatment at the salon as No3 helps to treat your hair in between salon visits.

If you are reading this after getting Olaplex treatment at the salon, remember that Hair Perfector is a pre-shampoo treatment. Dampen your hair and apply evenly. Leave it for at least 10 minutes that rinse it out.

If you are following the curly girl method (CGM), remember that only Olaplex salon treatment and No3 are suitable for you as they have no silicones, sulfates, or other bad stuff.

Is Olaplex good for curly hair?

So, is Olaplex worth it if you have curly hair? My experience says that not really. Even if the hairdresser says that Olaplex is better than a deep conditioner, I still think that Olaplex is too expensive to use regularly.

The ingredients list could be better and don’t forget that you have to get an Olaplex treatment at the salon first to feel the real benefits of Olaplex No 3 while using it at home. However, if you have money and want to treat yourself, why not try something new?

But if you are following the curly girl method (CGM) you should skip Olaplex shampoo and conditioner as these products have silicones and not approved cleansers.

Get the hair you deserve,