Last updated: July 15, 2024
Olaplex sent the hair care world into a frenzy when it emerged in the past decade.
This hair treatment regime was (and still is) raved about for repairing damaged hair.
You can have Olaplex done in a hair salon, and there are also Olaplex products you can buy to treat your hair at home.
Olaplex is a pretty unique hair treatment that is hard (in fact almost impossible) for other brands to replicate, because of their patented ingredient which repairs the hair’s disulphide bonds to leave it stronger and healthier than before.
But Olaplex is not cheap, whether you have the treatment in a salon or buy the products yourself
Fortunately there are a growing number of Olaplex dupes on the market, many of which are a much cheaper alternative to these sought after hair products.
These Olaplex dupes and alternatives rival Olaplex’s claim that they actively repair hair damage and restore the hair’s strongest bonds to leave it in much better condition.
They can be used at home to get similar effects to Olaplex’s products, and are all bond builders that penetrate the hair to repair damaged bonds.
Here’s a comprehensive list of the best Olaplex dupes out there that mean you can repair your hair from chemical damage and heat styling at home without the hefty price tag.
OLAPLEX 0 DUPES
Olaplex Intensive Bond Building Treatment is number 0 in the Olaplex system, and it’s designed to be used alongside Olaplex No 3.
The Bond Building Treatment works as a primer to get your hair ready to absorb Olaplex 3, so that it ends up being more effective by penetrating into the hair better.
Olaplex No. 0 Intensive Bond Building Treatment retails for $30 for 155ml / 5.2 fl oz.
Bondbar Bonding Primer $9.99
This is a famous Sally’s Olaplex dupe which is much more affordable and which is used in the same way as Olaplex No. 0.
This is a pre-wash treatment which you spritz on to dry hair and leave for 10 minutes before shampooing it off. It’s a clear, liquid formula in a spray bottle, and it helps to prime the hair for upcoming bonding treatments.
Revolution Haircare Bond Plex 0 Prep & Protect $9.99
Revolution has a large range of products within its Plex range which are designed to give similar benefits to your hair as you get from Olaplex’s products.
This pre-wash hair treatment is applied directly to dry hair before going ahead with the bonding treatment, and just like Olaplex No. 0 it prepares the hair for treatment so that it’s more effective.
OLAPLEX 1 AND 2 DUPES
Olaplex No. 1 Bond Multiplier and No. 2 Bond Perfector are salon-only treatments that you can’t purchase for use at home unless you are a hair care professional.
Your hairdresser will use these as a conditioning treatment on their own, or combined with chemical services like bleaching, perming or coloring to prevent damage and re-seal broken hair bonds.
These products work in the same way and can be used at home.
ion Color Brilliance Absolute Perfection $5.38
This range is a great Olaplex alternative if you’re planning to bleach or color your hair.
Step 1 of this range is the Booster, which you mix with your bleach or hair dye and which helps to repair the bonds whilst you color your hair. It also helps to protect the hair from chemical treatments, meaning less bond breakage.
Step 2 is the Color Sealer which adds extra moisture into the hair after the initial treatment.
Knight & Wilson PurePlex System $19.99
This four step system uses a technology the brand calls Aminofix. This uses synthetic beeswax and corn proteins to help repair damage to the bonds within the hair.
Often compared to Olaplex, this system is a much cheaper option. You start in the shower with a clarifying shampoo, followed by two bond restoring treatments and then a conditioner to finish.
Fanola Fiber Fix $24.99
Fanola make a range of cruelty free and non-toxic products called Fiber Fix which are bond-building products just like Olaplex.
If you have bleached hair that feels damaged or straw-like then Fanola’s products will go a long way towards making your hair look and feel healthy again.
You get a lot more product for your money than with Olaplex which makes Fanola a great affordable alternative.
Osmo Chromaplex Fibre Bond System $18.60
Osmo is a very popular brand among hair stylists and the public alike, and with good reason. Their products are ideal if you bleach your hair as they work perfectly alongside hair coloring treatments.
Osmo’s Bond Builder #1 can be added to your hair color or bleach before you apply it to your hair, and it penetrates the hair to protect against color damage and repair broken hair bonds. After rinsing it out, follow up with Bond Sealer #2 to seal the hair cuticle and prevent against future damage.
All products in the Chromaplex range are cheaper alternatives to Olaplex and work great for color-treated hair.
Schwarzkopf Fiberplex No. 1 and No. 2 $34.99
Designed to be used during the coloring process, and perfect for at-home use, Schwarzkopf’s Fiberplex range is a best-selling product that works like Olaplex.
Schwarzkopf use what they call a ‘Bond Enforcing System’ to keep hair bonds intact and repair broken ones. At the same time it will seal in your color and protect from environmental damage.
ALL hd PLEX Bond Treatment $8.75
This treatment is a two-step process which is used alongside hair coloring, so you can use it at the same time you bleach or color your hair at home.
The first step is the Bond Maker which repairs the bonds within each strand of hair. The second step is the Bond Reinforcer which provides further strengthening.
pH Plex Protect & Repair Set $13.99
This is another great cruelty free option if you’re looking for an affordable Olaplex dupe.
pH Plex uses the AHA malic acid to repair the hair fibre during the coloring process.
There are many different ways you can use these products. For example, you can mix them in with hair color to protect against damage. You can also mix the two sachets together and use them as a home treatment to repair broken hair bonds.
OLAPLEX 3 DUPES
Olaplex No. 3 Hair Perfector really started the craze for the Olaplex haircare products because it’s the closest thing you can buy to use at home to the in-salon Olaplex treatment.
This bond builder is used before shampoo (and often in conjunction with Olaplex No. 0) to repair broken disulfide bonds and leave hair stronger than before.
It costs $30 for a 100ml / 3.3 fl oz bottle which is expensive for such a small amount of product. However these Olaplex No 3 dupes are less expensive than the real deal.
Revolution Haircare Plex 3 Bond Restore Treatment $14
This amazing Olaplex dupe is one of the most similar products to Olaplex No. 3.
It works to repair hair strands using what Revolution calls a triple molecular weight protein cascade system. This infuses the hair shaft with protein to help repair bonds.
You use this in the same way you would use Olaplex No.3, and that is before shampooing. Apply it to damp hair for 10-15 minutes before rinsing out. You then use shampoo and conditioner as normal.
This product is vegan and cruelty free, and a fraction of the price of Olaplex.
Epres Bond Repair Treatment $48
This is a really interesting alternative to Olaplex because it was formulated by one of the creators of Olaplex itself, material scientist Dr Eric Pressly. It’s easy to use and is a great dupe if you want a no-fuss alternative to Olaplex.
The Epres Bond Repair Treatment is like a hybrid of Olaplex No 0 and Olaplex No 3. It’s a spray which you mist over your hair when it’s dry, before shampooing. You can leave it on for only 10 minutes or leave it on overnight. According to the brand, the time you leave this product on your hair doesn’t matter because it continues working for hours after you wash it out anyway.
Its Biodiffusion™ patented technology repairs disulfide bonds within the hair shaft and it has an acid-free formula so it’s safe to use on colored hair.
Curlsmith Bond Curl Rehab Salve $12.50
If you have curly hair, this Olaplex 3 dupe is a must-have.
Going a step further than Olaplex, this pre-wash treatment targets salt bonds (broken by a shift in the hair’s pH level) and hydrogen bonds (damaged by too much heat or moisture) on top of the disulfide bonds in your hair.
It’s a great Olaplex dupe and the fact that it is much more affordable as well as being cruelty free and vegan-friendly too makes it a winner.
Bondbar Bonding Pre-Shampoo $9.99
This Sally Beauty Olaplex dupe has the same benefits as their legendary No 3 product but without the extra cost.
Shoppers have rushed to buy this product since its release and have noted its similarities to Olaplex No 3.
Bondbar uses the ingredient hydroxypropylgluconamide to target the ionic (salt) bonds in hair whereas Olaplex’s patented formula targets disulfide bonds. They work differently within the hair but the result is stronger, softer hair from both brands.
K18 Leave-in Molecular Repair Hair Mask $75
This is one of the best Olaplex alternatives if you prefer to keep your hair routine short and sweet. The only downside is that it is expensive; however you can buy a smaller version for $29 to test it out.
This is a leave-in hair mask but it replaces Olaplex No 3 in your haircare routine as it does the same thing; you just use it at a different time. You use it in place of a rinse out conditioner. Apply after shampooing, wait four minutes and then apply any other styling products.
Using K18Peptide™ as its active ingredient, amino acids travel deep into the hair shaft to repair keratin chains and disulfide bonds. You don’t rinse it out at all so it is very quick and easy to use.
Redken Acidic Bonding Concentrate Intensive Treatment $29.79
The bonding ingredient in this particular range of products from Redken is called the Bonding Care Complex with Citric Acid.
They use a blend of citric acid, taurine, and maleic acid to target broken bonds and strengthen the hair from the inside out.
Just like Olaplex No 3 you use this before you shampoo your hair for an intensive fortifying treatment.
Designed for all hair types, the accompanying shampoo, conditioner and leave-in treatment work to repair bonds while increasing hair’s resilience to prevent further damage.
With fewer steps than Olaplex, it’s a great way to add some rebonding and hair repair into a simple hair care routine.
Coco & Eve Bond Building Pre-Shampoo Treatment $31.74
Coco & Eve have some great products including their famous Like A Virgin hair mask, but their dupe for Olaplex 3 is also becoming really popular.
It uses Micro 3D Bond Building Technology which targets disulfide, ionic and hydrogen bonds in hair to repair them and leave hair feeling stronger. The addition of coconut and avocado oils gives a hit of hydration too.
Applied to damp hair before shampooing, you simply leave this treatment on in the same way as Olaplex No 3 and wash it off after at least 10 minutes.
Aldi Lacura Pre-Wash Treatment £3.49
Aldi recently brought out its range called Bonded, which comes under the brand’s beauty line Lacura.
The range includes a Pre-Wash Treatment which is designed to repair the hair bonds and is clearly intended to be an Olaplex dupe. It gives almost identical results to the original product from Olaplex but is just a fraction of the cost.
Like pretty much every Aldi dupe out there, this sold out really quickly both online and in stores but Aldi do re-release their most popular products every few months.
If you want to try them when they’re next available, hurry to your nearest Aldi store before they sell out.
OLAPLEX 4 AND 5 DUPES
Since the release of the original Bond Maintenance Shampoo (Olaplex No 4 – $30) there are now a few other iterations in the brand’s shampoo line up.
These are Nº.4C Bond Maintenance Clarifying Shampoo ($30) to remove product build-up, and Nº.4P Blonde Enhancer Toning Shampoo ($30) which removes brassy tones from blonde hair.
Olaplex have also recently brought out Nº.4D Clean Volume Detox Dry Shampoo ($30).
There is also No. 5 Bond Maintenance Conditioner ($30).
They’re great products for maintaining healthy hair and keeping disulfide bonds aligned and strong, but the prices can be offputting. Here are some cheaper alternatives to consider.
L’Oréal Paris Everpure Bond Strengthening Shampoo & Conditioner $9.99 (each)
The bond-repairing technology in these products comes from citric acid so they are quite similar in formula to Redken’s Acidic Bonding Concentrate Shampoo and Conditioner.
Compared to Olaplex, it’s a much more affordable bond strengthening system and all the products in the range receive really good reviews.
The major downside to these products is that, unlike Olaplex, L’Oréal is not a cruelty free brand.
Revolution Plex 4 & 5 Bond Restore Shampoo and Conditioner $14.99 (each)
Revolution has an Olaplex shampoo dupe as part of its Plex range and there’s also a purple version for blonde hair which is like the Olaplex Nº.4P Blonde Enhancer Toning Shampoo.
Both the shampoos and the conditioner in the range have Revolution’s Plex triple molecular weight protein cascade system to strengthen hair, and are designed to work alongside their Olaplex 3 dupe.
Amika The Kure Repair Shampoo & Conditioner $28 (each)
With many reviewers claiming that The Kure range of products from Amika gives better results than Olaplex, this is a whole set of hair care products that can’t be ignored when looking for a good dupe of Olaplex.
The Kure consists of several bond-building treatments including a shampoo, conditioner, hair cream, hair mask and repair treatment. They work by repairing the most numerous bonds within the hair which are the hydrogen bonds.
Amika also uses hydrolyzed quinoa, a vegan protein, in these products instead of keratin which can sometimes cause build up in the hair.
These are slightly less expensive than Olaplex and you get slightly more per bottle too.
BONDtastic Bond Shampoo and Conditioner £6.99 (each)
This haircare dupe is available at Home Bargains in the UK (where it’s actually a lot cheaper at only £2.49) or online.
The BONDtastic range has hit headlines in recent weeks because of its similarity to the Olaplex range and its Triple Level Protein Repair System is said to leave hair feeling stronger and healthier.
OLAPLEX 6 DUPES
Olaplex No 6 is called the Bond Smoother and it costs $30. It’s a leave-in cream that contains Vitamin E, grape seed oil and coconut oil to leave hair feeling softer and smoother.
Quite honestly this product did nothing for my very fine hair, and was a little too heavy for it, but those with thicker hair swear by this product to give them manageable, smoother hair.
It also claims to shorten blow drying time but I did not notice any difference in drying time when using this product.
Here are some alternatives to the Olaplex Bond Smoother that are cheaper and will do the same thing for your hair.
The INKEY List PCA Bond Repair Hair Treatment $13.99
Designed to be used after shampoo and conditioner, this leave in spray will give similar results to Olaplex No 6 through its Granrepair Powerbond technology.
This repairs hair damage by repairing the bonds and also prevents further damage as it has a built-in heat protectant which will help maintain your newly healthy hair.
The INKEY List’s product is one of the cheaper Olaplex dupes on the market.
OGX Restoring + Bonding Plex $29.95
This has long been considered one of the best Olaplex dupes out there.
Unfortunately OGX discontinued this range but it is still available in some places online. It used to be much more affordable than it is now unfortunately.
It receives great reviews and draws a lot of comparisons to the Olaplex line, giving visible results and reversing the effects of chemical processes.
Living Proof Triple Bond Complex Leave-In Hair Treatment $45
Although more expensive than Olaplex, this product can replace a range of Olaplex products in your hair care routine. This is like a hybrid between Olaplex 3 and Olaplex 6.
Apply this leave-in cream to wet hair after shampooing and conditioning, just like Olaplex 6, and wait ten minutes while it gets to work repairing three types of hair bonds; hydrogen, ionic, and covalent.
It also smoothes the hair strands, protects against heat damage from blow drying and thermal tools, and helps to stop color fade. It’s best to use this product with a blow dryer to activate it properly, and it should be used once a week.
Bold Uniq BoldPlex 6 Bond Smoothing Serum $19.95
You’ll see this product from Bold Uniq a lot on TikTok as it’s a great Olaplex 6 dupe.
The Bond Smoothing Serum is used on wet hair and left in to speed up drying time, smooth the hair shaft, leave hair soft and shiny and work at repairing bonds at the same time.
It is a fairly heavy texture, so use it sparingly even if you have thick or coarse hair.
Bondbar Bonding Styling Cream $9.99
This product is Number 6 in the Bondbar range and is clearly intended to be an Olaplex dupe.
It works like Olaplex 6 as a styling cream to reduce frizz and coarseness and also repairs broken hair bonds at the same time. You apply it to wet hair after using shampoo and conditioner.
It’s much more affordable than Olaplex and has been a hit since its launch at Sally Beauty.
OLAPLEX 7 DUPES
Olaplex No 7 is their Bonding Oil ($30), a relatively new addition to the Olaplex range but one which has a huge legion of fans who love this product.
If you prefer using an oil on your hair over a styling cream, this is a good alternative to Olaplex 6 and it also has the benefit of working on wet and dry hair so is much more versatile.
Olaplex 7 has the same patented bonding technology as the rest of the Olaplex line, but being a relatively expensive option here are some more affordable alternatives.
DERMA-E Styling Hair Repair Oil $12.95
Regularly referred to as an Olaplex Bonding Oil dupe, this little bottle of hair oil from DERMA-E has become a hit on TikTok.
The finish that it leaves in your hair is so similar to that of Olaplex 7. It’s a lightweight oil which leaves hair nourished and shiny, and a lot smoother looking.
The star ingredient is jojoba oil, and it also has other beneficial oils like chaga mushroom oil and safflower seed oil.
It’s like Olaplex oil but without the bonding technology, and is a lot cheaper.
Curlsmith Bonding Oil $30
This is the same price as Olaplex Bonding Oil but you actually get 60ml of product compared to 30ml with Olaplex so it’s twice the amount.
Like Olaplex, this is a very lightweight oil but since it has no silicones it won’t weigh hair down. The end result is as glossy and smooth as with Olaplex’s Bonding Oil but it’s better for curly or fine hair as it doesn’t add weight.
Curlsmith’s oil contains apricot kernel oil, sea buckthorn oil and added keratin from a blend of chickpeas, lentil and quinoa proteins to keep hair strong.
Primark PS…Pro Bond Pro-Repair Styling Hair Oil £4.50
UK-based Primark often comes out with some great dupes and their recent range contains some brilliant Olaplex dupes.
Their hair oil resembles Olaplex No 7 in terms of packaging. It has some very nice hair-friendly ingredients including sunflower oil, moringa oil and vitamin E and when you use it (sparingly, just like Olaplex) it leaves your hair looking just as shiny and smooth.
If you’re not too fussed about Olaplex’s patented bonding technology and just want a nice hair oil to make your hair look good, this is a great Olaplex oil alternative.
Available in Primark stores
OLAPLEX 8 DUPES
Olaplex No 8 is the Bond Intense Moisture Mask and it retails for $30 for 100ml. It’s an intensive mask which you can use weekly to inject some hydration in to your hair while treating broken bonds with the patented formula.
I have personally used this mask a lot and while there’s nothing to dislike about it, I get better results from lots of other cheaper hair masks. For me, Olaplex 8 did not leave my hair much softer than before, no more shiny and there was no wow factor. However, it is a decent mask and if you are actively working on repairing damaged hair this is a good choice.
There are some great Olaplex dupes however for No 8.
Elizavecca Milky Piggy CER-100 Collagen Ceramide Coating Protein Treatment $10
This product from Korean brand Elizavecca went viral after people started comparing both this product and the Elizavecca Milky Piggy Collagen Coating Protein Ion Injection to Olaplex 8 and 9 respectively.
The main difference, aside from the much lower price, is that Elizavecca uses protein to restore and strengthen hair whereas Olaplex is a bond restorer.
However, those with very damaged hair report much better results from Elizavecca’s products than from Olaplex’s. The Collagen Coating Protein Treatment is an intensive mask that you leave on for up to 20 mins, and it will transform dry and damaged hair into soft, silky strands.
Note that this product is not suitable for vegans.
Uberliss Bond Sustainer $14.99
Widely touted as one of the best alternatives to the Olaplex system, the Uberliss system has been receiving rave reviews from beauty fans.
Their products use what they call their ‘patent-pending reactive Sub Micron Technology materials that actively seek out broken disulfide bonds to crosslink with.’
The Bond Sustainer is the last step in the system and is a weekly mask which works to repair bonds in just ten minutes. It claims to be even better than Olaplex at crosslinking (a.k.a. bonding) hair strands.
Schwarzkopf BlondMe Keratin Restore Bonding Mask $44.99
As the name suggests, this mask is aimed at people with blonde hair.
If you bleach your hair a lot you can be prone to hair breakage from the damaging effects of the bleach. This mask, which is left on for up to 10 minutes then rinsed out, repairs the bonds inside the hair strand like Olaplex does.
Bold Uniq BoldPlex 3 Bond Repair Hair Protein Treatment Mask $29.95
The BoldPlex 3 Bond Repair Hair Protein Treatment Mask works like Olaplex’s No. 8.
You can apply it to wet hair and leave it on for a while to work at repairing broken bonds and restoring lost hair health. The brand say it’s fine to leave it on overnight and, in fact, the longer the better as it will get to work repairing bonds for as long as you can leave it on your hair.
This is the same price as Olaplex but you get 200ml which is double the amount of product.
OLAPLEX 9 DUPES
Olaplex No 9 is called the Bond Protector Nourishing Hair Serum. Like most other Olaplex products this retails for $30, and you get 90ml of product.
Of course it contains Olaplex’s famous bond-building technology and at the same time this lightweight, silicone-free serum gives you protection from both heat and pollution (thanks to the addition of antioxidant-rich Red Algae Extract).
It can be used on both wet and dry hair and is a fan favorite from the Olaplex line-up. It is pricey though for a relatively small amount of product. These Olaplex dupes can be used in place of No 9:
Repair your hair while you sleep with this leave-in mask which is actually sprayed on to dry hair before bed. Overnight, it works to strengthen and repair hair by sticking to the protein inside hair to build the bonds back up.
In the morning there is no need to rinse out either. Just brush your hair and style as usual.
It’s a very low maintenance hair product that also prevents frizzy hair.
Andrew Fitzsimons Virgin Repair Restructuring Serum $16
This popular serum is inexpensive, vegan and cruelty free and has some great ingredients for your hair.
Containing what the brand calls ‘Bonding Technology’ this serum is packed with hair-friendly ingredients like crambe abyssinica seed oil, olive oil, Vitamin E and Ceramide NG.
It works to repair broken bonds while smoothing and intensely hydrating each hair strand.
These Olaplex dupes will help you to get the bond building effects of Olaplex at home but at a more affordable price. If you have thinning hair rather than damaged hair, try Kerastase Genesis instead.
Check out these posts:
Lululemon Align Jogger dupe list
You can find more hair care tips here.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Olaplex is a hair treatment system which consists of multiple different products. In a hair salon, the Olaplex treatment is applied to your hair by salon professionals using Olaplex No. 1 (the Bond Multiplier) and Olaplex No. 2 (the Bond Perfector).
These are the strongest treatments Olaplex make and give the best results. The results of the treatment can be boosted and maintained by using the at-home products, particularly Olaplex No. 3 (the Hair Perfector).
When hair gets damaged (from heat, environmental factors such as UV rays, brushing and coloring) the disulfide bonds within the hair structure are broken, resulting in split ends, frizziness, breakage and color fade. Olaplex uses an active ingredient called bis-aminopropyl diglycol dimaleate which works at a molecular level to actively repair broken disulfide hair bonds. The result is stronger hair with a smoother hair cuticle, and less hair loss over time.
Olaplex is expensive due to its innovative and patented bond-building technology and high-quality ingredients, which require extensive research and development investments. Additionally, its positioning as a professional-grade brand, coupled with marketing efforts, contributes to its premium pricing.
No, Olaplex is not just silicone. Olaplex is a hair care brand known for its patented technology that claims to repair and rebuild broken hair bonds. While some Olaplex products may contain silicones as part of their formulations, the brand’s focus is primarily on its bond-repairing technology, rather than relying solely on silicone-based ingredients.
Whether Olaplex is worth it depends on factors such as the condition of your hair, desired results, and budget. If you have damaged or chemically treated hair and want to improve its health and strength, Olaplex may be beneficial. However, if your hair is relatively healthy or you have budget constraints, alternative options like Olaplex dupes may be worth considering.
Yes, Olaplex is a cruelty free brand which doesn’t test on animals and also doesn’t sell its products in countries where animal testing is required by law. All of Olaplex’s products are also suitable for vegans.
Sally Beauty’s range to rival Olaplex is called BondBar. It’s an entire system of different hair care products, just like Olaplex, which will repair broken bonds in the hair. It is more affordable than Olaplex.
Yes, Olaplex is formulated to repair hair bonds. Its patented bond-building technology aims to restore and strengthen damaged or broken disulfide bonds in the hair. By using Olaplex products, such as the Bond Multiplier and Bond Perfector, it is claimed that these bonds can be repaired, resulting in healthier and stronger hair.
Yes, you can leave Olaplex No. 3 Hair Perfector on overnight as an at-home treatment. While the recommended minimum duration is 10 minutes, leaving it on for a longer period, including overnight, can potentially enhance its effectiveness in repairing and strengthening damaged hair.
Olaplex is widely considered the gold standard when it comes to repairing broken hair bonds in damaged hair, but the best Olaplex dupes are often thought to be from Sally’s BondBar range, Revolution’s Plex range and Bold Uniq’s bonding products.
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