Search | The Hair & Beauty Directory

Filters

Clear all

Treatment

Features

Applied

"Consultation" (remove)

Search for what actually matters to you

Accessibility and inclusivity

Olaplex Treatment

An Olaplex treatment is a professional bond-building service for the hair, designed to repair and strengthen strands that have been weakened by colouring, bleaching, heat styling or general wear. It uses a patented active ingredient (bis-aminopropyl diglycol dimaleate) that works inside the hair to help relink the broken disulfide bonds that give hair its strength and structure. Unlike a simple conditioner, which mainly coats and smooths the surface, Olaplex aims to rebuild the internal framework, so hair typically feels stronger, looks shinier and is less prone to breakage. In the salon it is most often added to a colour or lightening service to protect the hair during processing, but it can also be offered as a standalone strengthening treatment on its own. There is a numbered product range, from professional in-salon steps through to a take-home range for maintaining results between visits. It suits most hair types, including chemically treated, fine or damaged hair. Results build with regular use rather than being a one-off fix, and a good stylist will tailor the approach to your hair's condition, history and goals. It is a low-risk, non-medical treatment.

Service

Olaplex Treatment

Very little preparation is needed for an Olaplex treatment, which is one of its appeals. Come with a clear idea of your hair goals and be ready to talk through your recent history, including any colouring, bleaching, keratin or chemical straightening, perms and heavy heat styling, as this helps your stylist judge how damaged the hair is and how to tailor the treatment. If Olaplex is being added to a colour or bleach service, follow the salon's usual advice about not washing your hair immediately beforehand, since natural scalp oils can offer some protection during lightening. Mention any scalp sensitivity, skin conditions, allergies or fragrance sensitivities, and flag if you are pregnant or breastfeeding so the salon can reassure you and note it. If you have had a reaction to hair products in the past, say so in advance. For a standalone bond-building treatment there are typically no restrictions, and you can usually book it around your normal routine. Arrive with hair free of heavy build-up where possible, and ask any questions during the consultation.

As a standalone treatment, your hair is usually shampooed and towel-dried, then the bond-building product is applied through the lengths and, where appropriate, worked evenly from roots to ends. It is left to process for a set time, sometimes with gentle heat or a cap to help it work, before being rinsed and finished with the salon's usual conditioning and styling steps. The whole appointment is typically relaxing and comfortable, similar to a treatment mask, with no stinging or discomfort expected. When Olaplex is combined with colour or bleach, a protective step is mixed into or applied during the chemical process to help guard the bonds, and a further strengthening step is applied afterwards once the colour is rinsed. Your stylist may adjust the strength, timing or number of applications to match how porous or damaged your hair is. You will usually feel the difference in how the hair combs through and dries. Timings vary by salon and by whether it is a quick add-on or a fuller restorative treatment, so ask what to expect for your visit.

Aftercare for an Olaplex treatment is straightforward. To protect your results, use a good-quality shampoo and conditioner and avoid harsh clarifying or strongly stripping products for the first day or two, giving the treatment time to settle. Keep heat styling moderate and always use a heat protectant, as excessive heat is one of the main causes of the damage the treatment is working to repair. If your stylist has recommended a take-home bond maintenance product, using it as directed, often around once a week, helps extend and build on the salon result rather than letting the hair slip back. Be gentle with wet hair, which is more fragile, using a wide-tooth comb or a suitable detangling brush and patting rather than rubbing with a towel. If your hair has also been coloured, follow standard colour aftercare to protect the tone. Overusing intensive strengthening products can occasionally leave hair feeling dry or stiff, so follow the recommended frequency and ask your stylist to tailor a routine to your hair type.

Olaplex is a low-risk, non-medical hair treatment, but a few basics still matter. Choose a trained stylist working in a clean, professional salon that follows good hygiene, using clean tools, sectioning clips and gowns, and washing bowls and brushes between clients. Products should be genuine and within date, as counterfeit hair products circulate online and can behave unpredictably, so professional, salon-supplied Olaplex is safer than unknown sources. The main realistic risks are fragrance or ingredient sensitivity leading to scalp irritation, and, when combined with colour or bleach, the risks associated with those chemicals rather than with Olaplex. A responsible stylist will take a history, check for scalp conditions or recent reactions, and adjust product strength and timing to your hair. Tell your stylist about allergies, sensitive skin, pregnancy or breastfeeding so they can reassure you and adapt. Follow the manufacturer's and salon's usage guidance rather than over-treating, since more is not always better and can leave hair feeling dry. If you notice stinging, burning or a rash during the service, ask for it to be rinsed off.

Olaplex is a cosmetic hair treatment, not a medical procedure, and it does not diagnose, treat or cure any hair or scalp condition. If you have a scalp condition such as psoriasis, eczema, dermatitis, open sores, infection or significant hair loss, it is sensible to have this assessed by a GP, dermatologist or trichologist before booking, as broken or inflamed skin can be more prone to irritation. Some past media coverage linked an earlier formulation to fertility concerns because it contained an ingredient called lilial (butylphenyl methylpropional); this was reclassified and banned in the UK and EU on precautionary reproductive-safety grounds, and Olaplex reformulated to remove it, so current products should not contain it. If you are pregnant, trying to conceive or breastfeeding and have any concerns, discuss them with your GP or midwife for individual reassurance. Separate lawsuits alleging hair loss have not been upheld. If you experience unusual shedding, persistent irritation or an allergic reaction, stop use and seek advice from a pharmacist or GP.

A skin patch test is not a routine requirement for a standalone Olaplex treatment, because it does not contain the reactive dye chemicals (such as PPD) that make patch testing essential for permanent hair colour. The more important safeguards are a proper consultation and history: your stylist should ask about allergies, fragrance sensitivities, scalp conditions and any previous reactions to hair products, and check the scalp before starting. If you have sensitive or reactive skin or a history of product reactions, ask the salon to apply a small amount behind the ear or on the inner arm a day or two beforehand as a sensible precaution. If Olaplex is being combined with hair colour or bleach, the colour itself must be patch tested according to current guidance, as skipping this can leave an insured salon found at fault in a claim and reactions can build over time. A patch test is never fully conclusive, so always speak up during the service if anything stings or feels wrong.

Be cautious if a salon cannot tell you what product they are using or whether it is genuine professional Olaplex, as counterfeit hair products are sold online and can behave unpredictably. Reused, dirty tools, bowls or brushes that are not cleaned between clients, or a general lack of hygiene, are warning signs. A stylist who dismisses your questions, will not take a history of your hair and any allergies, or promises to completely repair severely damaged or over-processed hair in a single visit is overpromising, since bond building strengthens hair but cannot undo all damage. Applying colour or bleach alongside Olaplex without offering the required colour patch test is a clear red flag. During the treatment, stinging, burning, itching or a spreading rash means it should be rinsed off promptly. Pushy upselling of large product bundles without assessing whether your hair actually needs them is another sign to be wary of.

Good practice starts with a proper consultation, where the stylist asks about your hair history, colour and chemical treatments, heat styling, scalp condition and any allergies before recommending anything. A trustworthy salon uses genuine, salon-supplied Olaplex within date, works in clean surroundings with tools cleaned between clients, and can clearly explain what the treatment will and will not do. They give honest, realistic expectations, tailoring the strength, timing and number of steps to your hair's condition rather than applying a one-size-fits-all approach. They will happily patch test colour when Olaplex is combined with a colour service, and offer sensible aftercare and a maintenance routine without pressuring you into unnecessary products. Being told that badly damaged hair may need several sessions, and that a good haircut is sometimes part of the solution, is a sign of a stylist who is being straight with you. Clear pricing and a willingness to answer questions round out good practice.

Are you using genuine professional Olaplex, and which numbered products will you use on my hair?
Will this be a standalone bond-building treatment or added to my colour or lightening service?
Based on my hair's condition and history, what realistic results should I expect from one session?
How many treatments might I need, and what should I use at home to maintain the results?
If you are colouring or bleaching my hair at the same time, will you carry out the required colour patch test?
Is this suitable given my scalp sensitivity, allergies or the fact that I am pregnant or breastfeeding?

An Olaplex treatment is typically comfortable and undemanding. Most people feel nothing more than the cool, wet product being combed through the hair, followed by a relaxing wait similar to having a conditioning mask, sometimes with gentle warmth from a cap or heat source. There should be no stinging, burning or tingling from the Olaplex itself. Afterwards, hair usually feels smoother, softer and stronger, and combs through more easily, with less of the rough, straw-like feel that comes with damage. If Olaplex is part of a colour or bleach service, any tingling or warmth you notice is generally from those chemicals rather than the Olaplex. Any stinging, itching or discomfort is not normal and should be mentioned straight away so the product can be rinsed off.

There is no downtime with an Olaplex treatment. It is a non-invasive, surface and structural hair treatment, so you can return to your normal routine straight away, including going back to work, exercising or styling as usual. Your hair should feel smoother, stronger and easier to manage immediately, and there are no recovery restrictions to observe. If Olaplex was part of a colour or bleach service, any aftercare relates to the colour rather than to the Olaplex itself. In rare cases someone may notice mild scalp sensitivity or dryness, which typically settles quickly; if any irritation persists, contact your salon and, if needed, speak to a pharmacist or GP.

Olaplex tends to give the best results when used as part of an ongoing routine rather than as a one-off. After a treatment, hair usually feels stronger, smoother and shinier and is less prone to breakage, and colour can look better protected. Because it works by supporting the hair's internal structure, benefits build with repeated use, and severely damaged hair often needs a course of treatments alongside regular trims to remove split ends that cannot be repaired. To maintain results, many stylists recommend a take-home bond-maintenance product used around once a week, plus gentle handling, sensible heat use with a heat protectant, and quality shampoo and conditioner. How long results last depends on your hair type, how much colour, bleach and heat it is exposed to, and how well you look after it between visits. Your stylist can tailor the frequency and product choice to your hair, dialling treatments up during heavy colour work and easing off if hair starts to feel over-treated or dry.

Search for what actually matters to you

Ladybird Hair and Beauty Salon

Ageless Beauty Laser & Spa

Charlotte Rye

Olaplex Treatment

Tweakments Live 2027

BOURNE BEAUTY - NAIL & BEAUTY TRAINING ACADEMY

Adam Chatterley