I’m sure you’ve seen Olaplex Hair Oil everywhere from TikTok to Instagram but is it actually worth it? After using it for over a year now, I’m finally ready to give you my full Olaplex Hair Oil review!
I’ll walk you through the pros and cons as I see them, how to use it, what’s in it and more. I’ll give you my opinion on whether the cult favorite Olaplex Nº.7 Bond Building Oil is worth it, but most importantly I hope the info I share will help you judge for yourself.
There’s even an unsolicited reader testimony included below.
Let’s get to it!
This post contains affiliate links.
What is Olaplex?
Olaplex is a hair care products company with one mission in mind: to give people healthy hair by repairing and reducing the damage that styling creates.
After years of research, a key chemical compound was invented and patented that has become the core of Olaplex’s product line. This means what Olaplex offers is unique versus other hair care products.
A roster of celebrity stylists became brand ambassadors when they witnessed the effect Olaplex products have on their clients’ hair.
Olaplex Hair Oil Review
First let’s start by describing both my hair and my daughter’s hair since we both use it. I have color treated medium length hair that’s blonde. I dry my hair with a blow dryer every time I wash my hair which is usually around 2-3 times a week.
My daughter (who is 6), has incredibly long wavy dark brown hair. We never use any heat on her hair and let it air dry whenever we wash it. I typically cut her hair every 3-6 months and we do a lot of braids, high buns and ponytails. We both have fine hair.
What is the Olaplex Hair Nº.7 Bonding Oil?
As it says on Olaplex’s website:
“The Nº.7 Bond Building Oil, infused with patented OLAPLEX Bond Building Technology, is a weightless, reparative styling oil that dramatically increases shine, softness and color vibrancy while providing heat protection of up to 450º F (232º C).”
The main things that it does is help combat frizz, strengthen and protect your hair, add shine and serves as a heat protectant. I personally use it for all of the things. I use it on my daughter’s hair to strengthen and protect it since we are so often doing hairstyles that can be tight and cause damage.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Noticeable effects within minutes
- Light scent that doesn’t linger
- Easy to use
- Doesn’t make your hair greasy or feel oily
Cons
- Application can be confusing
- Price can be a factor (but once you realize how long it lasts it this isn’t really a con)
Is it Worth It?
So is Olaplex’s No 7 oil worth it? Does it live up to the claims? I would say yes, and here is why. I’ll walk through each of it’s claims and explain!
Weightless
Yes, this oil is weightless. My fine hair can be very sensitive to hair product and can get weighed down very easily. If a product is heavy or causes build up I’ll have to wash my hair the next morning. I’ve never felt that way with Olaplex’s oil. I can go 2-3 days in between washing even when I use this every day!
Increases Shine
Yes, it does increase shine. I would say that I notice this more on my daughter’s brunette hair than on my blond hair but regardless, it does add an element of shine to your hair but not in a greasy sort of way!
Softness
I notice the softness factor in both of our hair. It immediately gives our hair that soft, touchable hair that everyone wants. Be careful to not use too much oil though or it will feel more oily and less soft. You can always add more!
Color vibrancy while providing heat protection
This definitely gives me heat protection which I can notice immediately after blow drying my hair. My hair looks more healthy and less frizzy when I use No. 7 prior to blow drying. I don’t notice the color vibrancy though. Looking at Vicky’s photo (my amazing unsolicited reader’s photo), I would say that her color is super vibrant which could be attributed to the oil. I use this the most for heat protection though and that’s definitely something that it does!
How I Use It
I’ve been using Olaplex for about a year now on both my hair and my daughter’s hair and have really been loving the results. When I use it on my daughter’s hair I immediately notice how much smoother and healthier it looks.
I will put just a little bit of this hair treatment in her hair prior to doing things like bubble ponytail braids or top knots to give it a bit more protection. I also use it near the top of her head when I do styles like double french braids to smooth out any frizzy hair at the top of her head.
I use this on my own hair every time I wash my hair. I love how it protects my hair from my hair dryer and curling wands and iron (despite using really nice heat tools) and that it helps strengthen my hair at the same time. I will also sometimes add it to the ends of my hair after styling it to smooth out any rough ends.
This product really does help my hair feel softer and smoother and gives it an overall healthy appearance.
Would I recommend it?
So do I recommend you try this out?
100% yes!
This is truly one of the best hair old products you’ll find on the market. Not only will it help your look and feel amazing but it will also help protect it from all of the heat styling we do day in and day out.
Unsolicited Reader Review
I had the kindest reader reach out and wanted to share her experience using Olaplex N○7 Bonding Oil. I asked her if I could share her email and she gladly said yes! I love being able to share more than just my experience using a product!
“I stopped coloring my hair in 2017 & embraced my silver/ white curly hair…however the texture changed & became more unruly/ frizzy. I have tried numerous products, more than I care to admit 😅, yet the * first time I used Olaplex # 7. . .Wow!
Literally, game changer, WOW!
My hair instantly felt better, less coarse, & the curls held up nicely, even in humidity. *photo sent, as the old saying goes ‘proof is in the pudding'”
-Vicky, Paisley & Sparrow reader | unsolicited comment
And here is her hair – isn’t it stunning? Thanks for sending Vicky!
Where to Buy
You can buy the Olaplex Nº.7 Bond Building Oil a variety of places!
How to Use Olaplex Hair Nº.7 Bonding Oil
It’s super easy to use the Olaplex bonding oil. You can use it on both damp hair and dry hair (I use it on my wet hair and use it on my daughter’s dry hair). You simply unscrew the lid, hold the bottle upside down and tap the bottom of the bottle with your index finger so a metered drop goes into your palm.
You don’t need to use a ton of oil, a small amount will do. Always remember, you can add more later but you can’t take it away! Start by applying to the length of your hair followed by the crown.
Olaplex Hair Nº.7 Bonding Oil Ingredients
Here’s everything that’s in this hair oil.
Dimethicone, Isohexadecane, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Coco-Caprylate, Phenyl Trimethicone, Bis-Aminopropyl Diglycol Dimaleate, Propanediol, Zea Mays (Corn) Oil, Beta-Carotene, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil, Punica Granatum Seed Oil, Water (Aqua/Eau), Morinda Citrifolia Fruit Powder, Fragrance (Parfum), Hexyl Cinnamal, Eclipta Prostrata Extract, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Limonene, Tocopherol, Citral, Linalool, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Citronellol, Pseudozyma Epicola/Camellia Sinensis Seed Oil Ferment Extract Filtrate
The key ingredient is their patented Bis-Aminopropyl Diglycol Dimaleate which can literally repair damage in as little as 3 minutes.
How Does Olaplex Hair Nº.7 Bonding Oil Work
Ok time for a little science less (thanks to the Olaplex website!). Your hair contains millions of disulfide bonds which work to give our hair its structure, strength and stability. When your hair is damaged from using heat, coloring it or putting it in too tight hairstyles for example, your disulfide bonds are now broken.
The patented active ingredient Bis-Aminopropyl Diglycol Dimaleate helps to restore the broken bonds of your damaged hair and bring it back to it’s strong, beautiful state. And yes, this works for all hair types!
In addition to getting your disulfide bonds repaired, the hair oil also protects your hair from heat. This is one of the main reasons why I love this product – because it’s basically a 2 for 1! You get a heat protectant AND a hair strengthener/smoother in one.
FAQs
Use this oil before styling your hair either on dry or damp hair.
Yes, it can be used daily. We recommend using it prior to styling your hair.
My hair was extremely dry, use Olaplex 7, my hair is soft and shiny, I both t for my daughter, I recommend it 💯 percent.