EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT OLAPLEX:
A GUIDE FOR SALONS AND STYLISTS
Since its launch in 2014, OLAPLEX altered the course of the way salon professionals and colourists treat hair, forever.
Their pioneering, patented technology gave hair colourists and stylists the ability to transform hair whilst maintaining and repairing the internal hair structure and health. OLAPLEX gave salons the freedom to work with hair dye in a way they have never been able to before.
Today, OLAPLEX is one of the largest independent hair care brands in the world. Through its grassroots approach, the brand quickly became a global sensation, paving the way for a completely new category of hair care called “bond-building”. Celebrity colourists Tracey Cunningham, Chad Kenyon, Bianca Hillier, Justin Anderson & Guy Tang proudly represent OLAPLEX as Brand Ambassadors.
WHAT IS OLAPLEX
The system we all know and love rebuilds the damaged bonds in hair that become broken during chemical or heat styling processes i.e. bleaching hair, and intense heat. OLAPLEX rebuilds and strengthens the disulfide bonds within the hair structure, smoothing out the hair strand-by-strand.
Diving into the science of it, OLAPLEX’S ultimate starpower comes from its main patented ingredient, bis-amino diglycol dimaleate. To recap, this miracle-molecule is the original and patented ‘bond builder’, it repairs and restores the hair’s disulfide bonds. Free from silicones and oils, it binds the structure of the hair to reveal smoother, brighter and stronger hair. It’s also 100% vegan, which is always a bonus too. There’s only one OLAPLEX!
What are Disulfide Bonds?
Disulfide Bonds are present in all three main parts of the hair — the cuticle, the cortex and the medulla. The overall hair’s internal structure resembles ladders that twist into a multi-fibre-like cable structure called microfibrils. When healthy and strong, the ‘cables’ maintain alignment, they end up resisting being twisted and warped out of shape due to being held together by the defense of the disulfide bonds. When the bonds are healthy and strong, so is the hair.
What can cause broken hair bonds?
OLAPLEX is not just an essential product to maintain the integrity of your client's hair during colour services and bleaching. OLAPLEX also re-builds broken bonds in hair that is damaged for a range of reasons:
Chemical Services: Bleaching services, direct dye and colour, lighteners, perms, relaxers, and keratin treatments.
Heat Styling: Using flat irons, straighteners, curling irons, and blow dryers at high temperatures.
Mechanical Damage: Brushing hair, tugging, styling with tight accessories, and pulling on wet hair are a contributor to broken hair bonds.
Environmental Damage: Exposure from UV, any kind of humidity, dehydration from hot and dry weather conditions, air pollution.
Split ends, frizz, lackluster colour, thinning and dryness can also contribute to broken disulfide bonds.
Top Tips for Salon OLAPLEX Treatments
Tip 1: Use Broad Spectrum Chelating Treatment for a deep cleansing treatment
Tip 2: Use No.1 Bond Builder and No.2 Bond Multiplier for Bond Repair treatments
Tip 3: Use 4-IN-1 Professional Moisture Mask to add intense hydration and protection to hair
Tip 4: Use No.4P Blonde Enhancer Toning Shampoo to boost blondes and lighetned hair.
Tip 5: Use No.5P Blonde Enhancer Toning Conditioner to nourish and strengthen blonde and lighetned hair.
WHAT IS THE ORIGINAL OLAPLEX
PROFESSIONAL IN-SALON SERVICE? 
Offering an OLAPLEX service in your salon couldn’t be simpler. Here is what you need:
The Professional System: No.1 & No.2
The OLAPLEX Professional System consists of the No.1 Bond Multiplier & No.2 Bond Perfector. It is a 2-step in-salon process that is commonly used with chemical and texture services.
i.e. bleaching, lightening services, perms, chemical straightening, and keratin treatments.
OLAPLEX No.1 BOND MULTIPLIER®
The No.1 Bond Multiplier is a concentrated formula that is designed to be added to colour services, or as a stand-alone treatment to prevent and rebuild damaged hair. OLAPLEX No.1 is the first step in the professional system that has become one of the most asked-for treatments in hair salons, globally.
NOTE: Need a take-home version of No.1 and No.2 for your clients? You can offer No.3 Hair Perfector as a great ‘in-between appointment’ option.
OLAPLEX No.2 BOND PERFECTOR®
The second step in the Professional System is the No.2 Bond Perfector which is applied after the colour is processed and rinsed out to further repair bonds that may have been missed. The No.2 treatment can also be used as a stand-alone treatment, as described below as an Express Back Bar Treatment.
How to use The Professional System:
When using No.1 & No.2 as an additive to colour and lightening services;
- Mix* lightener and developer together
- Add No.1 to your premixed lightener and mix thoroughly
- Apply and process as usual
- Rinse (light shampoo with No.4 if preferred) and towel blot
- Apply No.2, leave on for a minimum 10-20 minutes
- Rinse, shampoo with No.4 and condition with No.5
*Always refer to your training guide for specific instructions and measurements
*Do NOT bump developer
When using No.1 and No.2 as a stand-alone service: 
- Mix 15ml of No.1 with 90ml of water in a non-spraying applicator bottle
- Saturate hair (at basin) thoroughly with the water mix
- Process for 5 minutes
- Without rinsing, apply a generous amount of No.2 from roots to ends
- Work through the hair thoroughly
- Leave on for a minimum 20 minutes (or longer if desired)
- Rinse, shampoo with No.4 and condition with No.5
*Pro tip: If your client has deep build up, treat hair prior to the stand-alone treatment with OLAPLEX's Broad Spectrum Chelating Treatment.
OLAPLEX No.2 BOND PERFECTOR®: 10 Minute Express Service
For clients who want an OLAPLEX treatment as a stand-alone service, the OLAPLEX No.2 Bond Perfector Back Bar 2000ml Dispenser allows salons to offer express back bar OLAPLEX treatments in addition to style cut services. A great way to introduce OLAPLEX to clients that haven’t used it before, or as a service for clients with virgin (non-coloured) hair.
The Express No.2 Bond Perfector Express Back Bar Treatment takes around 10 minutes and leaves hair soft, shiny, and strong in an instant.
OLAPLEX SHAMPOO & CONDITIONER
The No.4 Bond Maintenance Shampoo & No.5 Bond Maintenance Conditioner can be used as in-salon services and offered to your clients as retail take-home to and help maintain their OLAPLEX results at home.
OLAPLEX No.4 BOND MAINTENANCE SHAMPOO®
The No.4 Bond Maintenance Shampoo repairs hair bonds while gently cleansing all types of hair. The second step in the 3,4,5 system, the No.4 Bond Maintenance Shampoo is designed to be used after treating the hair with the No.3 Hair Perfector. Formulated with OLAPLEX Bond Building properties, the No.4 Maintenance Shampoo restores the internal strength of the hair while retaining and adding moisture levels, leaving hair with incredible shine and manageability.
OLAPLEX No.5 BOND MAINTENANCE CONDITIONER®
Restores, repairs, and hydrates without adding excess weight to hair. The final step in the 3,4,5 system, the No.5 Bond Maintenance Conditioner is designed to be used after treating the hair with the No.3 Hair Perfector and cleansing with No.4 Bond Maintenance Shampoo. Formulated with the OLAPLEX bond building properties that restore, repair, and eliminate frizz, the No.5 conditioner leaves hair stronger, healthier, and more vibrant.
Key facts about No.4 & No.5
- You can use the No.4 Shampoo & No.5 Conditioner daily
- Free from sulphates, parabens, and gluten (as all OLAPLEX products are!)
- Safe to use on keratin treated and coloured hair
- Colour-safe
- You can safely use both with No.4P and No.4C
THE 4-IN-1 Moisture Mask 
A salon-only OLAPLEX product, the 4-IN-1 Moisture Mask dramatically moisturisers whilst adding shine and body to all hair types in only 10 minutes at the bowl. The 4-IN-1 mask is a great offering for clients who need a boost of intense moisture, a quick damage repair, or shine maintenance treatment. Plus, this intensely concentrated formula allows for up to 140 uses from just one bottle!
From clinical studies, results show that the 4-IN-1 Moisture Mask provided the following on damaged hair:
- 74% more moisture
- 84% more shine
- 84% more smoothness
- 94% more body
THE No.4P and No.5P Blonde Enhancer Toning Shampoo & Conditioner
Creating unbreakable blondes one service at a time, the No.4P Blonde Enhancer Toning Shampoo and No.5P Blonde Enhancer Toning Conditioner are the perfect pair that works to lock-in colour and moisture, leaving hair soft, bright, and easier to manage.
WHY WE LOVE N0.4P Blonde Enhancer Toning Shampoo
- Designed to neutralise unwanted warmth after lightening
- Formulated with OLAPLEX Bond Building chemistry
- Restores internal strength and moisture levels lost when lightening
- Adds incredible shine and increases manageability
- Suitable for blondes, balayage, grey and white hair
WHY WE LOVE N0.4P Blonde Enhancer Toning Conditioner
- Micro-fine pigments evenly tones and neutralises yellow and brassy tones
- Shea Butter nourishes, replenishes moisture, and effortlessly detangles without adding weight
- Formulated with OLAPLEX Bond Building Technology™ for strong, healthy looking blondes and greys
- Hair is left shinier and more manageable with each use
THE DEEPEST CLEAN: OLAPLEX BROAD SPECTRUM CHELATING TREATMENT
For professional use, the OLAPLEX Broad Spectrum Chelating Treatment is a no-sud, no mix formula that deep-cleans down to the cortex to remove heavy metals, minerals, pollution, and chlorine without stripping hair of moisture and essential proteins. The removal of these particles provides colourists with a clean canvas to gain optimal results from all chemical services.
A quick and easy salon treatment that promotes vibrant hair colour results and restores shine, softness, and manageability.
How to use the OLAPLEX Broad Spectrum Chelating Treatment
- Pre-cleanse with the No.4C Bond Maintenance Clarifying Shampoo
- Shampoo for 1-5 minutes to remove surface buildup
- Then apply 1-3 pumps of Broad Spectrum Chelating Treatment
- Leave-in to treat for 15-30 minutes
- Rinse and shampoo with No.4 Bond Maintenance
- Then, follow with 4-in-1 Moisture Mask for added moisture
BONDING BEYOND THE SALON: TAKE-HOME PRODUCTS
Finally, the results don’t stop at the basin.
Now you’re all caught up with the professional OLAPLEX products, head over to our OLAPLEX retail and styling products article, where we go through every product you can offer your clients to take home with them, so they can continue their OLAPLEX bond building journey in-between appointments, in the comfort of their home. It’s the OLAPLEX gift that keeps on giving!
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Haircare Group is the trusted partner of the hairdressing industry and supplier of the very best total salon solutions. As an official distributor of OLAPLEX products in Australia, shop the complete OLAPLEX range at Haircare Group.
