Olaplex requires little introduction. Formerly a hair stylist’s best-kept secret in the salon, the beauty brand is now a global household name, thanks to beloved products such as the no. 7 hair oil, no. 4D dry shampoo and no.4 bonding shampoo. But it’s the no. 3 hair perfector that cemented its global fame.
Marking a decade since it was debuted to the public, the haircare brand has now revisited the treatment that started it all. The new-and-improved no.3 hair perfector – now known as the no.3 plus complete repair treatment – has been reformulated to deliver three times stronger, softer and healthier hair, according to the brand.
Just like the original, it targets damage caused by chemicals or heat, and works across all hair types. The pre-shampoo treatment also aims to yield instant visible results. But the most exciting claim is that you only need to leave it in for three minutes – perfect for low-maintenance and time-hurried beauty fans. Those familiar with the OG formula will know that it has to be left for 10 minutes, so any product that slims down my beauty regime gets a yes from me.
The original at-home bond-building treatment propelled Olaplex from a salon staple to a worldwide phenomenon – so I had high hopes for the no.3 plus. From the lightweight oil to the everyday dry shampoo, the brand is already a firm favourite in my haircare routine, and I’ve used the no.3 formula countless times over the years. But the market for hair treatments is competitive, and with all formulas roughly claiming to do the same thing (nourish, repair, strengthen and bond), it’s hard for brands to stand out.
So is its reformulation actually necessary, or just a marketing fad? I tested the Olaplex no.3 plus complete repair treatment to find out.
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How I tested
I previewed Olaplex’s reformulated hair treatment, the no.3 plus, in the best possible company: hair stylist to the stars and long-standing Olaplex ambassador Samantha Cusick. Popping by her Fitzrovia salon in my lunch break with an hour between deadlines, I wanted to see if the hair treatment could deliver the same softness and nourishment as its predecessor in just three minutes. Samantha washed my hair and used the new formula as a pre-shampoo treatment, before following with the Olaplex no3. shampoo and no.5 conditioner. She then blow-dried my hair into beachy waves.
For context, I have thin hair, but there’s a lot of it, it’s frizz-prone and coloured – I’m also very low-maintenance and get scolded at the hair salon for not using masks as regularly as I should. Not only does Olaplex’s new no.3 appeal to my lazy side with its short treatment time, but it’s also great for coloured and dry hair. I’ve since used the treatment at home, too, considering everything from the formula and results to application and value for money – keep scrolling for my verdict on the Olaplex no.3 plus complete repair treatment.
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Olaplex no.3 plus complete repair treatment
Treatment time: 3 minutes
Benefits: Bond-building, repairing, strengthening, improves texture, enhances shine
Why we love it
- Quick treatment time
- Multiple benefits
- Softens and adds shine
- Salon scent
Take note
- Expensive
Just like Olaplex’s original formula, the no.3 plus is designed for use in the shower as a pre-shampoo treatment. Application is the same – simply coat a generous amount through damp hair, using more on the ends and the leftover on your hands for the roots. Then, instead of hovering in the shower for 10 minutes, you only have to wait three minutes before washing it out and following with your usual in-shower hair routine.
Low-maintenance and always in need of some hair TLC owing to it being coloured and regularly curled, the quick treatment time means I’m far more likely to use it three times a week as recommended by the brand.
As for the actual formula, there are a couple of small but mighty changes. In the next-gen treatment, Olaplex uses new technology called ‘damage defence cationic complex’ – a mouthful, I know – which targets cuticle repair. The original formula was all about bond-building within the hair shaft, but the new version works to seal the hair’s outer layer – essentially locking in moisture, boosting shine and reducing fizz. This means that the benefits are far more visible after using the no.3 plus, but the original ingredients remain, so you’re still getting those inside/out benefits.
Adding that extra conditioning element, the new treatment is formulated with natural oils, botanical extracts such as avocado and sunflower oil, and thickening ingredients like hydroxypropyl starch phosphate. As seen in the before and after image above, my hair was dry, brittle and frizzy going into the salon, but looked shiny, smoother and frizz-free upon leaving – but was it just the excellent blow dry at the hands of haircare wizz Samantha?
When I tested it at home, I expected less visible results, but I was proved wrong. The boosted conditioning benefits meant my hair was easier to detangle while wet after washing, and it blow-dried with fewer flyaways and frizz. My colour looked brighter thanks to increased shine, and my strands felt soft. I wouldn’t say the results were astoundingly different from the OG no.3 formula – the main distinctions being the more silky finish and quicker treatment time – but this is enough to make the reformation worth your time, particularly if you love the original. It’s also the same price.
Buy now £32, Spacenk.com
Is the Olaplex no3 plus hair perfector worth it?
While no one was begging for a reformulation of the Olaplex no.3, the no.3 plus complete repair treatment proves it was definitely worth revisiting. Not only is the treatment time just three minutes compared to 10, but new ingredients work to improve the hair’s visible finish, as well as bond-building within the hair shaft.
Working from inside and out, the hair treatment is the perfect mid-week pick-me-up for dull, brittle and coloured hair. My highlights looked brighter, and my strands looked softer instantly after use, but Olaplex’s patented formula also works long-term to rebuild broken bonds caused by chemical and heat damage. At £32, it’s expensive for a 100ml bottle, but existing no.3 fans will be familiar with the pricing (and know that it’s nearly always on sale). If you love the original, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t reach for the plus when your current bottle runs out.
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