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Can Olaplex Damage Hair? [facts & expert opinion]

If you are in this article you are probably wondering, does Olaplex damage hair?

Lately there are several stories on the internet of people who have had hair problems due to Olaplex treatments. But the truth is that many times these hair problems are due to other causes and not due to the treatment as such.

The reality is that Olaplex does not have the power to damage your hair at all. There are cases where you can feel hair loss or damage to the ends that are caused by excess fat in the shampoo or a fairly aggressive discoloration in which Olaplex was used by chance.

Usually the worst case scenario that can happen when using the Olaplex line of products is that you won’t feel much of a difference in your hair, but it will never cause additional damage.

In this article I will tell you about the most common problems that you can feel in your hair when using Olaplex, as well as the best solution for each of them.

Can olaplex really damage hair? Not at all!

As you probably already know, Olaplex is a line of products that helps prevent damage in the coloring process, and repairs damage to our hair through its bonding technology.

The entire line of Olaplex products focuses on repairing these disulfide bridges in the hair. The main causes that makes them damaged are coloring your hair, or using excessive heat tools.

That is why it is one of the most trending products of the moment!

But the truth is that Olaplex has suffered from a bit of a bad name lately, and it’s all because some of their products have an ingredient called butylphenyl methylpropional (or lilial) that has been banned in the US and UK because studies have confirmed that lilial has now been prohibited in the EU zone.

The brand has confirmed that it will remove this ingredient from the formula to avoid a ban in the European Union, especially with the Olaplex 3 step, which is the one that contains it the most.

The good news is that lilial is not related to hair damage at all, and therefore using Olaplex at home will not cause damage to your hair. What can happen to you is that you have certain hair reactions due to its use that normally happen due to incorrect application, or due to its excessive use.

Some people also might think that Olaplex made their hair fall out, but the reality is that Olaplex should not cause any hair or scalp problems as long as you are using the products properly.

Let’s see the most common reasons that could lead to hair problems with Olaplex:

Top 3 reasons why people think olaplex is damaging Their hair

Reasons why people think olaplex can damage hair

Ok, now let’s get to work. As I mentioned in the previous point, Olaplex products do not have anything in their formula that can cause damage to your hair as such.

However, it is a reality that there are three types of hair problems that are the most common during its use:

Make your scalp too oily which causes hair loss.
Having damaged your hair too much during bleaching which will cause your ends to break.
Develop some type of allergy that makes your hair feel strange and uncomfortable.

The good news is that each of these hair problems has a direct solution so that your hair can return to normal.

Reason #1: You are making your scalp oily

The most common problem by far is having scalp problems due to overuse of Olaplex. This happens in most cases when you use the shampoo number 4 bond maintenance which is excessively nourishing.

If your scalp has an oily tendency and you use Olaplex 4 shampoo frequently, it is very likely that you will generate an excess of build up on the scalp that will clog the pores of your hair and cause it to fall out.

Therefore, you always have to make sure that you have a proper cleaning routine in your hair wash or Olaplex will make your hair greasy.

Another of the most common causes for which you can suffer from hair loss using Olaplex is when you apply treatments (such as Olaplex 3, or Olaplex 8) very close to the root. This will only deposit layers of oils on the scalp that will cause more problems.

Solution

The solution is very easy! If Olaplex is making your hair greasy, you have to use an anti-residue cleansing shampoo to make sure you don’t get a buildup on your scalp. If you don’t clean your scalp properly, you could even have hair loss because of the greasiness.

Olaplex has recently launched a new product that is perfect for this: The Olaplex number 4C clarifying shampoo. Use this shampoo weekly in place of your bond maintenance nourishing shampoo.

This product will make your scalp always clean and balanced, so you should no longer have problems with hair loss due to excess build up! With this, you will make your hair less greasy, and you will remove all the scalp build up.

Reason #2: You hair was damaged during bleaching

The second most common case for which people think that Olaplex causes damage is the following: you go to the hairdresser to do some highlights, and ask your hairdresser to bleach you with Olaplex. After you get home, you wash your hair and “oh no!” your hair is starting to break!

It is very easy to think that the fact that you have used Olaplex products in the bleaching is what has caused your hair to be damaged (especially if it has not happened to you before).

But the reality is that even if your hairdresser adds excess Olaplex to your bleach, it won’t make your hair more damaged! The worst that can happen is that your hair doesn’t lighten too much as these products protect the hair from the aggression of bleaches, thus slowing down the process.

What really happened is that your hair was damaged by the bleaching, not by the treatment. This could have been from leaving the bleach too long in the hair, or using too strong a peroxide. The reality is that bleaching damages hair, but not because of the Olaplex treatment.

Solution

If your hair is now damaged and snapping, sadly you can not turn things back. But what you can do is repair the damage to restore the health of your hair.

The best solution for when your hair is breaking or feels highly damaged is to use a protein-based treatment that strengthens your hair. Use the Kerastase Therapiste Masque every time you wash your hair as a conditioner.

This is the strongest hair repair treatment on the market today to stop hair breakage!

Reason #3: you have an allergy to the product

The last reason why people feel that Olaplex can damage their hair is due to some type of allergy to an ingredient in its formula.

When we have an allergy to a dye or hair product, our hair can react in strange ways. Our hair may fall out, or we may feel excessive itching on the scalp.

And this does not mean that the product has some super aggressive ingredient or something like that, but rather that we simply have a reaction to this ingredient that causes us discomfort and needs to be fixed immediately. This type of product allergy can cause a similar reaction like the hair dye allergy. Therefore, you should take care of it as soon as it starts.

Solution

The best solution in this case is to stop using Olaplex products immediately! You can not really treat allergies, and it is really very risky for health to use a product with which we have a reaction.

Use another line of products that helps you supply Olaplex so you can continue repairing your hair with treatments and fixing split ends.

I highly recommend that if you start to feel allergy symptoms with any product, consult your doctor immediately! Don’t leave it for later!

Bottom line

I hope that this article has been of help to you to know if Olaplex can damage your hair.

Always trust your instinct, and if you feel that a product does not suit you very well, change the brand!

And finally, I recommend that you get a good hair colorist to help you make highlights without damaging your hair. In prevention is the key to success, believe me.

Until next time!