Hair Love: Olaplex No. 3

Hey, guys!  Well, as you know, I've been going through some things as far as my health is concerned. This includes changes in my skin, nails and - more noticeably - hair.  My hair had been shedding at a rapid rate, leaving what was left on my head looking an emaciated, patchy, unruly mess.  I decided to keep with my hair staples since I knew they had always done well for me.  And once I had gone back to the subtle heft of my "old faithful" Lacio Lacio, the unruliness subsided (my hair would actually stand on end after washing and would NOT lay down).  But I did decide to add one more element to the arsenal.  I wanted to reinforce the diaphanous groups of strands that I had currently and ensure the strength of the ones that would be coming in.  I wanted something that was straight forward, no fuss and no mess.  I had heard about the product from hairstylists on Instagram and, after reading the glowing reviews on Sephora's site, decided to give it a try.  It's Olaplex Hair Perfector No. 3... and it's garnered quite the following.

The makers of Olaplex No. 3 would like to impress upon its consumers that it is NOT a conditioner, but rather a hair treatment that literally builds the bonds of hair strands, making them stronger and more resilient during potentially damaging chemical, thermal and mechanical processes.  It is also touted as an effective breakage reducer, thus improving the overall look and feel of stressed out tresses.  Created by a team of science-oriented industry professionals, including chemists, the Olaplex line numbers from 1 to 5 - the first two being solely available to salon personnel; the latter three being offered to laypersons and at-home hair technicians alike.

Although No. 3 comes in a petite 3.3oz bottle, a little goes a long way.  Paraben- and sulfate-free, the milky white elixir, of which you only need a dollop, spreads nicely over wet/damp strands... from root to tip.  It does have a light smell, but it's not intrusive nor does it linger after washing.  I leave mine on under a shower cap for about 15 minutes and then wash it out.

Now, again, my issue has NOT been breakage, but extreme shedding/fallout.  I haven't had an onslaught of split ends or damage to my actual hair, so I cannot directly speak to its claims of correcting those issues.  However, I CAN attest to the way it makes my hair feel... or not feel.  It has not been heavy, keeps my hair shiny and complements my rotation of products perfectly.  I do believe it has helped to keep my new growth intact and free of breakage, as well as my ends not feeling fried when I upped the dial on my flatiron the last few sessions.

So do I like it?  Why, yes.  Yes, I do.  Do I feel it lives up to its claims?  Well, unless I'm under the heavy sedation of some type of placebo effect, yes.  Yes, I do feel like it lives up to its claims.  At least the ones I have personally experienced.  And the litany of stellar reviews on Sephora's site as well as from the many salon professionals that use the Olaplex system cannot be denied.  So, yes, Olaplex Hair Perfector No. 3 is number one in my book.  It has been quite helpful in my road to recovery, hair-wise, and it's not bluster when I say that it has earned a permanent place in my product roster when my ordeal is over, said and done.

Olaplex Hair Perfector No. 3 can be found at Sephora and Olaplex(.)com, and retails for $28/3.3oz.