10 Olaplex Dupes That Your Hair Will Love
10 Olaplex Dupes That Your Hair Will Love
April 19, 2024Olaplex is a multi-million-dollar luxury haircare giant that has seen a surge and drop in popularity due to some ingredients used in its products. Salons worldwide swear by the miracle product that revolutionizes and restores dry and damaged hair.
Launched in 2014, Olaplex has delivered cult-favorite haircare products like the Olaplex 3 Hair Mask to raving fans. Its patented active ingredient, Bis-Aminopropyl Diglycol Dimaleate, repairs bonds inside the hair that can get damaged by heat, UV rays, bleaching, and brushing.
Recent claims of hair damage caused by Olaplex led to the search for alternative products. While finding a real Olaplex dupe is impossible since the brand owns and patented the ingredients that compose its formula, other brands offer similar technology and restorative benefits.
If you don’t want to pay Olaplex prices or want different options, here are the 10 best dupes for the viral Olaplex Hair Mask.
Living Proof Triple Bond Complex
First up, we have Living Proof's Triple Bond Complex. Get bond-building technology that rivals Olaplex when you use this trifecta formula that targets hair bonds at the molecular level. Hair emerges from Living Proof’s treatment brighter, sleeker, and more luscious thanks to technology that rebuilds ionic, hydrogen, and covalent bonds. On top of that, it comes with a lovely citrussy scent that will leave your hair looking and smelling fresh all day.
Pros
- Triple-bond repairing
- Shine-boosting
- Silicone-free, phthalate-free, paraben-free, formaldehyde-free, and sulfate-free
Cons
- Pricier than Olaplex
- Best used prior to heat styling rather than on air-dried hair
Andrew Fitzsimons Virgin Repair Restructuring Shampoo
Thanks to its ceramide-rich restoring formula, this restructuring shampoo is a dream come true for those with virgin hair who need bond-building technology. Even if you haven’t processed your hair, climate or heat damage can work havoc on even the healthiest hair. This formula stops breakage in its tracks by making strands stronger and more elastic.
Pros
- Designed for virgin hair restoration
- Bond-building technology
- Reduces breakage
Cons
- None
Unite Hair RE: Unite Treatment
This hair mask treatment from Unite Hair is formulated to transform brittle, dry, or frizzy hair. Whether it’s due to winter or chemical processing, this treatment contains multiple humectants that are designed to target heat damage and seal in moisture for a tamed and lustrous result.
Pros
- Adds shine
- Manages dry or frizzy hair
- Contains moisturizing humectants
Cons
- Price is higher than Olaplex
L’Oréal Paris Elvive 8-Second Wonder Lamellar Hair Treatment
Need a fast solution for damaged hair? Everyone knows that the L’Oréal brand knows its stuff when it comes to ultimate haircare.
Try out this wonder water that gives you smoother, silkier, shinier, and stronger hair in eight seconds. This option is perfect for busy people who need a quick solution that can transform hair after a single use.
The special formula contains cutting-edge lamellar water technology that locks in moisture and uses amino acids to target damaged strands. It forms thin layers, known as lamellas, to create a sleek surface with a lightweight feel.
Pros
- Safe for processed hair
- Smoothing
- Restorative
Cons
- May have a chemical smell
- May not work well for curly hair cuticle types
REDKEN Acidic Bonding Concentrate Shampoo
Packed with bond-building citric acid that helps support weak hair bonds, this sulfate-free shampoo is more wash-and-rinse than a hair mask. We’ve included it as an Olaplex 3 dupe because it does a similar fantastic job of smoothing dry or frizzy hair, balancing pH, and boosting strand strength.
This is a good option if you have a busy schedule that doesn’t leave much time for hair masks, but you still want to give your hair a little love. Just replace your normal shampoo with this sleek solution if you’re dealing with stressed strands.
Pros
- Good for processed or damaged hair
- Color protection
- Shine-booster
- Softens, protects, and repairs hair
Cons
- It’s a shampoo rather than a true hair mask
Anomaly Bonding Treatment Mask
Priyanka Chopra’s bond-building and deep-conditioning hair treatment mask has the technology and a price we can get behind. Revive your strands, repair dry or damaged hair, and get shiny, nourished tresses in just one easy step.
Made with quinoa packed with minerals, vitamins, and vegetable proteins that treat and strengthen chemically damaged hair, this one also makes the sustainability list. It also won the Allure Best of Beauty Award in 2022.
Pros
- Hydrating and restorative
- Vegan
- 100% clean
- Eco-friendly/recyclable
- Cruelty-free
- Phthalate-free, paraben-free, sulfate-free, and mineral oil-free
Cons
- The formula tends towards a leave-in conditioner than a hair mask
The INKEY List PCA Bond Hair Repair Treatment
Get ultra-hair damage control with this lightweight Granrepair Powerbond formula that repairs, strengthens, and softens hair all in one bottle. If you struggle with frizzy, tangled hair that’s hard to handle, then the INKEY List’s bond-hair repair treatment may be the right solution for you.
Pros
- Hydrates
- Repairs
- Makes hair more manageable
- Good for heat, bleached, or dye-damaged hair
Cons
- May have a “chemical” smell
Revolution Haircare Plex Step 3 Restore Treatment
Who doesn’t love haircare that does what it says without breaking the bank? This Plex Step 3 Restore Treatment can revolutionize your haircare game in just a few minutes per day. The soothing and protective formula is specifically created for use after a bleach treatment to give your hair the TLC it deserves.
Pros
- Half the price of Olaplex
- Vegan
- Cruelty-free
- Post-bleach treatment
Cons
- Some found the consistency more like lotion than a hair mask
Goldwell Dualsenses Bond Pro Day & Night Bond Booster
This brand has an outstanding reputation for delivering fantastic haircare to consumers. That’s why we’re so excited about this day-to-night bond booster that can do the work for you while you sleep.
Made with a special bond-builder derived from algae extract, Dualsenses Bond Pro works to create hydrogen and ionic bonds in hair to rebuild tired or damaged strands. It also contains a generous dose of peptides that can lock in moisture and heal chemical or heat damage.
It is super lightweight and smells like citrus. It’s also a breeze to use. This product enables you to achieve longer, thicker, and healthier hair than ever before.
Pros
- Repairs and hydrates
- According to clinical trials, this product decreases split ends and breakage by up to 99%.
Cons
- None
Schwarzkopf BlondMe All Blonds Rich Mask
Packed with nourishing Sclerocarya Birrea seed oil and made with the brand’s 3D Bond Creation Technology, BlondMe All Blonds hair mask is a great option for color-treated hair.
The formula hydrates and refreshes lighter shades of hair that are damaged, broken, or porous and keeps strands looking soft, vibrant, and healthy.
Pros
- Blonde-specific formula
- Infuses hydration and revitalizes strands
Cons
- Could be costly for some
Choosing the Best Olaplex Hair Mask Alternative
Olaplex 3 is a great choice if you’re looking for an inclusive product that improves air strength, tames frizz and tangles, and boosts shine. A bond-building treatment such as Olaplex can do wonders to protect and restore hair before using chemical or heat-treatment services to shield your hair from damage.
Not sure what to look for in an alternative? Don’t worry, we have you covered. Whether you have processed hair, dry, frizzy, damaged hair, or virgin hair, pro-repair hair products that mimic Olaplex’s results have several key ingredients that can strengthen hair health, balance its pH level, and improve overall appearance.
Look for protein that comes from silk, soy, keratin, or hydrolyzed wheat to help your hair maintain its natural strength and structure. It’s also a good idea to include peptides and humectants when shopping for a good hair mask dupe. That’s because peptides are bonded by chain amino acids which penetrate deep into the hair cuticle and repair damage and split ends.
Finally, humectants often contain hyaluronic acid that seals in protective moisture to give your hair more body and shine.
The Most Affordable Olaplex Bond-Builder Alternative
It doesn't get better than Anomaly Bonding Treatment Mask quality and price. Packed with quinoa-rich nutrients designed to give you some of the best hair repair and shine results of your life.
Our Favorite Olaplex No. 3 Dupe
If you’re looking for an Olaplex alternative, Goldwell Dualsenses Pro Day & Night Bond Booster penetrates dry or damaged hair strands to work its magic much faster. We love how the lightweight formula works wonders with all kinds of hair, slashes breakage and split ends, builds hair bonds, and smells amazing into the bargain.