Olaplex 3 vs 6: Similarities & Differences

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Olaplex is no strange brand in the hair care industry. In fact, almost anyone who has had damaged hair would have heard of Olaplex.

If you’re experiencing damaged hair or have an appointment for hair coloring or any other chemical process, and want to keep your hair protected, then Olaplex has products designed for you.

You can go for the Hair Perfector or the Bond Smoother, which are No. 3 and No. 6 respectively.

Olaplex has a bunch of products all named from No.0 up to No.8.

Each product does slightly different things but there are a few overlaps such as the one between No. 3 and No. 6. So, how do you determine the better option between the two?

Read on and you’ll get the answer to this question.

What Are Olaplex 3 and 6?

No.3 Hair Perfector

The No.3 is Olaplex Hair Perfector. If you’ve had some major hair change, damage, or weak hair generally, then the Olaplex No.3 is your first point of contact.

This is because the No.3 HP is designed to reconnect broken bonds in the hair while strengthening the hair.

It is designed to be used after a chemical process that has caused damage to the hair.

According to the brand, it is suitable for use after your hair has gone through some harsh weather, heavy styling, and has become weak.

The Hair Perfector will then add a touch of strength to the hair while restoring the healthy, natural appearance of the hair.

No.6 Bond Smoother

Basically, Olaplex No. 6 is a styling product. It’s supposed to be used after washing your hair, as opposed to No.3 which is used before washing the hair.

According to Olaplex, The Bond Smoother is a styling cream that helps hydrate hair strands, protect the hair from damage, and eliminate frizz.

This creme is suitable for use on all hair especially the hair that has been colored or chemically treated.

It’ll moisturize the hair so it’s not dry as well as strengthen it so it’s not a piece of weak morsel.

Olaplex 3 vs 6: Which Is Better?

First of all, these two products are different and have slightly different target audiences. But before going deep into the comparison of both products, let’s talk about the prices of both.

The No. 3 Hair Perfector is cheaper than the No. Bond Smoother.

With Olaplex No.3, you may not spend more than 20 dollars. Whereas, you should expect to spend more than for the Bond Smoother.

So, if you’re looking for the more affordable of the two, then the Olaplex No. 3 is obviously the answer.

Now, the Olaplex No. 3 is designed to be used on hair that has damage from heat, chemical processes, and whatnot.

It has a propriety ingredient that penetrates the hair and connects the broken links between bonds.

This active ingredient is almost absent in No. 6, which means that it will not be as effective for repairing broken bonds.

However, it is absolutely great for taming frizz and flyaways, which should be very handy if you want to protect your hair from everyday styling.

Also, the Hair Perfector may not work on your scalp or dry ends as much as the Bond Smoother.

The Bond Smoother is designed to eliminate flyaways and frizz, add moisture to your hair, and make it look stunning and smooth.

How Long To See Results?

The short answer is it depends. It depends on what you’re treating. If you have severely damaged hair, you can’t expect to start seeing results immediately after the first use.

However, if your hair just needs to spruce up or be slightly damaged, you can see results immediately.

Some people report seeing results after one use while others see results after two or three usages.

Also, your hair type may affect how fast your results come. If you have extremely long and thick hair, it may take a while. Compared to someone who has fine, thin hair.

Quite a lot of people note they see results with the No-3, with most pointing towards well-repaired hair bonds and overall appearance.

A lot of users also claim they don’t see results with No-6, almost as if they didn’t use it. Only a few mentioned that it smoothens their hair.

What is the difference between Olaplex number 3 and 6?

So, if you want an absolute recommendation between the two, it would be the No. 3 Hair Perfector. But if you have the budget, you can also buy the No 6 Bond Smoother, just to see how it performs.

What is Olaplex No 6 used for?

According to Olaplex, the No 6 is a styling creme that can help remove flyaways/frizz while protecting and moisturizing the hair. It can last up to 72 hours.

Does Olaplex 6 repair hair?

No, Olaplex 6 doesn’t repair hair. Instead, it smoothens and softens the hair. This is because it has very little bond-building technology (Olaplex’s patented active ingredient) in it.

Is Olaplex 3 worth the hype?

Yes. I’ve not seen any recurring complaints about the Olaplex 3 aside from it being expensive. Many other competing products might not be pricey but users often complain of dry hair and a few other symptoms.

Can I use Olaplex 3 and 6 together?

Yes, you can use both Olaplex 6 and 3 together. In fact, using both together will give you the best result. You use the No 3 before washing the hair and for repairing broken disulfide bonds.

Then you use No 6 after washing your hair to smoothen your curls and soften your dry hairs.

Can Olaplex fix frizzy hair?

If you have frizzy hair, go for the No. 6 Bond Smoother. It’s primarily designed to eliminate frizz and flyaways from the hair.

Final Verdict on Olaplex No 3 and 6

Because it’s a reparative styling creme (as claimed by the manufacturer), you can use the Olaplex No. 6 Bond Smoother for making your hair smooth, softer, and shiny.

Don’t expect it to do any repair.

However, if your hair is damaged and you need substantial repair to get your hair back to a healthy state, go with the Olaplex No. 3 Hair Perfector.

It has the active ingredients to make that happen. In other words, No 3 is like a shampoo that helps restore lost links between bonds (which is why it has the highest bond-building technology of all Olaplex products).

No 6 is more like a traditional leave-in conditioner to soften the hair, with just a little bond-building technology.

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