In the world of bond-building haircare treatments, Olaplex reigns supreme. After all, "It is the OG of bonders," says hair colorist Lauren Paglionico. Yet, despite its revolutionary reputation and cult following, not all hairstylists are fans. Is it the cost? The time commitment? Or the fact that it's facing some stiff competition from a newer bond realignment treatment for hair: Brazilian Bond Builder. To find out more, we tapped Paglionico and experts Lori Goddard and Kerry E Yates to shed some light on these bond repair systems.
Meet the Expert
Keep reading to learn about how Olaplex and Brazilian Bond Holder stack up against each other—and which is best for you.
What Is Olaplex?
Olaplex is a three-step treatment that repairs broken bonds in the hair caused by heat, chemical, or mechanical damage.
The Benefits
There are so many people—those with bleach-processed hair, especially—who swear by the hair-saving graces of Olaplex. But first, for the uninitiated, what exactly is Olaplex? "The first of its kind, Olaplex invented bond building," says Yates. She explains, "Olaplex designed their signature ingredient to build up the broken bonds in the hair and allow once-impossible-to-color-hair to experience color once again." Although you can't immediately see or feel the effects of this professional treatment, Yates comments, "The brand has created a synergistic portfolio that helps treat the hair from the cortex to the cuticle, smoothing the cuticle layers down, creating a smooth, shiny surface."
Whether you've got virgin tresses or hair that's seen its fair share of color/chemical treatments, you can benefit from using Olaplex, Paglionico tells us. "Olaplex is great for hair that has been over-bleached or damaged (say, from a major hair color change) and/or chemical services like keratin treatments and perms," she adds. But before you go off and join the Olaplex fan club, it's worth noting that it's not the only bond-building hair treatment in town. Enter: Brazilian Bond Builder.
What Is Brazilian Bond Builder?
Brazilian Bond Builder (aka B3) is a one-step bond-building hair treatment. It aims to prevent and reverse hair damage from color and chemical treatments, heat styling, and environmental agressors.
The Benefits
If you can't resist having the lighter, brighter hair that only bleach can achieve, then you might want to consider Brazilian Bond Builder. "The Brazilian bonder is a great addition to permanent and semi-permanent hair color services since it repairs and strengthens weakened strands and helps your color to stay vibrant longer," explains Paglionico.
According to Yates, "The premise behind B3 is similar to Olaplex: protect the hair during the color process by enhancing (or they say strengthen) the bonds within the cortex to support hair elasticity and overall health. Per the INCI list, B3 contains a blend of super emollients and copolymers that help to improve hair’s flexibility and suppleness. When intermixed with color at the backwash, the client will not experience that negative straw-like feel after their blonding service."
