Luxury Beauty

Olaplex N°.3PLUS Pre-Shampoo Treatment

Olaplex N°.3 earned its cult status with bleached and color-treated hair, and that's still where it shines brightest. It's a repair step, not a miracle, and how much you'll notice depends heavily on how damaged your hair is to begin with.

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Key features

• It targets the bonds inside the hair rather than just coating the surface, which is why colorists love it for processed hair
• Color-treated and bleached hair tends to see the most noticeable difference in softness and breakage
• Reviewers with fine hair often appreciate that it doesn't weigh hair down the way heavy masks can
• It's a pre-shampoo step, so it slots in before your usual wash rather than replacing your conditioner
• The brand's strongest claims are tied to pairing it with N°4 and N°5, worth knowing if you want the full effect

Best for

Anyone with bleached, colored or heat-damaged hair who wants an at-home repair step between salon visits.

Things to consider

• Results are mixed for healthy or virgin hair; some people report little change, and some report dryness
• Applying to damp hair before showering adds a slightly awkward step to wash day
• Long or thick hair needs to be fully saturated, so a bottle can go faster than you'd expect

Verdict

Recommended if your hair is processed or breaking and you want a proven repair treatment. If your hair is already healthy, you can probably skip it.