Olaplex 3 and hair loss?

[Vaesther]

Has anyone experience excessive shedding of hair after Olaplex 3 treatment??

I thought it was a coincidence the 1st time, but it happened after the 2nd and 3rd tx.

I used it weekly x 3, and the hair loss after the 3rd treatment is noticeable.

I will not use it again (and only used about 2/3 of 1 bottle).

No hair scalp itch or redness, to suggest an allergic reaction. 

[KateB23]

Did you hair ever recover?! Reading all these it sounds like my experience 😢 I’ve always had thick healthy hair and now my scalp is super sensitive and it’s thinning and the texture feels like straw ! Want to know how to repair it 😢😢

[LadyMeshel]

I was extremely happy to find this thread, as I was beginning to think I was crazy. I have used Olaplex No. 0 & 3 on my hair 3 or 4 times. I heard wonderful things about it & my hair was feeling a bit dry after I left color on it for longer than normal (I have my cosmetology license & I use Redken dye). I now have breakage like I never have had in my life. At one time (decades ago) I used to bleach my hair, then a few months later, dye it black...repeat. My hair never broke off like this in my life. I've got bits of hair that are only a few inches long where breakage has happened. Is there anything I can do to make my hair look better or does it just have to grow out at this point?

[sparklybrunette]

I’m sooooo grateful I joined this community!! I just started using olaplex and was sooo happy about the texture of the shampoo however now that I’ve heard about all this hair thinning and loss I’m kinda panicking ... I’m gonna return these products!!! I am SOOOO grateful to all of you for sharing your experiences !! THANK YOU SOOO MUCH!! Y’all have saved my hair!!! I thought I noticed something and blamed it on paranoia... 🙊 

Olaplex Mini No. 4 Bond Maintenance™ Strengthening Hair Repair Shampoo 3.3 oz/ 100 mL Olaplex No. 3 Hair Perfector Pre-Shampoo Hair Repair Treatment 3.3 oz/ 100 mL 

[MariskiolaWemb]

 

 Olapex has ruined my hair. Besides the fact it’s dry and totally unmanageable, I am also loosing it every day! The pictures are taken days apart. 
I am hoping to find someone to advice me how to fix this. 

[miinx]

Just fyi, this is a totally normal about of shed to lose in one shampoo, particularly if you have long hair, wear ponytails, or dont shampoo every day. We lose at least 100 hairs per day, and during shedding periods even up to 300 a day is normal. If you're losing an amount of hair you believe to be concerning or abnormal, your first line of business should be setting up some tests with your doctor. Short of products that clog follicles which are few and far between and allergic reactions, its VERY difficult for a topical product to cause hair loss - especially one that is rinsed off and not applied to the scalp. 

[tamisara]

It's actually VERY EASY for a topical product to cause hair loss.... even if it is rinsed off and not applied to the scalp. If applied to the hair and not the scalp...it can cause hair breakage and damage to the area of the hair it was applied to, therefore resulting in hair loss. 

If you still insist on a topical product not causing hair loss..why don't you experiment on yourself (if you have hair) and put bleach on your hair, not your scalp (leave on your hair for an hr)...and then tell me if you have hair loss. 

[Anonymous]

I too have been losing hair and just read all the reviews on the Olaplex.  I had my hair lightened this past June and it was fine until I was pretty far into using the Olaplex 3,4,&5 (like on my second round).  For the past 2 months I've had a ton of hair loss and breakage and my hair is super dry and frizzy all of a sudden.  It also feels like straw when I let it air dry.  I haven't put bleach in my hair since June and I have even been to the salon for a treatment back in September when it was really bad.  Now I don't know what to do.  Hopefully someone has some advice for us. 

[swfr]

I purchased the  No 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7. The treatment plus shampoo/conditioner and the bond smoother with oil.

At first, all was well. My hair seemed thicker and stronger. I got the shampoo/conditioner for my 15yo daughter. She, too, initially liked it.

Fast forward to about 5 weeks of using the products as directed: I began to lose massive amounts of hair. I didn’t attribute it to Olaplex but thought maybe it was the season change or hormones (?). However, my daughter said she was also losing tons of hair and when she showed me how much in one time of washing her hair, I immediately googled “Olaplex and hair loss.” 

This stuff may work well for some people but we both have fine hair and it has really damaged it to the point where I’m not sure what to do. 

What a colossal waste of money. And now we both have dry, straw-like thin hair which is the opposite of what these products are supposed to do.

Olaplex No. 6 Bond Smoother Reparative Styling Crème 

Olaplex No. 7 Bonding Frizz Reduction & Heat Protectant Hair Oil 1 oz/ 30 mL 

Olaplex No. 5 Bond Maintenance Strengthening and Reparative Hair Conditioner 8.5 oz/ 250 mL 

Olaplex No. 4 Bond Maintenance Strengthening and Reparative Hair Shampoo 8.5 oz/ 250 mL 

Olaplex No. 3 Hair Perfector Pre-Shampoo Hair Repair Treatment 3.3 oz/ 100 mL 

[Combs]

Olaplex has great products and I’ve used them since they launched! Perhaps try a moisturizing mask or conditioner. I use Malibu C Rehydr8 every 3rd time I wash my hair to keep my hair moisturized and healthy. 😊

[Irishroyal]

 As an avid user of Olaplex products and a Trichologist (Hair Care Specialist), I can tell you that the hair loss you are seeing is a Seasonal Shedding and nothing to do with Olaplex or any other product. We shed twice a year in the Spring and then again in the Fall and we are all in that shedding period right now.
Normally we shed 100 hair per day, but let's say you only shampoo 2 times a week, then you should be shedding over 300 hairs right now.

Hair loss in October and November may have been a purely seasonal phenomenon for many women, the results of which are barely visible. However, some women may have found themselves losing much more every day than the 100 one would generally expect.

Although seasonal shedding may be noticeable to you, the entire process is perfectly normal and no cause for concern.  Seasonal hair loss is common amongst all mammals, including humans, although it is not restricted to Autumn. Women may also experience slightly higher levels of hair loss during the Spring, although the autumnal loss will be more noticeable.
 Now do not fret since what kicks out an old longer hair is a new hair pushing it out, it wants to come in and show off!
Between CoVid19 stress loss and seasonal shedding what is going on is perfectly normal.
 Olaplex with its Bond Multiplier technology will help the hair keep strong and allow the new hairs to grow and be protected.
 - Mags Kavanaugh

[alom]

I googled this topic and so glad I did!  I just started using the at home treatment based on youtube video suggestions.  i never saw my hair shed like it did with the No.3 treatment!  I also used the No.4 and 5.  My hair came out in clumps!  My husband finally said "do you think its the new stuff your using?" .  I am not sure about other folks but my Type 4 natural hair cannot handle Olaplex!  

[dreadshed]

How's your hair doing now? Did clumps come out only after use, or is it still shedding?

[Anonymous]

This started to do it to me last week when I purchased No 0 and the holiday set of 3,4,5,6. I did 0 &3 as directed but left it on and covered for 4 hours. As long as it's still wet, it's still working. The next day my hair was sad, running g a comb or brush through it was horrifying, I had little pieces of hair all across my chest and shoulders. Okay, don't panic!  (Yeah right!) Okay, I knew that olaplex is not a conditioner in that it doesn't add moisture and doesn't address protein needs. So protein and moisture was needed, stat! It took 2 days of protein and moisture and the breakage stopped.

I blame olaplex for not being very good marketers. They should tell people louder and more often than they do that it's not a fix all, and that protein, moisture, maybe both will be necessary to add back to the hair. They rely on happy customers and stylists to do all the marketing for them. It doesn't help that they named #3 conditioner when it is not. It is, as it helps the condition of the hair, but they must know most people will assume it's like a deep conditioner as in shampoo/conditioner.

When hair is exposed to too much protein, which it's in almost all hair products, seriously, try to find something at the drug store without hydrolyzed such and such in it. It's near impossible! When the balance between protein and moisture is perfect, our hair is enviable, but when it's not, it's really not! Over proteined hair is seriously needing moisture and will snap, & over moisturized hair will be mushy when wet, limp, similar to the feeling of over bleached hair that feels like overcooked pasta.

I'm hoping that maybe if someone is having a current issue or future one, they may see this and be able to correct it before too much snaps. It really sucks thinking you're doing something great that works for so many, and end up screwing yourself up worse! It's even nastier when that thing is outrageously expensive to boot! "Great, I paid a lot to screw myself over, thanks!"  I would be in the same boat if I didn't lurk on the haircrazy message board where a member is always talking about this, even has it in her signature on every post.

I used a diy protein mask of plain greek yogurt, manuka honey (raw honey works too) shea butter and raw egg.

Then straight whipped shea butter for moisture after, I melted it in my hand like I would cold coconut oil so it's easier to get all through your hair. That stuff is amazing!

For those of you that the damage is done, look up fermented rice water & look at the hair of the Asian women of this specific village that made the rice water famous, they should come up when you search it. They use the rice water and they don't cut their hair, like ever! Their hair is so long, shiny, thick, healthy, and even the little old ladies still have their natural jet black hair! I'm sure their whole food diet plays a good part, but I've heard so many awesome things from people who try it with less than ideal diets! & it's as simple to make as soaking rice in water for a few hours, boom, there's your rice water & you can still cook the rice even! LOL

I'm so sorry you all are dealing with this! I know how long it takes to grow your hair and how proud of it we can be & how much of a hit our self esteem can take when something like this happens. I've always done my hair myself, so I've botched it many times in 25 years, so I always tried to tell myself it'll grow back, I can't do anything permanent. Plus, I could pay someone & they could still mess it up, at least I did it to myself. Now at this age I'm at, I am unwilling to take the risks I once did. When I was 20, 3 years to regrow my hair was no biggie! Now? Will I make it another 3 years? Ok, that's dramatic, I'm not that old, but aging is a bit of a sore spot for me. Combine it with 2020's bad juju, and it may not be so dramatic afterall.

Be well, ladies!

[BestGirl]

YES.  Used it in June and has ruined my hair.  Thinned and left bald spots on scalp.  Has anyone checked in to reporting FDA?

[Anonymous]

Yes!! I used it yesterday as advised by a stylist before getting a perm and I noticed drastic thinning today! I am so sad. I already had thin hair, so now you can see my scalp. Even my fiance can tell the difference. I will never use this again. It is near my scalp. I was doing everything to make my hair stronger and thicker. I feel like I set myself back months or years now. 

[moneenicole]

Omg! I’m so happy I’m seeing this. Ive been using olaplex for a couple months now since it was recommended as “the best sh ever” from a friend. I’ve used it just like the directions say no 3-6 And my hair has never look or felt worse then it does now & is falling out horribly!!!!!
I’ve had blood work done. Thyroid checked. Been to dermatologists I mean there is nothing I have not done to try and figure out what is wrong my hair & why I’m losing it. My hair was down to my butt healthy as hell 6 months ago and now it looks horrible. I’ve lost at least 4 inches. My hair now frames my face & I did not cut it this way. I knew it had to be this crap!!!!  I have stopped using it at this point now I just gotta figure out how to get my hair back! #olaplex

[mkupqueen2]

Omg!!! Is this why my hair is breaking? I had my hair lightened and then I bought the whole olaplex line and noticed my hair was breaking in sections. I bought wild hair growth on amazon and stopped using olaplex. I am now using Davines and my hair is starting to look alive again. I thought it was the bleach so thank you!

[Anonymous]

this is exactly what happened to my hair. It almost looks like a halo around  my head. And it broke off underneath terribly . That’s why I’m here also. This is the worst shape my hair has ever been in. 

[Anonymous]

This is exactly what happen to me. I was recommended Olaplex to be added to my hair color at the salon. With in a week I was losing hair in sporadic places. I looked like Rod Stweart walking around. I didnt at first think it was the Olaplex I thought the hair dresser burnt my hair up. So I fired her and moved on. The new hair dresser say oh let me fix it with Olaplex. Same thing again my hair is falling off with no luster in some places. So I go one more time and they add olaplex week later I am a mess. No more!

[MissTamTam]

I did a google search for "can olaplex break my hair" and here I am. I have had the 1 and 2 done at a salon when I had my hair colored last year. Bought the No 3 to use at home. I thought when they came out with the No 0 and 3 combo it would be great. I followed the directions exactly. I have used the No 0 and 3 combo twice in the last month. My hair is breaking off about 8 inches from top of  my head in the back and I have A LOT of hair in my shower drain. I didn't notice it at first because I don't blow dry my hair often. But today, I used the 0 and 3 and did my regular routine....I decided to blow dry my hair and I was horrified. I want to cry.  I only wash my hair once a week. I'm used to some hair fallout, but not as much as I have experienced this last month since using No 0 and 3. I have waist length hair and this is VERY NOTICEABLE. I do not bleach my hair nor do I put permanent color in my hair. The No 0 and 3 combo is the ONLY thing different about my routine. DO NOT USE THIS if you want to keep the hair on your head.

[Anonymous]

My hair is terrible.