Curl Centric: Curly Hair Products, Hairstyles, and Hair Growth Techniques

  • Hair Care
  • Hair Growth
  • Hairstyles
  • Locs
  • Products
  • Resources
    • Hair Calculators
    • Natural Hair Dictionary
    • Curly Hair Questions
  • Take the quiz
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Hair Care
  • Hair Growth
  • Hairstyles
  • Locs
  • Products
  • Resources
    • Hair Calculators
    • Natural Hair Dictionary
    • Curly Hair Questions
  • Take the quiz
search icon
Homepage link
  • Hair Care
  • Hair Growth
  • Hairstyles
  • Locs
  • Products
  • Resources
    • Hair Calculators
    • Natural Hair Dictionary
    • Curly Hair Questions
  • Take the quiz
×
Home » Hair Care Advice

Olaplex for Curly Hair: DIY Olaplex Routine for Natural Curls

Kenneth ByrdBy Kenneth ByrdMBA · 15+ years in hair care · Co-founder of Curl CentricUpdated Sep 13, 20267 min read · Reviewed by Kira Byrd

Evidence-basedPublishing since 2008May contain affiliate links
Woman with a curly afro in a gray coat and blue and tan scarf walking through a tree-lined plazaPin

We've all heard the monumental hype about Olaplex in recent years. The brand has been touted as a hair savior for those who like to play with chemical hair treatments.

But if you pay close attention to the company's advertisements, you'll quickly realize that most of the models have straight hair.

Could Olaplex products also be used on curls? If so, should it be used in a particular way? That's what we'll take a look at in this article. We'll discuss exactly how to use Olaplex for curly hair. Let's get right into it! 

Table of Contents

  • 1. What Is Olaplex? 
  • 2. Is Olaplex for Curly Hair? 
  • 3. Olaplex for Curly Hair
  • 4. How to Use Olaplex on Curly Hair
  • 5. Can Olaplex Enhance Your Curls? 
  • 6. All Olaplex Products Are Not Designed for Curly Hair 
  • 7. Who Should Use Olaplex Hair Products? 
  • 8. How Much are Olaplex Hair Products? 
  • 9. Things to Be Aware of Before Using Olaplex 

What Is Olaplex? 

Olaplex is a line of products targeted at preventing and protecting hair from damage before, during, and after chemical treatments. The line includes various damage-control products to reduce your risk of hair damage, breakage, and split ends.

But that's not all Olaplex is for! Recently, the brand has come out with other products like dry shampoo, though most of the products are geared toward hair protection and rejuvenation. Olaplex's bread and butter lie in its bond-building technology.

Why Your Hair Isn’t Growing - free guide from Curl Centric

Free 50-page guide

Your hair is already growing. The problem is keeping it.

On average, hair grows a third to half an inch a month, and curlier hair tends to grow more slowly. If your length looks stuck, that’s your hair breaking off as fast as it grows in. Here are the seven causes of breakage and the weekly routine that stops them.

Free. One email a week after that. Unsubscribe anytime.

When you put your hair through chemical treatment, there's always a chance you'll experience some degree of damage from broken protein bonds. Olaplex's products rebuild these bonds to combat this damage and give you stronger, better hair. 

Olaplex Discovery Kit box, a set of mini sizes described as the complete hair repair systemPin
Olaplex Discovery Kit: The Complete Hair Repair System for at-home usage.

Is Olaplex for Curly Hair? 

Without a doubt, Olaplex is for all hair types. If you're using Olaplex for its damage-minimizing properties, you'll be glad to hear that it will work regardless of your hair type.

This applies whether you have loose curls or kinks and coils. If you use Olaplex as it was designed, the products are proven to rebuild bonds broken by chemical processing.

Olaplex for Curly Hair

You can theoretically use all Olaplex products on curly hair, but there are some that every curly girl should consider switching up her hair color or texture with now and again.

Nine Olaplex bottles on a wooden table, including No 3, No 4, No 6, No 7, and No 8Pin
Olaplex products for damaged curly hair include a nourishing shampoo that repairs hair strands and much more.
  • Olaplex No. 1 and No. 2 - You won't find either of these Olaplex products in-store or online unless you're a licensed hair professional. But arguably, these are the most potent products of all. No.1 is the bond multiplier, which reduces damage during hair coloring or bleaching. No. 2, the Bond Perfectors, is sort of a last pass to repair any broken bonds remaining after No. 1. You'll get these treatments at the salon during and after your hair color treatment.
  • Olaplex No. 3 - Olaplex No. 3 is the Hair Perfector. This is the Olaplex treatment your stylist may recommend or try to sell you after your color treatment is complete. It does some amazing things for all hair types, including curls. Some of the benefits include:
    • reduced damage after color or bleach treatment
    • improved look and feel of your hair
    • reduced development of split ends 
  • Olaplex No. 6 - Olaplex No. 6 is a bond smoother and leave-in that makes your hair feel more moisturized. It also enhances your curls' sleekness and minimizes frizz for days! 
  • Olaplex No. 8 - Olaplex No. 8 is the bond-intense moisture mask. Like Olaplex No. 6, No. 8 makes your hair smoother and better hydrated, but what makes this product different is that it makes your curls bouncier and shinier. 
  • Olaplex No. 9 - Olaplex No. 9 is a serum called the "bond protector nourishing hair serum." It's full of hair-healthy antioxidants that combat hair loss, improve length retention, reduce damage from the environment, and much more. 

All of these products and more can give you healthier, more beautiful curls!

How to Use Olaplex on Curly Hair

Aside from Olaplex No. 1 and No. 2 (which are used by professionals), you could use all Olaplex products if necessary. But as you may already know, you'll need to use the product correctly to reap the benefits. So, do you need to use the products a certain way to get the most out of them? 

Back of the Olaplex Discovery Kit box, grouping the products by treat, maintain, and protectPin
The Olaplex Hair Repair System includes bond building technology to maintain visibly stronger, healthier hair between salon visits.

For the most part, you'll use each product according to the instructions on the bottle.

Olaplex products are remarkably easy to use. Just be aware that curls can be difficult to coat completely in the product, so you'll want to be generous with the product and ensure you've covered all of your strands. 

If you do that, you can feel confident that the products will work on your curls.

Smiling woman with a curly afro in a gray coat and knit scarf standing against a red brick wallPin

Can Olaplex Enhance Your Curls? 

Olaplex isn't heavily marketed as a curly girl product, but that doesn't mean it won't give your curls a boost. Many of the products focus on repairing and strengthening the hair while boosting its moisture levels.

For curls, the enhanced moisture and repaired hair bonds can result in tighter, more defined curls that are bouncier and more elastic. So yet, Olaplex can indirectly enhance your curls by making them healthier.

You'll still need to use your typical styling products, though. The Olaplex will simply give you a better canvas for creating your favorite curly dos. 

Woman with a curly afro in a gray coat looking past the camera in front of a store window of shoes and bagsPin

All Olaplex Products Are Not Designed for Curly Hair 

With all that understood, some products may not be well-suited for curls. Dry shampoo, for instance, isn't a product commonly used by people with curls; it's for people with straighter hair types who deal with oily hair.

If you are one of the few curly heads who deal with oily hair or an oily scalp, this is a product to consider. But you probably won't need it. 

Who Should Use Olaplex Hair Products? 

There's no need to use Olaplex unless you need it. Not sure if you're a good candidate for the brand's products? Use this section to help you decide!

You may want to add Olaplex to your hair product stash if you: 

  • plan on getting your hair colored or bleached.
  • will be getting a perm, relaxer, or texturizer.
  • have received a chemical service and are experiencing hair damage.
  • want to give your hair the best chance of weathering environmental damage.
  • have damaged hair due to non-chemical reasons.

You may not want to use Olaplex if you: 

  • are allergic to any of the ingredients in an Olaplex product.
  • have a difficult time following product instructions.

Ultimately, the final decision is up to you.

Woman with a curly afro holding a phone on a sidewalk, in a gray coat and blue and tan scarfPin

How Much are Olaplex Hair Products? 

One of the main factors determining whether you should try a given product is its cost. So, how much do Olaplex products cost? Some emphatically claim that Olaplex products are too expensive, while others don't have any issues with the price tags that accompany the company's products.

The truth is that Olaplex products are priced a little higher than average hair care products because of their bond-building power. If you're willing to pay a little more for quality and enhanced performance, chances are you'll be happy with your Olaplex purchase. 

Things to Be Aware of Before Using Olaplex 

The internet is full of misinformation about hair products, and Olaplex isn't exempt. Before you use Olaplex, there are a few things you should be aware of.

How Olaplex Works for All Hair Types

First, you should know that you won't see results right away; it could take weeks or months for measurable results. Being patient when using the company's products is important. In addition, some of the products have been irritating to some users. 

Woman with a curly afro in a gray coat and knit scarf standing in front of an orange corrugated wallPin

If you decide to use any product at all (not just Olaplex), take inventory of your hair and scalp regularly to ensure they are irritation-free. Finally, if you're using Olaplex as part of a hair coloring service, you should prepare for a longer-than-average processing time. Plan for that ahead of time, so you won't be disappointed. 

Related Articles

  • How to Use Olaplex
  • Is Olaplex Bad for You?
  • Does Olaplex Shampoo Have Protein?
  • How to Apply Olaplex 3 at Home

So, there you have it-everything you need to know about using Olaplex on curly hair. We hope you found all the information you were looking for, and we wish you the best with your curls!

PinterestXFacebookReddit

More Hair Care Advice

  • Woman misting her damp wavy hair with a white spray bottle
    How to Refresh Wavy Hair on Day 2 and Day 3
  • Smiling woman with curly hair holding a clear umbrella and her phone outside a yellow building in the rain
    Dew Point Curly Hair Chart: What Humidity Does to Your Waves
  • Smiling woman with large knotless braids and a center part, resting one hand on an ornate bronze door
    Knotless Braids: Styles, Cost, and How Long They Last
  • Black woman with a full, defined curly afro smiling outdoors in a black trench coat, with blurred orange autumn leaves behind her
    Wash Day Routine: Your Steps in the Right Order (Free Builder)
Kenneth Byrd

About the author

Kenneth Byrd

Co-founder and Managing Partner

Publishing on textured hair since 2008MBA, University of Alabama at BirminghamExecutive education, WhartonTop 40 Under 40, Birmingham Business Journal

Kenneth does the research behind the guides here: reading the studies and checking whether a claim holds up before it gets published, under our editorial guidelines. Outside Curl Centric he leads an operations organization of more than 1,000 people, and he serves on the board of Oasis Counseling for Women and Children. Curl Centric's hair typing system is the first listed reference in a peer-reviewed paper in the International Journal of Women's Dermatology, and it is cited by Wikipedia.

More about KennethAbout Curl Centric

Kira Byrd

Hey, I’m Kira

Curl Centric is run by me and my husband Kenneth. We’ve been publishing evidence-based hair care since 2008 to help you care for your curls with confidence.

More about us →
Why Your Hair Is Not Growing: free guide

Free guide

Your hair is growing. It’s also breaking.

If your length looks stuck, your hair is breaking off about as fast as it grows in. Here are the seven causes and the weekly routine that stops them.

Free. One email a week. Unsubscribe anytime.

Start here

What is natural hair?Find your hair typeWhat is hair porosity?Build a hair regimenHair calculators

Footer

Why Your Hair Isn't Growing - free guide from Curl Centric

Free 50-page guide

Your hair is already growing. The problem is keeping it.

Hair grows about a third to half an inch a month, and the tightest curls grow slowest. If your length looks stuck, that's your hair breaking off about as fast as it grows in. We'll send you the seven causes of breakage and the weekly routine that stops them.

Free. One email a week after that. Unsubscribe anytime.

Written and reviewed by Kenneth and Kira Byrd Independently owned, publishing since 2008 950+ guides, fact-checked before publishing Editorial and advertising teams kept separate

Curl Centric®

Evidence-based curly hair care from Kenneth and Kira Byrd, a husband-and-wife team teaching textured-hair techniques since 2008.

Start Here

Natural Hair 101 Hair Typing Guide How to Grow Natural Hair Building a Hair Regimen Deep Conditioning Natural Hair Dictionary

Free Tools

Calculators & Printables Hair Growth Calculator Shrinkage Calculator Choosing Your Products Curl Science Podcast Browse All Articles

Who We Are

Kira Byrd, Co-founder Kenneth Byrd, Co-founder About Curl Centric Editorial Guidelines Contact Us FAQs Press Kit
Natural Hair Community, LLC 1401 Doug Baker Blvd, Ste 107 604, Birmingham, Alabama 35242 1 (844) 424-2875 admin@curlcentric.com Privacy Policy Terms & Conditions Sitemap

CurlCentric.com is an independent, advertising-supported publisher. Curl Centric® services, articles, content, and products are provided for informational purposes only. Curl Centric does not provide professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Curl Centric follows a strict editorial policy that produces accurate, factual, and honest content to help you make the right hair care decisions. Curl Centric has an affiliate relationship for some of the products that we recommend. We may receive compensation if purchases are made using our links, at no extra cost to you. CurlCentric.com is a participant in the Amazon Associates Program. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. To ensure that we maintain our editorial integrity, our editorial team does not receive direct compensation from our sponsors and advertisers. The product recommendations and advertisers that appear on Curl Centric are from companies that compensate us through an exclusive, full-service ad management partner. This compensation does not influence the content we publish or the product reviews shown on our site.

Copyright © Curl Centric®. All rights reserved. Curl Centric® is a trademark of Natural Hair Community, LLC.

Back to top ↑