Formula · 7.9

Brand · 7.9

Olaplex · bond builder + panthenol + coconut oil · US

Olaplex No.3 Plus Complete Repair treatment

Olaplex No.3 Plus Complete Repair treatment
7.9

LabReadAI label score

How the score is calculated
  • Actives and evidence0.6Actives with strong evidence: 0 of 4
  • Completeness for the purpose1.0For “dry and damaged hair” — 100 %; a broad formula across 3 purposes
  • Tolerance0.9Rinse-off product; debatable groups: fragrance and its allergens (skin test positive in 13 of 100 tested)
  • adults
  • pregnancytopical, in a rinse-off product — allowed
  • colour-treated hair
  • bleached hair
  • children
  • babies
  • dry skin
  • sensitive skinirritation possible
  • atopic skinfragrance is a common trigger
Free from:
  • alcohol (alcohol denat) · by the listthe list has no ingredient of the “denatured alcohol” group — evaporates fast and degreases; frequent contact can dry the skin — a tolerance question, not a regulatory one; does not clog pores
  • sulfates (SLS/SLES) · by the listthe list has no ingredient of the “ammonium laureth sulfate (ALES), ammonium lauryl sulfate (ALS), sodium coco-sulfate, sodium laureth sulfate (SLES), sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), sodium myreth sulfate, TEA-lauryl sulfate” group — a cleansing surfactant from the sulfate family but with an ethoxylated chain: it cleanses more gently than lauryl sulfate. Still not for those looking for a sulfate-free product.
  • formaldehyde releasers · by the listthe list has no ingredient of the “formaldehyde releasers” group — preservatives that slowly release formaldehyde; allowed at low levels but a frequent cause of contact allergy
  • isothiazolinones (MIT/MCI) · by the listthe list has no ingredient of the “isothiazolinone preservatives (MIT/MCI)” group — preservatives; banned in EU leave-on products and limited in rinse-off (0.0015%) — a frequent cause of contact allergy
  • parabens · by the listthe list has no ingredient of the “parabens” group — preservatives; methyl- and ethylparaben are recognised as safe at permitted levels, propyl- and butyl- are limited by the EU to 0.14 %; a frequent buyer question rather than proven harm
  • mineral oils and petrolatum · by the listthe list has no ingredient of the “petrolatum and mineral oils” group — purified cosmetic-grade petroleum products: form a protective barrier film; safety is established, a preference question; 0–2 of 5 (depends on the raw-material source), cosmetic white oil per DiNardo (2005) is non-comedogenic
  • soap · by the listthe list has no ingredient of the “potassium soap (potassium cocoate), plant soap base (sodium palmate, sodium cocoate), tallow soap base (sodium tallowate)” group — liquid soap: fatty acids boiled with alkali. It cleanses well, but its acidity is around 9-10 against 5 for skin, which is why it often leaves tightness. The product is rinsed off, so the question is tolerance.
  • silicones · by the listthe list has no ingredient of the “silicones” group — form a smooth film and shine; inert and not absorbed — a preference question, not a safety one
  • gelatin in the coating · by the listthe list has no ingredient of the “vegetarian coating” group — a plant-based tablet coating instead of gelatin; it keeps moisture out and makes swallowing easier
  • toning dyes · by the listthe list has no ingredient of the “violet toning dyes” group — direct dyes that settle on the hair surface and cancel the yellow cast of blonde; they wash out in 1–3 washes and leave a lilac tint if left too long; HC Blue 2 and Disperse Violet 1 are known contact allergens of hair dyes
  • tar · by the listthe list has no ingredient of the “wood (birch) tar” group — a traditional remedy for dandruff and itching with a sharp smell; it reduces flaking, but can irritate a sensitive scalp and dries the hair
What for: Damaged hair is helped on two fronts: oils that penetrate the shaft (only coconut oil is proven) and a film on the outside — silicones, panthenol, hydrolysed proteins. One from each front is enough; “collagen” and “biotin” in a shampoo work only on the label.
When:
  • when washing, rinsed off
on damp hair for 10 minutes or longer, then rinse; once a week
When to expect an effect: hair feels softer after the first use; judge breakage after 3–4 weeks; soothing — days; barrier — 2–4 weeks; dryness — immediately; barrier — 2–4 weeks; less breakage — after a few applications
What is normal: weighs fine hair down and looks greasy; on the face — comedones

Ingredients — 56 components · 4 work

What works: 4 of 56 ingredients: bis-aminopropyl diglycol dimaleate, panthenol, shea butter and 1 more. Damaged hair is helped on two fronts: oils that penetrate the shaft (only coconut oil is proven) and a film on the outside — silicones, panthenol, hydrolysed proteins. One from each front is enough; “collagen” and “biotin” in a shampoo work only on the label.

Strengths: completeness for the purpose, tolerance

What lowers the score: actives and evidence: actives with strong evidence: 0 of 4

Questions: fragrance and its allergens: fragrance, linalyl acetate, linalool, hydroxycitronellal, alpha-isomethyl ionone, citronellol — the fragrance and its aromatic components; the EU requires 26 of them to be listed separately — matters to people allergic to fragrance, does not affect how the product works

  • Aqua (Water base: coating, fillers · water — the solvent and base; listed first because there is more of it than anything else; in supplements — part of the capsule shell
  • Eau base: coating, fillers · water — the solvent and base; listed first because there is more of it than anything else; in supplements — part of the capsule shell
  • Cetearyl Alcohol base: coating, fillers · a fatty-alcohol blend (C16–C18), an emulsifier and thickener, does not dry the skin; paired with ceteareth-20 — 4 of 5; rarely clogs pores in leave-on face products
  • Behentrimonium Methosulfate base: coating, fillers · soften, condition and carry the actives; the backbone of the texture
  • Bis-Aminopropyl Diglycol Dimaleate works · the active ingredient — what the product is for; form: dimaleate (bond builder)
  • Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate base: coating, fillers · hold the texture: gels, creams and foam do not separate
  • Propanediol base: coating, fillers · a humectant and solvent from corn sugar: it holds water and helps actives dissolve. A gentler replacement for propylene glycol.
  • Distearyldimonium Chloride base: coating, fillers · soften, condition and carry the actives; the backbone of the texture
  • Glycerin base: coating, fillers · a humectant: coats the tablet, holds moisture in creams and shampoos; does not clog pores
  • Behentrimonium Chloride base: coating, fillers · soften, condition and carry the actives; the backbone of the texture
  • Cetyl Alcohol base: coating, fillers · a fatty alcohol, emulsifier and thickener; does not dry the skin — not “alcohol” in the everyday sense; rarely clogs pores
  • Stearyl Alcohol base: coating, fillers · a fatty alcohol (C18), an emulsifier and thickener, does not dry the skin; rarely clogs pores in leave-on face products
  • Caesalpinia Spinosa Fruit Pod Extract base: coating, fillers · rebuilds the bonds inside the hair to curl or straighten it
  • Panthenol works · the active ingredient — what the product is for; form: panthenol
  • Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter works · the active ingredient — what the product is for; form: butter
  • Crambe Abyssinica Seed Oil base: coating, fillers · the plant base: emollient oils, waxes and care extracts
  • Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Extract base: coating, fillers · an ingredient from the European cosmetic ingredient inventory; what exactly it does in this product is not described here yet
  • Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Oil base: coating, fillers · a rich nourishing oil; may clog pores in leave-on face products
  • Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil works · the active ingredient — what the product is for; form: oil
  • Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil base: coating, fillers · a light emollient oil rich in linoleic acid (in tablets — a coating component); does not clog pores
  • Quaternium-91 base: coating, fillers · makes hair softer and easier to comb
  • Oryza Sativa (Rice) Bran Extract base: coating, fillers · plant and algae extracts and floral waters: flavouring and marketing components — at these shares there is no proven effect on the skin; rare reactions in people allergic to that particular plant
  • Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride base: coating, fillers · a coconut-oil fraction, a light emollient and carrier of actives; does not clog pores
  • Ethylhexylglycerin base: coating, fillers · a preservative booster and skin-conditioning ingredient: it barely preserves on its own but helps phenoxyethanol work and lowers the amount needed.
  • Hydroxypropyl Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride base: coating, fillers · hold the texture: gels, creams and foam do not separate
  • Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract base: coating, fillers · plant and algae extracts and floral waters: flavouring and marketing components — at these shares there is no proven effect on the skin; rare reactions in people allergic to that particular plant
  • Tocopherol base: coating, fillers · vitamin E at hundredths of a percent: keeps the oils of the formula (a cream or a capsule fill) from going rancid; at that share it protects the product, it is not vitamin E as an active
  • Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Sprout Extract base: coating, fillers · softens the skin and helps it hold water — the most common role in creams
  • Caprylyl Glycol base: coating, fillers · a humectant that also holds bacteria back, which is why it often replaces part of the preservative.
  • Cetrimonium Chloride base: coating, fillers · soften, condition and carry the actives; the backbone of the texture
  • Sodium PCA base: coating, fillers · a component of the skin own moisturising factor: it draws water into the upper layer.
  • Polyhydroxystearic Acid base: coating, fillers · keeps the water and oil parts from separating
  • Polyester-37 base: coating, fillers · soften, condition and carry the actives; the backbone of the texture
  • Ethyl Linoleate base: coating, fillers · soften, condition and carry the actives; the backbone of the texture
  • Ethyl Oleate base: coating, fillers · fills the gaps between skin flakes, so the surface feels smooth
  • Cetrimonium Methosulfate base: coating, fillers · holds back the growth of bacteria and fungi
  • Isopropyl Alcohol base: coating, fillers · a volatile solvent alcohol, evaporates without residue; does not clog pores
  • Propylene Glycol base: coating, fillers · humectants and solvents — hold water and help actives dissolve
  • C13-15 Alkane base: coating, fillers · dissolves the other ingredients and holds the formula together
  • Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride base: coating, fillers · hold the texture: gels, creams and foam do not separate
  • Pentaerythrityl Tetra-di-t-butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate base: coating, fillers · a synthetic formula antioxidant: protects the oils and actives from oxidation; hundredths of a percent, no action on the skin
  • Acrylamidopropyltrimonium Chloride/Acrylamide Copolymer base: coating, fillers · holds the shape of a hairstyle
  • Phenethyl Benzoate base: coating, fillers · fills the gaps between skin flakes, so the surface feels smooth
  • Sodium Bisulfite label wording · an allergen (sodium (salt)) — matters when limiting salt, for example with blood pressure; the label says it is absent
  • Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate base: coating, fillers · bind hard-water metals so the formula stays stable and the foam works
  • Sodium Metabisulfite label wording · an allergen (sodium (salt)) — matters when limiting salt, for example with blood pressure; the label says it is absent
  • Citric Acid base: coating, fillers · acidity regulator
  • Phenoxyethanol base: coating, fillers · the most widespread cosmetic preservative: it keeps the product sterile. Permitted in the EU up to 1 %, recognised as safe at that level.
  • Sodium Benzoate base: coating, fillers · a preservative both in cosmetics and in supplements: a salt of benzoic acid that works in an acidic medium. Permitted as food additive E211 and in cosmetics up to 0.5 %.
  • Parfum (Fragrance questions · the fragrance and its aromatic components; the EU requires 26 of them to be listed separately — matters to people allergic to fragrance, does not affect how the product works
  • Linalyl Acetate questions · the fragrance and its aromatic components; the EU requires 26 of them to be listed separately — matters to people allergic to fragrance, does not affect how the product works
  • Linalool questions · the fragrance and its aromatic components; the EU requires 26 of them to be listed separately — matters to people allergic to fragrance, does not affect how the product works
  • Hydroxycitronellal questions · the fragrance and its aromatic components; the EU requires 26 of them to be listed separately — matters to people allergic to fragrance, does not affect how the product works
  • Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone questions · the fragrance and its aromatic components; the EU requires 26 of them to be listed separately — matters to people allergic to fragrance, does not affect how the product works
  • Citronellol questions · the fragrance and its aromatic components; the EU requires 26 of them to be listed separately — matters to people allergic to fragrance, does not affect how the product works
  • CI 19140 (Yellow 5 base: coating, fillers · give the product its colour; do not affect how it works
  • CI 15985 (Yellow 6 base: coating, fillers · give the product its colour; do not affect how it works

Olaplex No.3 Plus Complete Repair treatment is a product whose active ingredient is bis-aminopropyl diglycol dimaleate + panthenol (pro-vitamin b5) + shea butter + coconut oil. The concentration is not declared, but the active sits above the 1 % line in the list — a working share is likely. There is little evidence of effect: bis-aminopropyl diglycol dimaleate, shea butter. The effect is moderately supported: panthenol (pro-vitamin b5), coconut oil. The formula has 56 ingredients, 4 of which do the work; the rest is the formula base. Worth noting: Parfum (Fragrance), Linalyl Acetate, Linalool, Hydroxycitronellal, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Citronellol (the fragrance and its aromatic components; the EU requires 26 of them to be listed separately — matters to people allergic to fragrance, does not affect how the product works). Damaged hair is helped on two fronts: oils that penetrate the shaft (only coconut oil is proven) and a film on the outside — silicones, panthenol, hydrolysed proteins. One from each front is enough; “collagen” and “biotin” in a shampoo work only on the label. By the list, no alcohol (alcohol denat), sulfates (SLS/SLES), formaldehyde releasers, isothiazolinones (MIT/MCI), parabens, mineral oils and petrolatum, soap, silicones, gelatin in the coating, toning dyes, tar. Suitable for: adults, pregnancy, colour-treated hair, bleached hair, children, babies, dry skin. sensitive skin, atopic skin — ask a doctor. acne-prone face, fragrance allergy — not without a doctor. Use: on damp hair for 10 minutes or longer, then rinse; once a week. When to expect an effect: hair feels softer after the first use; judge breakage after 3–4 weeks. Label score — 7.9 out of 10 (actives with strong evidence: 0 of 4; rinse-off product; debatable groups: fragrance and its allergens (skin test positive in 13 of 100 tested)). Per the pack: apply to damp hair for 10 minutes or longer, then wash; do not mix with other products; avoid the eyes. A restatement of the label, not an assessment.

Who it does not suit

  • acne-prone facecomedogenic
  • fragrance allergyrisk of reaction

When to stop: breakouts on the face or scalp — stop

Per the maker's leaflet: Per the pack: apply to damp hair for 10 minutes or longer, then wash; do not mix with other products; avoid the eyes. A restatement of the label, not an assessment.

Is this product right for your hair?

The score describes the formula, not your hair: a sulfate shampoo suits an oily scalp and fails a dry, sensitive one. Tell us about your hair, scalp and the problem — shedding, dandruff, oiliness, dryness — and we will build a routine and say whether this product suits you.

Hair care matchDecode my tests

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