I Went to a Salon in Beverly Hills and Tried Olaplex for the First Time
“Olaplex finds the broken hairs and rebuilds them to create stronger and therefore shinier hair.”
Leore Hayon by Michael Blank
My salon trip to Ramirez Tran Salon in Beverly Hills was a day of hair discoveries. Celebrity colorist Chad Kenyon invited me for an Olaplex hair treatment which at first I had hesitantly questioned. I didn't know anything about Olaplex at the time, but Chad assured me the treatment is non-toxic, vegan, cruelty free and it would strengthen my hair. After hearing this I quickly accepted. Sign me up!
I came in on a rainy LA afternoon and Chad gave me the breakdown and science behind Olaplex. This is where it gets interesting for a hair nerd like myself. He said, "Anytime we create a permanent change in hair color or hair texture, we break down the disulfide bonds (mesh that holds hair together) to reform them to create the desired look."
Unfortunately during this process, "They don't all reform, some of them remain solitary or broken," Chad explained. Olaplex finds the broken hairs and rebuilds them to create stronger and therefore shinier hair. I learned disulfide bonds can also be broken by heating/styling tools and the sun. Are you still with me?
The Olaplex standalone treatment is a a salon only treatment, while Olaplex No. 3 is at home treatment. I think it is worth doing the salon version, but there is nothing better than doing a treatment for your hair at home. Netflix & hair anyone?
Chad applied Olaplex No. 1 to my dry hair so hair could fully absorb the product. He likes to use Olaplex No. 1 in all his color treatments, keratin treatments, glosses, perms, etc. to mitigate damage that can be caused during treatments.
Next he evenly distributed Olaplex No. 2 on top and worked it throughout the hair including into scalp. He mentioned how hair breaks from the bottom up. "Olaplex finds broken hair and rebuilds them," Chad restated.
He then rinsed out the olaplex No. 1 and 2 and applied the clear gloss combined with Olaplex No. 1.. The gloss is acid based and seals down the cuticles. Sealing down the cuticle allows light to bounce off hair. Non-healthy hair under a microscope, has little tiny hairs being pulled apart from the hair stand. When the strands are opened, light scatters. Makes sense. So sealing hair, allows light to bounce off hair. Creating a pretty shine.
Next, Chad conditioned my hair with Olaplex No. 5, the conditioner. I learned in this conditioning process that it is important to towel dry the hair or ring out excess water before applying conditioner. That way hair can better absorb the conditioner. This was game changing because I've always felt like the conditioner when I shower just falls off my hair, never fully absorbing the nutrients. While I waited for the conditioner to absorb, I drank an espresso and awaited the results.
Post Olaplex treatment, I received a trim and my hair was styled with a diffuser. My hair never looked better. I was in hair salon bliss. Back in my day to day hair life, I have since been using Olaplex No. 4 and 5 at home along with the Olapex No. 3 as an overnight hair treatment to strengthen my hair and relink broken bonds. All about that hair shine baby. Watch my IGTV to see the process for yourself at Ramirez Tran salon.
-By TGH
More importantly what I had to learn in an industry full of rejection was how to embrace myself with or without the approval of any externals.