I have no problem saying that I’m picky when it comes to hair products. It’s not necessarily by choice either—my hair is generally hard to please, and after a long journey, it’s something I’ve come to accept. I have type-4, low-porosity coils that get extremely dry and brittle if I don’t use the correct products. Unsurprisingly, I discovered this through trial and error. I realized that, much to my frustration, most products just weren’t working for me because they featured ingredients like coconut oil (a huge no-no for low-porosity hair), protein (too much can make your hair dry if you don’t need it), and silicones. Those ingredients don’t work at all for my already-dry hair, but sadly, most hair products (even ones for curls) feature them.
Just when I was about to give up hope that anything would work well for my hair long-term, Olaplex came in and saved the day. I’ve always been a fan of Olaplex’s formulas, but my only issue with the original Bond Maintenance system was that it just needed to offer a bit more hydration for my bone-dry hair. Apparently, the hair gods were listening when I silently prayed for a curl collection because, recently, the brand came through.
Olaplex now offers the No. 5 Curl Bond Shaper collection, and it’s everything I’ve ever dreamed of. I went in with pretty low expectations considering my hair is so picky, but the formulators at Olaplex really know what they’re doing. I finally feel seen and like someone out there in the formula room gets my hair type. The collection is perfection bottled, and I had to share all my thoughts about it below.
Let’s start with the shampoo in this collection. I wash my hair twice a week to prevent buildup, and it’s hard to find one that properly cleanses without stripping my dry hair. This one strikes the perfect balance. It’s designed to have enough kick that it removes buildup and excess oil while also adding hydration to curls and reducing breakage and frizz, all while detangling. I was really impressed with the detangling aspect. Normally, shampoos don’t really do that for me because my hair is dry, but this one detangled so quickly I was almost in a state of shock. That sounds dramatic, but when you use literally every shampoo under the sun that claims it will do the same and you end up disappointed, it’s a big deal when it actually happens.
The shampoo is excellent, but that’s only the beginning with this collection. These formulas are specifically designed not to create protein or silicone buildup, which can dry out the hair massively. Again, I feel seen. Instead, it does contain what the brand calls 3D Bond Shaper technology, which builds disulfide bonds to repair, strengthen, and add definition to curls. Using the conditioner is where the real magic happens.
It features much of the same technology as the shampoo but also contains a host of natural oils to add softness and definition along with a silicone alternative derived from squalene-rich olive oil for enhanced slip. I was initially a tad worried about this because I’ve used other conditioners that contain silicone alternatives that did not sit well, but once again, I was proven wrong. This formula is so thoughtful and well-developed for tricky hair types. It actually does everything it promises, and I feel like my hair will only get better over time.
I’ve been using this system for over a month now. I condition my hair almost every day because it’s so dry and I’ve noticed that my curls have so much more definition and it doesn’t knot up like it used to. That alone is genuinely miraculous when you have hair like mine. Everything else I’ve used previously has just been okay. I honestly just accepted that my results would just never look like the models’ many of these products are advertised on, but for the first time, I actually feel like a system has made a genuine and noticeable difference in my hair. It’s stronger, I find less hair in my brush every day, and it’s so much softer and more manageable.
Sometimes, you don’t know what your hair is missing or could truly look like until you find those perfect products. To say I’m thrilled with this collection is an understatement. Olaplex has proved, once again, why it is *that girl* in the haircare industry.
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