Reviews and Other Stuff

strands

Olaplex Bond Maintenance Shampoo, Conditioner, Bond Smoother & Bonding Oil Review

Olaplex No. 6 Bond Smoother Reparative Styling Creme

 

It has been a few years since I reviewed the original Olaplex Hair Perfector No. 3 (reviewed HERE). It was the product that started it all. Since then, Olaplex has released a couple of exciting hair care products that are meant to be restorative on the hair. As for me, I’m a loyal fan of the Hair Perfector and I use it regularly. It does help to keep my hair strands strong and less prone to breakage. However, I did wonder if I could fortify my strands further with the other products that Olaplex now has. So here’s my experience with their shampoo, conditioner, styling creme, and hair oil.

 

Olaplex No. 4 Bond Maintenance Shampoo review

 

No. 4 Bond Maintenance Shampoo (mini/3.3 – 8.5 oz: 14 – 28 USD) – I’m so glad that Olaplex released this. I’ve been wondering how their shampoo will be like, prior to them releasing this, and I think they’ve done a really good job with this product. I totally love the nice refreshing citrus/orange scent of this and I also love that this shampoo has a good weight to it. Not too watery, not too thick, and this doesn’t leave the hair too dry that it will feel stripped, nor does this leave the hair too heavy that it won’t have any volume. This is a shampoo for any hair type and is safe for hair that is color-treated. Also, this is made of clean ingredients.

 

olaplex no 5 bond maintenance conditioner review

 

No. 5 Bond Maintenance Conditioner (mini/3.3 – 8.5 oz: 14 – 28 USD) – Just like the Bond Maintenance Shampoo, the fresh citrus/orange scent of this is totally a sensorial experience. I also love the consistency of this conditioner, which is not too thin and not too thick. Although I still only put a small amount of this on my hair, I still think that this conditioner is not the type that weighs the hair down. Most importantly, I really that this tames the frizzies and this makes the hair look shiny and healthy. On top of that, this conditioner is for all hair types and is color-safe.

 

No. 6 Bond Smoother Reparative Styling Creme (3.3 oz: 28 USD) – With just the size of the mini version of the shampoo and conditioner above, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect of this leave-in styling creme until I’ve actually applied it on my hair. Like the products above, this has a very strong citrus/orange scent which I love and the texture of this is so thick. You only have to apply a pea size of this on the hair, or else your hair will look heavy and oily. Right after application, I felt my hair strands feeling a bit dry, I think because this a bit of alcohol in it, but after a few hours, my hair felt soft, looks totally well-tamed, healthy, shiny, and totally frizz-free even after walking outside with high humidity.

This product is Sulfate-free, Paraben-free, and cruelty-free, among other things. This also works for any hair type and can be used prior to blow-drying.

 

olaplex no 7 bonding oil review

 

No. 7 Bonding Oil (1 oz: 28 USD) – What a cute hair care product this is, and this also smells really really good like the Olaplex products above, The orange/citrus scent of this is not too strong and not artificial. I also like that this is packaged in a sleek clear acrylic container. This may feel and look very small, but the overall design and aesthetic of this product are simply very stunning and very beautiful, which makes this a good decor in the vanity area as well.

Even though this may be small for its price, you only need a few drops of this oil to coat your hair and this doesn’t feel sticky nor does this add any weight to the hair. I actually find this to be ultra-lightweight, like the dry oil type, and per Olaplex, this protects the hair for up to 450°F/ 230°C. For me, this also tames the frizz, adds shine, and this provides nourishment. Additionally, this is also perfect for any hair type and is vegan, cruelty-free, and also gluten-free.

 

top olaplex hair care products

 

I really like Olaplex’s concept of restoring the hair’s natural vitality, which can be achieved by re-linking the broken bonds, and by adding extra nourishment on the strands. I also love that their hair care products can be used by any hair type, texture, or even if you’ve had hair treatments done. Our hair goes through a lot of stresses in life every day, which can manifest in split ends, frizzies, or even dryness and oiliness. It’s good to have some hair care products like these from Olaplex. I, personally, have noticed that my hair strands are slowly becoming thicker, stronger, and less prone to breakage.

 

SHOP THIS POST
and the rest of Olaplex products

 

 

IGK Haircare Review

IGK hair review 

Raise your hand if you’re the type that likes to check if your hair strands are in place before joining any Zoom meetings! True story, right? Even though our situations have changed (hopefully it’ll get better soon), it’s still very important to look our best (or at least presentable) in the virtual world. The products I like to reach for lately especially for Zoom-worthy hair are the ones from IGK. If you’re wondering what IGK means, it’s actually the initials of the stylists/founders’ last names. This brand is known for their colorful packaging and eye-catching labels. Ever since having tried their dry shampoos which are truly hair-savers, I have been testing some of their other products, especially their new releases. So far, most of the stuff I’ve tried from this brand has been really interesting. Let’s take a look.

 

Dry Shampoo

 

IGK Jet Lag Invisible Dry Shampoo

 

First Class Charcoal Detox (2-6.3 oz: 14-27 USD) – This is one of the best dry shampoos I’ve ever tried. With minimal scent and less fume, this charcoal dry shampoo is perfect for those with somewhat oily to very oily hair. This can make your hair look clean and fresh even after two days without washing. You may have to use a lot of this though and this can make your hair feel gritty, but still, this works like a charm. I really like that this doesn’t leave any white residue on the hair and this can save you a lot of time when hair grooming.

  

Jet Lag Invisible Dry Shampoo (6.3 oz: 27 USD) – This dry shampoo is a toned-down version of the First Class Detox shampoo above. This is meant for those with slightly oily hair the next day or for those who just want to add a bit of texture in their hair. For me, this only works to keep my hair looking fresh the following day. Other than that, this won’t work for those with super oily hair. Most of the time, I just use this as a texturizer or even to add a bit of volume to my hair. 

  

Texturizing

 

IGK Beach Club Texture Spray

 

Beach Club Texture Spray (1.7-5 oz: 14-29 USD) – This is probably one of the most wonderful and reliable texturizing sprays I’ve ever tried. If it wasn’t for the strong coconut scent, I would have made this as my most favorite hair texturizing spray because this really works well in creating or adding texture to your hair. This also gives that natural “beach hair” look and this even adds volume. Also, this texturizer is salt-free, non-sticky, and this doesn’t dry the hair. For an overall well-performing hair texturizer with a very pleasing scent, the Oribe Dry Texturizing Spray is still my top favorite.  

 

Rich Kid Coconut Oil Gel (1.7-5 oz: 15-29 USD) – This award-winning coconut-infused creamy hair texturizer has a lot of purpose. You can create an air-dried tousled hair, wavy-textured hair, or frizz-free beach hair with this styler if those are your style. Unfortunately, this doesn’t work well on my straight hair especially if it’s very clean. This does tame the frizzies, but this also makes my hair look too textured and too scrunched. I find that this works very well on second-day unwashed hair to create that natural lived-in textured look that a lot of people especially on TV are sporting nowadays, and perhaps the kind of hair you may want to do when you need to be in Zoom ASAP.

 

Straightening/Masks

 

IGK Antisocial Overnight Bond-Building Dry Hair Mask

 

Antisocial Overnight Bond-Building Dry Hair Mask (5 oz: 34 USD) – This color-safe bond-building dry hair mask which feels like a dry shampoo is meant to repair and strengthen the hair over time. To use this, you’re supposed to apply this product at night as a hair mask, and that works really well. Also, for me, I like to use this whenever I feel like my hair has bents or has some waves that need to be straightened asap. What I noticed is that this really works in relaxing, softening, and detangling the hair. Most of all, the effect seems to be quite long-lasting and this seems to improve the hair’s texture, overall look, and condition. The scent of this may be a bit too much for some, however, given that this really works well on the hair, I think this is one of my most favorite products from IGK and I definitely recommend that you try it.

 

Good Behavior Spirulina Protein Smoothing Spray (5.6 oz: 32 USD) – This is a very interesting IGK product because this is a heat protectant spray that can actually make your hair look like it just had a Keratin treatment. To use, you must first coat your hair with this product, blow-dry it in sections, then finish it with a flat iron to achieve that smooth, shiny, and straightened keratinized-hair look. Personally, I don’t use it as indicated because I noticed that it made my hair look too heavy and somewhat oily since this has a dry oil feel. I prefer to use this as a finishing spray because this gives my hair a nice shine while still retaining some of the volume. But, if you want to achieve that pin-straight hair and want your hair to look more tamed and definitely less frizzy, you must follow the instructions. You might actually love the result. 

 

IGK Offline 3-Minute Hydration

 

Offline 3-Minute Hydration (6.7 oz: 38 USD) – I have a new favorite hair mask and it’s this quick 3-minute only Offline mask. I love the name of this mask and I love how this mask made my hair look hydrated, healthy, light, and shiny even after just a few uses. I feel like this has restored my hair back to its natural volume and vitality. On top of that, this mask works really well with any lightweight volumizing shampoo. The consistency of this very thick, so, you only have to use a bit. This though has a somewhat strong coconut scent, but will not be noticeable after rinsing. I definitely recommend this mask and I wish IGK will continue to make more interesting hair masks like this and with interesting names as well. The next one should be called “Quarantine Hair” or “Zoom Me Maybe” lol 😃 .

 

IGK Haircare review

 

What do you think about IGK’s haircare products? What are your tips for a good hair day, at least online?

 

 

SHOP THIS POST