This Beloved Beauty Staple Is Like Slugging For Your Hair

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March 20, 2022 — 13:04 PM

Extremely valuable PSA: We’ve come across a genius reason to delay your wash day. So we’ll dive right into it: If you’re on beauty TikTok, you’ve likely heard of the famous “Olaplex bun.” This is a healthy hair take on the slicked back bun that traditionally calls for loads of hair gel and hairspray.While those styling products can definitely make your hair look sleek, they tend to feel stiff and dry to the touch. Instead, users glob on leave-in treatments that nourish the hair to create stronger locks. Think of it like daytime “slugging” for your hair. 

Now, we'd be remiss not to mention the controversy surrounding Olaplex No. 3's ingredient lilial, which the EU's European Commission has linked to fertility concerns. The fragrance note is no longer in the formula being sold in the EU and is currently being phased out globally. Be sure to check the INCI list of your Olaplex No. 3 and toss if you uncomfortable using a product with lilial in it. In the meantime, we're recommending to use their other products.

For a visual tutorial, check out this helpful TikTok. 

Of course, the key to mastering the Olaplex bun is, well, Olaplex products. The brand uses patented bond-building technology to repair broken hair bonds, which leads to smoother, healthier, and more resilient strands—just know that these are protein-infused treatments, so you don’t want to go overboard. In terms of which specific Olaplex products are best for this look, there has been some controversy (and by controversy, we mean heated debates in the comment section). 

Don’t worry: We’ve done the research to give you a quick guide to mastering the Olaplex bun and reap the most benefits from these powerful products. 

Say you’re styling your hair in the morning and don’t plan on washing until the evening or just want to skip washing your hair that day. You’re simply looking for all-day wear that will help keep those pesky flyaways down and reduce frizz. In this case, reach for the brand’s leave-in styling treatment: Olaplex No.6 Bond Smoother. This product can be applied to damp or dry hair and is formulated to condition and strengthen. Plus, it works for up to 72 hours (which means you can delay your wash day…again). 

To level up your all-day Olaplex bun, add in some drops of the No. 7 Bonding Hair Oil. This product creates a high-shine finish and helps protect the strands from UV exposure.