The 7 Best Olaplex Dupes for Bond-Building on a Budget
Healthy hair shouldn’t come at the cost of going broke.
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Every time I see my hairstylist, he’s in awe of my hair. Despite 11 years of consistently coloring it red—and, you know, regular heat styling despite my better judgment—I have shockingly healthy strands. My secret to near-virgin hair health is using hair-bonding treatments, like Olaplex, to help strengthen my hair and reduce damage.
Olaplex is the original bond-building treatment that changed the hair industry forever. Since its debut in 2014, plenty of other bond-building formulas have launched—the Olaplex vs K18 rivalry is unmatched—but many of the options are still pretty pricey. In my eyes, strong, healthy hair should be accessible to everyone, which is why I made it my mission to test a slew of innovative (and affordable!) Olaplex dupes to see if cheaper alternatives can produce similar results. Spoiler: I’ve found some seriously great contenders.
A sneak peek at our fave Olaplex dupes:
Best Olaplex Dupe Overall
Nexxus Keraphix Liquid Crystallizer Reconstructive Leave-In Treatment Serum
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Below, you’ll find seven options all under $30. Keep scrolling for team Cosmo’s top picks.
Pros
- Doesn't leave hair greasy or heavy after rinsing
- You can notice a difference in softness after one use
Cons
- Can be time consuming to use
- If you use it too often it can have the opposite effect on your hair
Why we love it: Olaplex’s novel bond-building ingredient was the first (and only) product on the market that could actually heal your damaged hair, not just mask the signs of it. The game-changing formula goes deep into the molecular levels of your hair strands to repair the broken bonds caused by bleach, heat exposure, aggressive brushing, and more.
Before shampooing, I smooth this all over my hair from roots to ends and let it sit for 10 minutes. Then, I get in the shower, wash it out, and follow with my usual shampoo and conditioner.
One Cosmo editor says: "I started using the original Olaplex No. 3 Hair Perfector in 2018, when my hair was severely damaged from heat styling and bleaching. My hair was breaking off, retaining no length. It always looked dull and stringy. Since then, I’ve used it (and a few other types of bond builders) religiously, and my hair has remained healthy even through multiple color changes and damage from hair extensions.”—BETH GILLETTE, BEAUTY EDITOR
Key Features at a glance
| Key ingredients | Bis-Aminopropyl Diglycol Dimaleate (Olaplex's patented bond-building ingredient), grapeseed oil, green tea oil |
| Hair type | All |
| Size | 1 oz. |
Nexxus Keraphix Liquid Crystallizer Reconstructive Leave-In Treatment Serum
Nexxus Keraphix Liquid Crystallizer Reconstructive Leave-In Treatment Serum
Pros
- Easy to use—just smooth it on after washing your hair
- Offers heat protection and extra hydration
Cons
- Might not be best for those with colored hair
Why we love it: So many bond-building products require a...less-than-ideal application. Countless formulas need 10+ minutes to soak into hair before getting rinsed out, and to be frank, I don’t have that kind of time! Nexxus understood that and created the most convenient leave-in that gets smoothed through hair after showering. Beyond working to repair hair bonds on contact, this also protects against heat damage, hydrates, and strengthens hair with each use.
One Cosmo editor says: “I’ve been using bond-builders since Olaplex launched, almost begrudgingly. I can’t believe it took so long for something as easy as this formula to come out. It’s a nonnegotiable during hair washing days. My hair feels stronger and healthier with a single pump. Also, the chrome purple packaging is so beautiful, I love displaying this in my bathroom.” — MARY HONKUS, CONTRIBUTING BEAUTY EDITOR
Key features at a glance
| Key ingredients | KRT technology, amino acids, |
| Hair type | Damaged, dry |
| Size | 3.3 oz. |
Pros
- The price is tough to beat
- Leave-in styling cream easily fits into routine
Cons
- If you use too much hair can feel greasy or heavy (stick to one pump)
Why we love it: Another pick for the lazy girls. (Hi, it me!) If you don’t have enough time to add an extra 10 to 20 minutes to your routine, this bond-building styling cream seamlessly fits in thanks to its quick application. Smooth a dollop onto wet hair before blow-drying to tame frizz, increase hydration, and enhance softness. It also helps that this keeps your blowout pristine for days, even in high humidity.
One Cosmo editor says: “I’m sorry, Olaplex who? I adore how this styling cream makes my hair look and feel, and the price is tough to beat. (Hello, $10?!) I’ve put a majority of my friends onto this and now we all walk into every situation with gorgeous healthy hair, no pro-level blowout required.” — MH
Key features at a glance
| Key ingredients | Rice bran, rosemary oil, hydrolyzed quinoa |
| Hair type | All |
| Size | 4.9 oz. |
Pros
- Helps restore damaged hair with citric acid
- Boosts hydration
Cons
- The fresh scent can be a little strong for those with sensitive noses
Why we love it: Before you shampoo, coat damp hair in this milky liquid from roots to ends, and leave it on for 5 to 10 minutes. Yup, it’s that easy to help restore your damaged hair—and all from a bottle you can pick up on your next wine run, no less! It utilizes citric acid to help balance your strands’ pH, which can make your hair appear smoother, softer, and healthier. It’s also made with behentrimonium chloride, a lightweight moisturizer, to help hydrate your hair before shampooing to cut down on potential dryness.
One Cosmo editor says: “On my everything shower refresh days, this pre-shampoo treatment is the first step in my routine. I’ll douse my hair in this and do a little grounding meditation before rinsing it out. Of course, I love how it’s made my self-care days a little bit more intentional, but the true benefit is how soft, silky, and shiny my hair looks. This product is the sole reason I believe I have glass hair!” —MH
Key features at a glance
| Key ingredients | Citric acid, behentrimonium chloride |
| Hair type | All |
| Size | 5.1 oz. |
Pros
- Helps strengthen hair with amino acids
- Made my hair feel *amazing* after highlights
Cons
- Best when used with a full Bondbar routine
Why we love it: This lightweight cream is extremely similar to Olaplex in consistency—probably the most similar to Olaplex that I’ve found in all of my testing—but instead uses a combination of conditioning amino acids to help strengthen hair strands.
Keep in mind this is meant to be used as a post-color treatment, so once you’ve rinsed out your color (whether you’re at home or in the salon), make sure to coat damp hair with this formula and leave on for five minutes. Rinse and follow with shampoo and conditioner.
One Cosmo editor says: “After my latest hair color appointment, I completely coated my hair in this treatment (plus, the accompanying shampoo and conditioner) and it took my hair back to virgin health. Instead of feeling like straw, my strands felt soft and silky, and my hair looked bouncy and full.” — BG
Key features at a glance
| Key ingredients | Hydrogenated castor oil, lactic acid, amino acids |
| Hair type | All |
| Size | 8 oz. |
Pros
- Contains proteins to make hair stronger over time
- Smoothes hair for the silkiest finish
Cons
- Using it too often can make hair dry and brittle—stick to once a week application
Why we love it: Protein hair treatments aren’t the same as bond-builders (they can’t rebuild bonds or repair damage), but they do fill in the holes, gaps, and cracks along your damaged hair cuticle. This makes your hair way more resistant to breakage over time, and also makes it look smooth and silky, which can create an illusion that your split ends are mended.
This formula is chock-full of proteins (keratin, wheat, and corn, to be exact), plus it uses ceramides and collagen to hydrate and plump up your hair strands.
One Cosmo editor says: “A few years ago, I caught a glimpse of the back of my head in a dressing room mirror, aghast at all the breakage and split ends hiding back there. I immediately ordered this on Amazon after reading rave reviews on Reddit, and after finishing an entire tube my hair looked brand spankin' new.” — BG
Key features at a glance
| Key ingredients | Ceramides, hydrolyzed silk, hydrolyzed collagen |
| Hair type | All |
| Size | 3.38 oz. |
Pros
- It's *very* hydrating
- Comes in a huge bottle, so it'll take a while to run out
Cons
- Not Curly-Girl Method-Approved (contains drying alcohols)
Why we love it: While Olaplex is suitable for all hair types, it’s not filled with the hydrators and sealants needed to really take curls and coils to the ~next level~. Enter: This bond-repair treatment from Curlsmith, which is loaded with strengthening amino acids. It’s also formulated with a myriad of moisturizing botanical extracts and oils like sweet almond oil, shiitake mushroom extract, and prickly pear extract for an extra boost of moisture.
Generously coat your hair with this formula before shampooing. You can detangle with your fingers or a wide-tooth comb, then leave this in for 15 minutes to an hour (depending on how much time you have and how porous your hair is—if your hair absorbs water and hydration quickly, aka is high-porosity, you'll need to leave the treatment on longer to soak up all the moisture). Then, just rinse and shampoo and condition like normal.
One Cosmo editor says: “My hair has significantly changed texture over the past few years (thanks hormonal birth control). As I learn how to embrace my new curls, this treatment has done wonders for helping them retain structure and moisture.” — MH
Key features at a glance
| Key ingredients | Sweet almond oil, shitake mushroom extract, chia seed extract |
| Hair type | Curly, coily |
| Size | 8 oz. |
How to choose the best Olaplex dupe for you:
Assess how much time you can dedicate to your hair routine.
Consider how much time and energy you're really willing to put in to get your hair in tip top shape. Some of the above formulas are a bit more involved, and require that you step out of the shower with wet hair and hang for a min (or 15) while the hair-bonding treatment does its thing. Other formulas need to be applied before shampoo and conditioner, requiring some pre-planning to your wash day.
On another hand, a few options require only a few spritzes on damp hair or smoothing on a pump after the shower once a week. Think about what will seamlessly meld into your existing routine and opt for the formula you’ll consistently remember to use.
Why trust Cosmopolitan?
Mary Honkus is a contributor for Cosmopolitan with eight years of experience researching, writing, and editing beauty stories, including a deep dive on why your hair gets so oily and making a case for coconut oil for hair. She’s an authority in all beauty categories and her hair is her prized possession. For this story, she tested a variety of Olaplex dupes and consulted with the Cosmo team to discover their favorite bond builders.
Beth Gillette is the beauty editor at Cosmopolitan with seven years of experience researching, writing, and editing hair stories that range from shampoos for oily hair to hair-growth shampoos. She's an authority in all hair categories, but is an expert when it comes to Olaplex dupes after testing basically every single one on the market over the years on her bleached, heat-damaged hair.
Beth Gillette is the beauty editor at Cosmopolitan, where she covers skincare, makeup, hair, nails, and more across digital and print. She can generally be found in bright eyeshadow furiously typing her latest feature or hemming and hawing about a new product you "have to try." Prior to Cosmopolitan, she wrote and edited beauty content as an Editor at The Everygirl for four years. Follow her on Instagram for makeup selfies and a new hair 'do every few months.
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