Home
>
Guide
>
Olaplex vs. Wellaplex vs. Smartbond vs. Oribe: Which Brand is Best for Your Hair?

It contains affiliate links and Extrabux will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on Extrabux links.

Olaplex vs. Wellaplex vs. Smartbond vs. Oribe: Which Brand is Best for Your Hair?

If there’s one beauty bugbear that we can all relate to, it has to be hair damage. No matter whether you embrace a complex styling routine to coif your natural curls or prefer to simply wash and air dry your straight hair, you need a good haircare brand and product for your hair! Olaplex, Wellaplex , Smartbond and Oribe are all famous brand in the world today, which one is best for you? Which is better Olaplex or wellaplex? Is Olaplex and Smartbond the same? What is WELLAPLEX treatment? Is Oribe salon quality? If you are among the long bunch of people who are searching for a good review of these brands, you have come to the right place. But it is very confusing to talk about four brands of this scale and compare them. So this article will have different paragraphs to talk about different products of these brands.

Cover Photo:lorealprofessionnel.com

1. Olaplex

Olaplex Brand Origin

Founded in 2014, Olaplex quickly became a global sensation as word of its remarkable hair repair capabilities spread.

Olaplex is a revolutionary brand that paved the way for a new category of hair care called“bond-building,”the process of protecting, strengthening and rebuilding broken bonds in the hair during and after hair services. The Olaplex treatments are based around a patented active ingredient that seeks out (and repairs) the bonds in your hair fibres that have been damaged by chemicals, thermal heat, or mechanical factors like vigorous brushing.

Today OLAPLEX is one of the largest independent hair care brands in the world with over 100 worldwide patents. Olaplex offers products ranging from shampoo, conditioner, bond-building treatment, styling oil, and others.

Source:Olaplex ins

Olaplex Prices: The first three stages of Olaplex cost $400.

Olaplex Popular Products:

What are the professional stages of Olaplex?

1) These stages of Olaplex and Wellaplex are to be used at the salon and hard to find if you're not a professional.

Olaplex 0: is applied to the hair 20 minutes before starting the process to start protecting the hair fiber.

Olaplex 1: is the first step that is added to the bleaching mixture to give elasticity to the joints of the hair and keep the cuticles protected.

Olaplex 2: is applied after the coloring process to repair the DNA of your hair core that was damaged during the process. It’s left on the hair for 20 minutes and then rinsed out.

2) Olaplex to use at home: On the other hand, Olaplex has 5 subsequent stages for home use to maintain the treatment.

Olaplex 3: this is the most important step for home use. You must apply it if you used Olaplex 1 and Olaplex 2. Like Wellaplex 3, it is applied once a week. However, you can leave Olaplex 3 on for up to 120 minutes. Then, use Olaplex shampoo and conditioner to complement it.

Olaplex 4: maintenance shampoo.

Olaplex 5: reinforcing conditioner.

Olaplex 6: intensive leave-in treatment.

Olaplex 7: leave-in repairing oil.

Source:Olaplex

Olaplex Features - Pros & Cons

Pros:

Olaplex's claim to fame is that it repairs each hair strand from the inside out. So it attacks damage from the cuticle all the way to the core. This way, hair is made healthier from the inside.
Its molecule is patented for repairing damage by reconnecting specific bonds throughout the structure of the hair. Olaplex will aid in protecting and repairing broken bonds, leaving hair in good, healthy condition again.
Olaplex created a line of single-ingredient products that are free of silicone and oils.
Olaplex does not contain sulfates, phthalates, hemp, aldehydes, parabens, or formaldehyde, which can all be harmful to your hair.
Olaplex products are also more substantial, which can prevent hair from getting cleaned properly.
It's a three-part system. Each step contains the primary active ingredient, bis-aminopropyl diglycol dimaleate.

Cons:

The products are comparatively expensive and cannot be afforded by many for daily use.
The complete care is complex and the time is relatively long.

Source:Olaplex ins

Where to Buy Olaplex for the Cheapest?

sephora.com (4-5% cashback)

lookfantastic.com (Up to 14% cashback)

Money Saving Tip: If you like online shopping, don't forget to sign up at Extrabux！(What is Extrabux) , then you can enjoy up to 30+% cashback on your purchase from Extrabux! Sign-Up Bonus: Free to join it & get $20 welcome bonus! Student Benefits：As long as you are a student at school, you can get a free whole year long VIP Card worth $199.

Extrabux.com cooperates with many merchants, such as: Walmart (Up to 4% cashback), Sephora（4% -5% cash back)，Dior (Up to 6% cash back), Moosejaw (5% -6% cash back), LOOKFANTASTIC (Up to 10% cash back), Microsoft (Up to 7% cash back) and so on.You can save on buying daily necessities, fashion, beauty, electronic products, broadband installation, mobile communication, air tickets, hotels and other aspects of life!

2. Wellaplex

WellaPlex Brand Origin

Wella AG is a German hair care company headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland. It was founded in 1880 by Franz Ströher, a hairdresser from Saxony, Eastern Germany. It specializes in hair care, styling and colorants sold to individuals as well as hairdressers. It was controlled by Procter & Gamble from 2003 until it was sold to Coty Inc. in 2015 along with some 40 other P&G brands. On November 8, 2021, Coty has agreed to sell an approximate 4.7% stake in Wella to KKR.

Wella is a popular haircare brand known for its professional salon products. The brand has come out with a new line of products called WellaPlex. People commonly experience hair dryness, brittleness, dullness, breakage, and even widespread hair loss. So, Wella has developed WellaPlex to counteract these adverse effects.

WellaPlex is a hair product line aimed at restoring the hair's structure. It consists of three products, including a bond maker, a bond stabilizer, and a hair stabilizer. The products are meant to be used on hair that has been through chemical processing of some kind.

Source:wella.com

WellaPlex Prices: $325 (the complete Wellaplex treatment costs)

What are the professional stages of Wellaplex?

There are three products in the WellaPlex line, and each of these products serves a unique purpose when it comes to hair repair.

Wellaplex 1 Bond Maker: the first step of Wellaplex is the Bond Maker. This product will create bonds in your hair. These bonds help to minimize any damage incurred through the use of chemical treatments or heat. It is designed to be combined with chemical products like hair color and bleach to guard against hair damage. Not only that, but it also helps to aid in the absorption of hair dye molecules for a more vibrant, long-lasting color result.

Wellaplex 2 Bond Stabilizer: the second step is applied after rinsing bleach or a permanent hair dye. A two-piece set that includes the bond stabilizer and a tinting brush. The bond stabilizer helps strengthen the hair by reconstructing its protein bonds. It also features a proprietary OPTI pH system that enhances dye absorption for a salon-quality hair color result. It is designed to be used after chemical treatments by professional colorists. Leave on for 20 minutes, rinse, and wash your hair with shampoo and conditioner.

Wellaplex 3 Hair Stabilizer: the third step is to maintain the treatment at home. It helps you maintain the treatment until your next salon visit. You should apply it once a week for up to 20 minutes. You can also apply it to your unwashed hair before going to bed and leave it on overnight. The next day, rinse it out using your usual shampoo and conditioners.

Source:wella.com

WellaPlex Features - Pros & Cons

Pros:

WellaPlex ingredients are nourishing and rejuvenating, containing everything your hair needs to thrive during and after chemical processing. It's got conditioning fatty alcohols, castor oil, and other ingredients that support the health of your hair.
The system helps you achieve more even, vibrant hair dye and bleaching results.
It enables people with damaged hair the opportunity to experiment with new hair colors. Without WellaPlex or another hair bond reconstructor, these people would not have the option to do so.
Though the stylist will need to add more products to your hair dye or bleaching products, using the WellaPlex system will not add more time to the overall bleaching or dyeing process.
It has an OPTI pH system that balances your hair and scalp pH levels for optimal hair outcomes.

Cons:

Two out of three of the products are not formulated for home use. To get the professional treatment (No. 1 and No. 2), you'll need to go to your local stylist.
WellaPlex does contain some ingredients that curly girls tend to avoid, including fragrances and drying alcohols. If you usually stay away from these products, you should pass on this 3-product set.

Source:wella.com

Where to Buy WellaPlex for the Cheapest?

walmart.com

sleekshop.com

3. L'Oréal Smartbond

Smartbond Brand Origin

L'Oréal is a French personal care company headquartered in Clichy, Hauts-de-Seine with a registered office in Paris. It is the world's largest cosmetics company and has developed activities in the field concentrating on hair colour, skin care, sun protection, make-up, perfume, and hair care. Loreal has been around since 1909, it's an old and trusted company by many people.

Smartbond is L'Oreal 's new protective and strengthening service, specifically designed for hairdressers. SMARTBOND is a unique system that protects and strengthens the hair during technical services (such as bleach and haircolor). The system consists of 3 components, the first 2 being used in salon and the 3rd one at home. It is very easy to use and adapted to the hairdresser's routine.

Source:lorealprofessionnel.com

Smartbond Prices: $249-$276

What are the professional stages of Smartbond?

Smartbond is Loreal's bond strengthening system that has been specifically formulated to work with their colour products. This treatment is a two step process which allows us to protect your hair and prevent damage during any colour service at limelight.

Step 1: Smartbond is added to the hair color or lightener that your hairdresser applies. Your hair is protected and strengthened during the color service.

Step 2: After the color service, the pre-shampoo is applied at the sink. Your newly colored hair will feel nourished, smooth to the touch and have radiant shine.

Step 3: Take home the Step 3 Conditioner to continue to help protect your hair after the in-salon Smartbond service. Use once a week in place of your regular conditioner. it will work to strengthen the fibres and keep your hair feeling luscious and healthy in the long term.

QQ截图20220223171859.jpg

Source:lorealprofessionnel.com

Smartbond Features - Pros & Cons

Pros:

Smartbond system protects and strengthens the hair during technical services (such as bleach and haircolor). Help repair the weak bonds to reverse the feel of damaged hair.
The key ingredient in Smartbond is maleic acid, It acts like a mopper-up of bleaching agents and helps some of the weaker bonds to reform. Smartbond also contains a patented blend of ceramides and polymers.
Smartbond is like insurance for the hair. It protects the bonds from breakage in the first place, and the maleic acid helps some of the weaker bonds to repair themselves.
Smartbond can be also used as an intensive strengthening treatment for instant and longlasting healty look of your natural hair.
Your newly colored hair will feel nourished, smooth to the touch and have radiant shine.

Cons

Unlike Olaplex, it can't magically sew those bonds back together but, as Atoshi reminded me, prevention is often better than a cure. No matter how well-reformed those bonds are, they'll never be like new.
Smartbond is used only in coloring treatments with the colors produced by L'Oreal only.

QQ截图20220223172110.jpg

Source:lorealprofessionnel.com

Where to Buy Smartbond for the Cheapest?

beautyplussalon.com

amazon.com

4. Oribe

Oribe Brand Origin

It definitely helps when you have a famed celebrity hairstylist behind your brand-in this case, the legendary Oribe Canales, who founded Oribe with partner Daniel Kaner in 2008.

Oribe is a luxury haircare brand that sells various types of high-end shampoos, conditioners, treatments, sprays, and more. They also carry a line of body care products and fragrances. Oribe was the first to bring luxury hair-care products to the market. Back in 2008, you could find hair products either in salons or at mass retailers (think your average big-box store). There was no middle ground - and that's where the trio saw the potential for a new hair care brand. "Our goal was to create these products for talented hairdressers, sophisticated salons, and product junkies alike. From the start, top performance was non-negotiable: We wanted to create something that would knock the socks off the professional stylists and blow the mind of the consumers." And that's what's at the heart of Oribe: Hair products that are actually salon-quality.

Source:Oribe ins

Oribe Prices: $42-$68

Oribe Popular Products: Signature Shampoo, Signature Conditioner, Gold Lust Repair and Restore Shampoo, Gold Lust Nourishing Hair Oil, Shampoo for Beautiful Color, Conditioner for Beautiful Color,

Oribe Shine Light Reflecting Spray, Masque for Beautiful Color, Royal Blowout Heat Styling Spray.

Source:Oribe ins

Oribe Features - Pros & Cons

Pros:

Oribe ensures that they literally have a product for every kind of hair concern you could think of. They have even recently expanded the Moisture & Control range to give even more choice to people with kinky and curly hair.
Oribe products come in the kind of sleek, architectural tubes and bottles. Perfume bottles served as inspo for the bottles, which were - and still are - unique in the hair industry.
Every of their product is packed with the most expensive and state-of-art ingredients. No expense spared. Many of which can also be found in luxury skincare products.
Many of the ingredients found in their products are naturally derived. They are sulfate-free, paraben-free, cruelty-free, gluten-free, and does not contain any animal-derived ingredients.
Oribe shampoo does not over-dries the scalp. All of their shampoo contain scalp-caring ingredients too.
Using Oribe products is like stepping into a high-end spa. Luxurious, relaxing, and pampering.

Cons

Pricier compared to other hair care retailers.

Source:Oribe ins