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How Often Do I Need a Hair Treatment? – OLAPLEX Inc.
Key Takeaways
- Healthy or virgin hair benefits from weekly or bi-weekly maintenance, color-treated hair needs consistent weekly repair, and highly compromised hair may require treatments up to 2–3 times per week.
- Bond-building treatments like Nº.3PLUS repair hair from within and can be used frequently without weighing hair down.
- Professional Stand-Alone Treatments rebuild bonds at the deepest level, while consistent at-home treatments maintain and reinforce results for stronger, healthier hair over time.
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Hair treatments have become an essential part of modern haircare routines, not just because of their ability to repair, but their ability to restore long-term hair health. With so many treatment types available, understanding what your hair needs and how often it needs it makes all the difference.
Some treatments, such as protein or keratin, can cause the hair to become stiff or brittle when overused, while conditioning masks have the potential to weigh the hair down if the right one for your hair isn’t chosen. The new OLAPLEX® Nº.3PLUS Complete Repair Treatment works from within the hair to repair the cuticle using patented OLAPLEX Bond Building Technology™, restoring bonds, reducing breakage, and helping to prevent daily damage.
So how often should you treat your hair? The answer depends on your hair’s condition, its history, and the daily stressors put on it. Let’s walk through what kinds of hair treatments might work best for you and when you should use them.
When Would I Need a Hair Treatment?
Every head of hair is unique, but most fall into one of the following categories. Identifying your hair type helps to determine how often the Nº.3PLUS Complete Repair Treatment should be part of your routine.
Healthy or Virgin Hair
Even hair that hasn’t been chemically treated experiences daily damage from external stressors like brushing, heat styling, sun exposure, and environmental stress.
Recommended treatment frequency: Once weekly or once every other week.
Using OLAPLEX helps to repair daily damage and maintain the healthy hair you already have, making it even stronger and more resilient over time.
Color Treated Hair
Coloring and bleaching compromise hair structure by breaking bonds in order to create color change. Even if hair feels healthy, it still requires ongoing repair.
Recommended treatment frequency: Once a week.
Consistent use of the Nº.3PLUS Complete Repair Treatment can help reinforce weakened bonds, improve hair strength, and even support longer lasting color.
Highly Compromised Hair
Hair that has undergone repeated chemical services, extreme lightening, or frequent heat styling may show signs of severe damage, including breakage and dryness.
Recommended treatment frequency: Up to 2-3 times per week as needed
Because the formula for Nº.3PLUS Complete Repair Treatment was made to repair hair from the inside and out, it can be used more frequently without overloading the hair. It’s important to take note of hair damage and how the hair is behaving to determine how often you should be using treatment.
Using the Nº.3PLUS Complete Repair Treatment for Intensive Care
OLAPLEX® Nº.3PLUS Complete Repair Treatment is the next evolution of the iconic Nº.3 Hair Perfector®. Designed to repair damage past, present, and future, Nº.3PLUS delivers faster, stronger, healthier-looking hair in just 3 minutes.
Unlike traditional treatments, Nº.3PLUS works inside the hair to repair bonds across the cortex and cuticle, helping strengthen hair, improve softness, and reduce breakage.
How to Use Nº.3PLUS Complete Repair Treatment
- Wet hair in the shower and squeeze out excess water so hair is damp.
- Apply a generous amount of Nº.3PLUS from mid-lengths to ends.
- Leave on for 3 minutes.
- Rinse, shampoo, and condition as usual.
*Use weekly for maintenance, or up to 3 times per week for compromised hair.
For more effective damage repair, smoothness, and hair strength, follow the treatment up with OLAPLEX Nº.4 Bond Maintenance® Shampoo and Nº.5 Bond Maintenance® Conditioner.
In-Salon vs. At-Home Treatments: Understanding the Difference
Many don’t know OLAPLEX offers two complementary bond-building treatments. One is performed in a salon by a stylist who is educated in using OLAPLEX products and professional services, while the other is designed for at-home use.
Together, they deliver comprehensive hair repair.
When You Need an In-Salon Stand-Alone Treatment™?
The OLAPLEX Stand-Alone Treatment™ is the most concentrated OLAPLEX treatment available, performed exclusively in OLAPLEX salons using Nº.1 and Nº.2.
Best for:
- First-time OLAPLEX users
- Hair undergoing significant chemical services
- Anyone seeking maximum bond repair
Recommended salon treatment frequency:
- Healthy hair: once monthly
- Highly compromised hair: as often as your stylist recommends
This treatment brings hair closer to its healthiest state by rebuilding bonds at the deepest level by using professional grade products.
When You Need an Intensive At-Home Treatment
At-home treatments like Nº3PLUS Complete Repair Treatment are designed to maintain and reinforce the results of professional services.
Think of the in-salon OLAPLEX Stand-Alone Treatment™ as the foundation, and the at-home routine as ongoing support between salon visits.
Recommended at-home treatment frequency:
- At least once weekly
- More often for damaged hair
Using both ensures hair remains strong, resilient, and visibly healthier over time.
Hair Grows Stronger with Consistency
Hair health isn’t achieved in a single treatment; it’s built through consistent care. By combining professional services with targeted at-home repair, you can strengthen your hair from the inside out.
Whether you’re maintaining healthy hair or repairing visible damage, understanding how often to treat your hair ensures you get the most from your routine.
Use the Salon Locator to find your nearest OLAPLEX stylist and get your first treatment!
