Immediately hydrates and soothes scalp
Humectants or rich emollients sit in the first eight ingredients.
- Glycerin
- Propanediol
- C9-12 Alkane
Supported
Helps hair feel hydrated.
Olaplex
No.0.5 Scalp Longevity Treatment
Scalp treatment
- Scalp treatment
- serum
- Sulfate-free
- Silicone-free
- Vegan · label states
- Cruelty-free · label states
Size1.69 fl oz
Priceabout $44commonly seen · 1.69 oz
Price / oz$26.04/ozat 1.69 oz
Where to buy6 stores · $34.99–44.00
Scent:
No added fragrance on the label, but it carries scenting botanicals — essential oils smell even when they are not labelled as fragrance.
Manufacturer page: olaplex.com
Personal fit
Is this right for you?
Complete the consultation to see exactly how well this product fits your hair and your goals. With 2,400+ products in our library we can match exactly the right products to you.
- In 10 minutes we can identify your exact hair condition and traits.
- Every product matched against your hair across the 19 factors we check.
- A personalized routine for your daily life — your schedule, styling habits, and local weather.
- Find products that do the same job at a lower cost.
- Your goals, scalp, damage history, water, budget, and scent preferences all shape your plan.
$49.00 one-time consultation, no subscription
Add the optional $49/year membership for unlimited adjustments for changes in weather and lifestyle.
Factor
Your profile
Fit
Best for hair types
All types
Not in your profile
Moisture level
High
Not in your profile
Slip / detangling
Some
Not in your profile
Weight on hair
Light
Not in your profile
Fragrance
None listed
Not in your profile
Protein
None
Not in your profile
Silicone / wax buildup
None
Not in your profile
Clarifying wash needed
Moderate
Not in your profile
Parabens / preservatives
None of these listed
Not in your profile
Essential oils
Present
Not in your profile
Show all 19 factors we check
The rest of what your plan weighs on this product.
Fast-drying alcohol
None
Not in your profile
Vegan / cruelty-free
Vegan · label statesCruelty-free · label states
Not in your profile
Animal-derived ingredients
Vegan · label states
Not in your profile
Heavy humectants
Heavy
Not in your profile
Hard-water defence
None
Not in your profile
UV filter
None listed
Not in your profile
Ingredient list
45 ingredientsA long list
Not in your profile
Price tier
Salon
Not in your profile
Where to buy it
Brand website · Salons +2Widely sold
Not in your profile
The consultation builds your hair profile, then reads every factor in this table against it — and tells you where this product fits, or what to use instead.
Start your consultation$49.00 once, for your consultation and hair profile. No subscription, no required purchases.
Your avoid-list
Same job for less elsewhere
$26.04/oz at 1.69 oz — more than 85% of the 152 scalp treatments , which mostly run $3.22–20.64/oz.
Great for
no fragrance (parfum) on the label — scented
Protein-sensitive hairthat stiffens when protein is added
Dry, thirsty hairhumectants and emollients both sit up front
Fine hairthat flattens under most products
Silicone-free routinesno silicones appear in the list
Porous, damaged hairceramides are in the list
Maybe skip if
this product carries a scent
Dry or very humid airwhere heavy humectants work against you
Tight budgetsit sits in the upper price tiers
What the formula actually does
Read from the label, not the marketing
Each row says where it comes from: F means we derived it from this product’s own ingredient list, S means it is a claim the brand makes that the formula neither confirms nor contradicts.
Slip and detangling
Some
Some slip, mostly from esters or silicones rather than conditioners.
Oils and butters
Present, lower down
Oils are present, but low enough to be a finishing touch.
Weight on the hair
Light
Water-first and light: unlikely to flatten fine hair.
Water-binding (humectants)
High
Humectants near the top — water-binding is a headline mechanism here.
Protein
None
No protein or amino acids in the list.
Needs detergent to remove
No
Nothing here needs a detergent wash to remove.
Hard-water defence
None
No chelating agent in the list.
Fragrance
None listed
No fragrance is listed.
from the formula
stated by the brand
reported by reviewers
Scale: 1 dot low · 5 dots high, within this product type.
Ingredients that matter
The ingredients that change a decision
The workhorse ingredients plus anything lower down that changes a decision. These chips name what an ingredient does — they are not safety scores, and no ingredient here is rated good or bad on its own.
| Ingredient | What it does | Why it matters | Chip |
|---|---|---|---|
| WaterAqua/Water/Eau | solvent | The base everything else is dissolved in | Neutral |
| Glycerin | humectant | Pulls water into the hair | Moisturizes |
| Propanediol | humectant | Pulls water into the hair | Moisturizes |
| C9-12 Alkane | emollient | Softens and smooths the strand | Softens |
| Octyldodecanol | fatty alcohol | Thickens and conditions — not a drying alcohol | Softens |
| Bis-Aminopropyl Diglycol Dimaleate | conditioning agent | Reduces combing force | Detangles |
| Phenoxyethanol | preservative | Keeps the product from spoiling | Stabilizes |
| Sodium Acrylates Copolymer | film former | A supporting film former | Holds |
| Phenethyl Alcohol | preservative | Keeps the product from spoiling | Fragrance |
What the list leaves out, and what it carriesNo sulfates, silicones, or drying alcohols. Protein-free: this is built for moisture rather than for strengthening. Recorded as vegan and cruelty-free.
Full ingredient list (45)
US labelling rules put ingredients above 1% in descending order of amount; below 1% they may be listed in any order. Annotations keep three readings separate: the ingredient's general function, its role in this product type, and what its position can support.
-
1
Water
· Aqua/Water/Eau
General function
The base of almost every rinse-off and cream hair product. It carries everything else and is normally the first ingredient on the label.
Leading ingredientListed in the first three ingredients, it is likely a structural part of this formula.
- solvent
-
2
Glycerin
General function
A small water-loving molecule that draws moisture into the hair and holds it there. It is the most common softening ingredient in conditioners and leave-ins.
Leading ingredientListed in the first three ingredients, it is likely a structural part of this formula.
Scientific ReportsMay suitDry, coarse, or high-porosity hairHigh-porosity hair loses water fast; a humectant holds some of it in place for longer than the wash itself would.
May suitVery dry or highly damaged hairBinds water into the outer layers of the strand, and water is what makes dry hair flexible again rather than brittle.
DependsClimate-sensitive or frizz-prone hairWater moves both ways. Measured across concentrations, glycerin solutions give water up in some conditions and take it from the air in others. What it does for you depends on how much of it is there and on the air around it.
- humectant
-
3
Propanediol
General function
A corn-derived humectant and solvent, often chosen as a lighter-feeling alternative to propylene glycol.
Leading ingredientListed in the first three ingredients, it is likely a structural part of this formula.
PubChemMay suitFine or easily flattened hairLight and water-binding rather than oily, so it hydrates without contributing weight.
May suitVery dry or highly damaged hairA small water-binding solvent. It holds moisture and helps the rest of the formula spread evenly over the strand.
DependsClimate-sensitive or frizz-prone hairA humectant follows the air: it holds water in humid conditions and can give it up in very dry ones. Climate decides what it does more than the label does.
- humectant
- solvent
-
4
C9-12 Alkane
General function
A very light plant-derived carrier that evaporates quickly.
Supporting ingredientListed in positions 4–8, it likely makes a meaningful contribution alongside the formula's main ingredients.
May suitFrizz-prone, damaged, or high-friction hairEmollients fill and smooth the surface of the strand, which lowers the friction that lifts the cuticle and reads as roughness.
- emollient
- solvent
-
5
Octyldodecanol
General function
A liquid fatty alcohol that adds slip and helps oils spread.
Supporting ingredientListed in positions 4–8, it likely makes a meaningful contribution alongside the formula's main ingredients.
PubChemMay suitDry, coarse, or high-porosity hairThe waxy solid that gives a conditioner its body. It deposits a soft lubricating layer, which is most of what makes hair feel smooth after rinsing.
May suitFrizz-prone, damaged, or high-friction hairDeposits with the cationic conditioners and helps them lie flat along the strand, which is where the detangling actually comes from.
DependsFine or easily flattened hairNear the top of a conditioner it is doing most of the conditioning, and most of the weighting, at the same time.
- fatty alcohol
- emollient
-
6
Bis-Aminopropyl Diglycol Dimaleate
General function
A bond-repair ingredient that reacts with sulfur groups in the hair. It is the active in one of the widely marketed bond-building systems.
Supporting ingredientListed in positions 4–8, it likely makes a meaningful contribution alongside the formula's main ingredients.
May suitFrizz-prone, damaged, or high-friction hairDeposits a lubricating layer that makes combing easier, which is most of what stops mechanical damage adding to frizz.
- conditioning agent
- ▾Below about this point, order stops being meaningful — these are typically used at 1% or less.
-
7
Phenoxyethanol
General function
The most common modern preservative; it keeps the product free of bacteria and mould. It sits well below 1% of the formula.
Estimated lower-concentration zonePubChemIt appears around or below the estimated 1% line, where label order no longer indicates relative amount; its role may be minor or technical.
- preservative
-
8
Sodium Acrylates Copolymer
General function
A synthetic film-forming polymer. Polymers of this kind dry to a continuous film on the hair, which is how a styling product holds a shape.
Estimated lower-concentration zoneIt appears around or below the estimated 1% line, where label order no longer indicates relative amount; its role may be minor or technical.
- film former
- polymer
-
9
Oryza Sativa (Rice) Bran Oil
General function
A light oil used for shine and slip, often alongside rice-derived proteins.
Estimated lower-concentration zoneIt appears around or below the estimated 1% line, where label order no longer indicates relative amount; its role may be minor or technical.
May suitDry, coarse, or high-porosity hairCoats the surface and slows water leaving the strand, which is usually what coarse hair that dries out fast is missing.
May suitFrizz-prone, damaged, or high-friction hairA thin oil layer lowers friction between strands and flattens the raised cuticle that scatters light and catches on its neighbours.
- oil
- emollient
-
10
Arginine
General function
An amino acid that holds water and carries a positive charge, so it is drawn to damaged spots on the strand.
Estimated lower-concentration zoneIt appears around or below the estimated 1% line, where label order no longer indicates relative amount; its role may be minor or technical.
PubChemMay suitVery dry or highly damaged hairAmino acids are the smallest protein fraction and bind water as well, so they add far less stiffness than a hydrolysed protein does.
DependsClimate-sensitive or frizz-prone hairA humectant follows the air: it holds water in humid conditions and can give it up in very dry ones. Climate decides what it does more than the label does.
DependsProtein-sensitive hairThe lightest option in the protein family, but still protein — worth watching if protein reliably stiffens your hair.
- amino acid
- humectant
-
11
Chlorphenesin
- preservative
-
12
Glycine Soja (Soybean) Seed Extract
- botanical extract
-
13
Hydrogenated Polydecene
General function
A synthetic light emollient used for slip that does not go rancid.
Estimated lower-concentration zoneIt appears around or below the estimated 1% line, where label order no longer indicates relative amount; its role may be minor or technical.
May suitFrizz-prone, damaged, or high-friction hairEmollients fill and smooth the surface of the strand, which lowers the friction that lifts the cuticle and reads as roughness.
- emollient
-
14
Lecithin
General function
A soy- or sunflower-derived lipid that helps conditioning ingredients spread evenly on the strand.
Estimated lower-concentration zoneIt appears around or below the estimated 1% line, where label order no longer indicates relative amount; its role may be minor or technical.
PubChemMay suitFrizz-prone, damaged, or high-friction hairEmollients fill and smooth the surface of the strand, which lowers the friction that lifts the cuticle and reads as roughness.
- emulsifier
- emollient
-
15
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
General function
A plant-derived light ester used where a silicone-free but silky feel is wanted.
Estimated lower-concentration zoneIt appears around or below the estimated 1% line, where label order no longer indicates relative amount; its role may be minor or technical.
May suitFine or easily flattened hairA light emollient: it softens the surface with noticeably less weight than an oil or a butter.
May suitFrizz-prone, damaged, or high-friction hairSpreads thin and lowers friction between strands without the heaviness of a fixed oil.
- light ester
- emollient
-
16
Citric Acid
General function
Used to bring the product to a slightly acidic pH, which helps the cuticle lie flat. It is almost always near the end of the list.
Estimated lower-concentration zoneIt appears around or below the estimated 1% line, where label order no longer indicates relative amount; its role may be minor or technical.
International Journal of TrichologyMay suitBuild-up-sensitive routinesHolds hard-water minerals in solution so they rinse away instead of depositing on the hair.
May suitFrizz-prone, damaged, or high-friction hairThe acid side of pH adjustment, and the reason it matters is measured: alkaline formulas raise the fibre's surface negative charge, increase friction between strands and lift the scales, while lower-pH ones do the reverse.
May suitGray, silver, or brass-prone hairWhere a warm cast comes from water minerals rather than from the hair itself, holding those metals in solution is what removes it.
- pH adjuster
- hard-water chelator
-
17
Menthoxypropanediol
- humectant
-
18
1,2-Hexanediol
General function
A preservative booster that also holds a little moisture and helps other ingredients dissolve.
Estimated lower-concentration zoneIt appears around or below the estimated 1% line, where label order no longer indicates relative amount; its role may be minor or technical.
PubChemMay suitFine or easily flattened hairLight and water-binding rather than oily, so it hydrates without contributing weight.
May suitVery dry or highly damaged hairA small water-binding solvent. It holds moisture and helps the rest of the formula spread evenly over the strand.
DependsClimate-sensitive or frizz-prone hairA humectant follows the air: it holds water in humid conditions and can give it up in very dry ones. Climate decides what it does more than the label does.
- preservative
- humectant
- solvent
-
19
Ceramide NP
General function
A lipid that occurs naturally between cuticle scales; added to help hold the surface of damaged hair together.
Estimated lower-concentration zoneIt appears around or below the estimated 1% line, where label order no longer indicates relative amount; its role may be minor or technical.
PubChemMay suitFrizz-prone, damaged, or high-friction hairRestoring surface lipids lowers friction between strands, which is where much of the roughness in damaged hair comes from.
May suitProtein-sensitive hairA lipid, not a protein, despite sitting alongside proteins in most repair claims. It does not carry the stiffening effect.
May suitVery dry or highly damaged hairCeramides are the lipid class bleaching and heat deplete. Replacing them works on the surface layer rather than adding protein stiffness.
- ceramide
- emollient
-
20
Cetearyl Alcohol
General function
A waxy fatty alcohol - nothing like drying alcohol. It gives conditioners their body and leaves a soft, smoothing film on the hair.
Estimated lower-concentration zoneIt appears around or below the estimated 1% line, where label order no longer indicates relative amount; its role may be minor or technical.
PubChemMay suitDry, coarse, or high-porosity hairThe waxy solid that gives a conditioner its body. It deposits a soft lubricating layer, which is most of what makes hair feel smooth after rinsing.
May suitFrizz-prone, damaged, or high-friction hairDeposits with the cationic conditioners and helps them lie flat along the strand, which is where the detangling actually comes from.
- fatty alcohol
- emollient
- thickener
-
21
Glyceryl Stearate
General function
A workhorse emulsifier that holds oil and water together in a cream.
Estimated lower-concentration zoneIt appears around or below the estimated 1% line, where label order no longer indicates relative amount; its role may be minor or technical.
PubChemMay suitFrizz-prone, damaged, or high-friction hairEmollients fill and smooth the surface of the strand, which lowers the friction that lifts the cuticle and reads as roughness.
- emulsifier
- emollient
-
22
Tasmannia Lanceolata Leaf Extract
- botanical extract
-
23
Phenethyl Alcohol
General function
A rose-scented alcohol that acts as both a mild preservative and a fragrance note.
Estimated lower-concentration zoneIt appears around or below the estimated 1% line, where label order no longer indicates relative amount; its role may be minor or technical.
PubChemMay not suitFragrance-sensitive routinesDeclared fragrance. On a fragrance-sensitive routine this is the line that decides it, wherever it sits on the label.
- preservative
- fragrance
- 24 Pogostemon Cablin Leaf/Stem Extract
-
25
Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
- botanical extract
-
26
Lavandula Oil/Extract
- botanical extract
- essential oil
-
27
Pentylene Glycol
General function
A humectant that also helps preserve the formula, often used where a brand wants a short preservative list.
Estimated lower-concentration zoneIt appears around or below the estimated 1% line, where label order no longer indicates relative amount; its role may be minor or technical.
PubChemMay suitFine or easily flattened hairLight and water-binding rather than oily, so it hydrates without contributing weight.
May suitVery dry or highly damaged hairA small water-binding solvent. It holds moisture and helps the rest of the formula spread evenly over the strand.
DependsClimate-sensitive or frizz-prone hairA humectant follows the air: it holds water in humid conditions and can give it up in very dry ones. Climate decides what it does more than the label does.
- humectant
- solvent
- preservative
- 28 Leptospermum Scoparium Branch/Leaf Oil
-
29
Ceramide AP
General function
A ceramide used to help hold the outer surface of damaged hair together.
Estimated lower-concentration zoneIt appears around or below the estimated 1% line, where label order no longer indicates relative amount; its role may be minor or technical.
May suitFrizz-prone, damaged, or high-friction hairRestoring surface lipids lowers friction between strands, which is where much of the roughness in damaged hair comes from.
May suitProtein-sensitive hairA lipid, not a protein, despite sitting alongside proteins in most repair claims. It does not carry the stiffening effect.
May suitVery dry or highly damaged hairCeramides are the lipid class bleaching and heat deplete. Replacing them works on the surface layer rather than adding protein stiffness.
- ceramide
- emollient
- 30 Cholesterol
-
31
Hydrogenated Lecithin
General function
A stabilised lecithin used to help conditioning ingredients deposit evenly.
Estimated lower-concentration zoneIt appears around or below the estimated 1% line, where label order no longer indicates relative amount; its role may be minor or technical.
May suitFrizz-prone, damaged, or high-friction hairEmollients fill and smooth the surface of the strand, which lowers the friction that lifts the cuticle and reads as roughness.
- emulsifier
- emollient
- 32 Phytosphingosine
-
33
Stearic Acid
General function
A fatty acid that thickens creams and helps them hold their texture.
Estimated lower-concentration zoneIt appears around or below the estimated 1% line, where label order no longer indicates relative amount; its role may be minor or technical.
PubChemMay suitDry, coarse, or high-porosity hairThe waxy solid that gives a conditioner its body. It deposits a soft lubricating layer, which is most of what makes hair feel smooth after rinsing.
May suitFrizz-prone, damaged, or high-friction hairDeposits with the cationic conditioners and helps them lie flat along the strand, which is where the detangling actually comes from.
- emulsifier
- thickener
- fatty alcohol
-
34
Magnolia Officinalis Bark Extract
- botanical extract
-
35
Piper Nigrum (Pepper) Seed Extract
- botanical extract
- 36 Tetraacetylphytosphingosine
-
37
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
- humectant
-
38
Sodium Hyaluronate
General function
A large water-binding molecule that sits on the surface holding moisture.
Estimated lower-concentration zoneIt appears around or below the estimated 1% line, where label order no longer indicates relative amount; its role may be minor or technical.
May suitDry, coarse, or high-porosity hairHigh-porosity hair loses water fast; a humectant holds some of it in place for longer than the wash itself would.
May suitVery dry or highly damaged hairBinds water into the outer layers of the strand, and water is what makes dry hair flexible again rather than brittle.
DependsClimate-sensitive or frizz-prone hairA humectant moves water in whichever direction the air allows: it holds moisture in humid conditions and can pull it back out of hair in very dry ones.
- humectant
-
39
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
General function
A synthetic film-forming polymer. Polymers of this kind dry to a continuous film on the hair, which is how a styling product holds a shape.
Estimated lower-concentration zoneIt appears around or below the estimated 1% line, where label order no longer indicates relative amount; its role may be minor or technical.
May suitClimate-sensitive or frizz-prone hairA set polymer film is a physical barrier to humidity, so a style keeps its shape longer in damp conditions.
May suitMaximum-hold stylingSynthetic film formers dry into a continuous film, which is what holds a shape against movement and against humid air.
DependsBuild-up-sensitive routinesSome acrylate copolymers rinse with water and some need a detergent; the label alone does not say which one a formula used.
- film former
- polymer
-
40
Xanthan Gum
General function
A fermented sugar gum that thickens water-based formulas and adds soft, natural hold.
Estimated lower-concentration zoneIt appears around or below the estimated 1% line, where label order no longer indicates relative amount; its role may be minor or technical.
May suitCurls or waves needing flexible holdA polysaccharide film stays softer than a synthetic one as it dries, which is what leaves a curl defined but still able to move.
May suitFrizz-prone, damaged, or high-friction hairA soft film binds neighbouring strands together, which is most of what keeps flyaways lying down without stiffness.
May not suitMaximum-hold stylingGum films stay soft. A style that needs firm fixation usually wants a synthetic polymer doing the holding.
- gum
- thickener
- film former
-
41
Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
- humectant
-
42
Ceramide EOP
General function
A ceramide with an ester-linked omega-hydroxy fatty acid on a phytosphingosine base, formerly listed as Ceramide 1. Added to repair-positioned formulas to reinforce the lipids at the hair's surface.
Estimated lower-concentration zoneIt appears around or below the estimated 1% line, where label order no longer indicates relative amount; its role may be minor or technical.
May suitFrizz-prone, damaged, or high-friction hairRestoring surface lipids lowers friction between strands, which is where much of the roughness in damaged hair comes from.
May suitProtein-sensitive hairA lipid, not a protein, despite sitting alongside proteins in most repair claims. It does not carry the stiffening effect.
May suitVery dry or highly damaged hairCeramides are the lipid class bleaching and heat deplete. Replacing them works on the surface layer rather than adding protein stiffness.
- ceramide
- emollient
-
43
Sodium Benzoate
- preservative
-
44
Ethylhexylglycerin
General function
A preservative booster that also adds a little softness. Almost always paired with phenoxyethanol.
Estimated lower-concentration zoneIt appears around or below the estimated 1% line, where label order no longer indicates relative amount; its role may be minor or technical.
PubChemMay suitFrizz-prone, damaged, or high-friction hairEmollients fill and smooth the surface of the strand, which lowers the friction that lifts the cuticle and reads as roughness.
- preservative
- emollient
- 45 Glycosphingolipids
What the whole list adds up to
- 13 emollients
- 9 humectants
- 7 preservatives
- 6 botanical extracts
- 5 solvents
- 4 emulsifiers
- 3 fatty alcohols
- 3 film formers
- 3 ceramides
- 3 thickeners
- 2 polymers
- 1 conditioning agent
- 1 oil
- 1 amino acid
Ingredient list captured 2026-09-15. Formulas change — check the package in your hand when an ingredient matters to you.
Price · 1.69 oz
Commonly seen
about $44
Good value under
$4
Priced above the products that do the same job. Stores sell it above the $4 line; products that do this job typically go for about $12 at this size.
Show the price ladder
Where we’ve seen it6 listings · 6 stores
-
United Salon Supplies
$34.991.7 oz · $20.58/ozSep 16Lowest per ozSale · was $69.98
-
Ulta (ulta.com)
$44.001.7 oz · $25.88/ozSep 15
-
Ulta Beauty
$44.001.69 oz · $26.04/ozSep 16
-
OLAPLEX
$44.001.69 oz · $26.04/ozSep 16
-
Sephora
$44.001.69 oz · $26.04/ozSep 16
-
Kohl's
$44.001.69 oz · $26.04/ozSep 16
Sorted by price per ounce. Dated observations from our research, not live prices. Direct store pages, no affiliate links. We don’t sell this product.
How we work this out
- 1.69 oz is the size stores list most often; every comparison on this page is made at it. Other sizes are shown in the Sizes row and the store list.
- Commonly seen is the middle half of current prices for the 1.69 oz at recognised stores — the cheapest quarter and the dearest quarter are left out, so one sale or one overpriced listing can’t move it.
- Good value under $4 comes from the 7 products we score as doing the same job as this one. A quarter of them cost less than $2.37/oz; at 1.69 oz that is $4. Under that line you are paying less than most of them.
- About $12 is what those same products typically cost at this size — the midpoint of their prices per ounce, scaled to 1.69 oz.
Formula
5
Formula score
5 of 10
It costs more per ounce than 85% of the 152 scalp treatments we’ve priced, and 5 formulas we score as close matches cost at least a quarter less per ounce.
How the score is counted
- 5 products we score as doing the same job cost less per ounce
- Costs more per ounce than 85% of the 152 scalp treatments we’ve priced
- No conditioning agents up front in the formula
- Reviewers mention 2 things they like about how it performs
- Conditioning agents up frontWhat makes wet hair comb through.3 pts
- Oils or butters in the working zoneSoftens the strand rather than just coating it.2 pts
- Slip for detanglingReduces the force it takes to comb wet hair.2 pts
- A humectantBinds water into the hair.1 pt
- A pH adjusterBrings the formula to the acidic pH hair prefers.1 pt
- Fragrance kept out of the top eightScent as a finishing touch, not a major share.1 pt
The formula score is completeness for the job: the share of the systems this product type is normally built around that we can find in this list, weighted. It is not efficacy, not quality, and it never compares across product types.
Does the same job, for less
Same derived functions — what it cleans, conditions, coats or holds — at a lower cost per ounce. Scent, texture and where you buy it can still differ.
Kristin EssLowest cost per oz
Instant Exfoliating Scalp Scrub
$2.23/oz $23.81/oz less
- Protein-free
- Lightweight
- Silicone-free
- Function
- Also
Andalou NaturalsClose function
Argan Stem Cell Age Defying Scalp Intensive
$7.14/oz $18.90/oz less
- Vegan & CF
- Function
- Also
Kristin EssClose function
Mineral Detox Pre-Shampoo Rinse
$2.50/oz $23.54/oz less
- Protein-free
- Lightweight
- Silicone-free
- Function
- Also
See more alternatives in the product library
These are functional neighbours, not personal recommendations — they are close on formula, not chosen for anyone. Get the one that fits your hair, routine, and budget
Final decision
Should you buy it?
Good for the right person, not the lowest costBest user
People sensitive to fragrance, looking for a formula with no added fragrance and a protein-free formula
Biggest tradeoff
Not ideal for anyone sensitive to fragrance, very dry or very humid climates, or people shopping on a budget
Best alternative if not
Consider Kristin Ess Instant Exfoliating Scalp Scrub, for similar results at a lower price
We do not sell products or take placement fees. This page states what the formula and the prices show; the consultation is what matches it to a person.
Claims check
What the brand says, against what the formula shows
Claims are quoted from the brand. We only mark one supported, partly supported, or conflicting when the ingredient list actually speaks to it; everything else stays "stated by the brand", which is not a criticism — most claims simply cannot be read off a label.
2
SupportedBacked by ingredients
1
Partly supportedSome supporting logic
4
Stated by brandNo clear evidence
0
Potential conflictFormula works against claim
Strengthens and protects scalp barrier and microbiome
Protein or ceramides are present, but low enough that this reads as support, not treatment.
- Arginine
- Ceramide NP
Partly supported
Supports the surface, not a treatment.
Promotes soft, shiny and visibly healthy hair
The formula carries a recognised shine system — silicone, oil, or light ester.
- Oryza Sativa (Rice) Bran Oil
- Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Supported
Reflects light for visible shine.
Visibly healthy, softer hair after 4 weeks
This is a marketing claim; an ingredient list cannot speak to it.
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Stated by brand
Can’t be confirmed from label.
5X more hydrated scalp immediately
A brand-run study. We report it as stated and do not repeat the number as fact.
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Stated by brand
Only the brand’s testing shows this.
51% improved scalp barrier in 14 days
A brand-run study. We report it as stated and do not repeat the number as fact.
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Stated by brand
Only the brand’s testing shows this.
80% said scalp felt nourished after just one use
A brand-run study. We report it as stated and do not repeat the number as fact.
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Stated by brand
Only the brand’s testing shows this.
How to read this
We look at the first 10–15 ingredients and what they do in a formula — not marketing. If the list doesn't speak to a claim, we don't assume.
Reviewers
What people report
Recurring themes our researchers wrote in their own words from sourced reviews. We do not store or scrape star ratings.
The precision applicator tip is repeatedly praised as easy to use for parting hair and applying product directly to the scalp without mess.
general reviewersReviewers with dry, itchy, tight or menopause-related scalp issues report noticeably less dryness, tightness and itchiness with regular use.
reviewers with dry, itchy or aging scalps, including menopause-related scalp changesA large recurring complaint is that the product has a strong, unpleasant smell that reviewers compare to rancid cheese, yeast, or ammonia, unlike other Olaplex products.
reviewers across hair and scalp typesSeveral reviewers found the product made no noticeable difference to their scalp or hair volume, calling it expensive for the small tube size relative to results.
reviewers with normal to oily scalpsMore from Olaplex
How this page was made
- Everything above is generated from our researched product record — identity, the ingredient list as printed, the brand's own claims, dated price observations, and review themes written in our researchers' own words. No part of this page is written per product.
- The value band is a fixed label over two stored numbers: this product’s cost per ounce as a percentile of every product of this type we have priced, each at the size it is most often sold in, and how many products we score as doing the same job cost at least a quarter less per ounce.
- Both scores out of ten are defined on this page. The formula score is completeness for the job, computed from a fixed per-format checklist shown beneath the gauge; the price score is cost per ounce against every product of this type we have priced.
- The "Is this right for you?" panel reads only your own consultation answers, and it applies exactly the filters our recommendation engine applies. It is computed when you load the page and is never stored on it.
- 6 sources consulted for this product (0 manufacturer or regulatory, 1 retailer, 5 editorial), last checked 2026-09-16.
- Ingredient references are linked for 14 of 25 product-aware annotations on this page. Fit notes are conditional formulation guidance, not a conclusion about the finished product or about you.
- We have not tested this product in a lab and we do not physically test your hair. Formula readings come from the ingredient list; behaviour claims are labelled as the brand's.
- Ingredient order tells you relative amount only above roughly 1%. Prices are observations on the dates shown and change without notice.
- Ingredient names link to our ingredient library, where each entry shows what it does, which product types use it, and where it usually sits on a label across everything we have researched.
- This is cosmetic information, not medical advice, and nothing here diagnoses or treats a health condition.
- Formula readings: derivation v22. Record last updated 2026-09-16.