Dupe report / Bond repair hair treatments
Olaplex No.3 dupes, ranked by how you use them and what is in them
The closest Olaplex No.3 dupe is L'Oreal Paris EverPure Bond Repair+ Pre-Shampoo Treatment: $9.97 for 5.1 oz vs $34.00 for 3.3 oz of Olaplex N°.3PLUS, the formula now replacing No.3. You use it the same way, before shampoo, for about a fifth of the price per ounce. No cheaper product we checked has Olaplex's patented bond ingredient: same steps, different ingredients.
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Buy on Amazon $9.97Same step for less
L'Oreal Paris EverPure Bond Repair+ Pre-Shampoo Treatment $9.97 Amazon, Oct 26, 2026
Pre-shampoo, rinse out. Citric acid instead of Olaplex's bond ingredient. 5.1 oz, $1.95/oz.
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Buy on Amazon $34.00The original (new formula)
Olaplex N°.3PLUS Hair Repair Pre-Shampoo Treatment $34.00 Amazon, Oct 26, 2026
Has Olaplex's patented bond ingredient. Pre-shampoo, 3 minutes. 3.3 oz, $10.30/oz.
Quick answers
- Is Olaplex No.3 discontinued?
- Mostly. Olaplex says N°.3PLUS is replacing the original No.3. The old No.3 page on olaplex.com now opens N°.3PLUS, and some stores still have the old bottles. N°.3PLUS is a 3-minute pre-shampoo step; the old No.3 said 10 minutes or more.
- Does any dupe have the same bond ingredient as Olaplex?
- No. Olaplex's patented ingredient (bis-aminopropyl diglycol dimaleate) is 2nd on the classic No.3 list and 4th on N°.3PLUS. None of the cheaper products we checked lists it. They use citric acid, proteins, oils or a peptide instead.
- Is Redken Acidic Bonding Concentrate the same as the L'Oreal one?
- Nearly. Redken's Acidic Bonding Concentrate pre-shampoo treatment shares 15 of L'Oreal EverPure Bond Repair+'s 15 ingredients, and the first 9 are in the same order (both lists are printed below). Both brands belong to L'Oréal. The Redken one costs more.
- Is K18 better than Olaplex?
- It works differently: K18 uses its own peptide and you leave it in, while Olaplex rinses out. It is not a cheaper swap. At $75.00 for 1.7 oz it costs more per ounce than Olaplex.
01 / The ranking
The 4 Olaplex No.3 alternatives, ranked
How we rank: none of these has Olaplex's bond ingredient, so we rank by routine first. A rinse-out treatment you use before shampoo, like No.3, comes first. Then we count how many of N°.3PLUS's 56 ingredients each one shares, then price per ounce.
How Olaplex N°.3PLUS feels: A white conditioning cream you put on damp hair before shampoo, leave for a few minutes and rinse. It has a light fragrance and leaves hair softer before you wash.
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1. L'Oreal Paris EverPure Bond Repair+ Pre-Shampoo Treatment
How you use it: pre-shampoo, 5 to 10 minutes, rinse · shares 10 N°.3PLUS ingredients · $9.97 for 5.1 oz ($1.95/oz)
How it feels: A white conditioning cream with no silicones on the list. It goes on damp hair before shampoo and rinses out. Sulfate-free, with a light scent.
Best for the same step for far less. It is used exactly like No.3: on damp hair before shampoo, then rinsed. Its bond care is citric acid, not Olaplex's patented ingredient. Redken's Acidic Bonding Concentrate pre-shampoo lists nearly the same ingredients (both brands belong to L'Oréal).
Trade-off: No cheaper product has Olaplex's bond ingredient, so this is the same routine with a different chemistry, not a copy.
Buy on Amazon $9.97 -
2. Mielle Babassu & Mint Damage Repair Bond Treatment
How you use it: after shampoo, 10 minutes, rinse · shares 15 N°.3PLUS ingredients · $13.94 for 5.5 oz ($2.53/oz)
How it feels: A rich cream with jojoba, castor and sunflower oils and a peppermint scent. You leave it on for 10 minutes after shampoo, then rinse.
Best for very dry, textured or relaxed hair. A richer rinse-out treatment made for damage from relaxers, heat and color, with oils and wheat protein.
Trade-off: It is used after shampoo, not before, and Mielle says every 4 to 6 weeks. It has peppermint and fragrance.
Buy on Amazon $13.94 -
3. Eva NYC Therapy Session Deep Conditioning Hair Mask
How you use it: after shampoo, rinse · shares 11 N°.3PLUS ingredients · $15.97 for 13.5 oz ($1.18/oz)
How it feels: A creamy mask with jojoba, argan and a silicone that softens and smooths. It is a conditioning mask, not a bond treatment.
Best for softness for the lowest price per ounce. A big 13.5 oz tub, the lowest price per ounce here. It is built on the same kind of conditioning base as No.3 (water, fatty alcohols, conditioners).
Trade-off: It makes no bond-repair claim at all. It smooths and softens; it does not do what Olaplex says No.3 does.
Buy on Amazon $15.97 -
4. K18 Leave-In Molecular Repair Hair Mask
How you use it: leave-in, 4 minutes, no rinse · shares 9 N°.3PLUS ingredients · $75.00 for 1.7 oz ($44.12/oz)
How it feels: A light leave-in with alcohol in the base. It adds little moisture and is meant for hair that snaps from bleach, color and heat.
Best for a different repair method. K18 uses its own peptide (sh-Oligopeptide-78) instead of Olaplex's ingredient, and you do not rinse it out.
Trade-off: It is not cheaper: it costs more per ounce than Olaplex. Think of it as the other premium option, not a dupe.
Buy on Amazon $75.00
02 / By hair type
Which one to buy for your hair
- Color-treated or highlighted, and you want the No.3 routine for less: L'Oreal EverPure Bond Repair+ ($9.97).
- Very dry, curly, coily or relaxed: Mielle Babassu & Mint ($13.94).
- Just want softer, smoother hair for the least money: Eva NYC Therapy Session ($15.97).
- Bleached hair that snaps: Olaplex N°.3PLUS ($34.00), the only one here with Olaplex's bond ingredient, or K18 ($75.00).
03 / Side by side
Bond ingredient, routine and price per ounce
"Bond ingredient" means Olaplex's own: bis-aminopropyl diglycol dimaleate.
| Product | Bond ingredient | How you use it | Fragrance | Price | Per oz | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Olaplex N°.3PLUS Hair Repair Pre-Shampoo Treatment | yes (4th) | pre-shampoo, 3 minutes, rinse | yes | $34.00 for 3.3 oz | $10.30/oz | View on Amazon |
| L'Oreal Paris EverPure Bond Repair+ Pre-Shampoo TreatmentClosest swap | no | pre-shampoo, 5 to 10 minutes, rinse | yes | $9.97 for 5.1 oz | $1.95/oz | View on Amazon |
| Mielle Babassu & Mint Damage Repair Bond Treatment | no | after shampoo, 10 minutes, rinse | yes | $13.94 for 5.5 oz | $2.53/oz | View on Amazon |
| Eva NYC Therapy Session Deep Conditioning Hair Mask | no | after shampoo, rinse | yes | $15.97 for 13.5 oz | $1.18/oz | View on Amazon |
| K18 Leave-In Molecular Repair Hair Mask | no | leave-in, 4 minutes, no rinse | yes | $75.00 for 1.7 oz | $44.12/oz | View on Amazon |
Amazon prices checked Oct 26, 2026.
04 / The original
What is in Olaplex No.3, old and new
- The bond ingredient: bis-aminopropyl diglycol dimaleate. It is 2nd on the classic No.3 list and 4th on N°.3PLUS.
- The base: water with fatty alcohols and conditioners (cetearyl alcohol, behentrimonium methosulfate), the same kind of base as the cheaper creams.
- What N°.3PLUS adds: plant oils and shea butter, panthenol, and two yellow colorants. Olaplex says it now repairs the outside of the hair as well as the inside, in 3 minutes.
- Fragrance: both versions list fragrance.
05 / Full lists
Every ingredient list, as printed
Highlighted ingredients are also on the N°.3PLUS list.
Olaplex N°.3PLUS Hair Repair Pre-Shampoo Treatment (56 ingredients)
Aqua (Water/Eau), Cetearyl Alcohol, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Bis-Aminopropyl Diglycol Dimaleate, Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate, Propanediol, Distearyldimonium Chloride, Glycerin, Behentrimonium Chloride, Cetyl Alcohol, Stearyl Alcohol, Caesalpinia Spinosa Fruit Pod Extract, Panthenol, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Crambe Abyssinica Seed Oil, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Extract, Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Oil, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Quaternium-91, Oryza Sativa (Rice) Bran Extract, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hydroxypropyl Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract, Tocopherol, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Sprout Extract, Caprylyl Glycol, Cetrimonium Chloride, Sodium PCA, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Polyester-37, Ethyl Linoleate, Ethyl Oleate, Cetrimonium Methosulfate, Isopropyl Alcohol, Propylene Glycol, C13-15 Alkane, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-di-t-butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Acrylamidopropyltrimonium Chloride/Acrylamide Copolymer, Phenethyl Benzoate, Sodium Bisulfite, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Sodium Metabisulfite, Citric Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Benzoate, Parfum (Fragrance), Linalyl Acetate, Linalool, Hydroxycitronellal, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Citronellol, CI 19140 (Yellow 5), CI 15985 (Yellow 6)
Read from olaplex.com
L'Oreal Paris EverPure Bond Repair+ Pre-Shampoo Treatment (15 ingredients)
Aqua / Water / Eau, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Behentrimonium Chloride, Stearyl Alcohol, Citric Acid, Cetyl Esters, Sodium Citrate, Isopropyl Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol, Polyquaternium-10, Polysorbate 20, Hydroxypropyl Guar, Parfum / Fragrance, Linalool
Read from lorealparisusa.com
Mielle Babassu & Mint Damage Repair Bond Treatment (37 ingredients)
Water, Cetyl Alcohol, C13-15 Alkane, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Fragrance, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Polycitronellol, Polyquaternium-37, Hydroxypropylgluconamide, Behentrimonium Chloride, Propylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, Cetrimonium Chloride, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Benzoic Acid, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Polycitronellol Acetate, Aminomethyl Propanol, PPG-1 Trideceth-6, Undecane, Glycereth-2 Cocoate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Crambe Abyssinica Seed Oil, Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Citric Acid, Tridecane, Mentha Piperita (Peppermint) Oil, Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Oil, Orbignya Oleifera Seed Oil, Tartaric Acid, Benzyl Alcohol, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate
Read from mielleorganics.com
Eva NYC Therapy Session Deep Conditioning Hair Mask (18 ingredients)
Water, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetyl Alcohol, Propylene Glycol, Behentrimonium Chloride, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Dimethicone, Argania Spinosa (Argan) Kernel Oil, Panthenol, Cetrimonium Chloride, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin, Sodium Benzoate, Citric Acid, Ascorbic Acid, Fragrance
Read from sallybeauty.com
K18 Leave-In Molecular Repair Hair Mask (23 ingredients)
Water (Aqua) (Eau), Alcohol Denat., Propylene Glycol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Dicaprylyl Ether, Cetyl Esters, Behentrimonium Chloride, Polysorbate 20, sh-Oligopeptide-78, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Hydrolyzed Wheat Starch, Isopropyl Alcohol, Tocopherol, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate, Citric Acid, Fragrance (Parfum), Geraniol, Linalool, Hexyl Cinnamal, Benzyl Alcohol, Amyl Salicylate, Benzaldehyde
Read from k18hair.com
Olaplex No.3 Hair Perfector (classic) (27 ingredients)
Water (Aqua), Bis-Aminopropyl Diglycol Dimaleate, Propylene Glycol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Cetyl Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol, Glycerin, Hydroxyethyl Ethylcellulose, Stearamidopropyl Dimethylamine, Quaternium-91, Sodium Benzoate, Cetrimonium Methosulfate, Cetrimonium Chloride, Fragrance (Parfum), Polyquaternium-37, Tetrasodium EDTA, Benzyl Benzoate, Etidronic Acid, Ascorbic Acid, Phytantriol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Panthenol, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Citric Acid, Potassium Sorbate
Read from beautyandmain.com
Redken Acidic Bonding Concentrate Intensive Pre-Shampoo Treatment (for the Redken vs L'Oreal answer; highlighted = also on L'Oreal's list)
Aqua / Water / Eau, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Behentrimonium Chloride, Stearyl Alcohol, Citric Acid, Cetyl Esters, Sodium Citrate, Isopropyl Alcohol, Parfum / Fragrance, Phenoxyethanol, Polyquaternium-10, Polysorbate 20, Hydroxypropyl Guar, Limonene, Linalool
Read from shopbeautydepot.com (Redken says to check the bottle)
06 / Questions
Frequently asked
- What is the best dupe for Olaplex No.3?
- L'Oreal Paris EverPure Bond Repair+ Pre-Shampoo Treatment. Like No.3, you put it on damp hair before shampoo and rinse it out. It costs $9.97 for 5.1 oz ($1.95/oz) vs $10.30/oz for Olaplex. It uses citric acid instead of Olaplex's bond ingredient.
- What is the cheapest Olaplex No.3 alternative?
- Per ounce, Eva NYC Therapy Session Hair Mask: $15.97 for 13.5 oz ($1.18/oz). It is a softening mask, not a bond treatment. Revolution Haircare Plex 3 is another cheap pre-shampoo pick; it is left out of the ranking because on Amazon it comes only from other sellers.
07 / Sources
Where the facts come from
- Ingredient lists: Olaplex N°.3PLUS from olaplex.com; classic No.3 from Beauty & Main (olaplex.com now shows only 3PLUS); L'Oreal from lorealparisusa.com; Mielle from mielleorganics.com; Eva NYC from Sally Beauty; K18 from k18hair.com. Read 2026-10-25.
- Olaplex says N°.3PLUS is replacing the original No.3 (olaplex.com, N°.3 vs N°.3PLUS, October 2026).
- Amazon prices, sellers and photos: Amazon product data (Creators API), read the date shown.
- How each one feels and is used: Olaplex N3 vs N3PLUS; GCI Magazine: Read the Label Olaplex No.3; Ulta product page; L'Oreal Paris USA; Mielle product page; Ulta product page; Sally Beauty; Skinsort dupes; K18; The New Knew.