Nº.3PLUS Complete Repair Treatment is Olaplex's replacement for its original Nº.3 Hair Perfector: a rinse-off, pre-shampoo treatment that keeps the patented bond-building ingredient but works in three minutes and adds conditioning oils and a humectant. Olaplex says it is protein-free and color-safe, and that it is clinically proven to make hair three times stronger after four uses. Early editor reviews describe instantly smoother, more manageable hair. It is new, so long-term community evidence is thin, and at least one Reddit user who tried both still prefers K18.

Best for

Bleached, colored or heat-damaged hair
Anyone who skipped the old Nº.3 because of its long wait
Protein-sensitive hair that still wants bond repair

What we love

Works in 3 minutes before shampooing
Protein-free and color-safe, per the brand
Built on Olaplex's patented bond-building ingredient
Editors report smoother, more manageable hair after one use

Worth knowing

Pricier than drugstore bond-repair pre-shampoos
An extra rinse-off step on wash day, unlike leave-in repair masks
Contains fragrance and yellow dyes
Too new for much long-term community evidence

How it scored

The breakdown.

Five factors, weighted for formulas. Here’s our working.

7.9Good

Beauty score out of 10. Brands can’t pay for placement — ever.

Results30%8.0
Marie Claire and Who What Wear testers report instantly smoother, more manageable hair and stronger ends within weeks; independent long-term data is still limited.
Formula & ingredients20%8.4
It keeps Olaplex's patented bond-building ingredient and adds oils, shea butter and a humectant while staying protein-free; it does contain fragrance and yellow dyes.
Texture & experience15%8.2
The three-minute pre-shampoo step is far quicker than the old Nº.3, which reviewers say needed 15 minutes or more on damp hair.
Value20%7.0
At $34 for 3.3 fl oz used every one to three washes, it costs more per use than drugstore bond-repair pre-shampoos.
Community love15%7.8
Strong launch buzz and creator coverage, but as a 2026 launch it has little Reddit history yet, and one user who tried both rated K18 higher.

Beauty profile

Inside the bottle.

Texture

Rinse-off pre-shampoo treatment applied generously to wet hair for three minutes

Format

Hair mask

Fragrance

Contains fragrance

Size

3.3 fl oz / 100 ml

Key ingredients

Ingredient encyclopedia →

What’s in it: Olaplex's patented bond builder (bis-aminopropyl diglycol dimaleate) with a cationic Damage Defense complex, a humectant derived from L-glutamic acid, and crambe, avocado and sunflower seed oils; protein-free.

How to use

In the shower, apply generously to wet hair from roots to ends, leave on for 3 minutes, rinse, then shampoo and condition; the brand suggests every 1–3 washes and says daily use is fine.

Free from (brand-stated)

SLS/SLES
protein

Full ingredient list (INCI)56 ingredients · key actives highlighted · as listed by the brand

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).

Formulas change. Always check the packaging, and patch-test if your skin is reactive.

Official product page

Creator video reviews

Watch it in action.

Real reviews, try-ons and wear tests from independent creators — verified with TikTok and YouTube and labelled when sponsored.

We don’t pay creators for reviews, and they don’t pay us. Nothing from TikTok or YouTube loads until you press play.

What people say

Straight from the source.

Verbatim from Reddit, forums, blogs and the beauty press — linked, so you can read the whole thread.

3 verbatim quotes · 2 positive · 1 mixed

Marie Claire

Olaplex put bond-building technology on the map, and dare I say, their reformulated, TikTok-viral No. 3 might just be even better than the original. Applied for just three minutes before shampooing, it leaves hair noticeably healthier and silky soft.

Stephanie (Griffin) NapolitanoMarie Claire · 2026-03Source

Who What Wear

The best thing about this is that my hair felt instantly smoother, less knotty, and more manageable before I even stepped out of the shower and got to drying it. (My hairbrush literally glided through my freshly-washed hair, which is no mean feat.)

Mica RickettsWho What Wear · 2026-04Source

r/Haircare

I've tried the K18 Molecular Repair Hair Mask, Olaplex No.3PLUS Treatment and Living Proof Triple Bond Treatment. K18 outshines the others. I alternate it with Olaplex now 1X/week (since I have it and it's not bad).

u/bentowagerr/Haircare · 2026-103Source

Price & value

Is it worth it?

Typical price

$34.00

for 3.3 fl oz / 100 ml

Per ounce

$10.05

DrugstoreMid-rangePrestigeLuxury

About 8% less per ounce than the typical treatments we review. Our value score: 7.0/10 for a mid-range pick.

Price checked November 2026 at a non-Amazon retailer. Prices change — retailers show the current one.

Where to buy

Check price on Amazon Shop on TikTok Shop3,984 sold Buy from the brand$34.00

We may earn a commission when you buy through links on this page. It never affects our scores or what we recommend. How we make money

Community

What members noticed.

Ratings, skin types and the benefits people actually saw — logged on the Benefit Wheel.

No member ratings yet.

Tried it? Your score — and your skin or hair type — helps the next person decide.

Highlighted: what it’s built to do.

Discussion

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Tried Olaplex Nº.3PLUS Complete Repair Treatment? Ask a question or share how it’s working for your skin or hair — you’ll be the first.

FAQ

Good questions.

How is Nº.3PLUS different from the original Nº.3 Hair Perfector?

Olaplex calls Nº.3PLUS the next evolution of the old formula, adding moisture and damage defense on top of cortex-to-cuticle repair. It is designed as a 3-minute in-shower treatment, while reviewers note the original needed to sit far longer.

Does Nº.3PLUS contain protein?

No. Olaplex states that Nº.3PLUS is protein-free and color-safe, which may appeal to people whose hair reacts badly to protein treatments.

How often should I use Nº.3PLUS?

The directions recommend using it every one to three washes and say it can be used daily. Elsewhere on the product page, Olaplex suggests weekly use for lasting repair and prevention.

Is the salon backbar version a different formula?

No. Olaplex says the backbar and take-home sizes contain the same formula; the backbar version comes in a pump bottle for express salon services.

Sources we checked (8)