Community favorite
Redken
Acidic Bonding Concentrate Shampoo
7.7Good
A sulfate-free, low-pH repair shampoo that colorists rate for softness on damaged hair, best used with the rest of the line.
Shampoo5$37.00
Nº.4 Bond Maintenance Strengthening Shampoo
A gentle, bond-building daily shampoo that suits damaged and color-treated hair, priced well above most rivals.
7.6
Good
Beauty score
#3 of 8 wash day
Community
—/10
- Format
- Shampoo
- Size
- 8.5 fl oz
- Price per oz
- $4.02 / oz
- Price tier
- Mid-range
Made for: Straight hair · Wavy hair · Curly hair · Coily hair · Thick hair · Color-treated hair · Damaged hair
Last reviewed November 2, 2026 by our editors · How we score
The verdict
A gentle, bond-building daily shampoo that suits damaged and color-treated hair, priced well above most rivals.
Olaplex Nº.4 is a concentrated, sulfate-free shampoo that pairs the brand's patented bond-building ingredient with a blend of coconut-derived surfactants, biotin, panthenol and plant oils. Olaplex positions it for medium to coarse hair of any texture and says a 250 ml bottle gives up to 100 washes. Hairdressers and creators tend to praise its softness and shine on bleached or colored hair, while some report it is too low-cleansing for oily scalps or heavy product users. The $34 price is the main sticking point.
Best for
- Bleached, colored or chemically treated hair
- Medium to coarse hair that needs softness and shine
- Anyone already using the Olaplex bond treatments
What we love
- Sulfate-free, color-safe cleanse built around Olaplex's patented bond-building ingredient
- Reviewers report softer, shinier and less frizzy hair, especially on bleached or colored lengths
- Concentrated formula; brand says 250 ml lasts up to 100 washes
- Vegan and dermatologist tested, free of parabens, phthalates and MIC/MIT
Worth knowing
- $34 for 250 ml is expensive for a daily shampoo
- Some users find it too gentle for oily scalps or heavy product buildup
- Strong signature fragrance that will not suit scent-sensitive users
How it scored
The breakdown.
Five factors, weighted for formulas. Here’s our working.
7.6Good
Beauty score out of 10. Brands can’t pay for placement — ever.
- Results30%7.8
Creators and hairdressers report softer, shinier, more manageable bleached and colored hair, though others find the cleanse too mild for oily scalps or heavy styling buildup.
- Formula & ingredients20%8.1
A sulfate-free blend of mild surfactants with the patented bond-building ingredient, biotin, panthenol and plant oils, free of parabens, phthalates and MIC/MIT.
- Texture & experience15%8.2
Brand and reviewers describe a rich, abundant lather and a bright grapefruit-mint signature scent; some users find it can leave fine hair weighed down.
- Value20%6.4
At $34 for 250 ml it costs several times a drugstore bond shampoo, softened only partly by the brand's claim of up to 100 washes per bottle.
- Community love15%7.7
A long-running best seller with a loyal following among bleached and colored hair users, alongside a vocal camp that calls the line overhyped for virgin hair.
Beauty profile
Inside the bottle.
Texture
Concentrated shampoo with an abundant, creamy lather (brand description)
Format
Shampoo
Fragrance
Contains fragrance — OLAPLEX signature scent: grapefruit zest, sugared mint, ginger and crushed sage (brand description)
Size
8.5 fl oz / 250 ml
Key ingredients
Ingredient encyclopedia →- BbBond buildersHair & scalp — ingredient guide
- BiBiotinHair & scalp — ingredient guide
- PaPanthenolHydrators — ingredient guide
- AoArgan oilHair & scalp — ingredient guide
- HaHyaluronic acidHydrators — ingredient guide
What’s in it: Bis-aminopropyl diglycol dimaleate (Olaplex Bond Building Technology), coconut-derived surfactants, biotin, sodium hyaluronate, panthenol and argan oil; no percentages disclosed.
How to use
Dispense and emulsify in hands, apply to wet hair, lather thoroughly and rinse well; follow with Nº.5 Bond Maintenance Conditioner or an Olaplex mask.
Free from (brand-stated)
- sulfates
- SLS/SLES
- phthalates
- MIC/MIT
- parabens
Claims & certifications
- Vegan
- Dermatologist-tested
- Sulfate-free
- Paraben-free
Full ingredient list (INCI)78 ingredients · key actives highlighted · as listed by the brand
- Aqua (Water, Eau),
- Sodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate,
- Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine,
- Potassium Cocoyl Glycinate,
- Disodium Cocoyl Glutamate,
- Potassium Cocoate,
- Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate,
- Sodium Methyl Isethionate,
- Glycereth-26,
- Decyl Glucoside,
- Bis-Aminopropyl Diglycol Dimaleate,
- Biotin,
- Sodium Hyaluronate,
- Panthenol,
- Tocopherol,
- Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract,
- Musa Sapientum (Banana) Fruit Extract,
- Arctium Lappa Root Extract,
- Punica Granatum Bark/Fruit Extract,
- Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract,
- Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract,
- Morinda Citrifolia Fruit Extract,
- Origanum Vulgare Leaf Extract,
- Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil,
- Prunus Armeniaca (Apricot) Kernel Oil,
- Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil,
- Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Extract,
- Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein PG-Propyl Silanetriol,
- Palmitoyl Myristyl Serinate,
- Polyquaternium-10,
- Polyquaternium-11,
- Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride,
- Caprylyl Glycol,
- Amodimethicone,
- Divinyldimethicone/Dimethicone Copolymer,
- Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate,
- Glycol Distearate,
- Methyl Gluceth-20,
- Acrylates Copolymer,
- PEG-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate,
- Cocamidopropylamine Oxide,
- Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate,
- Ethylhexylglycerin,
- Sodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate,
- C11-15 Alketh-7,
- Laureth-9,
- Trideceth-12,
- Glycerin,
- Laureth-10,
- C12-13 Alketh-23,
- C12-13 Alketh-3,
- Quaternium-95,
- Propanediol,
- PEG-8,
- PEG-8/SMDI Copolymer,
- Lauric Acid,
- Sodium Laurate,
- Sodium Polyacrylate,
- Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate,
- Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate,
- Sodium Sulfate,
- Acetic Acid,
- Benzoic Acid,
- Sodium Benzoate,
- Citric Acid,
- Potassium Sorbate,
- Sodium Hydroxide,
- Phenoxyethanol,
- Chlorphenesin,
- Sodium Chloride,
- Parfum (Fragrance),
- Citral,
- Citrus Aurantium Peel Oil,
- Hexyl Cinnamal,
- Limonene,
- Menthol,
- CI 19140 (Yellow 5),
- CI 15985 (Yellow 6).
Formulas change. Always check the packaging, and patch-test if your skin is reactive.
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.
5 verbatim quotes · 1 positive · 3 mixed · 1 critical
r/FancyFolliclesMixed
Their shampoos are relatively low cleansing, which is why you feel like it weighed your hair down. People attribute this to "it doesn't work well" instead of understanding you need less leave-in's after or to alternate with something more cleansing.
r/HaircareMixed
I really love the original Olaplex shampoo, but that's insanely expensive, so maybe not the best bet.
r/HairMixed
I liked Olaplex shampoo a lot, but I have bleached almost white hair and it would strip color so I switched to Redken
r/FancyFolliclesPositive
Olaplex shampoo+conditioner+serum helped me after I fried my hair. … They're not going to fix everything, but it might help you save a little length.
r/FancyFolliclesCritical
I also use olaplex shampoo and conditioner but frankly I go through it so slow I can't say it ever made much of a difference.
Price & value
Is it worth it?
Typical price
$34.00
for 8.5 fl oz / 250 ml
Per ounce
$4.02
DrugstoreMid-rangePrestigeLuxury
Right around the going rate per ounce for wash day. Our value score: 6.4/10 for a mid-range pick.
Price checked November 2026 at a non-Amazon retailer. Prices change — retailers show the current one.
Where to buy
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
No discussions yet.
Tried Olaplex Nº.4 Bond Maintenance Strengthening Shampoo? Ask a question or share how it’s working for your skin or hair — you’ll be the first.
FAQ
Good questions.
Is Olaplex Nº.4 sulfate-free?
Yes. Olaplex lists the shampoo as free of sulfates including SLS and SLES, as well as phthalates, MIC/MIT and parabens. It cleanses with coconut-derived surfactants such as sodium lauroyl methyl isethionate.
Is it suitable for fine hair?
Olaplex formulates Nº.4 for medium to coarse textures and sells a separate Nº.4FINE volumizing version for fine hair. Some reviewers with fine hair say the original can feel heavy.
How much shampoo should I use?
Olaplex says a little goes a long way and bases its usage estimate on about 2.5 ml per wash, which works out to up to 100 applications from the 250 ml bottle.
Do I need the matching conditioner?
Olaplex recommends following with Nº.5 Bond Maintenance Conditioner or an Olaplex mask, and its clinical claims are based on using the shampoo and conditioner together.
Sources we checked (9)
- olaplex.com/products/olaplex-n4-bond-maintenance-strengthening-shampoo-250ml
- olaplex.com/products/olaplex-n4-bond-maintenance-strengthening-shampoo-250ml.json
- amazon.com/dp/B07D37PQGL
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olaplex
- youtube.com/watch?v=Nb-4hOlVkuw
- reddit.com/r/Haircare/comments/1xba672/shampoo_recommendations_for_colored_hair_or_hair/
- reddit.com/r/Hair/comments/1wtdman/i_keep_buying_expensive_shampoos_they_made_my/
- reddit.com/r/FancyFollicles/comments/1u5edwb/fried_my_hair/
- reddit.com/r/FancyFollicles/comments/1slf5xd/i_do_not_know_how_to_style_my_hair_the_frizz_just/
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