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Redken Acidic Bonding Concentrate vs Olaplex

Olaplex products are a favorite of mine. Olaplex is my favorite haircare brand because it can repair hair damage by rebuilding hair bonds.
More haircare brands are launching their own products for bond repair, such as Redken’s Acidic Binding Concentrate.

This post compares two bond repair products, Redken Acidic Binding Concentrate and Olaplex. It will help you decide which one is best for strengthening and repairing damaged hair.

I tried both haircare products and will share my results. My hair is frizzy, dry and has lost elasticity.

Olaplex has been a favorite of mine for many years. But how did Redken fare? Redken outperformed Olaplex.

Let’s learn more about the differences between these bond repair lines for hair damage.

Redken Acidic Bonding Conconcentrate vs Olaplex Products
Redken and Olaplex both make products that repair disulfide bonds damaged in hair.

Disulfide bonds, which are protein structures found in hair, can be attributed for about 1/3 of its strength.

These disulfide bonds are found in hair millions upon millions. These bonds are found in the hair’s cortex, cuticle, and medulla.

Your hair may become dry and weak if these strong bonds are damaged by chemical, mechanical, or thermal processes.

These products help strengthen the bonds between hair and scalp, resulting in hair that is stronger and healthier.

Price
Both brands have similar pricing at the high end of haircare pricing. Redken products, however, are more substantial and have more product than Olaplex.

Fragrance
Both hair care products can be scented. Redken is described by top notes of orange, marine, and bergamot; middle notes of freesia and peach; and bottom notes cedarwood and sandalwood.

Olaplex has a bright, citrusy scent that can be found in all their products.

Claims
Redken Acidic Bonding Complex Intensive Shampoo and Conditioner resulted in 14x smoother hair, 63% less breakage, and 2x stronger hair than those who used non-conditioning products.

Olpaplex No. 3 Hair Perfector by Olaplex is the original and most popular at-home bond building treatment.

Combining No. Combining No. 0 Intensive Hair Bond Building Treatment in a 2-part package, users were able to see 68% more hair repair and 3x the strength.

Redken Acidic Bonding Concentrate Intense Treatment vs Olaplex 3 Bond Repair Treatment

If you have severely damaged hair, these intensive treatments are the best.

They can repair damaged hair to reduce breakage and split ends.

Both products are designed to be used on damp hair prior to shampooing. Redken can be applied in between 5-10 minutes while Olaplex needs to be left on for at least 10 min.

Redken Acidic Bonding Concentrate Intensive Treatment

Redken Acidic Bonding Complex Intensive Treatment is Redken’s most concentrated Bonding Care Complex formula.

This pre-shampoo treatment strengthens your hair in one application.

Redken’s highest concentration of Citric Acid + Bonding Care Complex is found in this product at 14%.

This rinse-out treatment contains citric acid, which is an alpha hydroxy acids (AHA), that strengthens weak bonds. The pH-balancing acidic formulation helps to restore hair’s natural pH.

Apply the treatment to damp hair. After rinsing, you can leave it on for 5-10 minutes. This lightweight formula leaves hair shiny, silky, and smooth.

Olaplex No.3 hair perfector

Olaplex No.3 is a pre-shampoo treatment for hair that reduces breakage, strengthens and protects hair.

Olaplex quickly points out that Hair Perfector does not contain a conditioner. It is a concentrated hair treatment which strengthens disulfide bonds and smoothes hair.

This treatment uses Olaplex’s proprietary Olaplex molecule, Bis-Aminopropyl Diglycol Dimaleate to treat damaged hair.

Apply it to damp hair once a week, twice a week, or three times a week. After that, shampoo and condition your hair. Let it sit for at least 10 minutes, then shampoo your hair and condition it.

Notice: The Olaplex treatment is most effective when it’s left on for at least 30 to 45 minutes. However, you can leave it on as long as your hair remains moist. Olaplex recommends that you don’t leave it on your hair for more than 30 minutes as it can get into your eyes.

Which Damaged Hair Treatment Is Better?

The pre-shampoo treatments for hair damage are different. Olaplex’s patented ingredient, Bisaminopropyl Diglycol Dimaleate is used to strengthen broken hair bonds. Redken, however, uses a Citric Acid + Bonding Care Complex.

Olaplex’s technology for damaged hair repair is unrivalled, but Redken’s formula can also be used to treat damaged hair.

The bottom line: Olaplex is the most popular hair treatment product in this category. With its patent technology, it delivers amazing results. No.3 Bond Perfector is the best option for damaged hair.

Redken Acidic Bonding Shampoo vs Olaplex No. 4 Bond Maintenance Shampoo

Redken Acidic Bonding Shampoo Concentrate Shampoo includes citric acid and a bonding complex that will restore disulfide bonds.

Olaplex is a patent-pending molecule that repairs broken bonds.

Shampoo with Redken Acidic Bonding Concentrate

Redken Acidic Bonding Shampoo Concentrate is a sulfate free shampoo that targets hair loss with a Citric Acid + 7 % Bonding Care Complex.

This nourishing shampoo strengthens weakening bonds by using a critic acid. This shampoo restores hair’s healthy pH levels.

This formula protects hair from damage by dyeing, chemical treatments, heat styling tools and even water.

Panthenol increases hair’s elasticity while amodimethicone, a silicone molecule that has conditioning properties, improves hair.

Salicylic acid is a natural exfoliator that helps to remove product buildup.

This results in less breakage and fewer split ends. Your hair will be smoother. You hair will feel and look healthier with brilliant shine.

This concentrated shampoo has a luxurious, rich texture and a sweet, bright scent. It was easy to rinse and didn’t weigh down my hair.

Olaplex No. 4 Bond Maintenance Shampoo

Olaplex No. 4 Bond Maintenance Shampoo is the best-selling shampoo in Prestige Haircare.

This shampoo is highly concentrated and repairs your hair while protecting it from future damage.

This shampoo features Olaplex’s patent molecule Bis-Aminopropyl Diglycol Dimaleate. It restores strength, structure, and integrity to hair without compromising its health.

Burdock root extract and rosemary leaf extract are both effective in protecting against environmental stressors. Hydrolyzed vegetable proteins helps hair retain moisture.

Amodimethicone, which is similar to Redken, is used to condition and protect hair. Panthenol (also known as Pro-Vitamin B5) helps smoothen hair and prevent split ends.

Sodium hyaluronate is the sodium salt of Hyaluronic Acid. Fruit extracts nourish hair and scalp.

Sunflower seed oil, apricot kernel oil and oil of sunflower seal in moisture. Fermented filtrates of green tea oil and argan oil moisturize hair and soften it for a silky smooth finish.

The Olaplex shampoo reduces breakage, split ends and frizz, resulting in shinier, healthier hair.

Shampoo is dense and thick. You only need to use a little bit to create a rich lather.

Which shampoo is better?

Both shampoos are very concentrated. However, Olaplex’s shampoo is more concentrated than Redken. This could make it too heavy for certain hair types, such as fine hair or thin hair.

Although the shampoos contain some of the same active ingredients such as glycerin and panthenol respectively, Redken uses a Citric Acid + 77% Bonding Care Complex in order to repair any damage.

Olaplex contains a patent-pending molecule that links broken bonds to repair hair loss.

Olaplex has many other active ingredients. However, the bond repair molecule Bis-Aminopropyl Diglycol Dimaleate really sets it apart.

Olaplex is the best choice for most hair types due to its patented repair technology.

Redken Acidic Bonding Concentrate Conditioner vs Olaplex No. 5 Bond Maintenance Conditioner

Both conditioners tackle hair damage: Redken with citric Acid and an 11% bonding complex, Olaplex with Bisaminopropyl Diglycol Dimaleate.

This is Olaplex’s patented ingredient that relinks the broken bonds.

Redken Acidic Bonding Concentrate Conditioner

Redken Acidic Bonding Conditioner Conditioner provides bond repair and intense conditioning with its Citric Acid + 111% Bonding Care Complex.

This pH-balancing conditioner is made with citric acid. It has an acidic pH that protects hair from damage, provides intense conditioning, and color-fade protection.

Conditioner has a rich, nourishing texture that leaves it feeling soft and smooth, without being heavy.

Amodimethicone has conditioning properties, while panthenol improves hair elasticity and prevents split ends.

This conditioner is rich, but it doesn’t leave my hair feeling heavy like the Redken shampoo. My hair feels silky smooth after using it.

Olaplex No. 5 Bond Maintenance Conditioner

Olaplex No. The #1 selling conditioner in Prestige haircare is 5 Bond Maintenance Conditioner.

This highly-nourishing reparative conditioner treats hair damage using the same patented Bis-Aminopropyl Diglycol Dmaleate molecule as all Olaplex products.

Conditioner repairs split ends, damage and breaks by relinking damaged bonds to strengthen hair for stronger, healthier locks.

It also contains moisturizing oils such as green tea oil, Crambe Abyssinica oil, avocado oil and grape seed oil.

Panthenol is a hair moisturizer that increases hair’s elasticity and hydration. Amodimethicone protects hair from damage by coating it with a protective layer.

The nutrients and protection provided by plant extracts and fruits can help to maintain healthy hair.

This conditioner is thick and intensely moisturizing. It softens and smoothes frizzy hair.

The Olaplex conditioner has a thick, rich texture. This conditioner is one of my favorites, and I keep coming back to it for its healing benefits.

Which conditioner is better?

Olaplex’s conditioner is similar to Redken’s shampoo. However, Olaplex’s conditioner contains far more active ingredients that Redken’s, but the one that stands out is Bisaminopropyl Diglycol Dimaleate. This helps repair broken hair bonds.

Both conditioners make my hair silky smooth and shiny. However, my hair feels lighter after I use Redken. Redken might be better for you if your hair is very thin or has a lot of volume.

If your hair is in need of intense repair or damage, Olaplex’s No. For stronger, healthier hair, 5 Bond Maintenance Conditioner is a better option.

Redken Acidic Bonding Concentrate vs Olaplex: Leave-In Products
This is because Redken has only one leave-in product while Olaplex has three.

Although I am a bit repetitive, Olaplex products are the best for hair damage.

Redken’s Leave-In Treatment below and Olaplex No. 9 are lightweight options. Both 9 hair serums feel light in the hair.

Olaplex’s styling products, such as hair oil and styling cream, are extremely effective.

Redken Acidic Bonding Concentrate Leave-in Treatment

Redken Acidic Bonding concentrate Leave-in Treatment is the final step of Redken’s Acidic Bonding Concentrate program.

This leave-in conditioner strengthens hair with Redken’s Citric Acid +5% Conditioning Care Complex.

It conditions, provides color-fade protection and heat protection upto 450 degrees. It reduces frizz, breakage, shine and increases shine.

Strengthens weaker bonds with citric acid. Amodimethicone has conditioning properties, while glycerin moisturizes.

This lightweight leave in-treatment feels light on my hair and protects it against damage from blow drying.

Olaplex Leave In Products
Olaplex offers a few leave in conditioner and post-shampoo products. All contain Olaplex’s damage repair ingredient Bis-Aminopropyl Diglycol Dimaleate for damage repair.

Olaplex No. 6 Bond Smoother: Leave-in-styling product that smoothens frizz, conditions and strengthens hair without adding weight or hold.

Olaplex No. 7 Bonding Oil: This is a highly concentrated styling oil that feels lightweight in the hair. It reduces frizz and flyaways, strengthens hair, and repairs any damage.

Olaplex No. 9 Bond Protector Nourishing Serum: This weightless, silicone-free serum protects hair from pollution for up 48 hours. It also offers heat protection up up to 450°F (232°C).

Redken Acidic Bonding Concentrate Product Work
Redken’s Acidic Bonding concentrate line is designed to protect and repair damage, increase shine and smoothness, combat color fade, and improve color retention.

Redken’s Acidic Bonding Concentrate formulas combine citric acid with a bonding care compound.

Complexes are used to repair and strengthen hair. They also rebuild hair’s broken bonds. These are the concentrations:

Redken Acidic Bonding Concentrate: Intensive Treatment: Citric acid + 14% Bonding Care Complex
Redken Acidic Bonding Shampoo: Citric acid + 7% Bonding Care Complex
Redken Acidic Bonding Conditioner: Citric acid + 11% Bonding Care Complex
Redken Acidic Bonding Complex Leave-in Treatment: Citric acid + 5% Bonding Care Complex
Citric acid acts at a molecular level in hair fibers to capture metalions (read more about how metals can cause hair breakage). It also strengthens weak bonds to protect hair from breakage.

The pH of the formula is also decreased by citric acid, which helps close the cuticle layer and seals in moisture.

Redken’s Acidic Bonding concentrate products are suitable for all hair types and textures. They restore hair’s pH balance, protect hair from damage caused by environmental factors, chemical services, coloring and mechanical processes, as well as help to prevent hair loss.

The products’ acidic nature complements hair’s natural pH. These products strengthen weak bonds and provide intense conditioning with beautiful scents and lots of lather.

These products can be used on color-treated hair and are sulfate free.

How Olaplex Products work
Olaplex is the market leader in hair-repair technology. They have hundreds of patents around their bond-building technology.

The products are molecularly based and can repair disulfide bonds that have been damaged. Bis-Aminopropyl Dimaleate is their patented molecule that helps to repair and rebuild broken bonds.

It increases hair strength, protects hair from within, and gives immediate results.

Olaplex can help improve the health of your hair.

You can even use it for hair extensions made of 100% human hair.

The Olaplex system increases tensile strength, restores hair elasticity, and protects the hair follicle against further damage.

Redken
Redken was founded in 1960 by Jheri Redding, a chemist, and Paula Kent (actress). The name Redken is a combination of the founders’ last names: Red and Ken.

Redken was the first company to adopt a scientific approach in haircare. It is now one the most well-known professional hair care brands.

Redken’s extensive range of hair care products is formulated using the formula PROTEIN + MOISTURE+ ACIDIC pH = HEALTHYHAIR

Redken offers a broad range of products that can be used on all hair types, including Olaplex products for damaged hair.

Redken was acquired by L’Oreal 1993 and offers services for hair color, styling and products for men. They also continue to innovate with products such as their Acidic Bonding Concentrate Line.

About Olaplex
Olaplex was established in 2014. It quickly became one of the most well-known professional haircare brands.

Olaplex, a patent technology, repairs hair bonds and promotes healthy hair.

It repairs and reinforces the disulfide bonds that have been damaged by heat styling, chemical treatments, environmental stressors, aging, or mechanical damage to your hair.

Bis-Aminopropyl Diglycol dimaleate is the star ingredient. This active ingredient repairs hair from the inside.

Today Olaplex is a leader in haircare technology. It offers a wide range of products for professional and home use and holds over 100 patents worldwide.

Olaplex products can be expensive. If you are looking for affordable Olaplex alternatives, I have some suggestions.

Redken vs Olaplex: Which is Better?
These Olaplex and Redken products are great for protecting hair cuticles, sealing in moisture, and restoring damaged strands.

Both brands can be used on all hair types. However, those with extremely damaged hair might get the best results using Olaplex’s patented technology.

You can combine these haircare products to achieve the best results for your hair.

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Bonnie J. Sung

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