Can You Mix Olaplex 3 with Hair Dye?

Olaplex has become a hugely popular bonding treatment that can dramatically strengthen and repair damaged hair. When it comes to using Olaplex with hair dye, many people wonder if it’s safe and effective to mix the two together. Specifically, can you add Olaplex No. 3 to your color formula?

The short answer is no – Olaplex No. 3 is not intended to be mixed directly into hair dye. But using it properly around the coloring process can still provide major benefits. Let’s look at why you shouldn’t mix Olaplex 3 into dye and the right ways to use it for protected, strengthened hair.

What is Olaplex and How Does it Work?

Olaplex is a patented bonding treatment that was created to repair broken disulfide bonds within the hair that lead to damage and breakage. It works by finding single sulfur hydrogen bonds and using its active ingredient, bis-aminopropyl diglycol dimaleate, to link them back together.

There are several formulations of Olaplex for different stages of the hair process:

• Olaplex No. 1 – Added to bleach and hair dye to repair bonds during lightening/coloring
• Olaplex No. 2 – Follow up rinse-out treatment after coloring
• Olaplex No. 3 – Take-home conditioning treatment
• Olaplex No. 4 – Shampoo
• Olaplex No. 5 – Conditioner
• Olaplex No. 6 – Leave-in styling treatment
• Olaplex No. 7 – Hair oil

Why You Shouldn’t Mix Olaplex 3 into Hair Dye

While Olaplex No. 1 is specifically designed to be added into the color or bleach formulation, Olaplex No. 3 is meant to be used as a separate conditioning treatment.

Here’s why it’s not a good idea to mix Olaplex 3 directly into hair dye:

• It can dilute and disrupt the dye, leading to less predictable results
• The bonding treatment works best on clean hair, not amidst other chemicals
• Using too much protein before coloring can prevent dye absorption
• Olaplex No. 1 is more effective at protecting during the coloring process
• Olaplex 3 is not formulated to mix with other products

Additionally, Olaplex No. 3 is a take-home treatment only available to consumers. Olaplex No. 1 contains much higher levels of active ingredients for professional use in the salon. Mixing the lower-strength No. 3 into dye is not likely to provide the same level of protection and bonding benefits.

How to Use Olaplex 3 With Hair Dye for Best Results

While Olaplex No. 3 isn’t made for mixing into your formula, you can still use it to strengthen hair and minimize damage from hair dye. Here are some tips:

• Apply Olaplex No. 3 as a pre-treatment before coloring for strengthened, nourished hair
• Rinse out No. 3 thoroughly before applying dye
• Use No. 1 in the salon for bonding during the coloring process
• Follow up with No. 3 treatments weekly after dyeing
• Alternate with Olaplex No. 5 bond maintenance shampoo
• Use No. 6 or No. 7 for continued repair between salon visits

Olaplex No. 3 is best used as a conditioning treatment on its own, not combined with chemical processing. But it still provides major strengthening benefits when properly incorporated into your routine before and after dyeing.

Alternatives to Mixing Olaplex 3 in Hair Dye

If you don’t have access to professional Olaplex No. 1 treatments, here are some other options to help minimize damage from hair dye:

Bond-Building Treatments

• Csysteine or rice water rinses to fortify hair bonds before dyeing
• Ion Absolute Perfection Booster Step 1 treatment
• Smartbond additive from Schwarzkopf
• Brazilian Bond Builder

Protective Oils

• Coconut, argan, olive or avocado oil – apply before coloring
• K18 Peptide treatment – provides temporary protection during chemical services

Lower-Damage Dye Options

• Demi-permanent or semi-permanent colors
• Low-volume developer
• Ammonia-free formulas
• Bleach bath for subtle lightening vs full highlight bleaching

Common Concerns About Using Olaplex 3 in Hair Dye

Does Olaplex No. 3 protect hair from color damage?

Used properly before and after, Olaplex 3 can help strengthen hair and repair damage from coloring. But it does not provide the same level of protection during the dyeing process as the professional No. 1 treatment.

Can you mix Olaplex 3 into bleach?

No – just like hair dye, Olaplex No. 3 should not be added directly into lightener. It will disrupt and dilute the formula.

Does Olaplex 3 work if mixed into the same bowl as dye?

No – Olaplex must be applied and rinsed out separately from hair color for the treatment to effectively penetrate the hair shaft.

Can other products be mixed into hair dye?

Hair dye is a very carefully balanced chemical formulation. Unless specifically designed for it, mixing in other products like Olaplex No. 3, oils or conditioners can interfere with coloring results.

Does Olaplex 3 replace Olaplex 1?

Olaplex No. 3 is not a replacement for the professional-use No. 1 bonder used during salon lightening and coloring services. No. 1 contains much higher levels of active ingredients to provide true protection when mixed into bleach and dye.

The Takeaway

It’s best not to mix Olaplex No. 3 directly into your hair color or lightener. For salon use, ask your colorist about Olaplex No. 1 added to the formula for protected hair. At home, use No. 3 as a pre-treatment before dyeing and follow up with regular conditioning treatments for maximized strengthening and repair. This will allow the Olaplex and hair dye to work most effectively.