Olaplex vs Curlsmith 2024 (The Definitive Guide)

We're positive you've seen Olaplex and Curlsmith on the shelves at your local beauty store or hair salon before.

Which is better, you ask? That's what we'll be finding out today as we compare the two side-by-side. Olaplex vs Curlsmith - let’s get into it.

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Olaplex No. 3 vs Curlsmith Bond Curl Rehab Salve

For anyone with even remotely damaged locks (that’s most of us), it’s a good idea to address the damage every once in a while with a hair treatment. Even better, though, would be to stay on top of it by treating your hair regularly.

For a simple at-home treatment, you have loads of options. Some products you put in your hair multiple times a week, and some products you only use once a month, sometimes less. Two great treatments to address damage are the Olaplex No. 3 and the Curlsmith Curl Rehab Salve.

First and foremost, it's worth establishing the fact that although it may be relatively obvious that Olaplex No. 3 is suitable for all hair types, the Bond Curl Rehab Salve is too. That's right, despite the word 'curl' appearing in almost all of their branding, the small print does actually reveal that even those of us with straight hair can use it (and regardless of hair thickness). This is worth knowing, because otherwise it might've felt like a bit of an "apples to oranges" comparison.

The Olaplex No. 3 is a weekly treatment that is part of the Olaplex system. Olaplex has a strong following of fans who, for good reason, love their products. The Hair Perfector treatment strengthens hair from the inside out (thanks to their patented bond-building protein ingredient: Bis-Aminopropyl Diglycol Dimaleate) and leaves it with visibly better texture.

We love Olaplex because it delivers results. The products work as they say, and your hair genuinely looks better even after just a single use. However, you get the best results when you use Olaplex’s entire system, which is quite spendy, especially given how often you have to use it to see results.

The Curlsmith Bond Curl Rehab Salve calls upon a similar approach to treating hair featuring Chia proteins that target and fortify hair bonds. The treatment also contains a blend of nourishing botanical extracts such as Sweet Almond Oil, Radish Root, Prickly Pear, Kale, and Guava. Rich in antioxidants, vitamins, and probiotics, these superfoods further help to strengthen, soften, hydrate and smooth the hair.

Both treatments yield similarly impressive results regardless of hair type, thickness, or porosity, though Olaplex is definitely more popular overall. The Curlsmith Bond Curl Rehab Salve would be a fantastic, purse-friendly, standalone addition to an existing haircare routine, whereas the Olaplex No. 3 really ought to be used alongside the rest of the Olaplex system. This point alone will sway most of us towards one or the other depending on budget and loyalty to existing products. If we *had* to choose between the two, though, our preference would be Olaplex.

Final Verdict

Overall, these two brands are winners in their own right, and choosing between the two will depend on your current hair care routine. If you're prepared to adopt a full routine, Olaplex is certainly the way to go, however, if you're just looking for a treatment that will slot in nicely alongside your existing products, then Curlsmith is the way to go.

To round off our review, here are our recommendations for the other best-selling ranges and products that Olaplex and Curlsmith offer.

Olaplex Best-Sellers

Step 1:
Try the No.3 Treatment

Step 2:
Try the No.4 Shampoo

Step 3:
Try the No.5 Conditioner

Curlsmith Best-Sellers

For lightweight conditioning:
Try Weightless Air Dry Cream

For heat protection:
Try Miracle Shield

For perfect curls:
Try Curl Quenching Conditioning Wash

Work in progress

You have been reading a post that we are constantly updating. Be sure to bookmark this page, subscribe, and come back later to see additions to the definitive Olaplex vs Curlsmith guide!

This article was originally published on July 27th 2022, but it has been reviewed and updated with the latest available information on February 12th 2024 by Sara Mckay, MA.