Olaplex vs Moroccan Oil 2024 (The Definitive Guide)

We're positive you've seen Olaplex and Moroccan Oil 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 Moroccan Oil - let’s get into it.

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Olaplex vs Moroccan Oil Treatment

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 Moroccanoil Treatment.

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) 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 Moroccanoil Treatment calls upon a completely different approach to treating hair, instead featuring Argan Oil. Rich in antioxidants, vitamins, and essential fatty acids, this rare and precious oil has been used for centuries to nourish hair and skin.

The treatment itself detangles, speeds up drying time and boosts shine, leaving you with nourished, manageable, and smooth hair with every use.

Ultimately, deciding between the two comes down to a comparison of the benefits of Argan Oil vs Protein for hair.

Protein is the building block of the hair, so replacing protein that has been lost or damaged will restore its natural, healthy structure and strength - thereby enhancing the overall appearance of hair.

Argan Oil instead adds moisture to the scalp and hair strands, promoting softness and shine, while also providing crucial antioxidant & breakage protection due to being rich in Vitamin E.

If you're seeking a more serious treatment for damaged hair, then Olaplex would be the way to go. Moroccanoil is clearly better suited to those with hair that isn't necessarily damaged, but rather looking to take it to the next level of shine and beauty.

Olaplex vs Moroccan Oil Shampoo

When you have damaged hair, it’s important that you are addressing it with every step of your hair care routine. You shouldn’t rely on just a single treatment to do all the heavy lifting - your shampoo and conditioner should be pulling their weight, too.

That’s why we love that so many brands - such as Olaplex and Moroccanoil - boast multi-step systems that make it incredibly easy to *fully* address your hair-care concerns.

Speaking of which, the next steps of their hair-nourishing ranges are the Olaplex No. 4 and the Moroccanoil Moisture Repair Shampoo.

The Olaplex No. 4 is a wonderful shampoo that is suitable for every wash and leaves your hair feeling revived and uber-silky.

Your hair will look and feel noticeably better after every use thanks to the previously mentioned patented bond-repairing ingredient included in every Olaplex product and its pH balanced formula.

Blondes, rejoice! This shampoo also comes in a blonde enhancer toning shampoo option, which is perfect for anyone with lighter tresses. Thanks to this product, you don’t have to sacrifice your color for damage repair.

Another reason to love Olaplex? You can subscribe to your favorite Olaplex products (such as Olaplex No. 4) on Amazon. They’ll send your products on a regular basis, which is oh so very convenient.

Moroccanoil offers a variety of shampoos, but most akin to Olaplex is the Moroccanoil Moisture Repair Shampoo which contains the previously mentioned Argan Oil as well as Keratin (a structural protein that rebuilds and strengthens damaged hair—like Olaplex's patented ingredient).

Combined, they leave hair feeling cleaner, stronger, and full of life. We love this shampoo because it addresses those pesky split ends, imparts a glorious shine to the hair, and is safe for color-treated hair.

When it comes down to it, we prefer the Olaplex No. 4 as part of the full Olaplex 3-step system. If you're just looking for a standalone shampoo - as opposed to a full system - we would err on the side of Moroccanoil and their Moisture Repair Shampoo.

Olaplex vs Moroccan Oil Conditioner

No good hair care system is complete without a conditioner. I'm personally a fan of mixing and matching my shampoos and conditioners to address multiple different needs.

For example, when using a clarifying shampoo, you don’t necessarily also need a clarifying conditioner. *But* when it comes to damaged hair, it is definitely wise to complete the full multi-step routine to ensure you get the expected results.

Let’s compare the Olaplex No. 5 and the Moroccanoil Moisture Repair Conditioner.

By now you know what both brands’ products are designed to do. The systems are both formulated to address damage at the molecular level, and leave your hair looking and feeling healthier.

The Olaplex No.5 conditioner also moisturizes and reduces frizz, is safe for everyday use, and has great reviews.

The Moroccanoil Moisture Repair Conditioner boasts fantastic reviews, too, and is mightily similar to its sister shampoo.

It gently and effectively detangles and conditions hair to leave it hydrated, manageable and strong. The highly concentrated, reparative formula restores the hair's health, moisture and elasticity with antioxidant-rich argan oil, reconstructive keratin and fatty acids.

Our recommendation would be to choose your conditioner based on the shampoo you prefer (in order to maximise the desired effects).

In other words, choose Olaplex No. 5 if you prefer the Olaplex system overall, or choose Moroccanoil Moisture Repair Conditioner if you found yourself leaning more towards the Moroccanoil shampoo and treatment.

Final Verdict

Overall, these two brands are winners in their own right, and choosing between the two will depend on your personal hair concerns.

Olaplex places its entire focus on being a treatment for damaged hair, whereas Moroccanoil places that on the sideline somewhat in favour of also offering excellent nourishment and beautifying qualities.

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

Moroccan Oil Best-Sellers

For shine:
Try the Glimmer Shine

For heat protection:
Try the Perfect Defense

For perfect curls:
Try the Curl Defining Cream

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 Moroccan Oil guide!

This article was originally published on July 22nd 2022, but it has been reviewed and updated with the latest available information on February 12th 2024 by Sara Mckay, MA.