Our Honest Review of the New Olaplex Blonde Shampoo You’ve Been Waiting For
Mette Kortelainen is Adore Beauty's Senior Content Creator, and a freelance beauty and product photographer. Mette's true beauty loves are vegan products, skin care and minimalist makeup. You can follow Mette's work on Instagram at @mettesee.
Low on time? Check out our key takeaways below
Key Takeaways
- Olaplex No.4P Blonde Enhancer Toning Shampoo effectively neutralises brassiness in blonde, grey, and balayaged hair.
- Potent violet pigments in the shampoo work to eliminate warm, orange tones, making it suitable for various hair types.
- Restorative formula contains Olaplex’s patented ingredient that helps repair broken disulfide bonds for stronger, healthier hair.
- Application process involves using your usual shampoo first, followed by the Olaplex shampoo for optimal results.
- Immediate results were evident after just one use, leaving my hair looking fresh, ashy, and shiny.
- Vegan and cruelty-free, the shampoo is formulated without sulfates and parabens, aligning with my values.
- Overall verdict is that I've found my new favourite blonde shampoo, proving its worth beyond the hype.
Hands up if you literally feel reborn after having your hair freshly coloured. Same.
I recently got my blonde colour re-done after two years (thanks COVID) and I honestly feel like my normal self again.
But anyone who dyes their hair blonde or has highlights knows this feeling comes with a catch...
Unwanted warm, brassy tones.
Even though I only had low maintenance cool blonde foils put through my natural “dirt road grey” hair colour (as we call it in Finnish) a month ago, it’s already looking warm with hints of caramel and strawberry blonde.
So, when Adore's beauty editor Amy asked if I wanted to review the new Olaplex blonde shampoo, I said yes please!
Olaplex No.4P Blonde Enhancer Toning Shampoo promises to neutralise brassiness in blonde, grey and balayaged hair.
Plus, it repairs the hair just like all Olaplex hair products do, including that cult Olaplex number 3 treatment.
The brand even says their Olaplex blonde shampoo will make your lightened colour three times brighter compared to the 'top purple shampoos'.
Yep, those are some BIG claims.
So, is this new Olaplex purple shampoo and blonde toner worth the hype?
Keep scrolling for my full Olaplex blonde shampoo review, including my real Olaplex blonde before and after photos.
What Is the Olaplex Blonde Shampoo?
Olaplex No.4P Blonde Hair Hydrating & Brightening Purple Toning Shampoo is the newest launch from the global professional haircare brand that originally started as an in-salon treatment.
If you've never heard of Olaplex before or aren't sure how to use Olaplex, our resident hair stylist Millie broke down the science for us in her Olaplex No.8 mask review.
"When the 'disulfide bonds' that hold your hair together are damaged by things like bleaching, colouring, heat styling damage - or all of the above - hair can become fragile, coarse and/or frizzy," she said.
"Olaplex products repair these broken bonds. The result? Stronger, softer, healthier hair that looks swishy and glossy."
You can learn more about the science behind Olaplex hair products in this YouTube video below.
Back to the new Olaplex purple shampoo.
Here are main things you need to know about Olaplex No. 4P Blonde Enhancer Toning Shampoo:
- This is a very potent toning shampoo that uses violet pigments to get rid of warm, orange and brassy tones in natural and coloured blonde hair.
- Also suitable for grey, silver and white hair, as well as brunettes with highlights or bronze balayage.
- Formula contains Bis-Aminopropyl Diglycol Dimaleate, Olaplex’s patented ingredient which helps restore the broken disulfide bonds in damaged hair.
- Comes in a 250ml bottle for $50.
- Vegan and cruelty-free, and made without sulfates and parabens.
How to Use Olaplex Blonde.
This purple shampoo can be used weekly, or subbed into your hair routine whenever you feel like your colour needs brightening.
To use the Olaplex No. 4P Blonde Enhancer Toning Shampoo, wash your hair with your usual shampoo to removes any product buildup.
I use heaps of dry shampoo between washes so Sachajuan Ocean Mist Volume Shampoo is my go-to first shampoo.
Next, apply a walnut-sized amount of the Olaplex blonde shampoo through your hair and leave it to sit for 3-5 minutes.
Rinse, then follow with either a hair mask like Olaplex No. 8 Bond Intense Moisture Damage Repair Hair Mask Treatment or your usual conditioner.
You don't have to only use this shampoo with other Olaplex hair products, but if they're in your budget, they have been designed to work really well together for best results.
Watch this video below to see the Olaplex purple shampoo in action!
My Olaplex Blonde Shampoo Review.
Let's start with some info about my hair colour and type.
My hair texture is fine, straight and silky/slippery. While I have a lot of hair, oily roots and lack of volume are my main hair concerns.
That, and how my colour goes quite dark in winter (see photo below), but then goes a brassy strawberry blonde not long after I have dyed it.
Here are the main things I noticed in my Olaplex blonde shampoo review:
- Silky shampoo texture is the perfect amount of runny, and a little goes a long way.
- Very dark purple in colour and smells like a citrusy, fruity mocktail.
- The formula foams up very quickly, so it's easily to lather over the whole head.
- As far as blonde shampoos go, this one is super strong, so work quickly and rinse your hands once you've applied to avoid stains.
My Olaplex Blonde Before and After Results.
Even though the instructions say to leave the toning shampoo on for 3-5 minutes, I rinsed it out after 90 seconds as I know my hair tones quickly.
My hair felt super clean and shiny after conditioning, and even softer once I blow dried it.
I've used other Olaplex products before, and can confirm the Olaplex blonde shampoo gives you that same TV commercial shiny softness the brand is known for.
Best of all is how it made my brassy blonde look fresh, ashy and new again.
I was super happy with the result, and as you can see from the Olaplex blonde before and after photos, I definitely saw a difference after one use.
Final verdict: I think I've found my new favourite blonde shampoo.
For more Olaplex reviews and products for coloured hair, check out these Beauty IQ articles below:
