It seems as if the two holy grail products for every hair fanatic are coconut oil and Olaplex. But have you ever wondered how these two products compare? Yes, I know. One of them is completely natural, while for the other we have to thank modern science. However, some people claim that coconut oil is nature’s own Olaplex. But is there any truth to that? Do they work in a similar way at repairing damaged hair? Let’s see how these two products compare, and if one of them can replace the other.

How does coconut oil work?

Coconut oil is an amazing conditioning ingredient, and it can bring dry and brittle hair back to life. You can use it as a hair mask, conditioner, leave-in oil, or even a scalp treatment. It has been used as a hair care product for hundreds of years, and even celebrities like Khloe Kardashian swear by it. However, this is not a miracle product. The one thing that sets coconut oil apart from other oils is that it prevents protein loss from the hair strands. This is great for damaged or fine hair that already lacks protein. But for other hair types, it could cause protein build-up, which could make your hair more prone to breakage. Applying it to your scalp could also cause oil build-up, and people with seborrheic dermatitis could experience additional inflammation.

How does Olaplex work?

The patented ingredient that made Olaplex rise to fame is Bis-Aminopropyl Diglycol Dimaleate. This chemical compound repairs broken disulfide bonds in the keratin chain that our hair is made of. This restores the texture of our hair that was once damaged due to bleach, color, heat styling, or even brushing. You can’t find this ingredient in any product other than Olaplex, but that doesn’t mean that there aren’t any other amazing bond-building hair care products out there.

Do they have a similar effect?

Not really. While coconut oil is a great way to nourish your hair, it won’t repair any broken bonds in your hair strands. A pre-wash coconut oil hair treatment will help prevent damage from hard water and shampooing, and it also works great as a leave-in treatment (in small amounts only). It smooths out the surface of your hair, helps detangle it, and protects it from UV damage. But the active ingredient in Olaplex actually penetrates deep into the hair fiber and can reverse the damage by repairing broken disulfide bonds.

Conclusion

In conclusion, no, coconut oil is not nature’s Olaplex. These two products work in different ways, and it doesn’t really make sense to compare them. However, that doesn’t mean that your hair won’t benefit from coconut oil. In fact, combining these two products will give you much better results than using them separately. That’s because the Olaplex No. 3 treatment is a protein-based bond builder, and coconut oil helps prevent protein loss from the hair fibers. Your hair will feel stronger, smoother, and it will be much less likely to break again.

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