Both Olaplex and Ouai are some of the most popular brands in hair care at the moment. With the rise of more environmentally conscious products in the beauty market, Olaplex has cemented itself within the segment.
Although Ouai has a larger range of products within the beauty market, these two brands compete directly in hair care. These include products such as shampoos, conditioners, and treatments.
So, in this post, I will note some of the key differences between Olaplex vs Ouai in terms of:
- How these products work.
- Price point and quantities.
- Texture and consistency.
Olaplex Vs Ouai: 5 Differences
How They Work
Both Ouai and Olaplex use their own unique formulas to help take care of your hair.
Ouai utilizes its own unique Smart Technology in order to create a product that can easily lock in moisture whilst minimizing breakages. Their product is fragranced but is not too overpowering of a scent.
The key ingredients for Ouai include:
- STC
- Tamarind seed extract
- Keratin
- A variety of amino acids.
These work in harmony with each other in order to nourish and enhance your natural hair and improve its overall health and appearance.
Olaplex is a clear salon favorite as it is professional in both its look and quality. They’re well known for their high-quality products that can help lock in moisture whilst also repairing your hair.
Olaplex also helps to create a natural shine to your hair making it look fresh, clean, and healthy. One of the key different ingredients within the Olaplex formula is bis-aminopropyl diglycol dimaleate which helps to both prevent breakages as well as to repair them.
Product Characteristics
Olaplex and Ouai both compete within the hair care market. They both have products such as shampoos, conditioners, leave-in conditioners, and oils. The most popular for both of the brands are their shampoos and conditioners.
Olaplex’s shampoos and conditioners are designed specifically for maintenance and repairs. This is because Olaplex has crafted its product line to be seen as a complete hair treatment and maintenance kit.
This includes products to be used before, during, and after the coloring process of your hair. These products are all designed with repair and restoration in mind.
This is in contrast to Ouai as they do offer the same maintenance and repair benefits, but also nourishment and care, being a much thicker consistency because of it.
Both Ouai and Olaplex products are scented, with Olaplex being a sweet aromatic smell and Ouai being slightly less harsh on your hair.
Ouai has carefully chosen its chemicals and ingredients to treat your hair with the utmost care and delicacy so that nothing is too harsh.
Price Point & Product Quantities
Both Olaplex and Ouai are professionally marketed products and occupy a very distinct part of the market. These are taunted as professional-grade, salon-quality products and command the price associated with that as well.
Olaplex and Ouai are similarly priced but an important thing to note is that Ouai comes in slightly larger packages, for the same price. Due to Olaplex often coming in smaller quantities, Ouai is the more affordable option between the two.
Another distinction to make is that Ouai, in order to be more environmentally conscious, offers refill sachets of its products. These refills are great as they reduce waste, but they come with monetary benefits as well.
These refills are a little bit cheaper than purchasing another product entirely, thus making Ouai even more affordable than Olaplex.
Product Ranges & Variations
Olaplex may be amazing in its use and technology, but it lacks the diversity and range of Ouai.
Ouai boasts a wide range of products for various hair types and conditions. It splits its products to be easily found by customers into products designed for fine hair, medium hair, and thick hair. This can be found throughout their range of shampoos and conditioners.
Olaplex may be of generally superior quality, but they have taken a ‘one size fits all’ approach. Although this is great in theory, it does not always work. Customers can experience different levels of success due to this and often prefer something more catered to their exact needs.
Product Compatibility & Results
In the real world, we do not tend to buy all the products we use from a single place or from a single brand. The modern environment leaves us spoilt for choice and thus we find what we need from a variety of places.
This is an important part of choosing between these brands as what you use should never decrease the results that you have achieved elsewhere.
Both Olaplex and Ouai state that they work well when used alongside other products. However, Olaplex is the brand that clearly wants you to use its entire kit for the best possible results.
Although this might not be your thing, it is well known that an Olaplex kit can deliver amazing results.
For Professional Quality That Protects
Winner: Olaplex
The clear choice for professionals within the beauty space is undoubtedly Olaplex. Although they may not be too diverse in their offerings, what they do, they do incredibly well.
They have designed their offering to compile into a complete hair care kit that strives to protect and prevent your hair from breakages as well as aid in repair, restoration, and maintenance.
Their shampoos and conditioners come in slightly smaller containers than Ouai so even though they are similarly priced, Olaplex is a slightly more expensive product. But, it’s a minor difference and it could be argued that it’s well worth it.
For A More Diverse Range That Can Last A Bit Longer
Winner: Ouai
Although both Olaplex and Ouai are similar in the kinds of products they produce, Ouai has a far more diverse range of products.
It has an incredibly wide range of hair care products that allow you to find exactly what you may need for your specific hair type and style. Ouai has shampoos, conditioners, leave-in conditioners, and oils.
In addition to having more products themselves, Ouai has products specifically for fine hair, medium hair, and thick hair.
Another major advantage of Ouai is that it does come in slightly larger containers. This means that it is the more affordable option between the two brands.
Summary
Both Olaplex and Ouai are professional-grade haircare brands that more than qualify them to dominate the segment.
Both Ouai and Olaplex have a unique chemical formula that is designed to protect, strengthen, and nourish your hair. Olaplex and Ouai are both priced professionally but in a very similar way.
However, Ouai does come in a slightly larger bottle which edges it out as being the more affordable of the two.
Olaplex is also used by professionals as it boasts compatibility with most other treatments, especially for hair that has been treated or colored recently.
Because these two brands are so similar, the decision between them relies on finding the right product for your specific needs and hair type.