My DMs blew up when the new formula dropped. Half my friends are mourning, the other half swear it’s better.
The real tea? They removed the butylphenyl methylpropional—a potential allergen—to comply with EU regulations. This isn’t just a tweak; it’s a core chemistry change. Olaplex says it’s the same, but my hair begs to differ.
It’s still a pre-shampoo bond builder. $30 for 100ml. The claim? Repairs broken disulfide bonds from bleach. The OG was a miracle for my highlights.
New Fragrance
No more vanilla-cake scent—it’s a clean, almost clinical smell now.
Thicker Texture
Less runny. Clings to dry hair instead of dripping off.
Same Bottle
Identical packaging. You won’t know it’s new until you use it.
Photo: Giorgio Trovato / Unsplash
The hero is still bis-aminopropyl diglycol dimaleate, their patented bond-building molecule. That didn’t change. But the supporting cast did—the solvent system is different to replace the banned ingredient.
- Bis-Aminopropyl Diglycol Dimaleate: The patented bond-linker
- Propylene Glycol: New main solvent—helps penetration
- Cetrimonium Chloride: Detangling agent
- Fragrance: Reformulated, allergen-free
Photo: averie woodard / Unsplash
Thicker. Almost gel-like. Absorbs slower on dry hair—you have to really work it in. The old one melted in.
Week 3: My hair felt stronger, but also… heavier? The slip wasn’t the same. Detangling took more effort, which was a huge surprise.
Photo: QUENTIN Mahe / Unsplash
Breakdown reduced. Shine was decent. But the magic “like I never bleached it” softness and swing? Gone. It’s a competent repair treatment now, not a wizard.
Photo: averie woodard / Unsplash
It works—but it’s lost its soul. The reformulation fixed a compliance issue and created a perfectly fine product that just isn’t the cult favorite anymore.