Safety note: Patch test any new hair treatment on a small section first, especially if you have a sensitive scalp or known ingredient allergies. Repair-claim figures cited here are brand-reported from product listings, not independent testing. These recommendations are not medical advice. Consult a dermatologist for persistent skin concerns.
Googled “Olaplex 3 vs 8 vs 9” and landed here confused? You’re not the only one. Olaplex reshuffled its lineup without shouting about it. The classic No. 3 disappeared—it’s now N°.3PLUS. No. 8 got axed completely—two new masks replaced it. Only No. 9 survived unchanged. We cross-checked every live Amazon listing to map out what actually replaced what.
Quick answer: Grab N°.3PLUS (around $34) if you want that legendary “fix damaged hair” treatment—it’s the direct heir to No. 3 with a faster 3-minute application. Hunting for No. 8? Pick Rich Hydration Mask for fine-to-medium hair or Weightless Nourishing Mask for medium-to-coarse hair (both around $44). Just want to test Olaplex on a budget? No. 9 (around $16) gets you in cheap.
Quick Picks
Best OverallOlaplex N°.3PLUS Hair Repair Pre-Shampoo Treatment (100 mL)$34.00as of Oct 11, 2026Read our take ↓
Best Mask for Fine to Medium HairOlaplex Rich Hydration Mask (200 mL)$44.00as of Oct 11, 2026Read our take ↓
Best Mask for Medium to Coarse HairOlaplex Weightless Nourishing Hair Mask (200 mL)$44.00as of Oct 11, 2026Read our take ↓| Spec | Olaplex N°.3PLUS Hair Repair Pre-Shampoo Treatment (100 mL) $34.00as of Oct 11, 2026 4.6 | Olaplex Rich Hydration Mask (200 mL) $44.00as of Oct 11, 2026 4.5 | Olaplex Weightless Nourishing Hair Mask (200 mL) $44.00as of Oct 11, 2026 4.5 | Olaplex N°.9 Bond Protector Hair Serum (90 mL) $30.40-$32.00as of Oct 11, 2026 4.4 | Olaplex N°.6 Bond Smoother Leave-In Styling Cream (100 mL) $30.40-$32.00as of Oct 11, 2026 4.5 | Olaplex N°.3PLUS Hair Repair Pre-Shampoo Treatment (250 mL) $61.20-$68.00as of Oct 11, 2026 4.6 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| step | Pre-shampoo treatment (replaces classic No. 3) | In-shower mask (successor to No. 8) | In-shower mask (successor to No. 8) | Leave-in styling serum | Leave-in styling cream | Pre-shampoo treatment, jumbo size |
| size | 100 mL | 200 mL | 200 mL | 90 mL | 100 mL | 250 mL (2.5x the standard bottle) |
| use | 3-minute treatment before washing | — | — | Heat protection, shine, style retention | Frizz control, smoothing, blow-dry prep | — |
| technology | Bond Building Technology + Damage Defense Complex (brand-stated) | Biomimetic Cuticle Technology (brand-stated) | Biomimetic Cuticle Technology (brand-stated) | — | — | Same 3PLUS formula (brand-stated) |
| Rating | 4.6 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 4.4 | 4.5 | 4.6 |
Prices change daily — tap Check Price for the current Amazon price.
Prices change daily — tap Check Price for the current Amazon price.
How We Evaluate
We checked every product against its current Amazon listing—live name, price, stock status, all sold direct by Amazon.com. Performance claims (“3X stronger,” “5 washes”) come from the brand. We cite them as stated. Prices shift. What happened to the old products: the original No. 3 still has some phantom listing, but stock’s scarce or gone. No. 8 mask? Vanished from the live catalog entirely—that’s why this guide covers the new stuff instead.
What Actually Changed in the Olaplex Lineup
Here’s the actual mapping:
- No. 3 Hair Perfector → N°.3PLUS. Same pre-shampoo repair role, new formula claiming a Damage Defense Complex, faster 3-minute treatment replacing the old 10-minute wait. Old No. 3 listing exists somewhere but barely stocked. 3PLUS is what Olaplex pushes now.
- No. 8 Bond Intense Moisture Mask → retired, became two masks. Rich Hydration Mask targets lightweight hydration and volume for fine-to-medium hair. Weightless Nourishing Hair Mask goes for deeper moisture on dehydrated, medium-to-coarse hair. Names are backward, yeah. Read descriptions, not labels.
- No. 9 Bond Protector Serum → unchanged. Same product, same purpose: leave-in serum for heat protection, shine, style hold.
- Supporting cast like No. 6 Bond Smoother (leave-in cream) and No. 5 conditioner stuck around.
1. Olaplex N°.3PLUS (100 mL) - Best Overall
Olaplex N°.3PLUS Hair Repair Pre-Shampoo Treatment (100 mL)
This is what you’re after if you came here hunting “Olaplex No. 3.” 3PLUS tackles the same job—at-home pre-shampoo treatment for wrecked hair—and drops wait time to a brand-stated 3 minutes before washing. Listing claims it builds strength, softness, less breakage. That’s their story. Its role as Olaplex’s home-routine core hasn’t budged. Bleached, heat-fried, chemically treated hair? Start here.
2. Olaplex Rich Hydration Mask - Best Mask for Fine to Medium Hair
Olaplex Rich Hydration Mask (200 mL)
This covers half the No. 8 replacement story. Per the listing, this mask delivers lightweight moisture with an instant volume boost for fine-to-medium hair—brand says it lasts five washes via cuticle-sealing tech. Despite “Rich” in the name, this is the lighter mask of the two. Pick this if old No. 8 felt too heavy at your roots or if you hate flat-hair-after-masking syndrome.
3. Olaplex Weightless Nourishing Hair Mask - Best Mask for Medium to Coarse Hair
Olaplex Weightless Nourishing Hair Mask (200 mL)
The other No. 8 heir—this one’s the deeper-moisture version: restorative mask for dehydrated, medium-to-coarse hair, with brand-claimed moisture lasting five washes. Used No. 8 for serious hydration on thick, dry, or treated hair? This is closer to what you had. Ignore the name, seriously. “Weightless” is the richer choice by market positioning.
4. Olaplex N°.9 Bond Protector Serum - Budget Pick
Olaplex N°.9 Bond Protector Hair Serum (90 mL)
This is the single product from your original question that stayed untouched. At around $16 it’s the cheapest Olaplex entry, earning its place as a lightweight leave-in adding shine, killing static and tangles, providing heat and pollution defense (brand-stated, with a 48-hour pollution-shield claim). Know what it is, though: styling and protection, not repair. Use it with 3PLUS, not instead of it.
5. Olaplex N°.6 Bond Smoother - Best Styling Companion
Olaplex N°.6 Bond Smoother Leave-In Styling Cream (100 mL)
Wasn’t part of your original 3-vs-8-vs-9 question, but it’s the product most people add to cart next to No. 3—and it survived the lineup shakeup. Leave-in cream with brand-claimed 72-hour frizz control, humidity resistance, heat protection to 450°F. It bridges treatment (3PLUS) and finish (No. 9). Blow-dry regularly? This is your workhorse.
6. Olaplex N°.3PLUS (250 mL) - Worth the Upgrade
Olaplex N°.3PLUS Hair Repair Pre-Shampoo Treatment (250 mL)
Same 3PLUS formula, 2.5 times the bottle for roughly double the price. Got long or thick hair—or treating weekly instead of monthly? Jumbo size cuts per-treatment cost and saves you from rationing the tiny tube. Straightforward upgrade for committed users. New to this? Start with 100 mL to confirm the formula works for you first.
Which One Should You Buy?
Replacing an old No. 3 routine? Go straight to N°.3PLUS—or grab the 250 mL jumbo if you treat often. Missing No. 8? Pick by hair type: Rich Hydration for fine-to-medium, Weightless Nourishing for medium-to-coarse. Just want to try the brand cheap? No. 9 opens the door.
For more damaged-hair help, check our purple conditioners and masks for blondes guide, our hair oils for frizz roundup, and the Kérastase vs Redken salon haircare comparison.
FAQ
Did Olaplex discontinue No. 8?
Based on current Amazon listings when we checked, No. 8 Bond Intense Moisture Mask isn’t listed as an active numbered product anymore. Olaplex now sells two unnamed masks—Rich Hydration and Weightless Nourishing—filling the moisture-mask role depending on your hair type.
Is 3PLUS the same as No. 3?
It’s the next gen, not identical. Same pre-shampoo repair purpose, but listing claims faster 3-minute application and adds a Damage Defense Complex. Old No. 3 listing exists somewhere but stock’s nearly gone.
Which No. 8 replacement is more like the original?
Weightless Nourishing Hair Mask is positioned for deeper moisture on medium-to-coarse, dehydrated hair—that’s closer to how most people actually used No. 8. Rich Hydration Mask is the lighter, volumizing option for finer hair, despite names suggesting otherwise.
Do I need all of these?
Nah. System works like this: 3PLUS repairs, a mask hydrates, No. 6 styles, No. 9 protects and finishes. Start with 3PLUS, add one mask matching your hair type, expand only if you’re getting results and want more.
Are the “3X stronger” and “5 washes” claims independently verified?
Those are brand claims from product listings. We quote them exactly as stated. Results swing based on your hair and how you use them.