Selecting the perfect hair oil can truly transform your hair care routine. Imagine a product that not only controls frizz and boosts shine but also deeply nourishes your strands from within. Two standout options in this category are OUAI Hair Oil and Olaplex No.7 Bonding Oil. Both have earned devoted fans for delivering salon-quality results in the comfort of your home. While they share similar promises and benefits, each oil also offers unique features. In this article, we’ll dive into what differentiates these two oils and help you determine which one fits best into your hair care regimen. Whether you want to shield your hair from heat damage or repair dry, brittle strands, keep reading to discover which might become your new hair essential.
What We’ll Cover:
- Overview of OUAI Hair Oil and Olaplex No.7 Bonding Oil
- Key Ingredients in OUAI Hair Oil and Olaplex No.7 Bonding Oil
- Texture and Fragrance Comparison
- Ideal Usage Tips
- Price Differences
- Which One Should You Choose?
About OUAI Hair Oil and Olaplex No.7 Bonding Oil
OUAI, founded by celebrity hairstylist Jen Atkin, is a popular American lifestyle and beauty brand offering a wide range of hair, body care, and fragrance products. Their hair care line caters to various hair types and textures, including shampoos, conditioners, treatments, and styling products such as oils.
Among their bestsellers is OUAI Hair Oil — a versatile product designed to tame frizz and seal split ends, leaving hair looking healthy and shiny. It features a carefully crafted blend of ingredients aimed at protecting hair from heat and UV damage while preserving color vibrancy and delivering exceptional gloss.
On the other hand, Olaplex, based in California, revolutionized hair care with its patented bond-building technology. Founded by Dean Christal, Olaplex products focus on repairing hair at a molecular level by reconnecting broken disulfide bonds caused by chemical treatments, heat styling, and mechanical damage.
The Olaplex No.7 Bonding Oil is a multi-purpose styling oil and heat protectant. It boosts shine, softness, and color brilliance while repairing and strengthening hair strands. It also offers impressive heat protection up to 450°F, helping reduce breakage and restoring healthier-looking hair.
Ingredients Breakdown: OUAI Hair Oil vs Olaplex No.7 Bonding Oil
OUAI Hair Oil proudly avoids animal-derived ingredients and animal testing. It’s also gluten-free, paraben-free, phthalate-free, and free from SLS & SLES. Key ingredients include:
- Borage Oil: Extracted from borage seeds, this oil nourishes hair deeply, hydrates, reduces scalp inflammation, prevents breakage, regulates oil production, and restores elasticity.
- Galanga Root Extract: A Southeast Asian rhizome related to ginger and turmeric, it stimulates scalp blood flow, promotes thicker hair, and protects color from UV damage.
- Ama Oil: A blend of sunflower seed oil and amaranth seed extract that strengthens hair, protects against humidity, and prevents hair fall and breakage.
- Baobab Seed Oil: Hydrates and smooths hair while treating the scalp to prevent dandruff and flaking.
Olaplex No.7 Bonding Oil offers a weightless formula designed to enhance shine, softness, and color vibrancy. Its standout ingredients include:
- Bis-aminopropyl Diglycol Dimaleate: The patented bond-building molecule that repairs broken disulfide bonds, improving hair strength and reducing breakage.
- Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Oil: Rich in antioxidants, vitamins D, C, E, and essential fatty acids to protect and nourish hair.
- Fermented Green Tea Oil: Known for superior absorption, it nourishes hair, improves texture, and enhances compatibility with other hair products.
Texture and Fragrance Comparison
OUAI Hair Oil has a lightweight, non-greasy texture suitable for all hair types, including fine strands. It absorbs quickly without leaving residue and has a refined floral scent blending violet, gardenia, ylang-ylang, and white musk — light, fresh, and elegant.
Olaplex No.7 Bonding Oil features a concentrated yet lightweight texture designed for repair and shine. It spreads easily without weighing hair down or leaving stickiness. The fragrance is subtle and floral, often described as a sophisticated mix of sandalwood, jasmine, citrus, sunflower, moringa, pomegranate, green tea, and grape seed oils — evoking the scent of a high-end salon.
How to Use OUAI Hair Oil and Olaplex No.7 Bonding Oil
OUAI Hair Oil is versatile and works well on both damp and dry hair, before and after heat styling. It’s especially beneficial for color-treated or heavily damaged hair. Apply from eye level down, focusing on mid-lengths and ends, then comb through and style as usual for a smooth, frizz-free finish. You can also use 1–3 drops on damp hair to air dry or smooth it over dry hair to calm frizz after blow-drying.
Olaplex No.7 Bonding Oil is more than a styling oil; it’s a bond-repair treatment widely used by professionals and consumers. Apply alone for shine, hydration, heat protection, and bond-building, or mix with other products like Olaplex No.6 for enhanced results. Use a dime-sized amount and add extra drops as needed for more shine depending on hair texture.Price Comparison
- OUAI Hair Oil: $15-$18 for 15ml travel size; $30 for 45ml full size
- Olaplex No.7 Bonding Oil: Around $30 for 30ml standard size
OUAI Hair Oil offers a larger bottle for the same price, potentially providing better value, especially if you prefer buying in larger quantities.
Final Verdict: Which Should You Choose?
Deciding between OUAI Hair Oil and Olaplex No.7 Bonding Oil depends on your hair’s unique needs. Both oils tame frizz, add shine, and protect against heat damage, but their formulations and benefits differ.
- Choose OUAI Hair Oil if you have color-treated or severely damaged hair and want a product that revives frizz and delivers a salon-worthy finish with nourishing oils like borage and baobab.
- Opt for Olaplex No.7 Bonding Oil if you’re seeking advanced bond repair alongside heat protection, improved softness, and scalp health, thanks to its patented technology and nutrient-rich formula.
Consider your hair type, styling habits, and budget when making your choice. Whether you prioritize deep repair or lightweight nourishment, both OUAI and Olaplex oils can elevate your hair care game and help you achieve healthier, shinier hair.