Reactive Hair Editorial Team
This post was most recently updated on June 11th, 2023
Whether you’re big into hair care or not, you’ve probably heard of Briogeo Don’t Despair Repair and Olaplex, the two far-famed treatments for damaged hair. But which one is better for your hair? This Briogeo vs Olaplex article will compare hair repair products from both brands.
We’re going to take a look at;
- the origin of both brands,
- product differentiation, and
- their best products for repairing damaged hair.
In the end, you’ll get to choose the right fit for you in terms of formula, application, effectiveness, and value. Now, let’s first take a look at the short story.
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The Short Story
| Briogeo | Olaplex |
 |  |
| About the Brand | About the Brand |
| Founded in 2013 by Nancy Twine, Briogeo provides a wide array of hair care products to cater to various hair concerns, such as damage, frizzy, and more. | Founded by Dean and Darcy Christal back in 2014, Olaplex is a hair care brand that provides damaged hair treatments, such as shampoos, masks, oils, etc. |
| For | For |
| Dry, damaged, lackluster hair of all hair types and textures | Extremely damaged, dry, fragile hair of all hair types and textures |
| Key Ingredients | Key Ingredients |
| Rosehip Oil, Algae Extract, Sweet Almond Oil, and Biotin | Bis-Aminopropyl Diglycol Dimaleate |
| How to Use | How to Use |
| Apply to clean, damp hair and let it sit for at least 10 minutes. For a deep treatment, wrap your hair with a plastic cap and leave it on for 30 minutes. | Apply a few drops to clean, damp hair and leave it on for 10 minutes. |
| Price | Price |
| $39 for 8 fl oz | $30 for 3.3 fl oz |
| Rating | Rating |
| 4.4 out of 5 stars from 3,741+ reviews | 4.7 out of 5 from 9,412+ reviews |
| Disadvantages | Disadvantages |
| Less effective to repair extremely damaged hair May cause allergic reactions | Take a longer time to see the best results Need to pair it with other products |
| Additional Information | Additional Information |
| Contains wheat and soy Leaping Bunny-certified cruelty-free and vegan Allure Reader’s Choice Award Winner | Contains silicones Cruelty-free and vegan Glamour Beauty Award Winner 2022 |
The Long Story
Damage is the most common hair concern, given nearly everything we put on our hair has the potential to harm it. Your haircare routine along with picking the right products is crucial for preventive care and hair management.
Thankfully, there are products like Briogeo and Olaplex that can help repair hair damage. Now, let’s take a closer look at both brands.
Briogeo: A Clean, Natural Haircare Brand
Founded by Nancy Twine in 2013, Briogeo is widely known for its natural haircare range while still delivering great results. Every product is designed to cater to almost everyone, given that their core mission is “to empower every person to succeed on their unique healthy hair journey.”
While Olaplex products specifically cater to damaged hair, Brigeo’s product line is more varied and crafted to target your specific hair need. For instance; Don’t Despair Repair for damaged hair, Scalp Revival for flaky scalp, and many more. Briogeo’s price point is ranging from around $12-$139 and the products are available online and in-store.
You can see our full review of Briogeo here to check their best products.
Olaplex, A Brand with Patented Hair-Reparation Technology
With the motto “Inspired by Salons, Proven by Science,” Olaplex is a leading hair care treatment thanks to its patented ingredient blend, Bis-Aminopropyl Diglycol Dimaleate developed by Dr. Eric Pressly and Dr. Craig Hawker. The brand itself was founded in 2014 by Dean and Darcy Christal.
Unlike Briogeo, Olaplex is also a professional brand and is used in salons like Angelo David and Luxe Aura Hair. Olaplex is specifically designed for damaged hair, ranging from shampoo and conditioner to masks and oils. However, the product line is not as wide as Briogeo. Olaplex products start at around $18-$210 at various retailers.
Check our Olaplex reviews here to learn more about their key products. Next, we cover the differences between related Briogeo and Olaplex’s best hair products.
Briogeo Don’t Despair Repair Hair Mask vs Olaplex: An In-Depth Comparison
When it comes to intensive hair-repairing treatment, one of the very best products from Briogeo and Olaplex is their hair mask. Briogeo Don’t Despair, Repair Deep Conditioning Mask and Olaplex No. 8 Bond Intense Moisture Mask have been featured in many prestigious beauty platforms.
If you’re confused about picking the one that suits your hair type, our Briogeo Don’t Despair Repair vs Olaplex comparison will help you with that. Keep scrolling to find out more!
Formula
The first visible difference between Briogeo and Olaplex is the texture and scent. Briogeo has a conditioner-like texture with a light consistency. While Olaplex is pretty thick in consistency, making it feel richer than Briogeo.
If you prefer something thick, especially if your hair is very damaged, coarse, curly/ coily, we suggest using the Olaplex No. 8 Bond Intense Moisture Mask. Briogeo Don’t Despair Repair Deep Conditioning Mask may be best suited for those whose hair is early damaged, dry, and fine.
When it comes to scent, Briogeo smells pleasantly floral-like, just like its counterparts in the collection. However, it might be too strong if you don’t like fragrance in hair care. Contrary to Briogeo, Olaplex has a nice, subtle scent and is not overpowering, which is a plus point.
Ingredients
In terms of effectiveness, both Olaplex and Briogeo excel in delivering softness, shine, and hydration to damaged hair from the first use itself. However, they are also slightly different from one another.
Olaplex No.8 Bond Intense Moisture Mask is very effective to repair hair that’s already damaged. Meanwhile, Briogeo Don’t Despair Repair Deep Conditioning Mask will strengthen weak, damaged hair to prevent further breakage.
The Ingredient List of Briogeo Don’t Despair Repair Deep Conditioning Mask
Their benefit and reliability can also be seen through the key ingredients. Briogeo is formulated with rosehip oil, red algae extract, and sweet almond oil. It is also loaded with fatty acids to strengthen hair strands and antioxidants that protect against free radical damage.
The Ingredient List of Olaplex No.8 Bond Intense Moisture Mask
As for Olaplex, it is crafted with Bis-Aminopropyl Diglycol Dimaleate which works by replacing the broken disulfide bonds in damaged hair caused by chemical, mechanical, and thermal damage. Olaplex is also infused with amino acids, ceramides, avocado oil, and rice bran oil.
How to Use
Essentially, the application of both Briogeo and Olaplex is pretty similar. You’ll have to apply the mask to clean, damp hair and leave it on for 10 minutes before rinsing. Repeat weekly for best results.
Given that Briogeo is not as concentrated as Olaplex, those who have curly, coily, and coarse hair that’s damaged may need to use it twice a week for extra moisture. But with Olaplex, a weekly treatment should be fine.
Pricing
At first glance, Olaplex seems to be a bit cheaper than Briogeo as it only costs $30 while Briogeo is $39. But when you factor in the size too, Briogeo offers a more affordable option given you’ll get a 8-oz jar ($4.88 / Ounce). Meanwhile, Olaplex only gives you a 3.3-oz bottle ($9.09 / Ounce).
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Moreover, Briogeo Don’t Despair Repair Deep Conditioning Mask is also available in bigger sizes (12 oz and 32 oz) while Olaplex only provides a single option.
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Real-life User Reviews
When we look at the customer reviews, Briogeo and Olaplex have both positive and negative reviews. But mostly, the number of positive reviews far outnumbers the negative ones.
Briogeo has a rating of 4.4 out of 5 stars from 3,741+ reviews with over 3K users giving it positive reviews. Many users are satisfied with Briogeo as they noticed softer and shinier hair with the first use. We also saw a few bad reviews mentioning that the product causes allergic reactions.
Here’s one review from an Amazon user.
Results of a woman with color-treated, curly hair who lost her curl patterns due to excessive hair styling. After leaving the mask for 15 minutes and rinsing it, 90% of her curls look more defined and her hair instantly feels soft.
Compared to Briogeo, Olaplex has a higher rating and number of reviews on Amazon. It boasts a rating of 4.7 out of 5 from 9,412+ reviews, and more than 8.6K reviewers are happy with the results.
The most noticeable positive review is that Olaplex really helps deliver a better appearance to damaged hair, such as being more hydrated, less frizzy, and softer. However, some complained that more products are required to see the best results and it’s overpriced.
Here’s one review from a happy user.
Results of a blonde woman who has fragile, frizzy ends and greasy roots after sitting for 10 minutes. Her hair looks so soft, shiny, and bouncier without frizziness. The results even last for a full five days after using the mask.
Disadvantages
Besides the side effects we mentioned above, Briogeo is less effective at helping repair extremely damaged hair. The product is ideal if used as a preventive solution for damage and preventing further breakage. Additionally, Briogeo Deep Conditioning Mask is not wheat- and soy-free.
On the other hand, the major disadvantage of Olaplex is that it takes a longer time to see the results, primarily if you single-use it. Moreover, Olaplex No. 8 Bond Intense Moisture Mask is not free of silicone. So, you’ll have to routinely use a clarifying shampoo to remove buildup.
Before wrapping up this Briogeo vs Olaplex review, we also give a brief comparison between Olaplex and Briogeo hair oils which have gained popularity among beauty enthusiasts, hair stylists, and bloggers.
Briogeo Don’t Despair Repair Treatment Oil vs Olaplex No. 7 Bonding Oil
The visible similarity between Olaplex bonding oil and Briogeo strengthening treatment oil is that both cost $30 for a 1-oz bottle. They promise to strengthen hair cuticles caused by everyday damage and help diminish frizz and flyaways.
However, the first major difference is the rating. Olaplex No. 7 Bonding Oil sits at: 4.7 out of 5 stars from 39,223+ reviews. Meanwhile, Briogeo has a rating of 4.6 out of 5 stars from 274+ reviews on Amazon. This could be due to many customers buying the products from other retailers, such as Sephora, Ulta, and the company website.
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When it comes to versatility, Olaplex No. 7 Bonding Oil wins the race. Besides being used for strengthening, it also can be used as a heat protectant that provides protection up to 450°F. Plus, if you have lackluster hair, you can go with Olaplex.
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Although both are suitable for all hair types and textures, Olaplex may be best suited for fine, thin hair since it has a lightweight consistency that doesn’t leave a greasy finish. Briogeo is pretty thick in texture, making it ideal for curly, coily, thick, and coarse hair. For better results for the Briogeo oil, you can use it with their Rice Water Protein.
Is Briogeo Good for Your Hair?
Briogeo offers straightforward, broad product lines that target your unique hair need. This is a pretty good concept to steer clear of confusing marketing that may lead you to the wrong choice.
Regardless of what type of hair you have, you should pick up the right formula for Briogeo to work best at addressing your hair concern. For instance, Briogeo Don’t Despair Repair that’s designed to treat dry, damaged hair.
If you started noticing hair dryness, dullness, damage, and breakage, Don’t Despair Repair is the perfect choice for you. In addition, it takes time to see the best results so consistent use and patience are also important.
The Verdict: Which Cult-Favorite Hair Treatment is the Best for You?
| Aspect | Briogeo | Olaplex |
| Affordability | ✔ | |
| Customer reviews | ✔ | |
| Star rating | ✔ | |
| Vegan | ✔ | ✔ |
| Cruelty-free | ✔ (Leaping Bunny certified) | (Not Leaping Bunny certified) |
| Complex ingredients | ✔ | |
| Sulfate-free | ✔ | ✔ |
| Silicone-free | ✔ | |
| Gluten-free | ✔ | |
| Least maintenance | ✔ | |
| Extensive experience | ✔ |
Overall, both Briogeo and Olaplex are very effective at nourishing dehydrated and damaged hair. But the best way to choose the right one for you is through the level of hair damage you have.
But if you’re looking for an affordable option, Briogeo Don’t Despair Repair Deep Conditioning Mask is the right fit for you. And, if you are allergic to wheat and soy, Olaplex No. 8 is your go-to option.
Did you get which one you wanted to try? Drop comments you may want to share and if you have any questions, don’t hesitate to tell us.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better: Olaplex or Briogeo?
If you’re looking for serious reparative treatments, Olaplex is the best one you can get. Briogeo is ideal if you want to strengthen your early damaged hair and protect it from further breakage.
What’s the difference between the Olaplex salon system and the at-home products?
Olaplex salon system offers a full-strength treatment and is better for those who are skeptical to try Olaplex by themselves. Meanwhile, at-home products are used as part of your regular routine.
