Uploaded February 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Bond builders are great for damaged hair - but what do they do, and how do they actually work? Here's a deep dive into the science of products like Olaplex, K18, Redken's Acidic Bonding Concentrate, L'Oreal Everpure Bond Repair, Living Proof and Epres.
MY BOOK 📖 The Science of Beauty: labmuffin.com/sob
Shop more of my favorite products here: shopmy.us/labmuffin
Subscribe for videos every fortnight: bit.ly/labmuffinyt
0:00 Hair and bonds
3:18 Damage and bond builders
5:12 Why is this controversial?
9:01 How bond builders work
11:07 How does Olaplex work?
12:21 Different bond building ingredients
14:53 Which bond builders work best?
17:08 Oily bond builders
Powered By Chemicals Mugs: labmuffin.com/shop
cosmeticsandtoiletries.com/formulas-products/hair-care/article/22737591/how-bond-builders-repair-hair
doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-25611-0
doi.org/10.1111/ics.12409
doi.org/10.1111/dth.13202
doi.org/10.1111/ics.70024
doi.org/10.1016/j.tibtech.2021.09.010
doi.org/10.1016/j.colsurfb.2018.11.036
🙋🏻 I'm Michelle, a chemistry PhD, cosmetic chemist and science educator, here to explain how beauty products work, debunk myths, and help you make smarter decisions about your skincare, hair and makeup!
Website labmuffin.com
Instagram instagram.com/labmuffinbeautyscience
TikTok tiktok.com/@labmuffinbeautyscience
Threads. threads.net/labmuffinbeautyscience
Shop my favorite products: shopmy.us/labmuffin
✨ Want smooth, glowing skin? Grab a copy of my FREE Essential Guide to Exfoliation! labmuffin.com/exfol
🧴 PRODUCTS (affiliate links)
OLAPLEX | No. 3 Hair Perfector Strengthening and Reparative Hair Treatment: go.shopmy.us/p-42090834
K18 | Leave-In Molecular Repair Hair Mask: go.shopmy.us/p-42090900
REDKEN | Acidic Bonding Concentrate Leave-In Treatment for Hair Repair: go.shopmy.us/p-42091008
L'OREAL PARIS | Elvive Bond Repair Full Routine Bundle: go.shopmy.us/p-42091024
L'OREAL PARIS | Everpure Bond Strengthening Concentrate: go.shopmy.us/p-42091048
LIVING PROOF | Triple Bond Complex: go.shopmy.us/p-42091072
EPRES | Bond Repair Treatment: go.shopmy.us/p-42091095
Powered By Chemicals Mugs: labmuffin.com/shop
📺 RELATED POSTS AND VIDEOS
Free exfoliation guide labmuffin.com/exfol
Do these viral hair hacks really work? youtu.be/M27QzbADybI
Do most shampoos damage hair? Bad science youtu.be/Bf_Wl2gpEvM
How to fix your itchy scalp youtu.be/ZBSAXC6DsK0
Debunking the heat protectant test almost broke me youtu.be/ZYCMXY_MUIQ
Is hydration destroying your hair? The REAL science youtu.be/khNaXP11zc8
Is synthetic braiding hair killing you? Consumer Reports' dodgy science youtu.be/ptEvFyTBYxc
The worst TikTok haircare advice youtu.be/NErfR6OW7m8
Stop drying your hair wrong youtu.be/1Oo1syciUQ4
This ingredient saved my hair youtu.be/Rmc3iZgoseg
Rosemary oil for hair growth? How to spot bad science youtu.be/SW2NCv_vF2Q
Is Retinol a Scam? The Science youtu.be/e6Z5Vr7uSiA
🧴 SKINCARE GUIDE 🧴 Find out more: labmuffin.com/skin
Bond builders are great for damaged hair - but what do they do, and how do they actually work? Here's a deep dive into the science of products like Olaplex, K18, Redken's Acidic Bonding Concentrate, L'Oreal Everpure Bond Repair, Living Proof and Epres.
MY BOOK 📖 The Science of Beauty: labmuffin.com/sob
Shop more of my favorite products here: shopmy.us/labmuffin
Subscribe for videos every fortnight: bit.ly/labmuffinyt
0:00 Hair and bonds
3:18 Damage and bond builders
5:12 Why is this controversial?
9:01 How bond builders work
11:07 How does Olaplex work?
12:21 Different bond building ingredients
14:53 Which bond builders work best?
17:08 Oily bond builders
Powered By Chemicals Mugs: labmuffin.com/shop
cosmeticsandtoiletries.com/formulas-products/hair-care/article/22737591/how-bond-builders-repair-hair
doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-25611-0
doi.org/10.1111/ics.12409
doi.org/10.1111/dth.13202
doi.org/10.1111/ics.70024
doi.org/10.1016/j.tibtech.2021.09.010
doi.org/10.1016/j.colsurfb.2018.11.036
🙋🏻 I'm Michelle, a chemistry PhD, cosmetic chemist and science educator, here to explain how beauty products work, debunk myths, and help you make smarter decisions about your skincare, hair and makeup!
Website labmuffin.com
Instagram instagram.com/labmuffinbeautyscience
TikTok tiktok.com/@labmuffinbeautyscience
Threads. threads.net/labmuffinbeautyscience
Shop my favorite products: shopmy.us/labmuffin
✨ Want smooth, glowing skin? Grab a copy of my FREE Essential Guide to Exfoliation! labmuffin.com/exfol
🧴 PRODUCTS (affiliate links)
OLAPLEX | No. 3 Hair Perfector Strengthening and Reparative Hair Treatment: go.shopmy.us/p-42090834
K18 | Leave-In Molecular Repair Hair Mask: go.shopmy.us/p-42090900
REDKEN | Acidic Bonding Concentrate Leave-In Treatment for Hair Repair: go.shopmy.us/p-42091008
L'OREAL PARIS | Elvive Bond Repair Full Routine Bundle: go.shopmy.us/p-42091024
L'OREAL PARIS | Everpure Bond Strengthening Concentrate: go.shopmy.us/p-42091048
LIVING PROOF | Triple Bond Complex: go.shopmy.us/p-42091072
EPRES | Bond Repair Treatment: go.shopmy.us/p-42091095
Powered By Chemicals Mugs: labmuffin.com/shop
📺 RELATED POSTS AND VIDEOS
Free exfoliation guide labmuffin.com/exfol
Do these viral hair hacks really work? youtu.be/M27QzbADybI
Do most shampoos damage hair? Bad science youtu.be/Bf_Wl2gpEvM
How to fix your itchy scalp youtu.be/ZBSAXC6DsK0
Debunking the heat protectant test almost broke me youtu.be/ZYCMXY_MUIQ
Is hydration destroying your hair? The REAL science youtu.be/khNaXP11zc8
Is synthetic braiding hair killing you? Consumer Reports' dodgy science youtu.be/ptEvFyTBYxc
The worst TikTok haircare advice youtu.be/NErfR6OW7m8
Stop drying your hair wrong youtu.be/1Oo1syciUQ4
This ingredient saved my hair youtu.be/Rmc3iZgoseg
Rosemary oil for hair growth? How to spot bad science youtu.be/SW2NCv_vF2Q
Is Retinol a Scam? The Science youtu.be/e6Z5Vr7uSiA
🧴 SKINCARE GUIDE 🧴 Find out more: labmuffin.com/skin
