Hair oil dupes: Olaplex No.7, Kérastase and Moroccanoil
Most salon hair oils are silicone serums: a carrier that evaporates and leaves dimethicone or dimethiconol on the hair for shine and frizz control, with a little plant oil.
What is the best dupe for Olaplex No.7, Kérastase Elixir Ultime or Moroccanoil Treatment?
Garnier Fructis Sleek & Shine Anti-Frizz Serum, about $6.97 ($1.37 / fl oz), against the $32 OLAPLEX No.7 Bonding Oil, 96% less. Same silicone shine oil: a volatile carrier (isohexadecane and isoparaffin in Olaplex, cyclopentasiloxane in Garnier) evaporates and leaves dimethicone or dimethiconol to smooth the cuticle, with a little plant oil. Olaplex adds its patented bond builder, a UV filter and moringa, pomegranate and sunflower oils, while Garnier keeps to argan and apricot kernel oils and fragrance. Five times the bottle for under a quarter of the price.
| Dupe | Instead of | Price | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|
 | OLAPLEX No.7 Oil, $32 | $6.97 $7.99−96% per oz | Buy |
 | Kérastase Glaze Drops, $42 | $7.97 $8.99−95% per oz | Buy |
 | Kérastase Elixir Ultime, $64 | $9.99−88% per oz | Buy |
 | Moroccanoil Treatment, $50 | $7.97 $10.69−84% per oz | Buy |
 | Davines OI Oil, $57 | $13.20 $38−81% per oz | Buy |
1. Garnier Fructis Sleek & Shine Anti-Frizz Serum
for OLAPLEX No.7 Bonding Oil
$6.97 $7.99vs $32−96% per oz
#1 in Hair Styling Serums on Amazon
Same silicone shine oil: a volatile carrier (isohexadecane and isoparaffin in Olaplex, cyclopentasiloxane in Garnier) evaporates and leaves dimethicone or dimethiconol to smooth the cuticle, with a little plant oil.
What it does worse: Olaplex adds its patented bond builder, a UV filter and moringa, pomegranate and sunflower oils, while Garnier keeps to argan and apricot kernel oils and fragrance.
2. OGX Argan Oil of Morocco Weightless Healing Dry Oil
for Kérastase Gloss Absolu Glaze Drops
$7.97 $8.99vs $42−95% per oz
#16 in Hair Treatment Oils on Amazon
Built the same way: a water-free spray whose fast-evaporating carriers leave a thin silicone film for shine and frizz control, softened with an ester.
What it does worse: Kérastase uses isododecane and isoalkanes with dimethicone and amodimethicone, while OGX uses cyclosiloxanes with phenyl trimethicone and adds argan, coconut and avocado oils and cocoa butter, so it feels a touch richer.
3. Herbal Essences Lightweight Hair Oil with Aloe & Camellia
for Kérastase Elixir Ultime L'Huile Originale
$9.99vs $64−88% per oz
#26 in Hair Styling Oils on Amazon
Same camellia oil (Camellia oleifera seed oil) and dimethiconol over a fast-evaporating base, used the same way: one or two pumps on damp or dry ends.
What it does worse: It carries one plant oil where Kérastase layers six, adds denatured alcohol, and makes no heat-protection claim, so use a separate protectant before hot tools.
4. OGX Renewing + Argan Oil of Morocco Penetrating Oil
for Moroccanoil Moroccanoil Treatment
$7.97 $10.69vs $50−84% per oz
#7 in Hair Treatment Oils on Amazon
Same argan-and-silicone base, same use on damp mid-lengths before drying, and the same shine without weight on fine hair.
What it does worse: Thinner texture and a sweeter fragrance, and it runs out faster because people over-pour it.
5. BioSilk Silk Therapy Original Leave-In Treatment
for Davines OI Oil
$13.20 $38vs $57−81% per oz
#25 in Hair Treatment Masks on Amazon
Built the same way: a clear, water-free serum whose fast-evaporating carriers leave a film of dimethiconol on the hair for shine and frizz control.
What it does worse: Davines carries it in cyclopentasiloxane and disiloxane and adds roucou extract, sunflower oil and a sunscreen, octinoxate, while BioSilk uses a light isoalkane and isododecane with alcohol, panthenol and silk.
How this list was made
The drugstore ones are built the same way, which is why one 150ml Garnier serum stands in for Olaplex No.7, Alfaparf's Cristalli Liquidi and Gisou's honey oil. What the salon bottle adds is its signature extra, Olaplex's patented bond builder, Gisou's honey, Kérastase's six oils where the dupe has one, a UV filter, and each comparison names it.
