There is truly nothing that sucks more than feeling like you're finally on the other side of a very stressful period in your life, only to find out you hair has also taken on said stress in some shape or form.

Long story short: I had gone from my hair being my full, luscious crown, to looking like a Black version of the Cynthia doll from Rugrats (this might be a tad dramatic, but you get what I mean.)

Fairy knots, breakage, and split ends were the name of the game. And since I had way too much going on, I honestly didn't have time to see a stylist for a much-needed treatment and trim, so I decided to take things into my own hands.

Luckily, a sample of Olaplex's new No.9 Bond Protector Nourishing Hair Serum had just arrived at my door ahead of its Mar. 31 launch — the timing was kismet.

Before I get into my whole wash day tutorial, I want to point out that this serum not only helps to repair current damage, but it also helps to prevent it from happening in the future and protects against pollution. I'll let celebrity colorist and Olaplex ambassador Christin Brown explain exactly how the formula works.

"The No. 9 Bond Protector Nourishing Hair Serum is packed with an antioxidant red algae extract from the South of France and a film-forming polymer to neutralize free radicals," she shares with InStyle. "UVA and UVB act as a shield against pollution, guard the hair from breakage and protect against heat styling up to 450° Fahrenheit. Infused with Olalpex's multi-patented revolutionary bond building technology, these active ingredients work [together] to nourish, repair existing damage, while also protecting hair from future damage."

To ensure the product could properly penetrate my hair strands, I started off with a clarifying shampoo, followed by a conditioner for in-shower detangling.

Next, I applied a generous amount of a deep conditioning treatment from roots to tip, went under the steamer for about 20 to 30 minutes, then rinsed. Once my hair was towel dried, I applied about two pumps (you truly do not need more than that) of the No.9 Serum from roots to tip, as recommended by Brown.

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I didn't find it to be especially moisturizing, so I finished off with my regular styling routine (oil, leave-in, twists — you know the drill). Once my hair was dry and unraveled, I wasn't expecting a miracle. But I'd be lying if I said I didn't notice way less hair on the floor (aka less breakage). Plus, my curls were more shiny and bouncy to boot.

"Textured hair has more disulfide bonds, so our hair is more susceptible to environmental, mechanical, and chemical damages," explains Brown.

That said, I've made the serum a mainstay in my routine, and my curls have only gotten better since.

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