Are you having difficulty managing your dry, frizzy hair despite following all the hair care steps, such as shampooing, conditioning, and using a hair mask? The chances are that your hair lacks moisture. Give hair serums a try! Adding this small hair care product into your routine could be a game-changer.
Dry hair is at its best on the day of oiling, shampooing, and conditioning. But it starts losing moisture from the next day onwards and needs a boost of nourishment. While oiling your hair controls dryness, it also weighs down your hair and makes it limp. Also, you need to shampoo every day after oiling.
This is where the magic of serum comes in handy. Hair serum is like a light oil that provides concentrated moisture to dry tresses. Such has been the craze over this hair care product, that the market is flooded with options in this category. There are dedicated serums for dry hair, curly hair, colored hair, and many more. This article enlists ten hair serums that deliver deep nourishment to dry hair and add finesse to them.
What Exactly Does a Hair Serum Do?
Before we get to the list of our top picks, let’s know more about hair serums. (1) (2)
- Contrary to the popular myth that hair serum is like oil and weighs down your hair, a serum is much lighter in consistency than oils. You need to find the right one according to your hair type.
- A serum should ideally be applied on towel-dried hair after shampoo and conditioner. Apply a few drops to the lengths and let them dry.
- Before buying, check out the ingredient lists. But, first, it’s a good idea to ensure your goal as to what you’re looking for – to tackle dryness, control frizz, promote hair growth, or be a heat protectant.
- Hair serum can also cause product build-up on the scalp. That’s why using them after shampoo and conditioner on damp hair is recommended. Avoid using them again and again on dry hair.
- Hair serum is an addition to your hair care routine. However, it does not replace an existing product, meaning you can’t skip your conditioner or hair mask as you will be using a hair serum.
Now, let’s get to our list of top-rated hair serums available in the market.
1. Herstyler Hair Repair Serum – Argan Oil Hair Serum
This drugstore favorite will work great if you’ve thick, curly hair. It contains aloe and Argan oil extracts that tame hair. It also adds finesse and shine to your tresses. In addition, it has a non-greasy texture and can be used by both men and women. However, according to its reviewers, the best thing about this serum is that its effect lasts for as long as three to four days without shampoo.
Price: $ 16 for 60 ml
2. Garnier Fructis Sleek & Shine Anti-Frizz Serum
This is an excellent choice for those on a budget. But that doesn’t mean it works any less than the others on the list. It adds moisture to the hair, makes it shiny, and controls frizz. In addition, it contains Moroccan argan oil that helps smoothen frizzy and unmanageable hair.
Price: $7.99 for 150 ml
Also Read – 5 Simple Homemade Hair Serum Recipes That Will Nourish Your Hair Too!
3. Paul Mitchell Super Skinny Serum
If you want silky straight hair, try this high-selling serum from Paul Mitchell. It works magically on tangled hair and leaves it smooth and manageable. The best part is that this serum also works as a primer and helps your hair dry faster. In addition, as it contains silicones, it also controls the frizz.
Price: $10.55 for 25 ml
4. John Frieda Frizz Ease Extra Strength Serum
As the name suggests, this serum adds moisture and strengthens your hair. Though no scientific evidence exists, many of its reviewers claim that it helps their hair grow faster by taming the split ends. In addition, it makes your hair smooth and adds shine to them. It also tames those irritating flyaways and is safe for colored hair.
Price: $10.49 for 50 ml
5. BioSilk Silk Therapy Original
This is a great product that works on all hair types. It has an exciting line-up of ingredients that work exceptionally well in smoothening your hair, such as Cyclomethicone, alkyl benzoate, and hydrolyzed silk. In addition, it provides UV protection and is parabens-free. Add a few drops to your freshly shampooed, towel-dried hair and see your dry locks turn soft and shiny. You can even use this serum daily.
Price: $32.5 for 5.64 oz
6. Olaplex Hair Perfector No. 3 Repairing Treatment
If you’ve colored, bleached, or salon-straightened hair that needs damage repair, look no further than this cult favorite. It works excellently in repairing damaged hair suffering from breakage. Its regular use can make your hair appear healthy and improve its texture. Use it once a week on damp hair to see the magic.
Price: $30 for 100 ml
7. OGX Nourishing Coconut Oil Weightless Hydrating Oil Hair Mist
If you have fine hair, you must be extra careful in choosing a hair serum, as something thick and oily will weigh down your hair. But we certainly don’t need that. This budget option from OGX takes care of curly, fine hair and smoothes flyaways. It contains coconut oil and bamboo extract, adding moisture and shine to your hair. It’s a spray and easy to carry anywhere.
Price: $7.97 for 118 ml
8. GK HAIR Global Keratin 100% Organic Argan Oil Anti-Frizz Hair Serum
This is one of the best serums available for damaged hair. It contains keratin that helps strengthen and repair the hair from within. It also has argan oil that packs extra nourishment for dyed or heat-damaged hair. It can even work as a primer before blow-drying.
Price: $51.8 for 50 ml (pack of 2)
9. Cantu Shea Butter Super Shine Hair Silk
This brand enjoys a cult following among curly-haired girls. Since curly-haired folks have a long list of requirements for their hair serum, they need to be extra careful in choosing one. This one takes care of many curly hair issues, such as defining curls, adding bounce, and protecting from harsh weather, such as heat and humidity, that can destroy the curl pattern. In addition, it contains shea butter that makes your hair shiny and luxuriously soft. Despite all these, the formula isn’t heavy and won’t weigh down your curls.
Price: $13.19 for six fl oz
10. Vitamins Keratin Protein Hair Serum
This works excellent on frizzy, dry hair. It contains biotin and castor oil, strengthening hair and preventing breakage. It also has Moroccan argan oil that makes your hair silky straight. This is sulfate-free and has a very light formula; even those with damaged hair can use it without worry.
Price: $29.97 for 125ml
Summary
If you haven’t been able to figure out how to maintain your dry, frizzy hair, chances are that you’re missing an important step in the hair care routine – applying serum after shampoo and conditioning. Just like a deep conditioning mask that is recommended to be used once a week to add extra moisture to your hair, serums make your hair smooth and glossy. A hair serum has a light formula that provides concentrated moisture to dry tresses. Choose a serum according to your hair type (dry, curly, colored or many more) and say goodbye to unruly, dry hair. Our list here contains drugstore favorites like BioSilk Silk Therapy Original and Garnier Fructis Sleek & Shine Anti-Frizz Serum to pricier options like Paul Mitchell Super Skinny Serum.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How to choose a hair serum?
Choose a hair serum according to your hair type and the texture of your hair. As a rule of thumb, always choose a hair serum with a lighter formula that will not weigh down your hair.
Can I also use a hair serum as a primer for heat treatment like blow-dry or temporary straightening?
Yes, you can, especially those products that specify it. However, if you often do these treatments, we recommend using a product specifically dedicated to them.
Can hair serum damage my hair?
This is highly unlikely. But try to avoid any product build-up on the scalp. That’s why using hair serum after shampooing on clean hair is recommended.
What is the best way to apply hair serum?
A serum should ideally be applied on towel-dried hair right after shampoo and conditioner. Then, apply a few drops to the lengths and let them dry independently.
