Who says achieving long, decisive, healthy hair requires expensive salon treatments? Enter the humble hair serum, a tiny bottle with superhero qualities. Initially underestimated as another fragrant oil, hair serums have proven their worth for all hair types. Now, it’s time to ditch the neglected serum bottle in your closet and whip up your homemade version. You can craft a super easy, cost-effective, and highly effective homemade hair serum with a few simple, natural ingredients. Explore these five recipes and discover the benefits provided by the ingredients for achieving a gorgeous mane.
What Is A Hair Serum?
Hair serum serves as a hair care solution, boosting our hair’s health, texture, and shine. In contrast to traditional hair oil, it is formulated to act as a surface treatment, offering a quick fix without penetrating the cuticles or conditioning the fibers from within. This makes serum an excellent styling tool for achieving soft, smooth, and sleek hair by eliminating frizz and preventing tangles. By forming a protective layer around each strand, hair remains resilient against the impacts of heat and humidity. Additionally, the serum reflects light, resulting in a remarkably glossy appearance for the hair.
Commercial hair serums are essentially silicone-based products, which form an external coating around the surfaces of hair fiber. There are multiple products in the market from multiple brands and some of them are also intended for specific hair types.
Benefits Of Using A Hair Serum
It is almost impossible to take care of hair daily in today’s hectic life. Moreover, we keep exposing it to sunlight, dust, humidity, heat treatments, chemical treatments, harsh styling products, etc. Hence, a good hair serum must be in every beauty arsenal to prevent damage. Here is how the product can benefit your locks: (2)
- It keeps out-of-control frizz at bay by turning the hair fiber softer.
- It prevents hair from getting tangled by making it smooth and sleek.
- It adds a gorgeous shine to dull and lifeless hair instantly.
- Acts as a preventive measure against dry and damaged hair during heat styling.
- Protects from environmental aggressions like UV rays, pollutants, etc.
- Reduces hair breakage to a large extent.
So Why Use A Homemade Hair Serum?
But why should you even try preparing a hair serum at home when so many commercial choices are already on the market? All commercial serums come loaded with silicon, which coats the hair like plastic to create that instant ‘smooth-n-shiny’ effect. But this and other chemicals used in the product can eventually damage your hair, leading to breakage, split ends, and hair fall. Therefore, it is always better to rely on DIY hair serums that contain all-natural ingredients. As a bonus, your hair enjoys the goodness of lots of nourishing activities that improve its health and make it look lustrous.
Never apply Hair Serums on your unwashed hair. To get maximum benefits, use it on damp or wet hair preferably after washing with a mild shampoo.
5 Amazing Natural Homemade Hair Serum Recipes
Now, here are some simple, easy, and incredibly nourishing homemade hair serum recipes that will give your locks a fabulous makeover:
1. Homemade Serum For Glossy Hair
Ingredients:
- Avocado oil – 4 tablespoons
- Jojoba oil – 2 tablespoons
- Almond oil – 2 tablespoons
- Argan oil – 2 tablespoons
- Grapeseed oil – 2 tablespoons
Preparation:
If dull and lifeless hair is your biggest concern, this homemade hair serum can give you the best solution. This perfect blend of natural oils can rejuvenate our hair from the inside and bring its original shine back. Pour all ingredients into a small bowl and stir well with a spoon. Your homemade serum for beautiful, glossy hair is ready. You can preserve it in a small container and use it each time before washing your hair.
2. Homemade Serum For Smooth Hair
Ingredients:
- Castor oil – 4 tablespoons
- Coconut oil – 2 tablespoons
Preparation:
Now, you can easily prepare a serum for your rough hair at home and get silky smooth locks quickly. All you need to do is mix the castor oil with the coconut oil and use the mixture all over your hair regularly. It would eliminate the dryness of your hair by inducing natural moisture in it. Consequently, you will get smooth and radiant tresses.
This serum is apt for dry and damaged hair as both castor oil and coconut oil are concentrated and highly moisturizing. Leave it on your hair overnight for the best results.
Read Also – Best Hair Serums For Dry Hair – Top 5 Picks
3. Homemade Serum For Strong Hair
Ingredients:
- Grapeseed oil – 8 tablespoons
- Lavender oil – 10 drops
- Vitamin E capsule – 2
Preparation:
Here is a super-effective hair serum that can make our dry, brittle hair strong and healthy. First, pour grapeseed oil into a medium-sized bottle and add lavender oil. Next, open the vitamin E capsules and pour the powder into the oil mixture. Now, shake the bottle well and use the serum on your hair. Your fine and limp hair would become solid and voluminous very soon.
4. Homemade Serum For Straight Hair
Ingredients:
- Soy oil – 2 tablespoons
- Coconut oil – 2 tablespoons
- Olive oil – 2 tablespoons
- Jojoba oil – 2 tablespoons
Preparation:
If you dislike those waves in your hair, go for this excellent hair serum. Pour all four natural oils into a large bowl and blend well. Warm up the mixture a little and apply it to the hair thoroughly. Make sure you run your fingers through your hair from the root to the tip so that each strand becomes straight. Wait 15 to 20 minutes, then rinse with a gentle shampoo.
5. Homemade Serum For Wavy Hair
Ingredients:
- Jojoba oil – 2 tablespoons
- Peppermint oil – 5 drops
Preparation:
You can also prepare a hair serum at home that can help you wonderfully maintain your curly hair. Add the peppermint oil to the jojoba oil and stir with a spoon. Your serum for curly hair is ready. However, you have to use this exclusive formula on slightly damp hair. After 30 minutes, wash your hair with cold water, and you can easily spot the difference.
This is a highly effective serum for oily scalp and hair as both jojoba oil and peppermint essential oil are lightweight in nature. They also reduce the overproduction of the sebaceous glands on the scalp to prevent greasiness.
Know Your Homemade Hair Serum Ingredients
Now you know how your homemade hair serums will help your mane, prepare your ingredients and start preparing.
Avocado Oil
Avocado oil comes packed with monosaturated fats, proteins, folic acid, vitamins (B, C, E, K, and a little niacin), and minerals (copper, magnesium, potassium, etc.), which strengthen hair follicles, prevent flaky scalp, nourish hair fibers, promote hair growth, moisturize dry hair, detangle hair without making it greasy, and repair damages caused by harsh heat and chemical treatments.
Read Also – DIY – Homemade Hair Growth Serum Recipes For Long Lustrous Hair
Jojoba Oil
Jojoba oil is loaded with fatty acids (erucic acid, oleic acid, and gadoleic acid), vitamins (B complex and E), minerals (copper, zinc, silicon, etc.), and antioxidants, which make it a wonder for our tresses. The oil increases blood circulation throughout the scalp and improves health by eliminating flakiness, dandruff, psoriasis, etc. This clears up blockages in the hair follicles, controlling hair loss and promoting healthy growth. The oil moisturizes the hair, treats dryness and split ends, and repairs damage effectively.
Almond Oil
Being rich in hair-friendly elements, such as omega-3 fatty acids, proteins, vitamin E, phospholipids, and minerals (magnesium, potassium, calcium, zinc, etc.), almond oil can nourish our scalp and strengthen our hair shafts. In addition, it induces enough moisture in tresses, thereby efficiently treating dryness, frizziness, damage, and split ends. Using almond oil in your serum will also help prevent hair loss, stimulate hair growth, and impart shine to the hair.
Olive Oil
Olive oil is an excellent source of monosaturated fatty acids, antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals, which work together to enhance the overall health of the scalp and the hair. Adding it to your serum will kick dandruff away, soften and strengthen dry and brittle hair, reduce frizziness, end split ends, and promote hair growth.
Read Also – Hair Serum- Benefits And How To Use It
Coconut Oil
Do we need to mention why coconut oil is good for your hair? It is enriched with vitamins, minerals, medium-chain fatty acids, lauric acid, and several other nutrients, which take care of the overall health of our scalp and hair.
Castor Oil
Castor oil is rich in proteins, vitamins, minerals, and omega 6 and 9 fatty acids, essential for the excellent health of the scalp and hair fibers. This oil is mainly known for stimulating hair regrowth. It also has excellent antibacterial and antifungal properties, which keep scalp infections at bay.
Argan Oil
Argan oil has very high concentrations of vitamins (A, C, and E), antioxidants, linoleic acid, and omega-6 fatty acids, which provide fantastic nourishment to our scalp and hair. Moreover, this oil makes the unruly tresses incredibly soft, smooth, and shiny.
Soy Oil
When it comes to retaining hair’s natural moisture naturally, soy oil works the best. It contains beneficial fatty acids, vitamins, and manganese, making even the most unmanageable hair manageable and gorgeous.
Essential Oils
Using essential oils in your serum will enhance the benefits of those hair-friendly carrier oils almost five times. They will keep the scalp healthy and infection-free, significantly reduce hair loss, promote growth, and add excellent volume.
Read Also – How To Get Shiny Hair Overnight At Home? Let Us Unlock The Secrets!
How To Use A Hair Serum Correctly?
To maximize the benefits of hair serum, you must know how to apply it correctly. Here is a lowdown on the application process for you: (1)
- Start with choosing the right ingredients for your hair. Consider your hair’s type and unique requirements and select the best DIY hair serum recipe accordingly.
- Clean and wash your hair thoroughly with a mild shampoo and conditioner before applying the serum to free it from the residue of excess oil, grime, and styling products.
- Try to use less than a pea-sized amount of serum for fine hair and a coin-sized amount for thicker hair. Over-application can do more harm than good.
- Rub the required amount of serum between your palms for 5-6 seconds so that it heats up and offers a uniform application all over the hair.
- Apply the serum along the length of your hair, focusing on the ends instead of massaging it into the scalp.
- Comb or brush the serum lightly through your hair to distribute it evenly. You can also use your fingertips for this.
- Though you can touch up your hair with the serum throughout the day, the very first application of the product must be only on freshly washed hair that is slightly damp or towel-dried.
- After applying the serum, apply all other hair styling products to lock its benefits in the locks.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How Frequently Should I Use A Serum?
Use hair serum twice or thrice a week. More than that will not be very good for your hair’s health. If you cannot apply it daily, stick to a minimal amount.
Is Hair Serum Better Than Hair Oil?
Well, hair serum is different than hair oil. The former takes care of the hair by creating a protective layer around it, while the latter provides intense nourishment, improving its overall health and beauty. So, it would be best not to skip your regular hair oil routine at any cost.
Can I Use Hair Serum With Hair Oil?
Yes, you can. All you need to do is apply the serum right after washing your hair and apply the oil a little later.
Does Hair Serum Help Hair Grow?
Commercial hair serum cannot stimulate the growth of your hair in any way. However, using a homemade serum can help you promote the strength and growth of your locks as they are made of natural hair-friendly oils only.
Can I use Hair Serum before straightening?
No. If you apply hair serum before straightening, you are burning hair strands. Always use serums after hair straightening.
Does Hair Serum straighten hair?
Ingredients like olive oil & almond oil present in hair serum can control frizz and flyaway and reduce split ends. In addition, the application makes hair fiber softer, thus turning hair straighter.
References:
- “How To Use A Hair Serum: The Dos And Don’ts,” Redken.com
- “Benefits Of Hair Serum,” Garnier.in
