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Who says that long, strong, and healthy hair is all about getting expensive and time-consuming salon treatments? A tiny bottle of hair serum can do it too. When this humble superhero made its first appearance in the market more than a decade ago, we were hardly impressed by it. It looked nothing more than another fragrant oil in a fancy bottle. Then, as we kept eyeing hair serums, we realized that they have much more to offer to our hair irrespective of its type. And now, it is time to ditch that serum bottle lying in your closet to get your hands on your very own homemade version. Yes, if you can prepare your hair serum at home using a few simple, natural ingredients, you can quickly get gorgeous mane. Here are 5 super easy, super cheap, and super effective natural homemade hair serum recipes you should try making at home. Also, learn the benefits offered by the ingredients used in them.
What Is A Hair Serum?
Hair serum is a hair care solution that gives an extra boost to our hair’s health, texture, and shine. Unlike traditional hair oil, it is designed to treat the surface of the hair as a quick fix rather than penetrating the cuticles and conditioning the fibers from inside. This makes serum a great styling tool to achieve soft, smooth, and sleek hair by eliminating frizz and curbing tangles. As it creates a protective layer surrounding each strand, the hair remains unaffected by heat and humidity. In addition, it reflects light and makes the hair look incredibly glossy.
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 every day in today’s hectic life. Moreover, we keep exposing it to sunlight, dust, humidity, heat treatments, chemical treatments, harsh styling products, and so on. Hence, a good hair serum has become a must in every beauty arsenal these days to keep damage away. Here is how the product can benefit your locks:
- 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.
- 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 yourself at home when so many commercial choices are already there in the market? Well, all commercial serums come loaded with silicon, which tends to coat the hair like plastic to create that instant ‘smooth-n-shiny’ effect. But this along with 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 actives that not only improve its health but also 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 extremely 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 is a perfect blend of natural oils, which can rejuvenate our hair from the inside and bring its original shine back. Just pour all ingredients into a small bowl and stir well with a spoon. Your homemade serum for beautiful, glossy hair is ready. If you wish, you can preserve it in a small container and use it right before washing your hair each time.
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 in no time. All you need to do is to 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 would 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 and brittle hair strong and healthy. First, pour grapeseed oil into a medium-sized bottle and add lavender oil to it. Next, open the vitamin E capsules and pour the powder into the oil mixture. Now, shake the bottle well and start using the serum on your hair. Your fine and limp hair would become strong 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 to the hair thoroughly. Make sure that you run your fingers through your hair from the root to the tip so that each strand becomes straight. Wait for 15 to 20 minutes, and then rinse off 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 your home that can help you maintain your curly hair wonderfully. 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, as you know how your homemade hair serums will help your mane, get your ingredients ready, 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 its health by eliminating flakiness, dandruff, scalp psoriasis, etc. This clears up blockages in the hair follicles, controlling hair loss and promoting healthy hair growth. The oil also 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 treating dryness, frizziness, damage, and split ends efficiently. Using almond oil in your serum will also help prevent hair loss, stimulate hair growth, and impart shine into 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, put an end to split ends, and promote the growth of hair.
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 a number of 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, which are 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 is full of 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, reduce hair loss significantly, promote the growth of hair, and add excellent volume to it.
Read Also – How To Get Shiny Hair Overnight At Home? Let Us Unlock The Secrets!
How To Use A Hair Serum Correctly?
In order 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 the type and the unique requirements of your hair and select the best-suited DIY hair serum recipe accordingly.
- Clean and wash your hair thoroughly with a mild shampoo and conditioner before applying the serum to make it free 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 in 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 get its benefits locked 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 the health of your hair. If you have no way to apply it every day, 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 the hair, while the latter provides it with intense nourishment, thereby improving its health and beauty from the inside. So, you should not 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 post 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
