The Best Hair Serums for Smooth, Shiny, Healthy Strands (No Bad Hair Days Here!)

What Is a Hair Serum and Why Use It?

According to Rogério Cavalcante, stylist and owner of The Second Floor Salon in New York City, hair serums are “ lightweight styling products that help smooth your hair, reduce frizz, and add shine.” Plus, “they can help the hair look sleek and polished, protect it from heat and humidity, and help with detangling.”

Unlike a leave-in conditioner, which penetrates the hair and soaks in the way conditioners do, serums are more about styling and protection, says Cavalcante. “[Some] oils go deeper to nourish and repair dry or damaged hair,” he says. “Leave-ins are more hydrating and help detangle, making them great right after washing.”

Choosing the Best Hair Serum for Your Hair Type

1. Best Hair Serum for Dry Hair:

THE ROOTIST BioBrew™ Fermented Leave-in Hair Serum for Damage Repair

This lightweight hair serum works double duty—helping to tame frizz and boost shine while helping to keep your scalp balanced and hydrated. Packed with Rootbiomic Ferment™ and Bio-Peptides, it’s the ultimate boost for your hair from root to tip.

2. Best Hair Serum for Oily Hair:

COLOR WOW HAIR Pop + Lock Frizz Control and Glossing Serum

This serum-meets-oil hair gloss doubles as a styler and a treatment. It creates a clear, UV protectant shield on the outer cuticle of each hair strand to smooth, soften, and add serious shine to all hair types and textures.

3. Best Hair Serum for Curly Hair: 

SLEEK'E Silk'e Repair Therapy Hair Serum

Like therapy for your curly hair, this potent serum helps repair damage, boost shine, reverse dryness, and seal up split ends in just a few pumps, thanks to jojoba oil, macadamia seed oil, squalane, and vitamin E.

4. Best Hair Serum for Straight Hair: 

KARMA BEAUTY Multi Peptide Hair Serum

Want shiny, smooth-as-silk strands without dealing with limp, lifeless locks? This serum is the hair therapy traumatized tresses need. Peptides and plant actives work to bring back vibrancy and bounce while promoting healthy growth, for strong and fuller-looking hair.

5. Best Hair Serum for Frizzy Hair:

MUDMASKY® Heat Protecting Hair Serum

Pamper your strands with maximum protection up to 450°F (230°C) with this lightweight serum that deeply hydrates to prevent dryness and breakage, resulting in frizz-free, smooth, and shiny tresses with every use. Aloe vera and olive leaf extract condition and lock in moisture, ensuring your hair stays healthy and resilient even with frequent styling. Perfect for all hair types, this non-greasy formula leaves your locks looking vibrant and feeling soft without any residue.

6. Best Hair Serum for Damaged Hair:

MARC ANTHONY Grow Long™ Scalp & Hair Serum

Weak, brittle hair preventing you from having the long, luscious locks of your dreams? This serum has what it takes to help get your hair growing. It’s packed with rosemary oil, biotin, and caffeine to help invigorate and strengthen hair from your roots while helping to get your scalp nice and healthy. It helps fight frizz and breakage while leaving your strands smooth and super silky, too.

How to Use Hair Serum Effectively

Experts agree there are a few simple tips that can help you maximize your hair oil benefits. “The key is using just a little bit,” explains Cavalcante. He says you should focus application from mid-length of hair to the ends. “Avoid the roots unless it’s a scalp serum,” he says. Another hairstylist tip? Warm it up in your hands first before applying to strands. “You can also use a bit on dry hair to tame flyaways or add shine before heading out. And always check if it has heat protection if you're using hot tools.”

Top Ingredients to Look for in Hair Serums

Deborah Pagani, founder of DEBORAH PAGANI BEAUTY, points out a few key ingredients to look for when choosing a hair serum. Her top three include hyaluronic acid, squalane, and guava seed extract to help hydrate the follicle and add moisture back into strands. 

“Great hair serums often include silicones to smooth and protect, plus oils like argan, jojoba, or marula to add shine and softness.” adds Cavalcante.” Look for extras like vitamin E or keratin for strengthening, or hyaluronic acid and panthenol for hydration. If your hair is color-treated, a serum with UV filters is a big plus.”

Final Thoughts

There is no one-size-fits all type of hair serum, so make sure you’re seeking one out based on your hair type and hair needs.  You might also want to explore using an oil over a serum if you have coarse, thick hair. “Coarse hair has a thicker cuticle layer, and when color-treated, it roughens that cuticle layer even more,” explains Pagani. “This makes the hair shaft extremely porous, allowing heavier oils to penetrate or coat without sitting on the surface. If you have fine, thinner/straight hair and don’t want your hair to weigh down, I would avoid using an oil. A serum is the way to go.” 

Looking for even more hair-care tips and beauty-editor-approved product recs? We’ve got you covered.