We all want hair that looks and feels like a million bucks, right? Well folks, there’s an easier way to do so than you think. Incorporating a good hair serum into your routine can really change the game. There’s truly a formula for every hair goal, whether that’s growth, extra hydration, or giving your strands a thicker appearance. I personally fall into the “extra hydration” camp since my hair is incredibly thick and curly, and I can say with confidence that the addition of a moisture-boosting serum really helped the health of my hair in a positive way. If you’re in the market for a new addition to your haircare routine, you’ll definitely want to keep scrolling. I’m sharing a few key serums you should invest in based on your hair goals along with advice from a celebrity hairstylist.
The best hair serums offer a variety of benefits, but you’ll want to pick one based on your current hair goals. If you want to help promote growth, celebrity hairstylist Laurabeth Cabbot has a bit of advice. “There are several key ingredients that go into hair growth [promoting] products. The main ones being biotin, peppermint, and keratin,” she says. Of the three, biotin is the most common ingredient you’ll see in a formula that’s meant to promote strand growth.
Those with dry hair who need extra hydration may want to go a bit of a different route. “If you’re lacking moisture, look for something with coconut, aloe, or vitamins such as B5,” Cabbot adds. Thinning or fine hair types may want to invest in a thickening serum. These types of serums usually plump the hair follicle to give strands a fuller, more voluminous appearance. Those with thick hair will want to look for something lightweight and hydrating that won’t weigh the hair down while curly, coily, and natural hair types will want formulas that lock in extra hydration since they tend to dry out easier. Take a look at our picks for each below.
This light, yet extremely nourishing hair serum from Moroccanoil nabs the top spot because it’s hydrating enough for thicker hair types, but light enough for finer ones. Argan oil restores elasticity, smoothness, and manageability while baobab extract and hydrolyzed quinoa strengthen and further condition the hair.
Cabott loves this serum treatment with biotin from R+Co for thinner hair types. “My clients are always raving about how full their hair feels [when they use it],” she says. It’s chock-full of hair-strengthening and shine-boosting ingredients like biotin and ginseng root while quinoa seed extract and castor oil help repair damaged hair.
Although several options on this list are great at encouraging healthy hair growth, Act+Acre’s formula is our favorite. It also doesn’t hurt that it has almost a perfect five-star rating on Sephora. It’s powered by a “Stem Cell H2-grow Complex” that supports hair growth for fuller, thicker, and longer strands. Apple stem cells help stimulate hair follicles while bamboo and pea extracts help address premature aging of the hair follicles.
If you have a lot of baby hairs that just never want to lay smoothly, Olaplex products might just change your life. I use the brand’s Bond Maintenance Shampoo and Conditioner ($60) and I can definitely vouch for each’s ability to tame frizz—it’s truly the best duo I’ve used in a while for this. The No. 9 hair serum is equally as good at nourishing hair while reducing things like static and frizz. Additionally, it helps repair broken bonds for stronger hair, blocks daily pollutants, and can act as a heat protectant.
If your hair tends to dry out easily, try an oil-rich formula like this one from Bumble and Bumble. It’s completely weightless and won’t leave hair greasy, but it does provide a heck of a lot of moisture with coconut argania spinosa kernel, macadamia seed, sweet almond, and grapeseed oil.
Having thick hair can be a struggle—take it from someone who knows. You need something hydrating (especially if you also have curls), but the formula can’t be too much or it will weigh down your already thick mane. Mizani’s Nourishing Hair Oil definitely solves that problem. It contains a blend of coconut, jojoba, and sunflower oil to strengthen, moisturize, and add softness to the hair without making it greasy.
My stylist recommended this curl serum to me a few years ago and I never looked back. First, it smells like a dream so I always look forward to putting it on, second, it adds so much softness and definition to curls without making them crunchy or causing buildup on my scalp. It’s also flexible and hydrates beautifully. Do yourself a favor and give it a go, I don’t think you’ll regret it.
I get it, you might automatically be weary of any kind of TikTok trend, but using rice water for hair growth might just have some merit. Even folks reviewing this serum from Accallo with biotin and rice water report some great results.
Like curls, natural hair textures tend to get dry easily and need a lot of extra moisture. This Adwoa offering is more of an oil blend than a serum, but it supports a healthy scalp, moisturizes deeply, and helps prevent future hair loss with a blend of antioxidant-rich oils.
Strand breakage can be extremely frustrating, but with the right tools in your arsenal, it can be a thing of the past. This OGX serum helps strengthen, repair, and hydrate hair with coconut oil and coconut milk. Whipped egg white protein in the formula also helps promote smoother, shinier hair.
