These 8 Transformative Hair Serums Are Worth Every Penny (2024)

• Our Picks

• Where We Stand

• How We Researched

• Other Options to Consider

• What To Look For

• FAQ

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Olaplex’s No.9 serum tops our list because it does it all: hydrates, protects, and adds shine—and for all hair types. (No surprise, it even nabbed the number one spot on our list of the best heat protectant sprays.) In our experience, it immediately smoothes strands and imparts lots of shine. All you have to do is massage a little bit of the lightweight serum through your damp or dry hair and watch as it absorbs within seconds. You can either leave your hair to air dry naturally on its own or grab a blow dryer and get to work.

The formula contains red algae extract—which bonds the hair and blocks pollutants—and a proprietary bonding technology that repairs severe damage, so you can expect it to leave hair smoother than before. Even after heat styling, our hair felt soft, silky, and healthy. The only downside to this product is that it comes in a small bottle. We wish it came in a larger size so we could get more use out of it.

Who It’s For

If you’re looking for a serum that will provide heat protection, smooth strands, and enhance shine, this is a great option to consider. It’s also a good choice for anyone with fine hair, as it’s lightweight and won’t weigh hair down.

Key Ingredients: Red algae extract, bond-building technology | Hair Type: All | Size: 3 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Garnier’s Sleek & Shine serum is a prime example that you don’t have to compromise your budget for a good hair day. Whether you have curly, straight, or dry hair, its blend of apricot and argan oils will provide you with a smooth finish and restored shine—all for seven dollars. Right out of the bottle, you’re met with a slippery formula that doesn’t quite feel like an oil per se, but more like a serum you’d slather all over your face. It has a good amount of slip to it, too, which allows you to cover more hair with less. (And you should, since too much product can actually make your hair look greasy.)

It works well as both a styling serum (on wet hair before styling with a hot tool) or a finishing serum (the final touch on dry hair after you’ve blown it out or curled it), imparting shine and softness regardless of how you use it. For best results, we recommend that you deposit a tiny drop of product onto your palms and rub them together to warm it up before applying it directly to the ends of your hair, working your way up to the middle of your strands.

Who It’s For

All in all, it’s our recommendation for anyone looking for a salon-quality serum without spending a ton of money. Because it’s on the greasier side, we recommend it for those with medium or thick hair, however, those with fine hair can use it in smaller amounts.

Key Ingredient: Argan oil, apricot oil | Hair Type: All | Size: 5.1 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Show of hands: Who wants thicker, fuller, denser, healthier hair? (That’s what we thought.) That’s where The Ordinary’s serum comes to the rescue. The brand may be known for its affordable skincare, but in recent years, the company has expanded into haircare. As the name suggests, it’s packed with multiple peptides (which have been shown to help with hair growth) in addition to natural extracts and caffeine. The result: A serum meant to invigorate the scalp and encourage regrowth.

While we haven’t had a chance to try this one out for ourselves just yet, online reviewers share that over time, their thin (or thinning) hair appeared fuller. Simply apply it to your scalp before bed each night, then wake up to fuller hair in just a few months.

Who It’s For

If you’re experiencing hair thinning (whether from alopecia,pregnancy, or other causes), look no further than this hair-growth-stimulating serum. It helps invigorate hair follicles so that your hair grows back thicker and fuller.

Key Ingredients: Redensyl, procapyl, baicapil | Hair Type: All | Size: 2 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Small but mighty—that’s the best way to describe this petite bottle of Sachajuan serum, which guarantees to give your hair a protective, shiny finish. Just a pump or two of this lightweight serum will help repair your damaged ends, all while fitting in a TSA-compliant bottle. Also nice: It prevents further damage from occurring, which is always good to have if you rely on hot tools to achieve your signature look. Best of all, It quickly absorbs into your locks, so it doesn’t leave behind residue or weigh things down.

Who It’s For

We recommend this pick for anyone dealing with damaged ends and lackluster hair. The formula helps treat those pesky dead ends and replenishes long-lasting shine.

Key Ingredients: Geraniol, limonene | Hair Type: All | Size: 1.01 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

When traveling, every centimeter in your TSA-approved liquid bag is prime real estate. But that doesn’t mean your hair should have to endure copious amounts of sunshine, chlorine, humidity, and sea salt without the help of a serum. Nab one of these travel-sized Goldie Locks serums, and your hair will thank you—namely, in the form of a shiny, smooth finish no matter where you’re vacationing. Plus, with its secure cap, you can feel confident it won’t leak all over your other carry-on items. (The worst.) The only thing to be aware of here is that the bottle is made of glass, so if you’re not careful (aka, you throw your bag onto a conveyor belt or airport floor), it might break.

As for the formula, we love that this one contains gentle ingredients that can be found in nature—rosewater (which is known to hydrate all types of hair, including processed and colored), vanilla bean, and white truffle (both of which help strengthen strands).

Who It’s For

This is our pick for anyone needing nourishment on the go. It fits perfectly in a carry-on and is TSA-friendly.

Key Ingredients: Rose water, vanilla bean, white truffle | Hair Types: All | Size: 1.7 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

The health of our hair is important, but our scalp health is arguably just as—or maybe even more—important. After all, that’s where all the hair growth happens. In other words, a healthy scalp leads to thicker, healthier hair. This serum leans on hyaluronic acid and niacinamide, which work in tandem to hydrate and strengthen the skin on the scalp. What’s more, it also includes a peptide blend that the brand claims accelerates hair growth. We like that this formula is great for those with sensitive scalps and the fact that it’s oil-free, so it won’t leave your scalp greasy or dirty-looking. To apply, simply fill a dropper and deposit it on your areas of concern once daily on dry or towel-dried hair. Massage it into the skin with your fingertips. Like other hair growth products, you’ll have to be patient in order to see results.

Who It’s For

If you’re struggling with hair loss or hair thinning, this serum might be able to help. It promotes a happy, healthy scalp, which is the source of hair growth.

Key Ingredients: Biomimetic peptide blend, hyaluronic acid, niacinamide | Hair Types: All | Size: 2 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Tracee Ellis Ross knows a thing or two about good hair. If you have curls like she does, this moisturizing serum from her eponymous brand is your best bet. It combines the power of safflower, olive, rosehip, and jojoba oils to minimize breakage from root to tip. Plus, the lightweight oil has nourishing, anti-inflammatory benefits that leave hair feeling brilliantly bouncy and full of shine. The only downside is that it has a strong lavender scent. While some may appreciate that, those sensitive to fragrances might be irritated by how potent it is.

A little bit of product goes a long way, so a few drops is all you need. Once you’ve deposited the drops into your palms, work the oil through wet or dry hair. You can also use it as a scalp treatment; just apply a few drops to your scalp and massage it in.

Who It’s For

This nourishing oil is a choice for anyone with curly or coily hair. Because it’s on the lighter side, it can be tolerated by those with fine hair, but we recommend using a small amount (aka, a drop or two) to avoid looking greasy.

Key Ingredients: Jojoba oil, lavender oil, safflower oil | Hair Types: Curly, coily | Size: 3.9 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Oribe has tons of different collections for different hair care concerns, but allow us to point you in the direction of the Hair Alchemy line, which has been designed to prevent breakage before it even starts. The brand reported that the collection is responsible for almost three times more elasticity and 133 percent more strength—all thanks to a specially curated co*cktail of strengthening botanical ingredients.

This product, in particular, features the brand’s proprietary Signature Complex, a blend of plant-derived antioxidants and strengthening extracts to build elasticity and hydrate brittle strands. Just keep in mind that it has a fruity floral fragrance. Although it’s pretty (and those who love fragranced hair products will be a fan), those with an aversion to fragrance in products might want to skip this one.

Who It’s For

If your hair tends to snap or break easily, try this serum. It’s intended to hydrate and strengthen strands so that they don’t break off the minute a comb or brush comes into play.

Key Ingredients: Chia seed, bio-fermented bamboo leaf, plant-based protein, hyaluronic acid, cotton seed extract | Hair Types: All | Size: 5.9 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

FAQ

• What is hair serum used for?

  In short, hair serums coat hair and protect it from the elements and heat styling. The benefits don’t end there, though. A hair serum can nourish and hydrate your hair in addition to controlling static and locking in split ends. Depending on your hair type and goals, use it as a base product or as a finishing product, alone or under a heavier cream or oil.
  “Hair always needs hydration,” says Lin. “It works anytime, but for a clear result, apply anytime your hair feels dehydrated, which can be before and after you spend a day under the sun, experience a weather change, or are going through some health issues that may be taking a toll on your hair.”

• Can you use a face serum in your hair?

  Oftentimes, yes. Since hair and skincare serums are made with many of the same ingredients, facial serums can generally be used interchangeably with a hair serum. However, we recommend that you don’t use hair serums on your face, as they can contain ingredients that can clog pores.

We Tested 29 Hair Oils, These 10 Were the Absolute Best

Updated byShannon Stubbs

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2. Hwang SB, Park HJ, Lee BH. Hair-Growth-Promoting Effects of the Fish Collagen Peptide in Human Dermal Papilla Cells and C57BL/6 Mice Modulating Wnt/β-Catenin and BMP Signaling Pathways. Int J Mol Sci. 2022 Oct 7;23(19):11904. doi: 10.3390/ijms231911904. PMID: 36233206; PMCID: PMC9569759.

3. Mysore, Venkataram, and Arpita Arghya. “Hair Oils: Indigenous Knowledge Revisited.”International journal of trichologyvol. 14,3 (2022): 84-90. doi:10.4103/ijt.ijt_189_20

4. Kong, Jie et al. “Safflower oil body nanoparticles deliver hFGF10 to hair follicles and reduce microinflammation to accelerate hair regeneration in androgenetic alopecia.”International journal of pharmaceuticsvol. 616 (2022): 121537. doi:10.1016/j.ijpharm.2022.121537