11 best hair serums for strong, silky and nourished hair that *actually* work
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Hair serums are easily one of the best ways to transform not only the way your hair looks and feels, but also help strengthen it in the long term. Think of them as nourishing potions that any hair type would love to soak up every now and then.
Now, we're more than confident that if you're reading this article, you're already on top of your basic hair routine. And while knowing your shampoos, conditioners and hair masks is definitely more than a great start, introducing one of the best hair serums to your arsenal will take your hair game to a whole new level. It's an extra step that will only take a few minutes out of your day but will make the biggest difference. And trust us, once you start, you'll never go back.
Serums are basically a safety net to fall back on if your hair is in need of some serious nourishment, thanks to all the vitamins, nutrients and other high-grade ingredients. They'll take care of the frizz, bring back your hair's softness, soothe irritated scalps and even encourage hair growth. Impressive, huh?
The best part is that most of them can be applied directly on your damp locks or the drier ends without making your hair appear greasier or heavier. Instead, you'll get near-instant results, which will only improve over prolonged use.
But spotting the best hair serum for your specific hair type, needs and preferences can be tricky due to the abundance of options out there. To help you choose wisely, we've put together an edit of the very best of the best to fit every budget and desired results. So what are you waiting for? Scroll away…
Feeling inspired to upgrade your haircare routine? Check out our guides for the best hair dryers, best hairsprays, best hair straighteners, and best curling wands. We can also help you pick the best shampoo, best hair conditioner and best hair mask.
Shop the best hair serums to give your hair the boost it deserves
Why we love it: Kiss dry hair goodbye, because this hair serum is designed specifically to nourish and smoothen dehydrated length and tips. Its set of ingredients includes ashitaba, an ancestral Japanese plant with extraordinary self-regenerating properties sourced from the volcanic island of Hachijo-jima. It doesn’t get much better than that.
Customers are saying: Lovely perfume-like scent, eliminates frizz without leaving hair greasy or sticky.
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Why we love it: Some hair serums treat damaged hair, while others like this one prevent breakage and strengthen your hair before any harm can come to it. This nourishing product works hard to seal and mend split ends, especially if your hair is regularly exposed to heat styling. The best part is that it’s perfectly safe for coloured hair too.
Customers are saying: Although this product is not exactly the cheapest, many customers note that it’s the best one on the market for treating split ends.
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Why we love it: A roundup of the best hair serums isn’t exactly that without Coco & Eve. This miracle product features a tropical cocktail of hyaluronic acid, blended raw virgin coconut, fig argan oil and shea butter for a moisturising effect while also making your hair more shiny and less frizzy. What more could you possibly want?
Customers are saying: Leaves hair feeling much softer and smoother. Noticeable improvement in quite brittle and frizzy hair.
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Why we love it: This leave-in hair serum is designed specifically to revitalise and rehydrate damaged hair thanks to its nourishing silicon-free formula, which includes red algae extract and Olaplex’s own Bond Building Technology. It also provides strong heat protection, which is perfect if you’re someone who loves to regularly style their hair.
Customers are saying: Absorbs immediately, smooths hair and keeps it from tangling while blow drying.
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Why we love it: Suitable for all hair types, this hair serum is formulated with Ocean Silk Technology that takes advantage of the proteins and minerals found in sea algae to encourage healthy hair growth and promote regeneration. It’s also free from sulphates, synthetic dyes and petrochemicals.
Customers are saying: Helps hair stay shiny, fluffy and smooth. One customer noted that this product has even allowed them to stop using a hair straightener.
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Why we love it: This lightweight and oil-free serum balances your hair and scalp to prevent issues such as itchiness and dandruff. While it’s perfectly suitable for all hair types, it’s especially great for fine and sensitive hair thanks to its unique pre- and post-biotic complex that promotes healthy, shiny strands from the root to the very tip.
Customers are saying: Great for treating itchy scalps, helps make hair less oily.
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Why we love it: Anti-frizz? Yes. Enriched with antioxidants? You bet. Designed to protect coloured hair from environmental factors? Ab-so-lute-ly. This lightweight serum reduces colour oxidation by gently exfoliating and sealing your hair’s surface, giving it a sleek appearance and extending your hair’s vibrant colour for longer.
Customers are saying: Leaves hair feeling softer, smoother, thicker and more hydrated.
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Why we love it: This ultra-lightweight hair serum is great for smoothing and sealing your hair, leaving it feeling just as soft as silk. Its formula allows it to penetrate deep into the hair shaft and constrict your hair to create a smoother surface to help reduce the amount of time needed to dry and style your hair.
Customers are saying: Great for taming thick, unruly hair. Several customers note that a little goes a long way, so you only need to use a small amount each time.
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Why we love it: A concentrated and ultra-lightweight formula that penetrates deep into your scalp and follicles to improve hair density? What’s not to love? Armed with ingredients like natural extracts, peptide complexes and caffeine, this leave-on hair serum works its magic while you sleep – just apply it, take a snooze and voila.
Customers are saying: Several customers note that this product has a runnier consistency compared to other hair serums. Helps hair look noticeably thicker and healthier.
Why we love it: Who wants dry and damaged hair when you can just as easily have bouncy, weightless and glossy locks? This serum for curly hair makes this much simpler – just apply two-three pumps to your curly, coily and wavy hair before hairstyling and watch it moisturise and tame your hair. Oh, and did we mention that it's detangling too?
Customers are saying: Great for making curls more defined with zero frizz. Has a summer-y coconut scent too.
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Why we love it: This frizz killer hair serum does exactly what it promises – it eliminates frizz with ease, reinforcing it with ingredients such as vegetal keratin and cocoa butter. Applying just one or two pumps of this non-greasy and lightweight serum to your damp hair before blow drying can tame flyaways and make your hair look smoother and healthier.
Customers are saying: Super lightweight formula. Makes hair much softer and smoother, and protects it before using heat stylers.
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How to apply hair serums
No two hair serums are ever the same since they all work to address different problems, from repairing damaged hair and reducing frizz to enhancing curls or straightening your hair. The good news is that for the most part, instructions on how to apply hair serums remains more-or-less the same across all products and hair types.
For the best results, hair serums should be applied on clean, damp hair just after shampooing and conditioning. Remember that less is more, since too much product can make your hair greasy – and nobody wants that. Add just a couple of drops of hair serum to your hands and let it warm for a few seconds before evenly working it into your hair from the ends to the middle points.
While you’ll generally want to avoid applying hair serum to your scalp, some soothing products recommend the opposite. And some serums are intended to stay on overnight while others only need a few minutes to soak in, so make sure to read up on the instructions of whatever product you’re using.
Which hair serum is right for you?
While that’s a perfectly valid question, at the end of the day it ultimately comes down to your own needs and preferences. A good tip is to read customer reviews to make sure that each product does what you want it to do.
If you’re looking to restore and nourish damaged hair after several bouts of chemical treatments or continued heat damage, we recommend checking out Olaplex No.9 Bond Protector Nourishing Hair Serum. If your hair is naturally on the frizzy side, then L’Oreal Dream Lengths Frizz Killer will work wonders for you. The best part is that at £8, it’s also one of the most affordable hair serums on our list.
Other favourites include Coco & Eve Miracle Hair Elixir, which is a great all-round product that works hard to hydrate your hair, as well as Sachajuan Shine Serum, which promotes healthy growth straight from the hair follicles.
For more shoppable beauty content from Glamour UK Commerce Writer Denise Primbet, follow her on Twitter @deniseprimbet and Instagram @deniseprimbet.
