How to use hair serum: Dos and Don’ts
Hair serums are styling products that target different hair issues, depending on their formulation. They can add shine to dull hair, reduce frizz, and prevent heat damage.
A variety of hair serums can solve different hair problems. Knowing which serum works best for a person’s hair type and specific hair concern is beneficial.
This article explores hair serum, its benefits, and the dos and don’ts of how to use it.
What is a hair serum?
Hair serum is a styling product that coats the hair’s surface to provide a range of benefits.
Different hair serums suit different hair types, from course to fine. Typically, hair serums contain silicone and active ingredients that nourish the hair. These include:
- argan oil
- jojoba oil
- sunflower oil
- onion seed oil
- moringa oil
- aloe vera
- vitamin E
- rosewater
- sweet almond oil
- virgin coconut oil
Hair serum benefits
Hair serums offer a range of benefits to the hair.
1. Adding shine
One of the benefits of hair serums is their ability to revive dry, dull-looking hair by infusing moisture into each hair strand. Healthy, moisturized hair tends to be silkier and glossier.
Some hair serums may also have light-reflecting ingredients, which add sheen and luster to the hair without making it feel greasy.
2. Controlling frizz and dryness
Damaged hair typically looks dry, brittle, and frizzy. It is also common for dry, damaged hair to have flyaways and split ends. Serums can create help tame unruly hair strands and create a polished finish.
The silicone content in many hair serums helps manage these issues by forming a protective coating around the hair cuticle. This seals the hair and keeps weak and damaged hair hydrated and moisturized.
Some hair serums contain hydrolyzed keratin proteins, which offer several hair benefits:
- improves the hair’s ability to retain moisture
- prevents strands from splitting
- repairs damaged hair
- neutralizes Trusted Source the negative static charge that causes frizz, flyaway, and friction
- improves the tensile strength of dry, damaged hair
3. Reducing knots and tangles
Hair serums smoothen the hair, causing a detangling effect on the hair. As the serum makes the hair smoother and silkier, it becomes easier to comb through and manage.
4. Enhancing the hair’s natural look
Hair serums improve the natural structure and texture of the hair, resulting in sleeker, more defined hair, enhancing the hair’s natural look.
5. Protecting against damage
The serum’s protective coating protects the hair from pollutants, dust, photodamage, and heat damage from styling. This is why serums are often applied to the hair before they undergo styling.
Most serums contain ingredients that protect the hair from:
- heated styling tools such as straightening and curling irons and hairdryers
- chemical processing used to dye, straighten, bleach, or perm the hair
- environmental stress, such as photodamage and weather
- mechanical damage from repeated treatments and styling
They help protect, improve and recover the hair fibers’ properties, including smoothness, elasticity, and strength.
Dos and don’ts
Knowing how to use hair serums properly is crucial to getting the most benefit. Below are some recommendations when using hair serums.
Do: Wash hair before application
Hair serum is typically a leave-in product and best applied to freshly shampooed hair. The serum’s primary purpose is to protect the hair from pollutants. Using it on unwashed hair defeats the purpose. Moreover, applying it on unwashed hair can make the hair look oily and weighed down.
After a person washes their hair, they can towel dry it and then apply the product. A person can also use some after taking a shower at night for a glossier, soft hair in the morning. However, a person may also use hair serums to touch up their hair throughout the day.
Don’t: Overapply serum
Over-applying serum can cause the hair to go flat and greasy. Ideally, people should begin with a small amount and gradually add more as needed to prevent this.
Do: Warm it up before applying to the hair
Most hair serums have a thick consistency, making them hard to apply. Warming up the product by placing a little product on the palm and rubbing it for a few seconds can make it smoother, which helps ensure a more even application.
Don’t: Apply on roots
It is important to avoid applying hair serum on the roots as this can weigh the hair down, make the roots appear greasy, and cause product buildup. Since the hair tips are naturally drier, applying the hair serum from the ends to the midshafts is best.
Do: Consider a person’s hair type and hair goals
Hair serums may have different formulations, meaning certain hair types may benefit more than others, depending on the serum type. It is not only important to know which serum works best for a person’s hair type, but vital to check their ingredients to ensure that the serum will provide their desired hair goals.
Don’t: Rinse the serum after application
Hair serums are leave-in products that work on the hair’s surface to moisturize, smoothen, and protect the hair. Washing it off removes this coating.
Which hair serum works best for each hair type?
The best way to get the most benefit from a hair serum is to select the best product for a person’s hair type.
People with coarse hair types can opt for serums that offer intense moisturizing. Serums that protect against humidity and seal in hydration may be beneficial for this hair type since this type is prone to frizziness and dryness. A person with coarse hair can look for castor, marula, and rosewood products for intense hydration.
Lightweight, hydrating serums can add bounce and definition to curly hair. Similarly, people with fine hair can also benefit from serums with lighter formulas.
People with straight hair who want to boost its straightness can also use serums. As the serum smoothens and moisturizes the hair, the more straight and glossy it will appear.
People with damaged hair and split ends should consider keratin serums to bring back the protein in their hair. These serums are often known as “repairing” and “fortifying.” Meanwhile, people who use straightening irons or hairdryers may wish to opt for heat-protecting serums.
Summary
Adding a hair serum into a person’s hair routine can provide a range of benefits, from adding protection to adding moisture and shine, reducing split ends and flyaways, and adding definition to their hair’s natural look.
To get the most of its benefits, a person should look for a hair serum formulated for their hair type and hair goal. They may also look for their favorite hair care ingredients on the serum’s label.
Proper use and application are crucial when using a hair serum. A person should only apply a small amount to the tips up to the midshafts. It is also best applied to clean, damp hair.
