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WHAT IS A HAIR SERUM?
Getting your hands on the best hair serum for you can be downright life-changing! Think of hair serum as a hair treatment — it can solve some of your biggest hair problems, from frizz to dryness to style management. Not sure how to work a hair serum into your haircare routine? We’ve got you covered. Let us dive into everything you need to know about hair serums and how to make them a staple in your beauty arsenal.
WHAT IS A HAIR SERUM?
Just like the extra boost skincare serums can give to your face; the best hair serums can penetrate deeper into your hair than traditional cleansing products alone. This makes them a total must-have in any beauty routine.
Hair serums are lightweight, liquid-based products that address a variety of hair concerns, from out-of-control frizz and dulled hair to dry and damaged strands. These serums provide intense nourishment and hydration, often protecting hair against environmental aggressors like pollution and dust.
WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HAIR SERUMS AND OILS?
While serums and oils may have similar textures, they offer different benefits. Both have their place in a killer hair care routine, but knowing the difference is key.
WHEN SHOULD I USE A HAIR SERUM?
From smoothing hair and adding shine to taming flyaways, there are endless reasons to add hair serums to your haircare routine. The right hair serum can repair brittle hair, hydrate strands, control frizz, and boost shine. Some hair serums and oils, like Redken’s All Soft Argan-6 Oil and Frizz Dismiss Instant Deflate Oil-In-Serum, even offer heat protection benefits from styling tools.
FRIZZ DISMISS INSTANT DEFLATE OIL-IN-SERUM
Frizz controlling leave-in for medium to maximum volume control
ALL SOFT ARGAN-6 HAIR OIL
Enriching Argan Oil for lasting suppleness and essential moisture for dry, brittle hair
Naked Gloss Lightweight Shine Oil
Lightweight hair oil for shine, moisture & color vibrancy
FRIZZ DISMISS ANTI-STATIC OIL MIST
Smooth flyaways and static without weighing down hair
HOW TO USE HAIR SERUMS
The disadvantage of hair serums lies in the application process, especially when it comes to how you use it. Even if it is an amazing product, the application can make or break the experience. We sat down with professional hair stylist Giovanni Giuntoli to get the inside scoop on how to make the most out of your hair serum.
DON'T: APPLY TO UNWASHED HAIR
A major bonus of serum is its ability to protect hair against environmental aggressors like pollution and dust. To maximize its potential, serums should be used on clean and freshly washed hair. This way, it can act as a shield against grime in your city. Whenever possible, apply the serum to damp hair before the rest of your styling products to lock in the benefits. However, some serums are suitable for dry hair as well. It is also okay to use a serum throughout the day to touch up the hair, but the initial application should be on clean hair.
DO: APPLY THE SERUM TO THE ENDS
For gorgeous hair with megawatt shine, it is crucial to distribute a serum to the part of the hair that needs it the most — the ends. Giuntoli warns that applying a serum starting at the roots can yield unwanted results and suggests starting at the ends, only going as far as the midsection. One of his best serum tips is to “start working from the ends of the hair working up to the head, versus just rubbing your fingers through your scalp, where the most application would be at the scalp and therefore tends to make the hair look oily and greasy.” By forgoing the roots when applying a serum, you can avoid annoying product buildup.
DON'T: APPLY THE HAIR SERUM RIGHT AWAY
When shopping for serums, you may notice that some are thicker than others depending on what hair concern you are trying to address. Instead of working overtime to make the product blend seamlessly into the hair, Giuntoli’s hack involves heating up the serum. “I find that [when] we put the product in our hands, quickly rub it around to spread it in our hands, and then start to apply it to the hair, we haven’t given it a chance for the product to break down and liquefy…A lot of serums tend to be placed in the hand more like a thicker oil. But if you give it about 5 to 6 seconds in your hands, it softens up and has more of a slip to it,” he said. Keeping in mind that serums should not be treated like an oil, creating friction for the serum to heat up is absolutely critical in ensuring an even application.
DO: KNOW YOUR HAIR TYPE AND BEHAVIOR
To manage your hair as part of the daily care process, it is important to take your hair type into consideration. There is a misconception that if you have fine hair, you cannot use serums because it will make the hair go flat — but in reality, you can. Those with fine hair or prone to oily hair should opt for a lighter formula like Frizz Dismiss Smooth Force Serum over a heavy, ultra-moisturizing solution. Apply the serum throughout damp hair to tame excess volume and leave hair with a glossy finish. It can also be used for a quick touch-up throughout the day if hair is looking dull. If you struggle with curly hair that is affected by the humidity, Sculpting Curl Gel can do the trick. The lightweight gel formula helps define, hydrate and tame frizzy, curly hair up to 72 hours without the weigh down.
DON'T: OVER-APPLY HAIR SERUM
No matter how thick or long your hair is, over-applying too much serum is never a good thing. Keep your limits in check by only applying less than a pea-sized amount for fine hair and a quarter-sized amount if your hair is on the thicker side. Remember, a little goes a long way!
DO: USE HAIR SERUM TO CONTROL UNRULY STRANDS
Let your serum work double-duty by using it in lieu of a hairspray or hair gel to tame flyaways. Simply rub the serum through the palm of your hands and then, using two fingers, gently apply it to the strands using a pressing motion anywhere you want to control frizz. This is especially helpful if you have breakage stemming from your roots, which can be held in place with a light dab of serum. Just be careful not to press the serum directly to the top of the scalp to avoid messy roots.
Want to learn more about the perfect products for your hair regimen? Check out Redken’s personalized hair quiz to perfect your routine or visit a Redken Salon to discover the nearest stylist who can provide recommendations based on your hair type.
REDKEN HAIR SERUMS: WHICH ONE'S YOUR SOULMATE?
Redken has a serum for every hair concern, so you can find your perfect match. Here are a few of our top picks:
Incorporating a hair serum into your routine can transform your hair from lackluster to lustrous. Whether you are dealing with frizz, dryness, or simply want to add a touch of shine, there is a Redken serum out there for you.
Want to learn more about the perfect products for your hair regimen? Check out Redken’s personalized hair quiz to perfect your routine or visit a Redken Salon to discover the nearest stylist who can provide recommendations based on your hair type. Your hair will thank you!
DISCOVER REDKEN HAIR TREATMENTS
ACIDIC BONDING CONCENTRATE 5-MIN LIQUID MASK
Sulfate-free ultra-conditioning mask for deep hydration and repair.
ACIDIC BONDING CONCENTRATE LEAVE-IN TREATMENT
Best-selling, sulfate-free leave-in treatment for strength repair in 1 use.
Acidic Bonding Concentrate 24/7 Night & Day Serum
Bond repair serum that combats daily damage overnight
Naked Gloss Lightweight Shine Oil
Lightweight hair oil for shine, moisture & color vibrancy
Acidic Color Gloss Activated Glass Gloss Treatment
At-home, salon-inspired gloss treatment for color vibrancy and shine.
ALL SOFT MOISTURE RESTORE LEAVE-IN TREATMENT
Leave-in treatment for long-lasting moisture
EXTREME ANTI-SNAP ANTI-BREAKAGE LEAVE-IN TREATMENT
5-in-1 protecting leave-in treatment
Acidic Color Gloss Heat Protection Leave-In Treatment
Leave-in treatment spray that provides hydration, detangling and heat protection up to 450°F.
FRIZZ DISMISS MASK INTENSE SMOOTHING TREATMENT
Intense smoothing mask for frizz control
ACIDIC BONDING CONCENTRATE INTENSIVE TREATMENT
Sulfate-free, bonding pre-treatment for stronger hair in 1 use.
EXTREME LENGTH LEAVE-IN TREATMENT WITH BIOTIN
Enriched leave-in that visibly reduces split ends
SHINE FLASH SPRAY
Instant, Anti-Frizz Glass-Like Shine Spray
EXTREME CAT
Protein reconstructing treatment for highly damaged or processed hair
EXTREME PLAY SAFE
Fortifying leave-in treatment with heat protection
EXTREME LENGTH TRIPLE ACTION TREATMENT
Enriched hair mask for instantly stronger hair to promote longer hair
BLONDAGE EXPRESS ANTI-BRASS MASK
Pigmented hair express mask to tone brass in blonde hair
ALL SOFT ARGAN-6 HAIR OIL
Enriching Argan Oil for lasting suppleness and essential moisture for dry, brittle hair
ALL SOFT HEAVY CREAM MASK
Deep moisturizing rinse-out mask to transform dry hair
EXTREME MEGA MASK
Fortifying rinse-out mask for dry, damaged hair
