The 13 Best Hair Serums of 2023 | by InStyle

To find the best hair serums on the market, we did a deep dive into the bestselling options across top-rated beauty brands and asked hair experts for their recommendations. During our research, we evaluated each product on a multitude of factors, including its active ingredients, key benefits, and overall effectiveness. We also considered how these serums would pair with a range of hair types and textures. After weeks of research, we were able to determine the 13 best hair serums. Whether you want to tame frizz, add shine, or thicken your hair , these hair serums will give you the best hair day, every day.

We’re all familiar with face serums , but have you ever heard of or used a hair serum? Similar to skin serums, hair serums are like trusty sidekicks for your strands. They work with your hair to enhance shine and deeply hydrate, but that’s not all: They can also safeguard hair from heat damage, UV rays, and potential breakage. Essentially, hair serums can improve your overall hair health no matter your hair type and texture.

Best Overall

Bumble and bumble Hairdresser’s Invisible Oil

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What We Love: This serum is made with a blend of six oils that deliver deep nourishment to strands.

What We Don’t Love: This oil is not ideal for people with very fine hair.

Bumble and bumble is a tried-and-true hair care brand that has a collection of incredible products – and the Invisible Oil is one of their bestsellers. What makes this hair oil stand out from the rest is that it offers a range of benefits rolled into one product. For starters, it effectively nourishes strands, which ultimately makes hair softer and smoother; it’s able to successfully tame frizz without weighing roots down; and finally, it provides hair with protection against UV and heat damage, making hair healthier in the long run. Oh, and did we mention that it adds next-level shine?

The reason this product can provide hair with such great benefits is due to its ingredients. Formulated with a blend of six different oils (coconut, argania spinosa kernel, macadamia integrifolia seed, grape seed, sweet almond, and safflower seed oils), it quickly penetrates strands and hydrates hair from the inside out. We will point out that this product is not ideal for people with extremely fine hair, as these oils can weigh it down. However, this hair serum works wonders for anyone with medium to thick hair, completely rejuvenating dry, damaged, and color-treated strands.

Price at time of publish: $43

Key Ingredients: Coconut oil, argania spinosa kernel oil, macadamia integrifolia seed oil, grape seed oil, sweet almond oil, safflower seed oil | Size: 3.4 oz | Scented: Yes | Key Benefits: Tames frizz, adds shine, provides heat and UV protection

Best Budget

Kristin Ess Weightless Shine Working Serum

Ulta

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What We Love: This serum works to seal and smooth damaged hair.

What We Don’t Love: Some customers note that the fragrance is too strong.

If you’re not already on the Kristin Ess train, we welcome you aboard. This celebrity brand has a slew of effective hair care products, all for an affordable price. One of the most beloved items from the collection is the Weightless Shine Working Serum — this product gets straight to business, hydrating and nourishing strands to provide long-lasting moisture for hours on end. Additionally, it seals and smoothes damaged follicles, helping hair look shinier and healthier after every use. As a bonus, it also protects hair from environmental stressors and even keeps color from fading. 

“This lightweight serum was designed to use on wet hair for air-dried texture, but it also tames frizz and adds shine when used on dry hair,” says Alexia Donovan, the director of client services at Barber Surgeons Guild.

For best results, apply a pea-sized amount of serum to your palms and rub them together. Once you get the oil warmed up, work it into towel-dried hair, focusing on the ends. Then, you can either blow dry or air dry hair. If you need an added boost of hydration, apply a bit of this serum to dry hair. (Note: Some customers did say that this product’s fragrance was a bit strong, so if you’re sensitive to smells, just keep that in mind.)

Price at time of publish: $15

Key Ingredients: Glycerin, sunflower seed oil, mango seed butter | Size: 1.7 oz | Scented: Yes | Key Benefits: Smoothes, hydrates, adds shine, tames frizz

Best Splurge

Guerlain Abeille Royale Scalp & Hair Youth Oil in Serum

Sephora

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What We Love: This serum is made from 97 percent naturally derived ingredients, including sustainably sourced honey.

What We Don’t Love: Though we love the luxe look of the glass bottle, you’ll need to handle it with care when using the serum — otherwise it can easily slip through your hands and break.

If you’re going to splurge, you might as well make it worth it, and this Guerlain hair serum is most definitely worth it. Made with a blend of four sustainably-sourced kinds of honey, this luxe product visibly enhances shine after just one use. In addition to honey, this serum is also made with the brand’s exclusive royal jelly, which provides hair with nutrients, proteins, lipids, and vitamins. And if that wasn’t enough, it also includes panthenol, which locks in moisture and smoothes dry, damaged strands.

This product also happens to be a two-in-one — you can apply it to your scalp without worrying about it weighing hair down. This is because the lightweight liquid instantly absorbs into the scalp – as well as into hair follicles – so hair never looks greasy. The best part? Putting the oil on your scalp can help reduce dandruff as well as promote healthy hair growth.

The statuesque glass bottle adds to the luxury, but be sure to handle it with care (especially while using the serum) because it is breakable. 

Price at time of publish: $140

Key Ingredients: Honey, royal jelly, panthenol | Size: 1.6 oz | Scented: Yes | Key Benefits: Adds shine, hydrates, makes hair fuller and thicker

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Best for Fine Hair

Moroccanoil Treatment Light

Sephora

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What We Love: This oil is extremely lightweight and instantly absorbs, making it ideal for fine hair

What We Don’t Love: Too much oil can come out of the bottle when you pour it.

As someone with thin, fine hair, I know firsthand the struggle of finding a hair serum that doesn’t immediately weigh it down. For years, I was too scared to use hair oil because the word ‘oil’ made me worry that my hair would look, well, oily. Spoiler: That’s not the case. After finally giving in, I decided to try this Moroccanoil favorite – and I’ve never looked back. 

First thing’s first: This oil was specifically designed for thin hair, which means it’s not too heavy or thick. The texture is lightweight and almost a bit watery, which makes it easy to warm up in your hands (this also makes it easy to dispense too much, so be sure to pour it out slowly).

Secondly, it adds instant shine, especially on the ends. I love using this oil both when my hair is wet before blowing it dry, as well as after drying it when I need a little moisture pick-me-up. Finally, what I really love about this product is that it tames frizz and flyaways. I can put a light layer close to my roots (where my flyaways are) as well as on my face-framing bangs (where broken ends are), and it won’t weigh either section down. Rather, it conditions my strands and adds noticeable shine.

Price at time of publish: $34

Key Ingredients: Argan oil, linseed extract | Size: 1.7 oz | Scented: Yes | Key Benefits: Adds shine, hydrates, tames frizz

Best for Thick Hair

Kérastase Elixir Ultime Hydrating Hair Oil Serum

4.5

Amazon

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What We Love: This serum has a fruity, musky scent that makes hair smell fresh for days.

What We Don’t Love: If you have very long or thick hair, you might need to use more than the recommended two pumps (i.e. you’ll have to repurchase often).

Keeping thick hair hydrated and nourished is no easy feat. Luckily, this Kérastase oil-serum came prepared for the challenge. Made with a blend of five nutritious oils (marula, maize, camellia, argan, and procaxi oils), this serum adds moisture to even the thickest, dryest strands. The marula and maize oils work with hair to enhance shine and suppleness, while the camellia and procaxi oils leave your mane soft and manageable. Plus, the argan oil fortifies strands, making them less prone to breakage. On top of that, this serum does the dirty work of taming frizz, even in humidity. The outcome? Soft, shiny, and healthy hair. 

This oil also has a luxurious fragrance that features notes of freesia and mandarin, as well as musk extract and sandalwood. While this serum is ideal for people with thick hair, it can also be used on thin hair, too. (For best results, apply this oil to thin hair prior to showering. Then, rinse it out before shampooing. You’ll be able to enjoy all the great benefits of this oil without it weighing down strands.) The only downside of this product is that the bottle doesn’t dispense a ton of serum, so you might need to use a few pumps (closer to three to five) if you have really thick or long hair.

Price at time of publish: $54

Key Ingredients: Marula oil, camellia oil, argan oil, maize oil, procaxi oil | Size: 3.4 oz | Scented: Yes | Key Benefits: Adds shine, hydrates, tames frizz

Best for Curly Hair

Paul Mitchell Super Skinny Serum

Ulta

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What We Love: This serum helps speed up hair’s drying time.

What We Don’t Love: The pump can sometimes get jammed.

“The best hair serum for curly hair, in my opinion, is the Paul Mitchell Super Skinny Serum,” says hairstylist and Arey co-founder, Jay Small. “This product has the ability to fill in gaps in the hair strand, smooth the cuticle, and protect curls from humidity — and a little goes a long way.” This product also does a great job of taming frizz, ultimately helping to define curls.

Another impressive feature? It actually speeds up drying time, so hair experiences less heat damage overall. “I apply it to wet hair when air-styling natural curls (or after towel drying) to smooth curly hair,” explains Small. Aside from making curls look their best, this serum also makes them smell their best, too. Every time you apply this oil, you’ll notice hints of apples, berries, and sweet florals. The results speak for themselves, but the packaging could use a refresh: The pump has a tendency to get jammed, so you may need to unscrew the top and pour the serum into your hands after a few months. 

Price at time of publish: $27

Key Ingredients: Dimethiconol, cyclopentasiloxane | Size: 5.1 oz | Scented: Yes | Key Benefits: Adds shine, tames frizz, decreases drying time

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Best for Textured Hair

Adwoa Baomint Protect & Shine Oil Blend

Adwoa

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What We Love: This serum is made with more than 15 natural oils.

What We Don’t Love: Though refreshing, the scent is very strong and lingers like a perfume. 

If you’re looking for a product that’ll bring your hair back to life, we have just the thing you need. This Adwoa bestseller is made with an innovative blend of powerhouse ingredients including soybean, grape seed, olive, and sweet almond oils, as well as pomegranate, spearmint, and prickly pear, which work together to make hair healthier, stronger, and more nourished. These nutritious ingredients also promote hair growth, add shine, and tame frizz. Plus, you can use this product as a finisher after styling hair or as a hot oil treatment if your strands really need some love. 

“Formulated specifically for dry, textured hair, this serum promotes moisture and shine and is lightweight enough for daily use,” says Donovan. “It incorporates more than 15 oils and smells refreshing. It’s also promoted for head-to-toe use and can be used on the body!” Pro tip: Apply  a light layer to extra dry areas, like cuticles, elbows, and knees.

While we adore the fresh fruity fragrance, it is very strong. So if you’re sensitive to scent, you may want to skip this. 

Price at time of publish: $11

Key Ingredients: Soybean oil, grape seed oil, olive oil, sweet almond oil | Size: 3.3 oz. | Scented: Yes | Key Benefits: Adds shine, hydrates, strengthens, promotes growth

Best for Damaged Hair

Olaplex No.7 Bonding Oil

5

Sephora

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What We Love: This hair oil enhances color vibrancy.

What We Don’t Love: It can weigh down fine hair if it is applied too close to the root.

There’s no other way to say it: This Olaplex favorite is like liquid gold. For starters, it works well on all hair types and textures, adding noticeable glossiness and hydration. On top of that, it also provides long-term benefits for the hair since it’s made with the brand’s signature ingredient – bis-aminopropyl diglycol dimaleate – which is essentially a molecule that helps bond the hair’s structure back together (read: Less frizz and split ends). Additionally, this oil adds vibrancy to hair color, overall making strands look healthier and shiner. Last but not least, it also protects hair from heat damage and temperatures up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit. 

To get the best results from this oil, add a few drops to wet or dry hair before using a straightener, curling iron, or blow dryer. (Personally, I like to warm this liquid in my hands before applying it to my hair. I will say that as someone with fine hair, I really only use this product on my ends because it can sometimes weigh down my strands if I put it too close to my roots.) As for the cherry on top, this small but mighty bottle is designed to dispense a limited amount of product, which means you’ll never have to worry about too much coming out. 

Price at time of publish: $30

Key Ingredients: Bis-aminopropyl diglycol dimaleate, grape seed oil, sunflower seed oil | Size: 1 oz. | Scented: No | Key Benefits: Adds shine, strengthens, provides heat protection

Best for Dry Hair

Reverie Milk Anti-Frizz Leave-In Nourishing Treatment

Credo Beauty

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What We Love: This serum is made with a blend of 16 essential oils that work together to effectively hydrate hair.

What We Don’t Love: This serum can weigh down curls.

“The best hair serum for dry hair is the Reverie Milk Anti-Frizz Leave-In Nourishing Treatment,” says Small. “Typically, serums sit on the exterior surface of the hair strand, leaving a build-up on the hair, but this product works well to help retain moisture.”

Thanks to a complex blend of oils (including pracaxi seed, ginger root, rose flower, clove bud, and jasmine flower oils, among others), this serum works overtime, nourishing strands by holding onto moisture and locking it in. By doing so, this product also reduces the appearance of frizz and flyaways over time.

“The serum is also highly absorbent and can be applied to both wet and dry hair,” Small adds. And, because it’s so absorbent, it can be used multiple times a day for added hydration. We also adore the dreamy, fresh fragrance that revitalizes your senses as it soaks in. However, we will note that this product can weigh down curls, so be sure to use it sparingly if you have curly hair. (One to two pumps should be ideal.)

Price at time of publish: $42

Key Ingredients: Pracaxi seed oil, shea nut butter, ginger root oil, rose flower oil | Size: 3.3 oz. | Scented: Yes | Key Benefits: Hydrates, smoothes, tames frizz

Best for Frizz

Living Proof No Frizz Smooth Styling Serum

Living Proof

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What We Love: This lightweight serum keeps hair smooth and frizz-free for up to 96 hours.

What We Don’t Love: Using too much can make hair look greasy.

You can kiss frizz goodbye (really!) when you smooth this styling serum into your strands. Crafted by biotech scientists, the lightweight formula smoothes out each hair follicle and actually repels humidity with a proprietary smoothing technology.

All you need to do is apply the silky serum (which also lightly hydrates and adds shine) to damp hair and blow dry for a sleek style that lasts for up to 96 hours. You may be tempted to douse your hair in the serum after seeing results, but applying too much can actually make hair greasy. Stick to one to two pumps for the best results. 

Price at time of publish: $36

Key Ingredients: Proprietary smoothing technology, humectant polymer | Size: 1.7 oz. | Scented: Yes | Key Benefits: Reduces frizz, adds shine, lightly hydrates

Best for Thinning Hair

The Ordinary Multi-Peptide Serum for Hair Density

4.7

Sephora

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What We Love: Caffeine and castor oil work together to increase blood flow to the hair follicles, thus promoting hair growth. 

What We Don’t Love: This oil has a weird smell that some people don’t like.

The Ordinary knows a thing or two about hair care, and this serum proves it. Made with a mix of caffeine, peptides, castor oil, and lactic acid, the formula works to promote hair growth by stimulating the scalp and increasing blood flow to the hair follicles. Plus, it makes hair look fuller after each use, thanks to the addition of xanthan gum, which clings onto hair strands and makes them appear thicker. 

It does more than promote hair growth, though. The all-in-one serum also smoothes hair and makes it more manageable thanks to butylene glycol, which acts as a conditioning agent and increases moisture retention. For the best results, apply a few drops of this serum to a clean scalp. (It’s recommended to use it before bed.) Then, massage it in. Since this oil is essentially a leave-on treatment, don’t wash it out until morning. If the smell starts to bother you (it isn’t the most pleasant) washing it out after two or three hours will still give you noteworthy results. 

Price at time of publish: $13

Key Ingredients: Caffeine, peptides, castor oil | Size: 1 oz. | Scented: Yes | Key Benefits: Hydrates, thickens, smoothes

Best for Hair Growth

Nécessaire The Scalp Serum

Sephora

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What We Love: This serum is hypoallergenic and non-comedogenic, which means it’s safe for the scalp and won’t clog pores.

What We Don’t Love: It takes about 90 days to see results.

Though Nécessaire is known for its bath and body products, its hair care also deserves recognition. This scalp serum, in particular, stands out for its ability to make hair thicker, fuller, and lusher. Made with a five-percent biomimetic peptide blend that makes hair both healthier and stronger, as well as hyaluronic acid, the nourishing serum transforms the ecosystem of the scalp, hydrating and nourishing it and promoting hair growth. Plus, niacinamide supports the scalp’s overall protective barrier.

Aside from its game-changing ingredients, this serum is super lightweight and easily absorbs into strands. It’s also color- and keratin-safe as well as hypoallergenic and non-comedogenic. Not to mention, it’s vegan, gluten- and cruelty-free, and comes in recyclable packaging. We will note that it’ll take about 90 days for you to see new hair growth appear, so just use it religiously and your patience will pay off big time. 

Price at time of publish: $58

Key Ingredients: Peptides, hyaluronic acid, niacinamide | Size: 2 oz | Scented: No | Key Benefits: Hydrates, thickens

Best for Flaky Scalps

MFLORENS No. 1 Exfoliate & Revitalize Scalp Serum for Hair

MFLORENS

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What We Love: This hair serum is infused with over 50 botanicals. 

What We Don’t Love: It’s recommended to wash this serum out after 30 minutes, so you won’t want to use this if you’re in a hurry. 

“For flaky scalps, hands down my favorite serum is MFLORENS No. 1 Exfoliate & Revitalize Scalp and Hair Serum,” says celebrity colorist Bianca Hillier, whose clients include Becky G, influencer and model Rocky Barnes, and comedian Lauren Lapkus. “Not all serums are supposed to be applied to the scalp, but in this case, this product has been created for scalp health, delivering extremely natural ingredients and nutrients to the scalp and strands.” 

And, the term ‘extremely natural ingredients’ is right – this serum is made with over 50 botanicals, including flowers, trees, fruits, vegetables, and herbs. It works by gently exfoliating the scalp, removing everything from product build-up to dead skin. Then, it nourishes the scalp, adding deep hydration and fortifying vitamins. To get the most out of it, be sure to massage it deeply into your head. Just note that the brand recommends washing it out after 30 minutes (although you can leave it in for up to four hours), but be sure to rinse it out before going to sleep. 

Price at time of publish: $120

Key Ingredients: Castor oil, grape seed oil, rosemary, eucalyptus | Size: 2 oz | Scented: Yes | Key Benefits: Exfoliates, strengthens, hydrates