The 15 Best Hair Serums of 2023 to Pamper Your Hair

To find the best hair serums on the market, we conducted hours of research—evaluating each option based on their active ingredients and benefits. We also looked for any extra features, like if they could work on all hair types or had a clean ingredient list. After consulting experts and considering dozens of formulas, we landed on these top-rated picks.

“It is necessary to protect your hair the way you would protect your face with moisturizer,” says Kimberly Gueldner, Amy Schumer’s personal hairstylist. “You would rarely leave the house without moisturizer on your face, and the same philosophy should be applied to your hair.”

You can think of hair serum as a protective shield for your hair. Sure, you probably use a conditioner on your hair, but immediately after stepping out of the shower you might blast it with a hair dryer, sizzle it with a curling wand, or expose it to a day in the sun and salt water. That’s where a hair serum can come into play; not only can hair serum safeguard your locks against all of those elements, but invest in a good one and it’ll give your hair a boost of hydration too.

What to Look For

Best Overall

Olaplex No. 9 Bond Protector Nourishing Hair Serum

4.9

Olaplex

View On Amazon

View On Nordstrom

View On Sephora

What We Like

• Shields from pollution for 48 hours

• Anti-tangle and anti-static

• Protects against heat damage

What We Don’t Like

• Small bottle

Olaplex’s No.9 serum tops our list because it does it all—hydrates, protects, adds shine—for all hair types. Shield your hair from everyday damage by working a little bit of the serum (a little goes a long way, trust us) through your damp or dry hair, then bask in its lightweight silkiness. The silicone-free formula will leave your hair shiny, soft, and making you wonder where this serum has been your whole life.

Reviewers loved that they got the same results whether they air-dried or heat styled, and that it made their hair look healthy (even when damaged) and silky. They also noted that it tamed their flyaways all day.

Price at time of publish: $30

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

Best Budget

Garnier Fructis Sleek & Shine Anti-Frizz Serum

4.8

Amazon

View On Amazon

View On Walgreens

What We Like

• Affordable

• Can be used on damp or dry hair

• Smooths hair

What We Don’t Like

• Can make hair look greasy if not used sparingly

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—all for under $6.

Price at time of publish: $6

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

Best Splurge

MAY11 Revitalizing Hair Oil

MAY11

View On May11hairoil.com

What We Like

• Hydrates dry hair

• Luxurious scent

• Rehabs chemically damaged hair

What We Don’t Like

• Not recommended for blondes

There’s no denying that MAY11’s Revitalizing Hair Oil is an investment, but there’s also no denying how effectively it revives dull hair. NYC-based hairstylist Annie Rush, who particularly loves this oil for anyone with coarse, curly hair, agrees: “A little goes a long way, but a few extra pumps and a thorough brush-through can act like a pre-shampoo treatment for those ‘everyday or longer’ shampoo washers,” she says. 

“MAY11 has a rare natural ingredient called neroli oil which deeply penetrates the hair cuticle for dry or damaged hair therapy,” she adds. Bonus: This serum is packed with essential oils, so this will quickly take the place of your favorite perfume.

Price at time of publish: $86

Key Ingredients: Neroli oil, Jamaican black castor oil, hemp seed oil | Hair Type: All | Size: 2 oz. | Cruelty Free: No

Best for Hair Growth

The Ordinary Multi-Peptide Serum for Hair Density

4.7

Sephora

View On Sephora

View On Ulta

View On Target

What We Like

• Encourages regrowth

• Helps hair look fuller and thicker

• Can be used on all hair types and textures

What We Don’t Like

• Must be used continuously for best results

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. Whether you have loss of hair from alopecia or a pregnancy or have patchy eyebrows from overplucking—thanks, early 2000s—this serum will encourage regrowth. Simply apply it to your scalp before bed each night, then wake up to fuller hair in just a few months. 

Price at time of publish: $26

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

Best for Curly Hair

Curls Blueberry Bliss Hair Growth Oil

Target

View On Amazon

View On Target

View On Walmart

What We Like

• Nourishes all curly hairstyles

• Stimulates hair growth

• Affordable

What We Don’t Liike

• Strong scent isn’t for everyone

Thick-, curly-, coarse-haired folks, this serum is for you. With the intention to celebrate your natural texture, Curls formulated this serum using blueberry extract, which encourages hair growth while also repairing damage and preventing further breakage. Whether you have waves, curls, or coils, apply this as a pre-shampoo or a finisher, then enjoy the feel of your newly hydrated hair. 

Price at time of publish: $12

Key Ingredients: Blueberry extract, argan oil, castor oil | Hair Type: Curly | Size: 4 oz. | Cruelty Free: Yes

The 20 Best Hair Masks of 2023 for Dry, Damaged Hair

Best for Natural Hair

Laaayed Nourishing & Soothing Serum

Laaayed

View On Thepuffcuff.com

What We Like

• Targets hair and scalp dryness

• Creates definition

• Can be used on damp or dry hair

What We Don’t Like

• Blueberry scent may not be for everyone

Leave it to the founder of PuffCuff, the popular hair clamp for thick, curly hair, to create a hair serum for—you guessed it—thick, curly hair. Whether you wear your natural hair in twists, braids, or curls of any kind, Laaayed’s serum will seal in moisture, both in your hair and on your scalp. Use it on wet hair after detangling to define your curls, or add it to dry hair to hydrate. 

Price at time of publish: $18

Key Ingredients: Avocado oil, jojoba oil, rice bran oil | Hair Type: Natural | Size: 4 oz. | Cruelty Free: Not listed

Best Multitasker

Alterna Caviar Anti-Aging Restructuring Bond Repair 3-In-1 Sealing Serum

Ulta

View On Sephora

View On Ulta

View On Dermstore

What We Like

• Seals damaged ends

• Reduces blow dry time

• Lightweight

What We Don’t Like

• Reviewers note it can have a sticky texture

For the ultimate multitasking serum, add a bottle of this Alterna formula to your cart. It repairs damaged hair, adds softness and shine, and protects against heat styling—all in one tiny bottle.

Gueldner is a fan too. “This highly versatile serum makes it a good option for all hair types. The caviar extract helps seal hair cuticles to protect damaged hair,” she says. “I love that it is lightweight and is a great product to layer over. It is a great base product to layer heavier products over if you have thick hair, and it can also be mixed with your deep conditioner to help seal the cuticle and repair the hair.”

Price at time of publish: $38

Key Ingredients: Caviar extract, phytantriol | Hair Type: All | Size: 1.7 oz. | Cruelty Free: No

The 20 Best Leave-In Conditioners of 2023

Best for Dry Ends

Sachajuan Shine Serum

Nordstrom

View On Nordstrom

View On Sachajuan.com

What We Like

• Seals split ends

• Prevents further hair damage

• Adds serious shine

What We Don’t Like

• Small bottle

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, which conveniently fits into your TSA-friendly liquids bag, will repair your damaged ends. It quickly absorbs into your locks, so it doesn’t leave behind residue or weigh down your hair either. 

Price at time of publish: $36

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

Best Oil-Free

Pai-Shau Biphasic Infusion

Amazon

View On Amazon

What We Like

• Provides serious hydration

• Lightweight

• Has a citrusy, floral scent

What We Don’t Like

• Overuse can cause buildup

“Most serums on the market are purely for shine and polish,” says professional hairstylist Marshall Lin. Pai-Shau’s Biphasic Infusion also provides hydration for the hair, which is what sets it apart. “The ingredients in this serum offer both a treatment as well as the cosmetic benefits of shine.”

The best part of Biphasic Infusion, says Lin, is that it’s oil-free, which is rare for a hair serum. Instead, this formula contains a mix of five steeped teas that each nourish your hair and scalp. “It’s genius, actually,” Lin says. Use this on wet hair for a treatment and then again on dry hair once styled for shine. “Since it’s oil-free, you can keep applying it and reapplying without having the oily look or having your hair look weighed-down,” he says.

Price at time of publish: $24

Key Ingredients: Pai-Shau’s signature tea complex | Hair Type: All | Size: 1 oz. | Cruelty Free: Yes

Best Anti-Frizz

Stephen Knoll Hydrating Serum Mist

Stephen Knoll

View On Stephenknoll.com

What We Like

• Calms flyaways

• Restores moisture in hair

• Convenient spray bottle

What We Don’t Like

• Too bulky to travel with

While most hair serums involve working the formula through your palms first, this serum-mist hybrid keeps your hands clean and your hair hydrated with just a few spritzes. Use it as a leave-in protective treatment to counter the effects of heat styling and pollution, or give your hair a midday mist to calm any flyaways. No matter when or how you use it, this mist is a lightweight solution to instantly revitalize your hair. 

Price at time of publish: $35

Key Ingredients: Hydrolyzed collagen, safflower seed oil, fructose | Hair Type: All, especially colored hair | Size: 5 oz. | Cruelty Free:

The 22 Best Anti-Frizz Products of 2023 For Smooth, Silky Hair

Best Lightweight Serum

Milbon Hairserum Oil

Amazon

View On Amazon

What We Like

• Two formula options, one for fine and medium hair and another for coarse

• Smooths damaged ends and flyaways

• Lightweight

What We Don’t Like

• May have to reapply throughout the day to keep flyaways down

For a barely-there serum, Rush reaches for Milbon’s oil. “I use this product on every client (blondes included) to finish styling their ends, flyaways, or add shine to any updo,” she says. “This can help as a quick daily fixer upper for damaged or dry ends or at-home lackluster styling.” Made with jojoba oil and shea butter, it leaves a lightweight finish that easily gets washed away with each shampoo without leaving behind any product buildup. 

Price at time of publish: $35

Key Ingredients: Jojoba oil, shea butter, soybean oil | Hair Type: All | Size: 4.1 oz. | Cruelty Free: Yes

Best Sustainable Packaging

Hairstory Hair Oil

4.3

Hairstory

View On Hairstory.com

What We Like

• Sent in a reusable glass bottle with recyclable refills

• Treats dry and dull hair

• Suitable for all hair types and textures

What We Don’t Like

• Can make your hair look greasy if overused

As much as we adore trying new beauty products, we don’t exactly love all of the packaging waste that goes hand-in-hand with it. That’s why we especially love Hairstory’s approach to packaging with this hair serum, which arrives in a reusable glass bottle with recyclable refills. The fact that it repairs damaged hair and smooths frizz too? All the better. 

Price at time of publish: $35

Key Ingredients: Argan oil, evening primrose oil, jojoba oil | Hair Types: All | Size: 2 oz. | Cruelty Free: Yes

Best Travel-Sized

Goldie Locks Signature Serum

Goldie Locks

View On Goldielocks.com

What We Like

• Fast-absorbing

• Receive two complimentary hair care samples with every purchase

• Helps against humidity

What We Don’t Like

• Comes in a heavy glass bottle

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, or sea salt without the help of a serum. Nab one of these travel-sized Goldie Locks serums and your hair will be shiny and frizz-free, no matter where you’re vacationing. Plus, with its secure cap you can feel confident it won’t leak all over your other liquids. (The worst.) 

Price at time of publish: $32

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

Best Clean Formula

Ceremonia Oil Mist con Aloe Vera Nourishing Hair Elixir

Sephora

View On Sephora

View On Ceremonia.com

What We Like

• Lightweight

• Nourishes damaged hair

• Smooths frizz

What We Don’t Like

• Reviewers note that packaging could be better

This nourishing hair serum is not only completely vegan and made with natural ingredients (aloe vera, chia seed oil, and more)—it’s also able to hydrate, add shine, and tame frizz for all hair types. Since it has an oil-mist hybrid formula, it only takes a few spritzes to take your hair from damaged and dull to looking healthy and glossy.

Price at time of publish: $26

Key Ingredients: Aloe vera, chia seed oil, coconut oil | Hair Types: All | Size: 2 oz. | Cruelty Free: Yes

Best for Scalp

Nécessaire The Scalp Serum

Sephora

View On Nordstrom

View On Sephora

View On The Detox Market

What We Like

• Dermatologist tested

• Proven to show results

• Oil-free

What We Don’t Like

• Takes time to show noticeable growth

The health of our hair is important, but our scalp health is arguably just as—or maybe even more—important. This serum is able to hydrate with hyaluronic acid and strengthen the scalp with niacinamide. A healthy scalp leads to thicker, healthier hair, and it also includes a peptide blend that’s been proven to accelerate hair growth.

Price at time of publish: $58

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