Why to apply hair serum? how does hair serum helps?? why hair serum is Important? How To Pick The Right Serum For Your Hair Type? is Serum is necessary for hair?

Hair serums are amazing products to have on your cosmetics shelf, thanks to their all-round benefits. They help smoothen your hair, eliminate frizz, add shine, and act as a shield against harsh environmental aggressors like heat, dust, and pollution. In addition, they are very easy to use and are typically applied after washing the hair and before styling it. In this article, we will learn more about these serums, their types, and how they differ from hair oils. 

What Is Hair Serum & How Does It Help?

Just like skin serums, hair serums are formulated with active ingredients to penetrate deeper into your hair. They are used to control frizz, set hairstyles and protect the hair from environmental aggressors. While oils provide nourishment to the scalp, serums work on the surface level. You can consider them as quick fixes or even a replacement to your conditioners.

Our chief dermatologist, Dr. Harish Koutam says, “Hair serums help in replenishing lost lipids, thereby preventing cuticular damage. It is essential that you evenly apply the serum on your hair, especially the parts where it's the most needed. If your hair is chemically treated, choose a serum with proteins.”

Benefits Of Hair Serum

Smoothens the hair

Adds shine to hair

Controls frizz

Detangles hair

Repairs hair damage

Protects hair from environmental pollution

Maintains curls and hair straightness

What Are the other Benefits Of Hair Serum?

1. Tame Frizz And Flyaways

Frizz and flyaways are never fun. In fact, we’re tempted to say that when it comes to hairstyling, they’re the bane of our existence. But before reaching for hair spray, consider that using a hair serum can help nourish and tame frizzy hair. Think of hair serum as your first line of defense, and hairspray as the finishing touch. You can apply a pump or two to your hands, rub it between your palms and run it through the lengths of your hair to tame any stray hairs. 

2. Add Shine

Besides their ability to help manage frizz and flyaways, hair serums can also help boost your hair’s shine. Use a shine-boosting serum before you shampoo for nourishment, before styling to control hair and polish your strands, and as a lightweight finishing touch for silky softness and a luxurious, glassy shine.

3. Nourish Dry Hair

In addition to dry hair feeling rough, when your hair is parched, it can often look dull and lifeless, which isn’t exactly a confidence boost. A good serum formulated with nourishing ingredients can give the hair a hydration boost while also camouflaging obvious signs of dryness and damage, such as frizz, breakage and split ends. 

4. Shield Against Humidity

If your hair poofs up the minute you walk outside on days when the weather is anything less than perfect, we totally feel your pain. While you can’t change having thick or poofy hair, you can help change the way it responds to environmental elements like humidity and artificial heat. Using the right hair serum can help you do just that.

5. Soften Your Strands

When hair becomes dry or damaged, it can also feel brittle to the touch (not to mention suffer from breakage). Nobody wants to run their hands through that! Using a pump of hair serum can help bring life back to your strands, making your mane softer and easier to manage.

6. Help With Damage

When hair is colored or over-styled with hot tools, it can become damaged. Using a hair serum is a great way to bring moisture back to your strands when they’ve lost their natural oils, and help to seal the hair cuticle which is disrupted by damage. 

7. Aid In Detangling 

Working to remove tangles from your hair after washing it can be a real pain. But applying a few drops of hair serum to towel-dried hair can help make the detangling process easier. The slip from the serum helps your fingers or brush glide through your strands more easily. 

How To Use Hair Serum?

When To Apply:

One of the main benefits of serum is protection against pollution. Serum should be applied on fresh, washed and damp hair. This way it adds a layer of protection to your hair.

How to apply:

Start with the ends of your hair and work your way towards the middle sections of your hair. Do not apply serum to your scalp as it can make your hair look oily and greasy. In fact, we would recommend you to totally forget the roots to avoid any product buildup. Remember, your ends need the most shine, so dab it in!

Pro tip:

Serums are slightly thicker in consistency. So instead of taking it in your palms and quickly rubbing on the hair, let the serum stay in your palms for 5-6 seconds. This helps the serum to liquify, soften up and glide smoothly all over the hair.

How Much Should You Use:

Don't over-apply serums. You will only need a pea-size amount of serum if you have thin or oily hair and a little more if your hair is on the thicker and drier side.

Myth buster:

Thin hair does not need serum because it makes the hair fall flat.

Truth:

Anyone can use a hair serum. If you have thin or oily hair, stick to the lighter formula. If you have dry hair, go for a heavy and ultra-moisturizing formula.

How To Pick The Right Serum For Your Hair Type?

Hair serums are basically silicone-based products that coat your hair, smoothen out frizz and flyaways. Choose one based on your hair type and concern:

1. Dry And Frizzy Hair

Look for serums with ingredients like rosewood, castor and marula. All of them provide intense hydration to your hair.

2. Split Ends

Your hair is prone to breakage. Look for ingredients like keratin (a hair protein) in your serum.

3. Damaged Hair Due To Heat And Pollution

Opt for lavender and jojoba oils that take care of your hair, detangle them and are super lightweight.

4. Dry Hair

There are cream-based serums that can be applied and left overnight for your hair type.

5. Thick Hair

Serums infused with argan oils and morrocon oils should be your go-to if you have very thick hair.

6. Curly Hair

This hair type is a bit more difficult to manage. Look for ingredients like jojoba, sweet almond oil, argan and marula in your serums. These add an extra boost of hydration.

7. Colored And Chemically Treated Hair

Look for serums with combinations like coconut oil and green tea extracts.

Is Serum Necessary For Hair?

Hair serum has become an essential part of our hair care routines for all the right reasons. Shampoos, though are cleaning enough, can expose the hair cuticles. Conditioner does not do an effective job at sealing your cuticle and hence a layer of serum is a must.

If you are someone who can't do without heat styling your hair, serums should be a part of your hair care. They add a layer of protection to your hair and prevent heat damage.

Can We Use Hair Serum Daily?

Haircare experts do not recommend serums for everyday use. Limit the use of serums to special days and the days you wash your hair. But if you have extremely unmanageable and frizzy hair, you can use an oil-based serum every day as well.

What Do You Do If You Put Too Much Serum In Your Hair?

If you've applied too much hair serum, it can cause greasiness. A dry shampoo comes handy if you need to fix this problem. What else can you do? Use a brush or a wide-tooth comb to spread out the product evenly.

What Is The Difference Between Hair Oil And Hair Serum?

Even though hair oil and serum seem to have the same texture, their functions are different. Hair oil penetrates deeper, passing the cuticle and reaching the cortex of hair strands. Besides providing nourishment to the hair, hair oil restores hair damage caused by heat styling and coloring. Hair serum adds gloss and reduces frizz on the outer layer of the hair.

Does Hair Serum Have Side Effects?

Hair serums are formulated for your hair shaft and not for the roots. Bear in mind that the chemicals in serums can harm your hair if used for prolonged periods. They can cause breakage and hair fall. Some hair serums can dry out hair. To stay away from the side effects of hair serum, minimize the frequency of application.

What Can We Use Instead Of Hair Serum?

You can replace hair serum with a DIY homemade serum. Add 4 tablespoons of avocado oil, 2 tablespoons of jojoba oil, 2 tablespoons of almond oil, 2 tablespoons of argan oil and 2 tablespoons of grapeseed oil. This blend of natural oils is your best bet for shinier and bouncier hair. However, it will not give the lightweight feel of silicone oils.

Wrapping Up

We hope that this post helped you get the most out of hair serums. Pick a hair serum that suits your hair type and you are ready to rock the shiny hair days ahead. Apply it only on the shafts of your hair and discontinue usage if a particular serum causes rashes on your scalp or excess hair fall.

Benefits of Hair serums 

- it protects the hair by forming a thin layer around each strand and ensuring everything from the sun's harsh rays, dirt, dust and pollution don't directly impact the strands. This is precisely why it is also advised to use a hair serum before using heated styling products on the hair. 

- The layer also ensures the hair strands are left with a layer of shine and gloss. Serums also ensure coloured and damaged hair is protected and looks healthy. 

- Applying hair serums makes detangling the hair easier. It acts as a lubricant  and ensures hair lost while detangling is lesser. 

- Serums are known to lock down the moisture and moisturise hair, making it healthy while ensuring it doesn't look as brittle and feels smoother. 

Disadvantages of hair serums:

- Too much application of the serum can make the hair look oily. 

- Too much application could cause hair fall. 

Side effects of using hair serum:

- Regular use and over-application can make the hair unhealthy and ultimately dry. 

- Applying the serum on the scalp can lead to inflammation. 

- Solicones persent in hair serums can be harmful for the hair in the long run. Serums also contain cemicals that can react badly with the hair depending on the hair type.