The Ultimate Guide for Hair Serum

I am as free as my hair. This proverb means that a person who says he is free as his or her hair does not have any objections. No one could control that person; his or her thoughts and points of view are free. Though this proverb does not suit all, many want to have free and healthy hair. Several treatments, like hair serum, are used to maintain good hair. Let’s have a look at the ultimate guide for hair serum.

What is hair serum, and why is it used?

Hair serum is a fluid-based treatment used to enhance the hair. Hair serum mostly contains silicone, which gives a protective layer over the hair fibre and helps smooth frizz. This serum’s layer reflects light, due to which a serum gives a shiny and smooth finish to a person’s hair.

Other than that, hair serums for each hair type can have benefits like smoothing the hair, providing shininess, detangling, repairing damage, cutting split ends, and protecting from pollution.

Benefits of Hair Serum

Hair serums provide various benefits for the hair. Here are the health benefits of hair serum:

1) Regulating the frizz and dryness

Hair serum just tames unruly hair strands and gives them a polished look. A few hair serums contain silicone, which helps manage some hair issues by creating a protective layer around the hair cuticle. In general, dry and damaged hair has flyaways and split ends. They look dry, brittle, and frizzy. The hair serum covers the hair, thus making the damaged hair hydrated and moisturised.

2) Providing shine

One of the advantages of hair serums is that they have the capability to revitalise dry and dull-looking hair by inducing moisture into the strands of each hair. Some hair serums contain light-reflecting components, which add a sheen and lustre to the hair without letting it go greasy.

3) Maintaining the hair’s natural look

Hair serums enhance the structure and texture of the hair naturally. Thus, it gives the hair a defined appearance, enhancing the hair’s natural appearance. 

4) Protecting from damage

The serum’s protective coating Hair serum protects the hair from pollutants, dust, and some other environmental conditions. It also protects against photodamage and heat damage resulting from styling. For this reason only, the hair serums are applied to the hair before it is styled.

5) Minimising the tangles and knots

Hair serums help smooth the hair, thus having a detangling effect on the hair. Since the serum makes the hair smoother and brighter, it makes combing easier. 

Some hair serums with hydrolysed keratin proteins as ingredients provide many hair benefits. They are:

• It prevents the strands from splitting up.
• It enhances the hair’s capability to store moisture.
• It repairs the damaged hair.
• It neutralises the negative static charge that results in flyaway, frizz, and friction.
• It enhances the tensile strength of damaged and dry hair.

Other Benefits of Hair Serum

Some of the serums contain peculiar ingredients which protect the hair from:

• Chemical processing is used for straightening, bleaching, dyeing, or perming the hair.
• Heated styling tools like straightening, curling irons, and hairdryers.
• Environmental stress, photodamage, and weather.
• Mechanical stress is due to repeated treatments and styling.
• They also help protect, improve, and recover hair fibres’ properties like elasticity, smoothness, and strength.

How do I apply hair serum?

In general, hair serum is applied to wet or dried hair after shampooing and conditioning processes. However, a few hair serums are also applied to dry hair. You can take a few drops of the serum on your palm, then rub them together using your hands. Then, you could apply it to your hair from the roots to the tip. If you have thick or long hair, then you could use more drops of hair serum. After that, you could use a comb to remove tangles and confirm that the applied serum is spread evenly. 

Some serums use steam-activated ingredients to give frizz-free and high-shine hair, along with protecting it from heat damage.

When should I start using hair serum? 

Some hair conditions insist that you use the hair serum. Here are the conditions under which you must use the hair serums.

• If your hair looks dull and lack lustre.
• When your hair tangles and breaks easily.
• If you suffer from frizz or flyaways.
• If you are a frequent user of heated tools to either straighten or curl your hair.
• Moreover, using hair serum is a must during humid weather, vacations, or any conditions when frizz and flyaways cause peculiar pain.

This hair serum is used for such conditions because it provides a protective cover over the hair. It also prevents damage when applied prior to using heated tools like hair straighteners. 

Should I apply a hair serum if I have fine hair naturally?

If you have fine hair naturally, then it is optional to use the hair serum. Many misunderstand that the hair serum weighs down the naturally fine hair. But the truth is that it depends on the serum you use and the quantity  to which it is applied. Some hair serums help repair and strengthen hair, thus giving it thicker and healthier-looking hair.

If your hair has less volume or easily becomes greasy at the roots, then try applying the hair serum to the lengths and tips. But make sure that you use only a few drops. To actively thicken your hair or to increase its volume and thickness, it is wise to use some recommended types of hair serums.

How to use hair serum on hair? 

There are some recommendations that help while using the hair serum. You could consider the below-given recommendations while applying hair serum to the hair.

Do’s

1) Wash your hair properly before you apply it. Hair serum is best to be applied to freshly shampooed hair, whose main purpose is to protect the hair from pollutants. Applying it to unwashed hair might not clear the pollutants and make the hair look oily and weighed down.

Once a person washes the hair, they can dry it and then apply the hair serum. After taking a head bath at night, you can use some for glossy and soft hair in the morning.

2) Warm the hair serum before applying it to the hair. Several hair serums have a thick consistency, so they become hard to apply over the hair. Slightly warming up the hair serum by keeping a little amount on the palm and then rubbing it for a few seconds will help make it smoother and evener. 

3) Choose a hair serum and apply it based on a person’s hair type and hair goals. Hair serums might have many techniques, meaning that some hair types may benefit from a particular hair serum while others may not. So, it is essential to choose the hair serum with the ingredients that will achieve your desired hair goals.

Don’ts

1) Don’t apply it to the hair roots. You can avoid applying the hair serum to the roots, as this can weigh the hair down, make the hair roots look greasy, and result in product buildup. As the hair tips are usually drier, apply the hair serum from the hair end to the midshafts.

2) Don’t overapply or apply more of the hair serum. This is because applying more serum or over-applying the serum could result in the hair becoming flat and greasy.

3) Don’t rinse the hair serum after you apply it. Hair serums help the hair’s surface to moisturise and smoothen, thus protecting the hair. So, washing the hair serum off clears this protective coating.

How do I select a hair serum?

Each ingredient added to the hair serum provides many benefits to the hair. Here are some of the ingredients added to the hair serum, along with their benefits.

1) Silicone

Silicone used in hair serums forms a protective barrier around the hair strands, minimising moisture loss and giving the hair a smooth and polished appearance. They also help to detangle the hair and enhance its manageability. 

2) Argan Oil

Mostly, argan oil is used in hair serum. It contains a large amount of the necessary fatty acids and vitamin E. Argan oil has moisturising and nourishing properties. It hydrates the hair, lowers frizz, enhances the overall hair texture, and protects the hair from heat damage caused by the styling tools. So, choose a hair serum that contains cold-pressed and pure argan oil.

3) Keratin

Keratin is a protein that helps strengthen the hair, repair damaged hair, and promote smoother and healthier strands. Also, it helps protect the hair from environmental stressors and heat damage. You may choose hair serums containing hydrolysed keratin, as it gets absorbed by the hair easily.

4) Aloe Vera

Aloe vera in the hair serum helps moisturise the hair, reduce itchiness or irritation, and soothe the scalp. You can opt for serums that contain pure aloe vera or aloe vera extract.

5) Panthenol

Panthenol, or provitamin B5, is a humectant that helps retain moisture in the hair. Panthenol improves the hair’s elasticity, makes it resistant to breakage, and adds shine and volume to the hair, providing a healthier look.

6) Ceramides

Naturally, ceramides are lipids found in the hair cuticle. The addition of ceramides to a hair serum absorbs moisture into the hair, prevents split ends, improves overall health, enhances the look of the hair, and also restores and strengthens the hair’s protective barrier.

7) Antioxidants

Antioxidant-rich ingredients like vitamin E included in the hair serum provide protection against free radicals and environmental damage. They also help to prevent colour fading, maintain the hair’s health, and give it a more youthful look. To have better hair protection, choose a hair serum that has potent antioxidants.

Which hair serum works best for each hair type?

You can choose the hair serum based on your hair type. You should consider the suggestions below when choosing a hair serum for your hair.

• It is better to choose castor, marula, and rosewood products for intense hydration if you have coarse hair.

• Also, people with coarse hair types can choose the serums that provide intense moisturising. Serums that provide protection against humidity and absorb hydration might be a good choice for this hair type. This is because this hair type is usually frizzy and dry. 

• Lightweight and hydrating serums might be suitable for curly hair.

• Fine-haired people can also benefit from the serums, which have lighter formulas.

• People with straight hair could choose a serum that smooths and moisturises the hair. These serums boost its straightness and help it have a more straight and glossy look.

• Keratin serums are a good option for people with damaged hair and split ends. This is because they bring back the protein in their hair.

• Those who often use straightening irons or hairdryers might choose the heat-protecting serums.

Conclusion

Hair serum is a fluid-type treatment for the hair. Hair serum has several benefits for the hair, like regulating dryness, protecting from damage, etc. Many ingredients, like aloe vera, silicone, argan oil, etc., are used in the hair serum for their unique uses. Depending on the type of hair, you can choose a hair serum that most suits your hair. In general, some dos and don’ts help you use a hair serum correctly.

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