They say your hair is your crowning glory and we couldn’t agree more. A good hair day is an instant confidence boost. After all, it’s one of the first features people notice about you.

The answer to strong, shiny, healthy hair?

Hair serums. 

If you’re a newbie to the serum game, relax! We understand all the choices can be nerve-wracking, especially if you’re not too familiar with what you should be looking for.

Scroll down and read through our list of nine standouts for your strand situation.

1. Kerastase Elixir Ultime Oil Serum

With four precious oils and an excellent combination of ingredients, a few drops of Kerastase Elixir Ultime Oil Serum is sufficient enough to get a supple feel. Its leading nourishing components include maize oil, procaxi oil, argan oil and camellia oil. These key ingredients are specifically targeted to soften the hair. It also strengthens and protects the head against pollution and other kinds of damage.

This splurge-worthy item is versatile and can be used any time, whether on post-shower wet hair or after a blow-dry. Our favorite thing about the Kerastase Elixir Ultime Oil Serum? Even with it delivering on its promise to cut down and manage the frizzy sections and dry ends, it doesn’t weigh your hair down. At all.

What we really like about it:

• Smells like coconuts
• Effects can last up to two days
• Comes in an aesthetically pleasing package with a lockable pump
• Provides a smoothing effect and tames down frizz—even for thick and wavy/curly hair

What we’re not huge fans of:

• On the pricey side
• Contains dimethiconol (silicon) which many users might not be a fan of

2. L’Oreal Paris Botanicals Ginger & Coriander Strengthening Potion

True to the brand’s commitment to sustainability, the L’Oreal Paris Botanicals Ginger and Coriander Strengthening Potion uses primarily naturally derived ingredients. The milky consistency of the serum is ideal for fine hair and allows for liberal application for strands on the brink. Think of it as strengthening therapy for your fine and fragile locks.

Although quite runny, the serum is incredibly easy to use and helps you get through all those tangles without any trouble. The ginger extract and coriander oil are lightweight and help cleanse your mane. It dries almost immediately upon application and doesn’t leave any sticky residue. L’Oreal Paris’ Botanicals Ginger and Coriander Strengthening Potion adds a shine to your hair and locks in moisture to reduce overall dryness.

What we really like about it:

• The blend is 100% vegan
• Minimizes overall hair breakage
• Paraben, silicone, and colorant-free
• The packaging is travel-friendly and recyclable

What we’re not huge fans of:

• Results don’t last as long as the product claims
• Reapplication is needed every so often to lock in the benefits it promises

3. St.Botanica Moroccan Argan Hair Serum

As far as premium hair serums go, St. Botanica Moroccan Argan Hair Serum belongs to the same class. Its four active ingredients, namely argan oil, avocado oil, grapeseed oil, and olive oil, addresses a combination of hair demands even the high maintenance will appreciate. This product locks in moisture, stimulates hair growth, treats dry and flaky scalps, as well as protects your tresses against harmful sun rays and pollution.

St. Botanica Moroccan Argan Hair Serum promotes healthy hair by functioning as both a conditioner and protectant. It controls frizz, tames flyaways and baby hair, and provides additional hydration for your hair. The formula works equally well for both dry and wet hair.

What we really like about it:

• Improves hair texture
• Allows for easier detangling when combing
• Targets not only the hair but also penetrates the hair shaft for extra protection

What we’re not huge fans of:

• Quite expensive
• It can make your hair quite greasy if too much product is applied
• Has dimethiconol (silicon) as an ingredient which cuts it off from the category of completely chemical–free products available on the market

4. Herstyler Hair Repair Serum

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Easily one of today’s most coveted hair products, Herstyler Hair Repair Serum is out to transform locks everywhere. The mix of argan oil, vitamin E, and antioxidants improves the overall texture of your hair. Its aloe vera content, meanwhile, ensures glossiness and locks in moisture—all without weighing your hair down.

Whether your hair is fine or thick, straight or wavy, we love how results are near identical if not the same. Herstyler Hair Repair Serum reduces overall damage by restoring shine, detangling, and addressing those nasty split ends. We dare say, this may be the holy grail of hair serums because it brings to the table what it promises its users.

Its consistency makes it extremely easy to use. It only takes 2–3 drops to reap the full benefits of the hair serum, including protection from the heat. The best part about this product? Buying yourself a bottle won’t break your bank—not one bit.

What we really like about it:

• Can be used even on colored hair
• Tames even scraggly and unruly hair
• Provides complete hair treatment by addressing several issues, including dullness, dryness, and lack of luster

What we’re not huge fans of:

• Because of the product’s rising popularity, it’s almost always out of stock

5. Paul Mitchell Smoothing Super Skinny Serum

Recognized for its ability to smoothen and seal strands, Paul Mitchell Smoothing Super Skinny Serum leaves your hair smooth and frizz-free in just about any kind of weather. Its fast-acting formula works by replacing the moisture in newly-washed hair, thereby cutting the drying time significantly. A single pump of this product yields in easy-to-manage and lightweight consistency, ensuring silky results with every use.

Although it works well for both wet and dry hair, we suggest using Paul Mitchell Smoothing Super Skinny Serum post-shower to rehydrate your roots. We love how it doesn’t weigh down your hair and reduces overall dryness at the same time. Pro tip: apply when using a flat iron for extra shining shimmering splendid!

What we really like about it:

• Comes in a portable and easy-to-carry packaging
• Reduces styling time because it speeds up the drying process
• Minimizes unruly hair in any weather, even in the most humid places

What we’re not huge fans of:

• Effects are relatively short-term, thus requiring frequent reapplication
• Contains both parabens and silicones, thus requiring users to use a clarifying shampoo to avoid product build up

6. IGK Crybaby Anti-Frizz Smoothing Serum

Don’t let the cutesy packaging or the name fool you—the IGK Crybaby Anti-Frizz Smoothing Serum is on our list for a reason. Many users have since raved about this product and its benefits, primarily its anti-frizz properties, which makes way for fluffy hair. This product is a lightweight serum-in-oil formula easily absorbed into your roots instead of the usual sits-on-top of your strands.

The IGK Crybaby Anti-Frizz Smoothing Serum is infused with coconut oil and prickly pear cactus extract. The first ingredient helps to nourish and strengthen your locks by minimizing protein loss from day-to-day activities. On the other hand, the latter adds to and emphasizes both shine and dimension for dull hair.

What we really like about it:

• Color-safe
• Also functions as a conditioner
• Safe for chemically-treated hair
• Certified vegan, gluten-free, and cruelty-free
• Doesn’t contain parabens, sulfates, and mineral oil

What we’re not huge fans of:

• Price tag is on the hefty side
• Tendency to leave your hair pretty greasy
• It has an overpowering scent which isn’t as fragrant or pleasing as other products available on the market

7. Kiehl’s Silk Groom Serum

Kiehl’s Silk Groom Serum is the perfect finish to a polished look. Its versatility allows women of all hairstyles, from fine and straight to thick and curly, to use it and reap its benefits. This product is made with natural oils, a key ingredient responsible for enhancing moisture and protecting it against harmful factors.

The two primary oils used in the blend include sesame oil and sunflower oil. Sesame oil is derived from sesame seeds and possesses similar moisturizing properties as other nut oils, thus smoothing out and conditioning dry ends. On the other hand, sunflower oil contains high concentrations of ceramides and a beneficial amount of phospholipids. These natural oils act as a protective barrier against the harmful rays of the sun and strengthen your strands. Not only is Kiehl’s Silk Groom Serum rich in vitamin E, but it also keeps the hair safe in a humid climate.

What we really like about it:

• Leaves behind a beautiful shine
• The packaging is designed in such a way to prevent leakage or spillage
• Great choice of serum for styling purposes as it helps tame flyaway and baby hair immediately

What we’re not huge fans of:

• Product is quite expensive for an everyday hair serum
• Consistency is a little too thick, making it quite it tricky to apply evenly

8. Obliphica Professional Seaberry Fine to Medium Serum

Although best suited for moderate to extreme cases of hair thickness, the Obliphica Professional Seaberry Fine to Medium Serum also works well for fine and thin strands. The primary aim of this hair serum is to strengthen and regenerate damaged hair by creating a protective barrier over the sensitive areas. This includes splits ends, highlighted sections, and frizzy strands.

Its most prominent ingredient, sea buckthorn oil, is a gentle moisturizer which you can safely massage into and easily absorbed by the scalp. The Obliphica Professional Seaberry Fine to Medium Serum should be your go-to for the repair and rejuvenation of dry and damaged hair.

What we really like about it:

• Quickly tames flyaway and baby hair
• Promotes intense smoothening of dry and damaged sections
• Consistency isn’t clumpy and doesn’t leave your hair greasy, no matter how much you apply

What we’re not huge fans of:

• The scent is rather unpleasant
• Quite expensive and has no options for a smaller size
• Contains three types of silicone (cyclopentasiloxane, dimethicone, phenyl trimethicone) which can pose a problem for users whose hair are prone to build-up

9. Moroccanoil Mending Infusion

Ideal for preventing split ends, Moroccanoil Mending Infusion has won quite a few awards, and we completely understand why. This product is a vitamin-fueled hair serum whose three key ingredients each contribute to addressing issues prevalent among women with dry hair. These ingredients include quinoa, argan oil, and baobab extracts.

Quinoa is a protein which helps strengthen weakened patches of hair. Because of its high vitamin E content and level of antioxidants, argan oil helps to nourish signs of damaged hair. Visible signs of damaged hair include frizz, brittle ends, as well as color damage. On the other hand, baobab extract allows for a quicker recovery by increasing hair elasticity and strength. As a result, your hair begins to feel softer.

Although well-known for addressing frayed ends, Moroccanoil Mending Infusion isn’t as suitable for fine hair. This product is best used by those with medium to thick hair. Pro tip: focus on the ends when applying the serum, particularly if you’re working it through your hair while blow-drying.

What we really like about it:

• Pleasing scent
• Reduces the appearance of split ends
• Detangles and makes hair silky and smooth
• Extremely helpful with unruly hair during humid weather

What we’re not huge fans of:

• Tendency to result in clumped hair if not applied evenly
• Leaves the hair stringy and greasy (when used for fine hair)
• Contains dimethicone (silicon) which might not be as appealing to all users