Some beauty trends come and go, but it’s safe to say that using hair serum is here to stay. That’s because when used after shampoo and conditioner, but before styling, hair serums can have some pretty cool hair care benefits. Never used a hair serum before—and not exactly sure what one can do? Well, you’ve come to the right place! Keep reading to learn all about the top six benefits of using a hair serum.

HAIR SERUM BENEFIT #1. TAME FRIZZ AND FLYAWAYS

Frizz and flyway’s are never fun—in fact, we’re tempted to say they’re the bane of our existence—but before reaching for your trusty hair spray, consider that using a hair serum can help nourish and tame frizzy hair.

HAIR SERUM BENEFIT #2. ADD SHINE

Besides their ability to help manage frizz and flyway’s, using a hair serum can also help boost your hair’s shine. And shiny hair is basically the ultimate hair goal, right? Use a shine-boosting hair serum before you shampoo for luxurious nourishment, before styling to control hair and polish strands, and as a lightweight finishing touch for silky softness and luxurious shine.

HAIR SERUM BENEFIT #3. NOURISH DRY HAIR

Dry hair can be really annoying to deal with, we know. Not only does dry hair feel rough, but when your hair is parched, it can often look dull and lifeless, which isn’t exactly great for your confidence. What can you do? Get familiar with hair serum. A good serum can provide humidity protection and deliver a silky finish, luminous shine, and touchable softness without leaving hair looking greasy.

HAIR SERUM BENEFIT #4: PROTECT AGAINST HUMIDITY

Does your hair poof 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 your specific hair type—which certainly plays a part in this—you can help change the way it responds to environmental elements like humidity and artificial heat. Using the right hair serum can do just that!

HAIR SERUM BENEFIT #5: SOFTEN YOUR STRANDS

When hair becomes dry or damaged, it can also feel brittle to the touch. Nobody wants to run their hands through that! Using a bit of hair serum can help bring life back to your strands, making your mane softer and suppler.

HAIR SERUM BENEFIT #6: HELP WITH DAMAGE

When hair is colored or over-styled with hot tools, or simply endures too much daily wear and tear without the right care regimen, 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.

DO’S & DON’T’S 

DON’T: Apply to directly to your roots.

Serums work to protect and prevent frizz to the strands of your hair – they’re simply not needed on the roots.

DO: APPLY THE SERUM TO THE ENDS

For gorgeous hair with megawatt shine, it’s important to distribute a serum to the part of the hair that needs it the most — the ends. Applying a serum starting at the roots can yield unwanted results and suggests starting at the ends, only going as far as the midsection. Start working from the ends of the hair working up to the head, versus just rubbing your fingers through your scalp, where the most application would be at the scalp and therefore tends to make the hair look oily and greasy. Plus, by forgoing the roots when applying a serum, you can avoid annoying product buildup.

DON’T: APPLY THE HAIR SERUM RIGHT AWAY

Applying hair serum can protect hair against environmental aggressors and control frizz. When shopping for serums, you may notice that some are thicker than others depending on what hair concern you’re trying to address. Instead of working overtime to make the product blend seamlessly into the hair, try heating up the serum. When you put the product in your hands, quickly rub it around to spread it in your hands, and then start to apply it to the hair you haven’t given it a chance for the product to break down and liquefy… A lot of serums tend to be placed in the hand more like a thicker oil. But if you give it about 5 to 6 seconds in your hands, it softens up and has more of a slip to it. Keeping in mind that serums shouldn’t be treated like an oil, creating friction for the serum to heat up is absolutely critical in ensuring an even application.

DO: KNOW YOUR HAIR TYPE AND BEHAVIOR

To manage your hair as part of the daily care process, it’s important to take your hair type into consideration. There’s a misconception that if you have fine hair you can’t use serums because it will make the hair go flat –– but in reality, you can. Those with fine hair or prone to oily hair should opt for a lighter formula over a heavy, ultra-moisturizing solution. Apply the serum throughout damp hair to tame excess volume and leave hair with a glossy finish. It can also be used for a quick touch-up throughout the day if hair is looking dull. If you struggle with curly hair that’s affected by the humidity, try a lightweight cream that helps lock in moisture and define ringlets for effortless curls.

DON’T: OVER-APPLY

No matter how thick or long your hair is, over-applying too much serum is never a good thing. Keep your limits in check by only applying less than a pea-sized amount for fine hair and quarter-sized amount if your hair is on the thicker side. Remember, a little goes a long way!

DO: USE HAIR SERUM TO CONTROL UNRULY STRANDS

Let your serum work double-duty by using it in lieu of a hairspray or hair gel to tame flyway’s. Simply rub the serum through the palm of your hands and then, using 2 fingers, gently apply it to the strands using a pressing motion anywhere you want to control frizz. This is especially helpful if you have breakage stemming from your roots, which can be held in place with a light dab of serum. Just be careful not to press the serum directly to the top of the scalp to avoid messy roots.

DON’T: APPLY TO UNWASHED HAIR

Use different serums depending on your hair texture to make hair really glow. A major bonus of serum is its ability to protect hair against environmental aggressors like pollution and dust. In order for it to work to its maximum potential, serums should be used on clean and freshly washed hair. In this way, it can act as a shield against grime in your city. Whenever possible, it’s best to apply the serum to damp hair before the rest of your styling products to lock in the benefits. It’s ok to use a serum throughout the day to touch up the hair, but the initial application should be on clean hair.