A hair serum used to be the last thing you reached for when dealing with a bit of frizz. If your hair felt a little fried, a few drops worked through the ends were enough for a quick fix. Now, they’ve become the main event. Glass hair, the ’90s supermodel blowout, and “mirror shine” took over our feeds, and everyone decided they wanted shine and smoothness instead of volume. The fastest way to get there is a product you can easily carry in a small bag.
Vogue’s Favorite Hair Serums for Fighting Frizz
Best Drugstore: Garnier Fructis Sleek & Shine Anti-Frizz Hair Serum, $8
Best for Overnight Repair: Kérastase Nutritive 8H Magic Night Serum, $35
Best for Thick Hair: Moroccanoil Intense Smoothing Serum, $32
Best for Fine Hair: Oribe Hair Alchemy Treatment Serum, $66
Best for Styling: Paul Mitchell Super Skinny Serum, $14
Best for Damaged Hair: Olaplex N°.9 Bond Protector Hair Serum, $32
Best for Dry Hair: Rōz Milk Hair Serum, $52
And the shine isn’t just on the surface. Part of the appeal is how much a few drops can do. “Frizz is often a sign that the hair is looking for moisture, so a good serum can help smooth the cuticle, add slip, and create a more polished surface without taking away the hair’s natural movement,” says celebrity hairstylist Gregory Russell. The right formula creates a smooth barrier that protects and strengthens hair strands. Celebrity hairstylist Clayton Hawkins likes what that barrier does for you on a bad-weather day. “A good serum helps smooth the cuticle, adds shine, and gives you a little extra protection against humidity,” he says.
Which serum does that best depends on your hair. A serum can now be water-based, oil-based, or somewhere in between, and that distinction matters more than the label on the front. “If you have finer hair and like to air dry, I’d avoid serums that are mostly oil-based and choose a water-based serum instead,” says celebrity hair artist Emaly Baum. “If you have thicker hair, oil or silicone ingredients might be the way to go.” For weather-related frizz, master hairdresser Sarah Lund chooses the controversial silicone. “Lightweight options can block humidity and add incredible shine,” she says.
Finally, if you’re new to hair serums, here’s a pro tip: application is where most of us go wrong. You’ll want to take a dime-sized amount and apply it to damp hair on the mid-lengths and ends. “It’s important not to start at the roots to avoid heavy, greasy hair,” advises Baum. Russell, on the other hand, likes to build slowly. “I always start with less than I think I need—you can add more, but you can’t really take it away.”
Below are the serums worth the shelf space, from a drugstore staple to one you’ll love so much you’ll keep it on your nightstand.
In This Article:
– Do hair serums help with frizz?
– What To Look For in a Serum for Frizzy Hair
– How do you apply a hair serum for the best results?
– Can you use a hair serum every day?
– How to know if a serum or cream is better?
– Meet the Experts
Best Drugstore: Garnier Fructis Sleek & Shine Anti-Frizz Hair Serum
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Garnier Fructis Sleek & Shine Anti-Frizz Hair Serum
$8 $7 (13% off) AMAZON
Why We Love It: Total proof that a good serum doesn’t have to cost much. Garnier’s silicone serum, with a touch of argan oil, is light enough for finer hair but still tames thicker textures, and it smooths flyaways on damp or dry hair. A little goes a long way, so one bottle lasts a long time for its lower price tag.
Editor’s Experience: “I’m a huge fan of a drugstore swap, and while I admit I had my reservations about whether or not this would work on my strands (they’re a bit on the finer side)—it did. This is my vacation favorite—a few drops on dry, sun-soaked hair keeps my waves shiny and bouncy through a long beach trip.”
More to Know:
Key Ingredients: Argan oil, silicones
Size: 5.1 fluid ounces
Love It
– Affordable price point
– High shine
Leave It
– Can weigh down fine hairBest for Overnight Repair: Kérastase Nutritive 8H Magic Night Serum
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Kérastase Nutritive 8H Magic Night Serum
$35 on Amazon
Why We Love It: Apply this Kérastase Nutritive 8H Magic Night Serum before bed, and you’ll wake up with softer, smoother hair after a good night’s sleep. Ingredients like plant-based proteins from wheat, corn, and soy nourish cuticles overnight, while niacinamide strengthens them. The texture is light enough that it won’t leave marks on your pillowcase—the real test for any overnight product. Glycerin also helps replenish and hydrate.
Editor’s Experience: “Anything that claims to work while I sleep usually makes me roll my eyes, but after a summer of beach days, my ends were fried, so I was willing to try anything. Two pumps through my lengths before bed, and I wake up to hair that’s actually soft instead of crunchy. It doesn’t make my fine hair greasy at the roots, and most mornings I don’t even need to style it.”
More to Know:
Key Ingredients: Plant-based proteins, niacinamide, glycerin
Size: 1.01 fluid ounces
Love It
Leave It
Fast-absorbing
Smoothing effects build over time
Non-greasy
Best for Thick Hair: Moroccanoil Intense Smoothing Serum
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Moroccanoil Intense Smoothing Frizz Control Serum
$32 on Amazon
Why We Love It: If you have thick, coarse hair, most serums just disappear into it. Not this one. While this formula is mostly silicones (which give hair products that “slippery” feel), the addition of argan oil, vitamin E, and squalane means it makes your hair feel soft instead of just coating it. Use a small amount before blow-drying or as a finishing touch, and your hair stays static-free for up to 72 hours.
Editor’s Experience: “While it’s generally recommended for thicker hair than mine, I still get plenty of use out of this smoothing serum. I use less, applying a smaller amount to the ends before an at-home blowout. It’s more than enough to give hair a sleek, shiny look without falling flat by the afternoon. I usually save this for heat styling, but my friends with denser hair are big fans of using it daily.”
More to Know:
Key Ingredients: Argan oil
Size: 1.7 fluid ounces
Love It
Leave It
Excellent frizz control
Thick texture is best for coarse hair only
Works well for thicker hair types
Best for Fine Hair: Oribe Hair Alchemy Treatment Serum
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Oribe Hair Alchemy Treatment Serum
$66 on Amazon
Why We Love It: Fine hair is the hardest to treat with serum, since anything too rich makes it fall flat by noon. Oribe’s formula is light enough to sink into damp strands while still strengthening hair that breaks easily. If you air-dry, this smooths hair when you apply it through damp mid-lengths and ends after washing.
Editor’s Experience: “I usually air-dry my hair and use this to smooth onto my damp ends. It dries soft and doesn’t get crunchy like some other hair serums. I’m a huge fan of what it does for my waves and curls, adding shine and structure so they hold their shape.”
More to Know:
Key Ingredients: Chia seed, bio-fermented bamboo leaf, plant-based protein
Size: 5.9 fluid ounces
Love It
Leave It
Won’t weigh down hair
Some hair types may experience protein overload
Offers heat protection
Best for Styling: Paul Mitchell Super Skinny Serum
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Paul Mitchell Super Skinny Serum
$14 on Amazon
Why We Love It: Silicone serums work by coating hair to lock in moisture and smooth frizz, which makes blow-drying easier: your brush glides right through and your style comes out much better. This formula from Paul Mitchell is a classic: it contains lightweight isododecane to help the product spread thin and dry fast, while dimethicone and dimethiconol coat each strand to seal the cuticle, add shine, and kKeep humidity out.
Editor’s Experience: [Kiana TKTK]
More to Know:
Key Ingredients: Isododecane, dimethicone, and dimethiconol
Size: 5.1 fluid ounces
Pros:
– Can speed up blow-dry time
– Provides heat protection
Cons:
– Silicone-heavy formula
Best for Damaged Hair: Olaplex No. 9 Bond Protector Hair Serum
Olaplex No. 9 Bond Protector Hair Serum
$32 on Amazon
Why We Love It: If your frizz comes from damage caused by heat styling tools or hair color, Olaplex’s Bond Protector Hair Serum can help penetrate the hair shaft and protect it from further damage. Its formula contains red algae extract, an antioxidant the brand says shields hair from pollution for up to 48 hours, plus Olaplex’s signature bond-building technology, which strengthens weak, overprocessed strands. It also doubles as a heat protectant.
Editor’s Experience: “In my opinion, Olaplex can really do no wrong. Whenever I use this product, my hair feels like it fully bonds together, and frayed ends look so put together it’s as if I’ve just gotten a haircut. I love using this fresh out of the shower when I’m using my diffuser—my waves turn out so mermaid-like.”
More to Know:
Key Ingredients: Olaplex’s bond-building technology, red algae extract
Size: 3.0 fluid ounces
Pros:
– Heat and oxidative defense
– Cumulative results over time
Cons:
– Silicone-free formula
Best for Dry Hair: Rōz Milk Hair Serum
Rōz Milk Hair Serum
$52 on Amazon
Why We Love It: A milky, in-between texture from celebrity stylist Mara Roszak’s line that hydrates without the heaviness of a straight oil. It works before air-drying or blow-drying, so it fits into either routine, and it’s the kind of formula that delivers moisture and slip in one step.
Editor’s Experience: “For days when my hair feels a bit oily, I opt for this milky serum that hydrates instead of adding oil. My strands can’t really take too much of a slick finish, so I like that this one dries soft and almost invisible. I work a little through my ends while my hair’s still damp, and it takes the edge off frizz without making my roots look like I skipped a wash.”
More to Know:
Key Ingredients: BotaniComplex™, Red Algae and Hyaluronic Acid
Size: 3.4 fluid ounces
Pros:
– Doubles as a hair milk
– Provides lightweight hydration
Cons:
– Not as suited for coarser hair types
Everything You Need to Know
Do hair serums help with frizz?
“Not only do hair serums help tame flyaways, but they also help to lock moisture into the hair,” Baum says. The smooth, humidity-resistant barrier a serum leaves behind makes it an ideal first or final layer. “Hair looks healthier and more refined, not greasy,” says Russell.
What to Look For in a Serum for Frizzy Hair
It’s best to start with your hair’s density and how you style it. “Fine hair needs something incredibly lightweight, while thicker or more porous hair can usually handle something richer,” says Russell. Lund opts for moisturizing ingredients that work to “lay the hair cuticles down and add slip,” and loves formulas with lightweight silicones.
How do you apply a hair serum for the best results?
Hair serum is best applied on damp hair. “I recommend applying a pea or dime sized amount, depending on hair density,” Lund says. “This ensures a more even product distribution throughout.” Combing a small drop through before styling and/or as a finishing step is also an easy way to tame flyaways and add a last hit of shine.
Can you use a hair serum every day?
A hair serum can be used daily and is, in fact, advised. “It’s the best way to keep your hair healthy and frizz-free,” Baum advises. If it’s a wash day, she recommends using less product to make sure hair doesn’t feel heavy or lose movement.
How to know if a serum or cream is better?Both a serum and a cream can play a role in your haircare routine. “I like a serum to prep the hair, and a cream works well for more control when drying,” Lund says. Hawkins starts most people on serum because it gives you a lot of smoothness and shine without weighing hair down. For Russell, a cream is best when hair needs softness and control, while a serum works for lightweight smoothing and polishing.
How We Tested
When we test and review a product, we take a holistic approach to give well-rounded recommendations. First, we rely on Vogue’s vast network of experts—from board-certified dermatologists to celebrity aestheticians—to gain professional insight into the industry’s standout products, ones these specialists would actually use on their clients. We pair their expertise with our editorial best practices to create the thoughtful edits you read on our site.
For serums for frizzy hair, we selected the best based on the following characteristics: ingredients, texture, application, and the hair-care concerns they address. To do this, we combined our personal tests of each formula with expert guidance and reviewer insights to determine which ones we would recommend to you. Read more about our testing methodology here.
Meet the Experts
Emaly Baum is a celebrity hair artist and colorist with over 10 years of experience.
Sarah Lund is a master hairdresser with over 10 years of experience. She is also the director of education for North America at KEVIN.MURPHY.
Clayton Hawkins is a celebrity hairstylist with over 10 years of experience.
Gregory Russell is a celebrity hairstylist with over 10 years of experience. He is also the expert ambassador for haircare brand Prose.
Frequently Asked Questions
FAQs 7 Best Hair Serums for Smooth Shiny Hair
1 What is a hair serum and what does it actually do
A hair serum is a lightweight leavein styling and treatment product It coats the hair strands to smooth the cuticle add shine reduce frizz and protect against heat and humidity Unlike deep conditioners it stays on the surface rather than penetrating deeply
2 Which hair serums are considered the best for smooth shiny hair
Popular picks include Moroccanoil Treatment Olaplex No 7 Bonding Oil Kérastase Elixir Ultime Color Wow Dream Coat LOréal Paris Elvive Extraordinary Oil Bumble and bumble Hairdressers Invisible Oil and Verb Ghost Oil
3 Are hair serums safe for all hair types
Most serums are safe for all hair types but the formula matters Fine hair does best with lightweight siliconefree serums while thick or coarse hair can handle richer oils Always check the label if you have a sensitive scalp
4 How do I apply a hair serum correctly
Apply 13 drops to damp or dry hair focusing on the midlengths and ends Avoid the roots unless the product is specifically designed for scalp use Rub it between your palms first then smooth it through your hair
5 Can hair serum make my hair greasy
Yes if you use too much or apply it near the roots Start with a small amount and add more only if needed Waterbased or lightweight formulas are less likely to leave a greasy feel
6 Whats the difference between a hair serum and hair oil
Serums are usually silicone or waterbased and focus on smoothing shine and frizz control Oils are plant or mineralbased and focus more on nourishment and moisture Many products combine both so the line is often blurry
7 Do hair serums protect against heat damage
Some do but only if theyre labeled as heat protectants Check for a stated heat protection temperature on the bottle If your serum doesnt mention heat protection use a separate heat protectant spray before styling
8 Can I use hair serum on wet hair
Yes many serums work on damp hair and help with detangling and blow