15 Best Hair Serums of 2024 for Your Healthiest Hair Yet

Healthy hair requires more than just a regular trim and minimizing heat damaging. It starts at the root: taking care of your scalp with the best hair serums, thickening shampoos, and leave-in restorative treatments. Though it may seem like some are born with shampoo commercial-worthy hair, chances are they’re investing plenty of time and care into maintaining its beauty behind the scenes. At the very least, they are washing it properly.

“In order to achieve a healthy head of hair, it is mandatory that the hair follicles are kept clean, clear, and well maintained, meaning they aren’t weighed down by serum or products or obstructed by things like dead skin, dandruff, or inflammation,” explains New York City trichologist Bridgette Hill, also known as The Scalp Therapist. “Simply put, our hair-fiber formation and growth begin below the skin—by the time the hair protrudes from the hair follicle, it has already been formed.” And so to improve hair quality, you must work to reinvigorate and reawaken the follicle at the scalp—which is where hair serums come into play.

Our Top Picks

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Best for Clarifying and Reducing Buildup: Vegamour Gro Scalp Detoxifying Hair Treatment Serum

• Why We Love It: With Vegamour’s detoxifying hair-treatment serum, expect a more balanced, buildup-free scalp powered by the brand’s proprietary vegan silk protein. Packed with willow-herb extract, baobab and marula oils, and fatty acids, the serum will leave your mane moisturized and protected too.
• Key Ingredients: Zinc, evening primrose/ red clover, vegan silk protein
• How to Apply: Massage evenly onto dry or damp scalp, leave in for three to five minutes, and rinse.
• Best For: Flaky/dry scalp, shine, and oily scalp
• Size: 60 ml

Best for Brittle Hair: Augustinus Bader The Scalp Treatment

• Why We Love It: Infused with the brand’s TFC8 technology as well as maca root, hazel leaf, watercress, and Indian cress, Augustinus Bader’s The Scalp Treatment looks to strengthen hair overall. Just massage this lightweight formula into the scalp to reinvigorate follicles, prevent damage, and retain moisture.
• Key Ingredients: TFC8, L-Arginine, multi-mineral active complex
• How to Apply: Apply drops to a clean, damp scalp, focusing on any problem areas, 2-3 times a week. Part your hair into sections from the hairline to the crown of your head. Apply the drops directly to the scalp and gently massage with your fingertips. Do not rinse. Leave in and allow to dry naturally or blow-dry and style as usual.
• Best For: Thinning hair, adding shine, damaged hair, split ends, and breakage
• Size: 30 ml

Best for Itchy Scalps: Act+Acre 2% Stem Cell H-2 Grow Complex Scalp Serum

• Why We Love It: While there is no magic serum to instantly solve hair shedding (we need the brightest minds on this one), this hair serum comes close by promoting thicker, fuller-looking hair. The credit goes to the brand’s proprietary H2-Grow Complex, a stem cell blend that protects follicles from damage. It’s also great for itchy, flaky scalps, as it contains hyaluronic acid to reduce dryness and itchiness. Additionally, we love it because it isn’t greasy, so you can apply it to your scalp without making others think you just came from the gym.
• Key Ingredients: H2-Grow complex, bamboo and pea sprout blend, hyaluronic acid
• How to Apply: Use daily on clean, damp, or dry hair. Apply 2-3 pipettes along the hairline and other areas of hair loss. Massage evenly into the scalp, leave on, and do not rinse.
• Best For: Dryness, flaky and dry scalp, thinning hair
• Size: 65 ml

Best for Inflamed Scalps: Dr. Barbara Sturm Balancing Scalp Serum

• Why We Love It: “This scalp serum provides the first step to minimize scalp dryness and oiliness and reduce inflammation at the root of the hair fiber,” says Hill of Dr. Barbara Sturm’s scalp serum. “The cationic hyaluronic acid used in this serum does not wash off the scalp like normal hyaluronic acid, providing the scalp and hair long-lasting benefits.”
• Key Ingredients: Japanese camellia, brown and green algae, lavender, pro-vitamin B5, sunflower sprouts, tara extract, cationic hyaluronic acid, purslane extract
• How to Apply: Apply the serum directly to a wet or dry scalp and to the ends of the hair using the pipette and gently massage in with the fingertips. Do not wash out.
• Best For: Dry, itchy, sensitive, and oily scalps, dandruff
• Size: 50 ml

Best for Locking in Moisture: JVN Hair Complete Nourishing Shine Drops

• Why We Love It: Per Hill, JVN Hair’s Shine Drops “allow the consumer to seal in moisture and shine that is weightless, nonsticky, and filled with moisture.” Great for blocking out humidity and protecting against fading color, it can also be used pre-blowout, as a curl refresher, or even as a daily moisturizer for medium to coarse hair types, she notes.
• Key Ingredients: Meadowfoam esters, hemisqualane, hibiscus extract
• How to Apply: Dispense a few drops into palms and rub together before smoothing down damp or dry mid-lengths and ends to tame frizz and add shine. Do not wash out.
• Best For: Perfect for all hair types, especially those concerned with frizz control, flyaways, or dull and dry hair.
• Size: 50 ml

Best for Serum Beginners: The Ordinary Natural Moisturizing Factors + Hyaluronic Acid Scalp Serum

• Why We Love It: The Ordinary’s scalp serum is a thoughtful buy for someone’s first foray into the world of hair serums. Infused with hyaluronic acid, squalane, and natural moisturizing ingredients, this lightweight milky serum works to hydrate dry, flaky scalps.
• Key Ingredients: Hyaluronic Acid, squalane, natural moisturizing factors.
• How to Apply: Massage a few drops thoroughly onto a clean, dry scalp once daily, ideally at bedtime. This formula is a leave-in treatment. Do not wash hair or scalp after application.
• Best For: Good for flaky and dry scalp.
• Size: 60 ml

Best for Preventing Shedding: The Nue Co. Supa Thick Scalp Serum

• Why We Love It: Absolutely no one likes hair shedding, but if you think your hair needs some extra TLC to support hair retention, consider this serum by The Nue Co. that features a blend of the brand’s patented follicle technology, essential oils, and probiotics to cleanse, reduce the appearance of flakiness, and stimulate follicle circulation.
• Key Ingredients: Redensyl™, essential oil blend, probiotic
• How to Apply: Use two to three times per week. Do not wash out.
• Best For: Thinning hair, dry, or flaky scalp
• Size: 100 ml

Best for Enhancing Shine: Innersense Organic Beauty I Create Shine Glossing Serum

• Why We Love It: Bid dull hair goodbye after just one use of Innersense’s I Create Shine serum. As the name suggests, it uses a cocktail of sesame, cranberry-seed, and macadamia oils for natural-based shine, smoothing, and sealant.
• Key Ingredients: Organic sesame oil, macadamia and cranberry seed oil, lotus flower
• How to Apply: Apply 1-2 drops of serum into the palms of your hands and smooth into mid-lengths and ends. Use on damp or dry hair as a finishing oil or hair perfume.
• Best For: Provides glossy shine, shields from damage, improves hair elasticity
• Size: 1.69 oz

Best Heat Protectant: Mizani Press Agent Smoothing Raincoat Styling Serum

• Why We Love It: Mizani’s Press Agent smoothing serum is an all-star heat-styling companion for heat protection up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit, whether you’re perfecting that blowout or simply using heat for a super-sleek look.
• Key Ingredients: Agave extract, rose water
• How to Apply: Apply to clean, wet, or dry hair, starting at the ends and working your way up to the roots. Reapply as necessary based on hair density, and adjust the amount according to straightening needs and hair texture type. To finish, add one to two drops of the serum to dry hair to tame frizz and flyaways.
• Best For: Heat protection, shine, and UV Protection
• Size: 100 ml

Best for Thinning Edges: Sunday II Sunday Hair Flourish, Biotin Infused Scalp Serum

• Why We Love It: Ideal for those experiencing edge thinning with wavy, curly, or coiled hair, Sunday II Sunday’s scalp serum combines biotin, sunflower-seed oil, and coconut oil to reduce damage and prevent breakage.
• Key Ingredients: Coconut oil, sunflower seed oil, biotin
• How to Apply: Apply directly to your edges and the nape of your neck. Gently massage the serum into your edges and do not rinse out. Use before or after styling.
• Best For: Thinning hair and adding shine.
• Size: 100 ml

Best for Mature Hair: Christophe Robin Regenerating Serum with Prickly Pear Oil

• Why We Love It: The Christophe Robin Regenerating Serum is powered by prickly-pear-seed oil, an ingredient rich in omegas and fatty acids to strengthen and nourish from within. What’s more, this offers multipurpose solutions from heat protection to reduced frizz.
• Key Ingredients: Prickly pear seed oil, tucuma butter, castor oil
• How to Apply: Apply a small amount to the lengths and ends of damp or dry hair. Do not rinse.
• Best For: All hair types, especially dry and damaged hair
• Size: 50 ml

Best for Natural Hair: Pattern Jojoba Oil Hair Serum

• Why We Love It: Few emollients are as effective as jojoba oil, the hydrator that powers this Pattern hair Serum. Featuring goodies like safflower, rose-hip, olive, and lavender oils, this provides lightweight moisture to natural hair, especially those with low-porosity strands, working to prevent flakiness and itchiness.
• Key Ingredients: Jojoba oil, lavender oil, safflower oil
• How to Apply: Apply a few drops to the palm of your hand and work the oil evenly into your hair. It can be used on wet or dry hair for added moisture. As a scalp treatment, apply a few drops to targeted areas around your head and massage the oil into your scalp.
• Best For: Dryness, flaky and dry scalp, hair damage, split ends, breakage
• Size: 115.3 ml

Best Scent: Ranavat Mighty Majesty-Fortifying Repair & Shine Hair Serum

• Why We Love It: South Asians know a thing or two about hair care, which is why we jumped at the chance to test Ranavat’s fortifying serum; an ayurvedic blend formulated with a blend of amla extract, Indian jasmine, and sunflower oil that smells so good it could double as hair perfume. The serum leaves your scalp nourished and your hair frizz-free and shiny after each use. You can apply it directly to the scalp or add a bit to the ends when styling.
• Key Ingredients: Jasmine, amla, and sunflower oil
• How to Apply: To increase shine and smooth flyaways, apply a pump onto your palms and smooth onto wet or dry hair; don’t rinse out. For deeper repair, apply generously as an overnight scalp and hair mask, then wash and style as usual the next day.
• Best For: Damage, split ends, breakage, flaky, dry scalp, and adding shine
• Size: 50 ml

Best for Fullness: Aavrani Hair Density Boosting Scalp Serum

• Why We Love It: Our eyes lit up when reading this ingredient list, featuring ayurvedic staples like turmeric and Ashwagandha, which have thousands of years of proof in promoting fuller, thicker-looking hair. It’s a lightweight gel serum, so you can use it daily without worrying about it ruining your blowout. Plus, it smells amazing with notes of grapefruit, jasmine, and rose, making it perfect for baiting your crush.
• Key Ingredients: Turmeric stem cells, vegan collagen, ashwagandha
• How to Apply: Apply a few drops directly to your scalp, along the hairline, widening part, and/or any other areas of concern. Massage gently, wait a few minutes for the product to absorb, and do not rinse. Style as usual and use daily on a damp or dry scalp.
• Best For: Anti-aging, thinning hair, color safe for color-treated hair
• Size: 60 ml

Best for Color-Treated Hair: Alterna Caviar Anti-Aging Infinite Color Hold Dual-Use Serum

• Why We Love It: Those with colored tresses should look to Alterna’s Caviar anti-aging formula that is crafted to add shine, quell frizz, and protect against UV rays. After using this serum, expect improved hair color and vibrancy for hair types from straight to coiled.
• Key Ingredients: Caviar extract, marine plumping complex, age-control-complex®, panthenol:
• How to Apply: Spray throughout clean, towel-dried hair prior to blow drying. Style as usual.
• Best For: Volumizing, damaged hair, split ends, breakage, and helps with straightening and smoothing
• Size: 147 ml

What are hair serums?

According to Hill, “Hair serums should be viewed as water- or oil-based products that provide moisture, protection, and/or styling benefits for scalp or hair fibers and deliver optimal results in a weightless formulation.” She continues that hair serums targeting hair loss work by “creating a healthier scalp microbiome and hair follicle, which increases the numbers of hair fibers that each follicle produces.”

However, Hill emphasizes that these products work for hair-loss prevention not growth, as “there is no serum or active ingredient to date that is proven to grow hair.” She says that while you can’t make a dead follicle grow, you can restore and treat it when hair growth is disrupted.

Look to the best hair serums for lightweight nourishment that not only strengthens hair fibers for an enhanced look and feel but also improves styling capabilities. As Hill puts it, serums offer more slip than creams while providing the “coating and protection hair needs without making it feel dirty, heavy, greasy, and motionless.” With this in mind, read on to discover 12 hair serums to consider adding to your regimen.

Does hair serum actually work?

The effectiveness of a hair serum depends on its ingredients, formulation, and the underlying cause of hair loss, usually evaluated by a dermatologist. According to board-certified dermatologist Mona Mislankar, if you’re experiencing thinning hair rather than a diagnosed hair loss condition, over-the-counter formulations may be beneficial. Instead of relying solely on marketing claims, she advises focusing on the ingredients and formulations. “Ideally, you should choose a company with research-backed products and positive testimonials or results,” she suggests.