Everyone With Frizzy Hair Needs This Product In Their Lives

Dana Oliver
Updated
hair serum
hair serum


Photo credit: Cam Barker via Getty Images

Does your freshly straightened hair turn into a frizz ball the very second you step outside? Even when you take the extra step to slather on oils to help maintain shine and keep strands in place? Then it's quite possible that your beauty routine is missing one crucial product: hair serum.

"Hair serum benefits people the most with dry, frizzy hair," says Matrix haircare celebrity stylist George Papanikolas. "Using hair serum allows your hair to become silky smooth and manageable. The silicon in serums coats the hair and serves as a protectant from the sun, pollution and humidity. It also makes hair shinier and provides a more healthy appearance."

Not all hair serums are made the same, so Antonio Prieto, a celebrity stylist and salon owner, suggests that you refrain from using those with a high concentrate of alcohol, which can make your dry hair even more dry. Instead, look for naturally moisturizing ingredients like Moroccan or Argan oil.

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"Make sure the hair is towel-dried well. You don't want the oil competing with water as it may make the hair look greasy," he adds. "And always apply the serum in the direction of the cuticle [from top to bottom] for ultimate smoothness."

When using flat irons or hot rollers, Papanikolas prefers to apply a serum afterwards because the combination of heat and the product can be harsh on the hair.

To find the best hair serums for your hair type, read on for Papanikolas' and Prieto's tips, along with our product recommendations to help you win the fight against frizz.

If you have fine/thin hair...

Steer clear of serums labeled "extra-moisturizing," as they can weigh hair down. Papanikolas suggests opting for a lightweight product made of Indian Amla oil, which renews fragile, weak hair for restored strength while enhancing softness.

Try: Moroccanoil Treatment Light Oil or Optimum Amla Legend Hair & Scalp Strengthening Serum

If you have thick/wavy hair...

"It can be unruly and extra dry," says Papanikolas. "You will need a serum that is not overly lightweight to handle the dryness." Murumuru oil is the stylist's fave for controlling thick, frizzy hair and providing smoothness and shine. Meanwhile, Prieto believes a serum that's formulated with intensely hydrating emollients such as Argan, Amla and Camellia oils will provide necessary nourishment.

Try: Matrix Oil Wonders Amazonia MuruMuru Controlling Oil or Pureology Super Smooth Relaxing Serum.

If you have curly/coarse hair...

Your hair is delicate by nature, according to Papanikolas. "You need something with the right amount of shine and weight with curl encouragement through moisture," he says. Gardenia and coconut oils are ideal for ultimate softness. Pro tip: It's best to use serums on curly hair 2-3 days after washing, when curls start feeling dry, breaking up and causing frizz.

Try: Davines This Is A Curl Building Serum or Aveda Light Elements Smoothing Fluid

If you have color-treated hair...

Conditioning serums that help to preserve color with natural glaze finishes are a godsend. Not only do they add hydration to parched locks, but Prieto notes that they provide protection for guilt-free heat styling.

Try: Shu Eumera Color Lustre Brilliant Glaze Thermo Milk or Kerastase Elixir Ultime Oleo Serum The Imperial


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Mistake #1: You Have An All-One-Length Cut

Without layers, your hair won't have that magical, youthful quality that stylists call "movement." Long layers remove weight from the bottom half of your hair so your style can swing and bounce. And while blunt edges accentuate lines in your face, layers have a softening effect. Consider side-swept bangs if you want to make your face look a bit rounder and your cheekbones stronger, says <a href="http://evascrivo.com/salon/">New York City hairstylist Eva Scrivo</a>, author of <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Eva-Scrivo-Beauty-Techniques-Knowledge/dp/1439164711">Eva Scrivo on Beauty: The Tools, Techniques, and Insider Knowledge Every Woman Needs to Be Her Most Beautiful, Confident Self</a>.</i>

Mistake #2: You Have Shelves Full Of Styling Products

If you're using more than one styling product in an effort to make your hair look fuller, your plan may be backfiring. "Mousse and gel and hairspray can give the hair lift for a few hours, but they also make it look stiff and sap its shine -- a very aging combination," says Scrivo. If you have a well-layered haircut that's not too heavy at the bottom, you won't need to load up on styling products to achieve volume. One dollop of lightweight mousse will do the trick; once hair is dry, use a drop of silicone serum to add shine.

Mistake #3: You're Very Blond

Your skin loses color with age, and over-bleached hair compounds that natural washout by draining the warmest tones from your complexion. Instead of going all-over blond, try a darker base color with golden strands woven throughout, says <a href="http://www.lisachiccine.com/">New York City hairstylist Lisa Chiccine</a>. When you talk to your stylist about highlights, ask for warm colors like butter and honey; avoid cool, ashy tones like platinum and beige, which can make skin look tired and sallow.

Mistake #4: You Have Dry, Frayed Ends

As you get older, your hair loses not only pigment but also its ability to retain moisture. Keeping it smooth and glossy -- hallmarks of youth -- requires a little more effort. Do a deep conditioning treatment at least once a week, don't shampoo more than every other day, and get frequent trims to avoid split ends.
As you get older, your hair loses not only pigment but also its ability to retain moisture. Keeping it smooth and glossy -- hallmarks of youth -- requires a little more effort. Do a deep conditioning treatment at least once a week, don't shampoo more than every other day, and get frequent trims to avoid split ends.

Mistake #5: You Have A Deep, Dark Hair Color

Solid black or brown hair can highlight shadows on the face, drawing attention to lines and bags. If you're fair-skinned, a dark hair color also accentuates the contrast between your hair and scalp, which makes thinning more noticeable. A few highlights around the face and at the crown of the head add softness and make a dark hair color appear more natural. "You don't want to look like you're wearing a wig," says Chiccine. Her rule of thumb: Don't dye your hair as dark as it was in your teens and 20s; a shade or two lighter will be more flattering in your 30s and beyond.

Mistake #6: Your Hair Is Super-Straight

A lank hairstyle makes your face look long and drawn. (Plus, if you have naturally wavy or curly hair, the hot tools required to achieve straightness leave your hair dry and dull.) If you have naturally fine, straight hair, ask your stylist for long layers and comb a lightweight mousse through damp hair from roots to ends before airdrying or blowdrying (avoid heavy styling creams or serums). If you blowdry, use a round brush to create soft curls at the ends of the hair; setting dry hair with Velcro rollers will also create softness and add volume to offset any drooping in the lower face.

This article originally appeared on HuffPost.