Best Hair Serums for Smoother, Shinier Hair

If you’re looking for a solution to frizz, dryness, and lackluster hair, hair serums are a must-have in your haircare routine. These lightweight, leave-in treatments are formulated to smooth frizz, add shine, and protect your hair from environmental damage, all while making your hair look healthier and more manageable. With so many options on the market, it can be overwhelming to choose the right one for your hair type and needs.

In this guide, we’ll explore the best hair serums for smoother, shinier hair, from serums that tame frizz to those that offer heat protection and intense hydration.

1. Moroccanoil Treatment

Best For: All hair types, especially dry and damaged hair

Moroccanoil Treatment is a cult favorite for a reason—it’s packed with argan oil, which is known for its nourishing, hydrating, and smoothing properties. This lightweight serum adds incredible shine, smooths frizz, and helps protect hair from heat and environmental damage. It’s versatile and can be used on both wet and dry hair.

Key Ingredients: Argan oil, linseed extract
Benefits:
- Deeply hydrates and conditions hair
- Reduces frizz and flyaways
- Adds softness and shine without leaving hair greasy
- Can be used as a styling, finishing, or conditioning product

How to Use: Apply a small amount to damp or dry hair, focusing on the mid-lengths and ends. Style as usual.

2. John Frieda Frizz Ease Extra Strength Serum

Best For: Frizzy, unruly hair

John Frieda Frizz Ease Extra Strength Serum is a go-to for those with frizzy, hard-to-manage hair. This serum is designed to tame even the most stubborn frizz and flyaways while providing protection against humidity and heat damage. It’s infused with silk proteins and seaweed extract, which help smooth and strengthen the hair.

Key Ingredients: Silk proteins, seaweed extract
Benefits:
- Controls extreme frizz and flyaways
- Provides humidity protection
- Adds smoothness and shine
- Protects hair from heat styling tools

How to Use: Apply to soaking wet hair (the wetter, the better). Use sparingly on dry hair for touch-ups.

3. Kerastase Elixir Ultime L’Huile Original Hair Oil

Best For: Fine to medium hair

For those seeking luxurious shine and lightweight nourishment, Kerastase Elixir Ultime is the perfect serum. This versatile oil-serum can be used before and after styling to enhance shine, smooth hair, and protect against heat. It’s infused with a blend of camellia oil, argan oil, and marula oil, which deeply nourish the hair without weighing it down.

Key Ingredients: Argan oil, camellia oil, marula oil
Benefits:
- Adds radiant shine and smoothness
- Lightweight and non-greasy
- Protects against heat styling up to 450°F
- Enhances softness and silkiness

How to Use: Use 1-2 pumps on wet or dry hair, focusing on the lengths and ends.

4. L’Oréal Paris Elvive Extraordinary Oil Hair Serum

Best For: Dry, dull hair

L’Oréal Paris Elvive Extraordinary Oil Serum is an affordable and effective option for adding moisture and shine to dry, lifeless hair. Formulated with a blend of six flower oils, this serum provides deep hydration, leaving your hair soft, shiny, and frizz-free without weighing it down. It’s ideal for everyday use and can be used on both wet and dry hair.

Key Ingredients: Coconut oil, sunflower oil, chamomile extract
Benefits:
- Deeply hydrates and nourishes hair
- Adds instant shine and smoothness
- Lightweight and non-greasy
- Can be used as a pre-shampoo treatment, leave-in conditioner, or heat protectant

How to Use: Apply 1-2 pumps to damp or dry hair, focusing on the mid-lengths and ends. Style as usual.

5. Ouai Hair Oil

Best For: Thick, coarse, or curly hair

Ouai Hair Oil is a multi-tasking serum that fights frizz, smooths flyaways, and adds an instant boost of shine. It contains a blend of nourishing oils, including jojoba oil, argan oil, and borage oil, making it especially beneficial for thick, coarse, or curly hair types that need extra moisture and taming. This serum also protects against heat damage and UV rays, keeping your hair healthy and vibrant.

Key Ingredients: Jojoba oil, borage oil, argan oil
Benefits:
- Controls frizz and adds shine
- Provides heat protection
- Adds softness and smoothness
- Protects hair from UV damage

How to Use: Apply 1-3 drops to wet or dry hair, concentrating on the ends. Can be used before styling or as a finishing touch.

6. Garnier Fructis Sleek & Shine Anti-Frizz Serum

Best For: Budget-friendly option for frizzy hair

Garnier Fructis Sleek & Shine Anti-Frizz Serum is a budget-friendly yet effective serum that combats frizz and adds shine to dry, frizzy hair. Infused with argan oil, this serum works to smooth hair, add moisture, and protect it from heat and humidity, making it a great option for those on a budget who want sleek, shiny locks.

Key Ingredients: Argan oil
Benefits:
- Controls frizz for up to 3 days
- Smooths and adds shine
- Protects against humidity
- Lightweight and affordable

How to Use: Apply a small amount to damp or dry hair, focusing on the mid-lengths and ends.

7. Bumble and Bumble Hairdresser’s Invisible Oil

Best For: Dry, damaged, or color-treated hair

Bumble and Bumble Hairdresser’s Invisible Oil is a transformative serum that softens, detangles, and protects hair from heat styling while adding a glossy shine. This serum is packed with a blend of six lightweight oils, including coconut oil and sweet almond oil, making it ideal for dry, damaged, or color-treated hair that needs extra TLC.

Key Ingredients: Coconut oil, sweet almond oil, grapeseed oil
Benefits:
- Hydrates and softens hair
- Smooths frizz and flyaways
- Protects against heat and UV damage
- Leaves hair shiny and silky

How to Use: Apply to damp hair before blow-drying or use on dry hair for a finishing touch.

8. Redken Frizz Dismiss Instant Deflate Hair Serum

Best For: Humidity-prone hair

Redken Frizz Dismiss Instant Deflate Serum is specifically designed to tackle frizz caused by humidity. This serum helps smooth the hair’s surface, seal in moisture, and reduce the effects of humidity for smooth, shiny hair that stays sleek throughout the day. It’s lightweight and non-greasy, making it ideal for all hair types that struggle with humidity-induced frizz.

Key Ingredients: Babassu oil, smoothing complex
Benefits:
- Fights frizz in humid environments
- Adds smoothness and shine
- Lightweight and non-greasy
- Can be used on all hair types

How to Use: Apply a small amount to damp or dry hair, focusing on areas prone to frizz.

9. Living Proof No Frizz Nourishing Oil

Best For: Fine to medium frizzy hair

Living Proof No Frizz Nourishing Oil is a silicone-free serum that smooths frizz, adds moisture, and enhances shine without weighing down fine hair. It uses Living Proof’s patented Healthy Hair Molecule (OFPMA) to block humidity and keep your hair smooth, soft, and frizz-free all day long.

Key Ingredients: Healthy Hair Molecule (OFPMA), jojoba esters, coconut alkanes
Benefits:
- Provides humidity protection
- Adds lightweight hydration and shine
- Silicone-free formula
- Ideal for fine to medium hair

How to Use: Apply a small amount to dry or damp hair. Use sparingly to avoid over-application.