15 Best Hair Serums: Tried, Tested & User Reviewed

- Take 2/3 drops of serum on the palm of your hands.

- Rub the serum in your hands for a few seconds.

- Apply it evenly through damp hair from mid-lengths to ends.

- Blow dry or style as desired.

- For added shine and frizz-free hair, reapply again any time of the day.

However, for added precautions, we suggest you read the 'Directions' section printed on all products before use. 

This serum, from L’Oreal’s Professionnel range, claims to increase shine and softness while getting rid of dry hair and frizz for up to 96 hours! The serum contains Reflexium (a substance used by L'Oreal that reflects a lot of light) that covers the hair with a water-soluble film, making your hair look frizz-free and shiny without weighing it down. According to verified Nykaa users, it lives up to its name of being lightweight and getting rid of frizz and dullness. Also, the L'Oreal's Professionnel range is best suited if you have chemically treated or straightened hair.

User Rating: 4.4/5

Key Ingredients: Evening Primrose Oil

Packed with walnut oil and vitamin E, this hair serum seems to be another favourite on Nykaa. Walnut oil is best known for protection against heat and dust, preventing the hair from damage, while vitamin E and its antioxidant properties helps boost the hair’s elasticity and shine. So, if you have dull, damaged hair,  we’d suggest you have a look at this one. Plus it's super affordable! According to users, it does what it claims to do, is non-greasy, adds shine, and removes frizz.

User Rating: 4.4/5

Key Ingredients: Vitamin E and Walnut Oil

When it comes to affordability, Biotique and its products rank top. This hair serum is an ayurvedic, vegan and cruelty-free elixir that promotes healthy hair, prevents frizz, and tones the scalp. It has three main ingredients which are neem, that relieves itchiness, giving the hair a smooth, silky look; mountain ebony, an astringent whose anti-bacterial properties promotes hair growth; and mulethi, that soothes the scalp preventing scabs and dandruff. Since they recommend the use of this on dry scalp, for all you oily-scalp folks out there, we’d suggest you either take a gamble on this one, or scroll on! 

User Rating: 4.3/5

Key Ingredients: Neem, Mulethi, Pippali, Kusumbhi, and Pudina 

This hair serum claims to be a rich blend of six rare flower oils: Lotus, Chamomile, Flax, Tiare, Rose and Sunflower. It is meant to be light-weight, non-sticky and non-greasy, with multiple ways to use it. One can use it before shampoo, after washing, before blow dry/styling, or even as an overnight treatment! According to users, what you buy and read, is what you get — it adds sheen and smoothens the hair.

User Rating: 4.5/5

Key Ingredients: Lotus, Chamomile, Flax, Tiare, Rose, and Sunflower Oil

Responsible for the world's collective obsession with argan oil, Moroccanoil's products pride themselves on being top-notch and doing wonders for your hair. Needless to say, their hair serum is also on the list. The serum comes in two variants: original and light. The original is best suited for hair that is medium to thick and has curls, while the light variant is suited for fine or light-coloured hair that is lighter in texture as well. Further, the serum comes with the benefits of argan oil and linseed extract minus sulphates, parabens and other nasties. It increases shine, is fast absorbing, and is perfect for all hair types. Though on the pricier side, we'll still buy this in a heartbeat if the pocket permits. 

User Rating: 4.5/5

Key Ingredients: Argan Oil and Linseed Extract

Biolage’s products are said to be nature-inspired and used by professionals. This deep smoothing hair serum works toward six hair-related problems. It controls frizz, gives instant shine, protects from humidity, detangles, smoothens rough ends, and hydrates dry hair. It is infused with avocado and grape seed oil with frizz taming polymers. We spotted several “the best,” and “must buy” reviews, so that’s a good sign! 

User Rating: 4.5/5

Key Ingredients: Avocado Oil and Grape Seed Oil

A classic now, Livon has become a household name when it comes to taming your tresses. Over the years, they’ve claimed to deliver smooth, frizz free and glossy hair, and boy, do they do the job. If you’re on a budget, then Livon is your go-to. It is also known to be packed with the goodness of Vitamin E and Argan oil which as we know, are great nourishers for your hair. Plus, their new packaging with the pump is a huge plus, making the product much easier to use. 

User Rating: 4.4/5

Key Ingredients: Vitamin E and Argan Oil

Rich in Vitamin E that helps in repairing damaged hair and follicles, this product claims to help you say goodbye to frizz. It’s supposed to give you a shiny, glossy finish making your tresses look like they belong on a magazine cover! They also claim to help the hair stay frizz free for 24 hours! Users claim that this one has a non-sticky formula and really does what it claims — removes frizz. In addition, we cannot help but notice the price-point which is great if you don't want to spend too much in a hair serum.

User Rating: 4.4/5

Key Ingredients: Rich Macadamia Oil and Vitamin E

Love Beauty & Planet has made a name for itself in the hair and body care industry and for all the right reasons. With so many products, the brand truly leaves us spoilt for choice. If you’re looking for a serum that feels and smells luxurious, this Argan Oil & Lavender Hair Serum should be on your to-buy list. Users love it for being non-greasy, while it works amazingly well on taming frizzy hair. It contains argan oil and ethically sourced French lavender, that make the hair smell nice and look smooth. We also love that this serum is super affordable and yet doesn’t compromise on quality.

User Rating: 4.4/5

Key Ingredients: Organic Argan Oil and Fresh French Lavender

You’ve probably seen this one around in most salons. Enriched with keratin and Camellia oil, this is designed to smoothen and strengthen hair. It promised up to 72 hours of frizz control even in 80% humidity. Users have praised this one for also working as a heat protectant, giving your hair a natural shine. 

User Rating: 4.4/5

Key Ingredients: Argan Oil and Camellia Oil

This gem gives your hair a soft and hydrated finish without grease. It smells of coconut (and heavenly) leaving your hair feather-light. What’s more? It gives your hair an instant shine and a radiant glossy finish without weighing them down. We love how it also helps in easy detangling leading to less hair fall. You can use it in towel-dried hair or any time you think your hair needs a little boost. 

User Rating: 4.3/5

Key Ingredients: Coconut Oil, Squalane and Almond Oil

This one comes from L’Oreal’s Total Repair 5 line with a shampoo and a conditioner to go with it. The serum claims to work against your hair’s "top five enemies" — hair fall, dry hair, dull hair, split ends, and rough ends. According to several users, it makes the hair look smooth and silky while significantly reducing frizz. Having tried and tested it myself, I would vouch for this one. However, a word of caution; be careful with the amount you apply. Use less than advised as the hair looks quite greasy with too much. In addition to this, their flap top packaging could do a revamp because there’s always a risk of leakage! 

User Rating: 4.4/5

Key Ingredients: Protein and Ceramides

Tried and tested by LBB Crew Muskan, this hair serum is on the pricier side compared to other top rated customer hair serums. If you’re looking to splurge a bit on your hair care regime then go for this. And so, we looked into it — this one can be applied to all hair types for shine. It is infused with precious oils like Marula and Camellia, that are rich in antioxidants like vitamin C and E that nourish and protect the hair from damage. This serum instantly smoothens hair, claiming to give up to 96 hours of frizz control, while also offering heat protection up to 230 degrees!

User Rating: 4.2/5

Key Ingredients: Wild & French Camellia Oils, Marula & Argan Oils

Okay this one is technically an oil, but not the kind you apply before washing your hair. Nashi is an Italian brand whose products are all organic, and if even if you can’t get your hands on their other hair products, the hair oil is great. Tried by a crew member, this one comes with all the wonderful benefits of Argan oil. That being softer and more manageable hair, protection from heat, UV, and pollution, and locking in moisture. A few drops of this make a huge difference when used after towel drying your hair because a little goes a long way! If you have curly hair, end your CG routine with this one and it’ll last you till your next wash. 

User Rating: 4.2/5 

Key Ingredients: Argan Oil

Pro-Tip: Many salons that use sulphate and paraben-free or organic products stock this product, so you likely can get it offline too. 

Aakanksha, who's been using this one for a few years now, says she originally bought it because it smelled divine thanks to the Juniper oil in it! But this serum was very helpful to not only protect the scalp but also envelope the hair and make it more resistant to pollution, chlorine ( while swimming) or anything harmful. While it took a few months to kick it, she says it did make the hair stronger, and breakage was much less. The serum also has lemon and Ylang Ylang essential oil — the former to help with purifying, and the latter to help with soothing. This one also works on the roots and not just the hair strands, so your hair looks healthy overall without becoming heavy as if it has been oiled. 

User Rating: 4.5/5 

Key Ingredients: Lemon Essential Oil, Juniper Essential Oil, and  Ylang Ylang Essential Oil

Pro Tip: Don't wash this off, and definitely massage the scalp a bit when using this.

If you want to see LBB Crew tried and tested serums, check out this video where we picked the best of two serums. Here's the LBB This Or That: Hair Serum Edition.