10 Best Hair Serums for Curly Hair

1. Garnier Fructis Sleek and Shine Anti-Frizz Serum

Editor’s Rating: 4.0/5.0

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The most common reason why people buy a hair serum for their curls is that they’re battling frizz and flyaway hair. After all, these are the first two manifestations of chronically dry hair.

Fortunately, there are lots of anti-frizz, smoothing hair serums in the market suitable for curly hair. The Sleek and Shine Anti-Frizz Serum from Garnier Fructis is one of the most popular ones. There are three reasons for its popularity.

The first is the reputation of the company. Garnier has been around since the beginning of the previous century (1904) and is widely trusted for producing quality products. The second reason is the cost of this hair serum. It is one of the cheapest available, which means that it suits the financial means of the majority.

However, the most important reason is that this hair serum excels against frizzy hair. The company says that it can handle frizz even when humidity is around 97 percent outside.

While this is a very effective anti-frizz hair serum, this claim remains a gross overestimation of its capabilities. 97 percent humidity is going to cause very severe frizz but this product is only good for medium-intensity frizz.

In fact, it can be best described as a lightweight anti-frizz hair serum. It makes the hair smooth and imparts shine but the results don’t stay around for long in humid conditions. This is understandable because it does possess a fairly simple formula. The formula consists of argan oil and apricot oil over a base of silicones.

The apricot oil is also responsible for giving this product its scent. The mild apricot scent means this product’s smell is fairly tropical.

Like all hair serums, if you use too much of it at one time, you will find your hair getting greasy very quickly. Luckily, the bottle it comes in has a dispensing pump. If you stick to one to two pumps, then an overuse situation won’t arise for you.

Incidentally, you can get the bottle singly, in a double pack, or a triple pack. Needless to say, the two and three-packs turn out to be most pocket-friendly even though the difference is minuscule.

Who’s it for: If you’re looking for the cheapest hair serum to bring frizz under control in your curls, get this one from Garnier Fructis.

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2. Cantu Shea Butter Super Shine Hair Silk

Editor’s Rating: 4.25/5.0

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Excessive and prolonged use of hot tools or repeated chemical treatments can result in significant hair damage. These styling techniques cause damage inside and outside the hair strand. This can result in extremely brittle, coarse, and unattractive looking hair.

For these types of hair to recover their pre-styling strength and elasticity, the most important thing is protection from heat and other adverse external elements. The key to this protection is silicones.

Silicones coat the hair strands and perform the same role that hair cuticles would have been performing if they weren’t so damaged. The high silicone content of hair serums makes them perfect products for this kind of job.

Amongst all the major options available in the market, the Shea Butter Super Shine Hair Silk from Cantu is the best. It is designed specifically to smooth and shine excessively treated and damaged hair.

However, what makes this hair serum particularly suited for colored and treated hair is that it can double up as a heat protectant. Therefore, if you want to continue your styling lifestyle but still want to protect your curls, get this hair serum.

Like the previously reviewed hair serum, this one also has a simple formula. It features silicones heavily along with shea butter and hydrolyzed silk. While the silicones coat and protect hair strands, shea butter and hydrolyzed silk moisturize and repair hair shafts, respectively.

Along the way, this hair serum leaves coarse hair soft and silky. Further, it gives it a gentle shine and nullifies frizz. The only problem is that the results don’t last for a very long time. It’s not even like you can use more of this product to get more lasting results. In larger quantities, it can make hair greasy.

In terms of smell also, this hair serum has a basic scent. It has a light and fresh scent with alcohol notes. The scent doesn’t even linger and dissipates quickly. Each bottle also comes with a dispensing pump that makes it easier to use. This is a very cheap hair serum too. We think we should also mention that it doesn’t contain parabens.

Who’s it for: If you have heavily treated, lackluster hair, get this Cantu hair serum for great protection and shine.

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3. OGX Smoothing + Liquid Pearl Luminescent Serum

Editor’s Rating: 4.25/5.0

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If you notice celebrities and superstars in mega-events, you’ll know that their hair almost always seems to shine and glitter under the spotlight. This is an effect that many people look to get from their hair serums.

While most hair serums deliver a general shine to hair through silicones and natural alternatives, some products take it to the next level. The Smoothing + Liquid Pearl Luminescent Serum from OGX is one such hair serum.

It is capable of not only producing the general shine that most silicone-based hair serums can but also making the curls twinkle along the way. It achieves the twinkle effect by incorporating glitter into the formula. In a nutshell, this is a shining hair serum that has glitter suspended in it.

This glitter comes from crushed or hydrolyzed pearls, making this hair serum perfect if all you want is sparkling curls. While the glitter does do what it is intended to do, it also fails in some scenarios.

For instance, many people don’t get the desired effect because using this kind of product requires a certain level of skill that the average user doesn’t possess. For the same reason, people also complain about this product’s glitter getting stuck in the hand and becoming invisible in the hair.

The second most notable aspect of this hair serum is that it doesn’t contain silicones. This product, in fact, is completely free of artificial chemicals and compounds. It doesn’t contain parabens or sulfates and instead relies upon hydrolyzed vegetable protein and kelp extract for delivering results.

The sea kelp also contributes its scent. The smell is distinctly marine and can be a bit too strong for some people. It also tends to linger in the hair and doesn’t dissipate easily.

Despite not containing silicones, this hair serum can still smooth and shine hair. It can do this because it is based on hydrolyzed castor oil, which behaves in the same way. However, the absence of silicones or their naturally occurring sealing alternatives means that this hair serum doesn’t moisturize hair very well.

As a result, you can end up with dry hair if you only rely on this serum for moisture. Therefore, if you want this serum’s benefits, it would be a good idea to combine it with other moisturizing agents.

Like most good hair serum products, this one also comes with a dispensing pump which will give you better control over the amount of serum you get per use. This is also a very pocket-friendly product.

Who’s it for: If you want your curls to shine and glitter but don’t want to expose them to silicones, get this hair serum from OGX.

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4. Biosilk Silk Therapy Original Cure (Best Budget)

Editor’s Rating: 4.5/5.0

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Most budget hair serums are designed to de-frizz hair and add shine to it. Very few have the ability to define curls or hold curls in place because it requires a more advanced formula.

The Silk Therapy Original Cure comes the closest from this perspective but even so some people can consider it a bit too expensive when compared to other products in the budget market segment. At the same time, though, it is considerably cheaper than most hair serums falling in the mid-level price segment.

Whether it falls within your financial means or not, however, one thing is undeniable. It is effective when it comes to holding curls in place without making the hair too sticky. However, what you need to be careful about is how much of this serum you put in your hair at the same time. If you apply too much of it, your hair will become greasy and oily in a hurry.

The main reason for this is that this product’s formula combines silicones with hydrolyzed silk. While this gives this product decent repairing qualities, it also makes it a little too heavy.

In terms of the benefits, hydrolyzed silk helps damaged hair by filling up the void created by protein loss while silicones seal them in place. We should also mention that these two ingredients can combine very well when it comes to blocking off heat. This is the reason why this serum works excellently as a heat protectant too.

The biggest flaw of this product, though, is the fact that it contains parabens. Parabens are known to be damaging to hair and scalp in the long term.

The smell of this hair serum is appreciated from all quarters. The scent is light and reminiscent of the kind of smell you get from salon-grade products.

You can get this product in three bottle sizes. These are 2.26 ounces, seven ounces, and 12 ounces. The bigger bottles’ pricing is how this product becomes suitable for the budget price segment. If you buy the smallest bottle, you’ll find that it turns out to be twice as much more expensive. All the bottles are squeezable.

Who’s it for: If you want a hair serum that can hold your curls in place and allow you to style your hair on a budget, try this one from Biosilk.

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5. Davines This Is A Curl Building Serum

Editor’s Rating: 4.5/5.0

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Davines has left no doubts about what their hair serum can do by calling it clearly “This is a curl building serum”. As the name suggests, this hair serum is not only good but excellent at building and defining curls.

It takes away frizz and flyaway hair which helps curls pop out. Further, it makes hair strands more elastic which helps them become bouncier and springier. This serum also performs excellently as a protectant as it blocks off both heat and humidity effectively.

The most impressive aspect is that this hair serum can deliver on all these qualities without making the hair sticky, greasy, or tacky. In fact, after application, it gives the hair the kind of shine and vibrancy that most people desire from their curls.

While the formula of this serum isn’t exactly simplistic, it isn’t overly complicated either. This hair serum mainly depends on three ingredients which are silicones, hydrolyzed silk, and provitamin B5. Even though it contains some artificially synthesized ingredients, none of them are known to be very harmful such as parabens.

The only real flaw of this curl defining hair serum is the strength of its smell. It has an herbal scent which would have been perfect if it wasn’t too strong. As it is, people who are sensitive to scents might find the smell of this serum difficult to get used to. Similarly, if you use multiple hair products, then this hair serum might interfere with the scents of other products.

In terms of pricing, it is neither too expensive nor too cheap. It only comes in one bottle size i.e., 8.45 ounces. It is a squeezy bottle which should make it easier for you to use it.

Who’s it for: If you’re looking for the best curl building hair serum in the budget section and want the added option of using it as a heat protectant, get this one from Davines.

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6. Redken Curvaceous Full Swirl Cream-Serum

Editor’s Rating: 4.5/5.0

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Redken is another brand that has made it very clear what their hair serum’s primary purpose is. They have named their hair serum “Curvaceous Full Swirl Cream-Serum” which clearly points at this serum’s ability to build, define, and hold curls. It is quite exceptional in that regard too, especially since it can help even finer curls retain their shape.

Like most hair serums, this one also depends on silicones to nullify frizz and flyway hair. In fact, the company says that their hair serum can reduce frizz by up to 97 percent with the rider that you need to use it along with their shampoo and conditioner.

While silicones contribute heavily to this hair serum’s effectiveness, it contains other useful ingredients such as provitamin B5, hydrolyzed vegetable protein, and moringa seed oil too. These ingredients help repair and smooth hair shafts as well. Further, the formula incorporates vitamin E, which is known for its nourishing qualities.

One of the best things about this hair serum is that it can deliver on all these claims without making the hair greasy. It is an incredibly lightweight serum that will only cause you grease-related problems if you use it in immense quantities. A slight increase in quantities won’t make any difference in how oily or greasy your hair feels.

The scent of this hair serum can be seen as both positive and negative. On the positive side, the woodsy scent is gender-neutral and neither too floral nor sweet. On the negative side, it can come off as a bit too masculine. It is also on the stronger side and tends to linger in the hair for long periods.

This hair serum falls firmly in the mid-level price bracket in the market. This means that while it will not burn a hole in your pocket but you may feel a slight pinch. There are no bottle size options that you can use to save money either. It comes in one size only but that bottle does come with an easy-to-use dispensing pump.

Who’s it for: If you have finer curls and want a curl defining serum with a gender-neutral scent, get this one from Redken.

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7. Herstyler Hair Repair Serum (Best Value)

Editor’s Rating: 4.75/5.0

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This is one of the best hair serums in the market purely because of its versatility. You can use the Herstyler Hair Repair Serum for everything from de-frizzing your curls and smoothing your hair strands to defining and holding curls in place.

It can even be used as a heat protectant. Further, as its name suggests, it is made primarily to repair damaged hair. It offers all these functions on the back of its multipurpose formula. The formula is headlined by silicones and aloe vera juice but it also contains argan oil and vitamin E as well.

Silicones perform the primary purpose of countering frizz and flyaway hairs by coating individual hair strands. This also results in the hair becoming smoother and shinier. Further, it helps give curls definition and protects hair from heat styling tools too. The argan oil in this product also contributes to all these functions.

The purpose of aloe vera in this hair serum is to fortify the hair from the inside and promote hair regeneration. Argan oil, again, contributes to the strengthening function of this hair serum. Vitamin E is also a crucial nutrient when it comes to repairing hair strands.

The best part is that this hair serum is lightweight as well. This means that unless you apply too much of it, it won’t make your hair greasy. You won’t need a lot of it anyway because a little of this hair serum will produce the results you need.

This hair serum will give your hair a strong rose scent, reminiscent of nice old ladies. Its scent is something you need to consider very carefully because a lot of people don’t like this kind of smell especially since it also tends to linger and doesn’t dissipate easily.

While this hair serum does contain silicones, it is completely free of other synthetic ingredients such as parabens. It is also rated to be cruelty-free which means that animals were not hurt during its development or manufacturing.

This hair serum only comes in one bottle size of 2 ounces but you do have the option of buying it in singles, doubles, or four-packs. The four-pack is the most affordable of the bunch. However, when compared to other products in the mid-level price bracket, some people might find this product to be a little on the expensive side of things.

Each bottle comes with a dispensing pump but without a cap on top of that pump. This makes this product a little unfit for travel.

Who’s it for: If you want a multipurpose product that combines the qualities of all the different types of hair serums, get this one from Herstyler.

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8. John Frieda Frizz Ease Extra Strength Serum

Editor’s Rating: 4.5/5.0

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The Frizz Ease Extra Strength Serum from John Frieda is easily one of the strongest anti-frizz hair serum you will find on the market. It is super powerful and can nullify frizz and flyways from virtually anybody’s curls, regardless of how humid their surroundings are or how inherently dry their hair is.

In fact, its incredible de-frizzing strength makes it unsuitable for people with mild to normal frizz. If you don’t have very dry hair or live in a region with more than 90 percent humidity, it is likely that this hair serum will make your hair very greasy and oily. It may even force you to wash your hair more often than what you are used to.

At the same time, its incredible strength means that this hair serum doubles up as a heat protectant. In fact, it is strong enough to give most dedicated hair serums a run for their money. There are two reasons for it.

The first is that it contains both silicones and hydrolyzed silk while the second is that these ingredients are present in large quantities. Further, it even contains mineral oil, which gives it an added advantage against frizz. The result is curls that are very smooth, silky, frizz-free, detangled, and shiny.

Its formula is quite simple because it neither contains many other synthetic ingredients nor too many botanicals. It is free of things like parabens and instead contains algae extract. Because it doesn’t contain many botanicals, it has a very light and fresh scent. The smell doesn’t even linger and disappears very quickly.

While there is only one 1.69-ounce bottle available, you do have the option of buying it in singles or doubles. There is not much of a price difference between the two options either. Both will turn out to be fairly expensive. The bottles do come with effective dispensing pumps, though.

Who’s it for: If you want the best anti-frizz hair serum that doubles up as a high-quality heat protectant too, get this one from John Frieda.

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9. Perfect Hair Coconut Oil Hair Serum (Top Pick)

Editor’s Rating: 4.75/5.0

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Typically, hair serums are manufactured with the purpose of de-frizzing and shining the hair. There are also some hair serums aimed at slowing down hair loss and regenerating lost hair. There aren’t many hair serums that are designed for the middle way i.e., de-frizz and detangle hair while nourishing and strengthening it too.

This is why the Coconut Oil Hair Serum from Perfect Hair is different from all other hair serums in the market. It is an excellent smoother and softener for curls and particularly excels at fortifying the hair. The reason for this is its formula.

Most hair serums have a simplistic formula. Their formula can usually be described as lots of silicones with a little bit of one or two other ingredients. In the case of this hair serum, the formula is very elaborate and contains some of the best naturally occurring ingredients from the perspective of hair health.

While the primary ingredient in this hair serum is still silicones, it also contains coconut oil, argan oil, sweet almond oil, olive fruit oil, vitamin E, marula seed oil, keratin, algae extract, and aloe vera leaf juice. As it is, each of these ingredients is known for the kind of nutrients it contains with the majority also recognized as superb hair moisturizing agents.

Additionally, the best part is that most of these oils are as close as possible to their natural forms. For instance, the coconut oil is cold-pressed and the olive oil is extra virgin. The company even says that they developed this hair serum with the purpose of maximizing nutrient absorption which explains how they are sourced.

It even contains hydrolyzed keratin to help compensate for any protein loss that the curls may have gone through because of styling treatments.

The presence of silicones in large quantities helps negate frizz and protect the hair against future heat damage from styling tools. While it contains silicones, it is completely free of other artificial ingredients such as parabens.

This serum gets its smell from its coconut oil content. You’ll find the smell to be fairly tropical and reminiscent of a pina colada. The scent is also very mild and won’t overpower your other hair products.

This hair serum is super-effective too. As a result, you won’t need to use too much. In fact, we advise against applying too much or you’ll end up with very greasy, oily, and weighed down hair.

Other than this, this hair serum’s biggest flaw is its cost. It is one of the most expensive options in the market even though every bottle will stay with you for a very long time. You do have the option of reducing the expense by choosing to buy this product in bulk though.

For instance, choosing to buy the five-pack or even the three-pack is recommended over buying the single bottle. Each bottle, incidentally, will contain 1.69 ounces of the product and will come with a dispensing pump.

Who’s it for: If you’re looking for a hair serum to smooth, hydrate, and nourish your hair at the same time, try this one from Perfect Hair.

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10. Moroccanoil Treatment

Editor’s Rating: 4.5/5.0

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As the name suggests, Moroccanoil is a company whose hair products are based solely on Moroccan argan oil. Their products are also considered to be top-grade and premium-class.

This means two things. The first is that their products are excellent and almost always deliver on marketing promises and the second is that they’re unbelievably expensive. The Moroccanoil Treatment is not an exception. It is an excellent hair serum that is super-expensive.

This hair serum was developed to make curls smoother and softer. This means that it hydrates the hair from the inside while coating it on the outside. As a result, the hair can get shiny and vibrant but that isn’t what this product was intended for.

For hydrating the hair strands from the inside, this product’s formula contains argan oil from Morocco, and to help them retain all the moisture, it depends on silicones. In addition, this product also incorporates linseed seed extract, which the company says is good for hair health because it contains an essential fatty acid called alpha linolenic acid.

The formula is otherwise free of artificial ingredients such as parabens. This product is also environment-friendly because it comes in a 100 percent recyclable bottle, 40 percent of which is made from “post-consumer recycled glass”. Every bottle, by the way, comes with a dispensing pump.

Moroccanoil also says that this hair serum can be used in three different ways. The first is as a primer or foundation where it is applied to damp hair and activated with the help of a blow dryer. The second is as a leave-in conditioner for hydration and the third is as a finisher or refresher to revive the appearance of the hair while on the move. They further specify that it can impart shine when used as a finisher but most users complain that it doesn’t shine the hair a lot.

Its scent is another aspect that is very divisive. It has the unique argan oil smell that is a mix of spice, musk, and floral. There’s also a hint of sweetness to it. The problem is that the scent is unique which means that there are as many people who don’t like it as there are who do.

As we mentioned above, the biggest problem with this product is its cost. The only saving grace is that because you don’t need to use a lot of it per application, the bottle doesn’t finish off quickly. However, it is better if you don’t use too much of it because in larger quantities it can make your hair greasy and weighed down.

The bigger bottle will stay with you for longer of course. The two available sizes are 0.85 ounces and 3.4 ounces. A combo pack is also available. It includes the bigger bottle and a Moroccanoil body soap bar.

Who’s it for: If you want an anti-frizz smoothing hair serum with a unique scent, try this one from Moroccanoil.

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