hair serum

Want to know what Jennifer Aniston uses on her hair for that sleek blowout? It's the Living Proof Satin Shine Serum ($29). But just because it's her favorite doesn't mean that we automatically buy the product lock, stock, and barrel. This is one hair treatment that lives up to all the hype, because it's formulated without oils or silicone — a rarity for hair serums.

At first touch, Satin feels just like all the other serums on the market: silky and slippery. However, you'll notice the difference when you're done blow-drying. Hair won't be weighed down or overly shiny. In fact, you'll have that hair-in-fan flowing effect with only a dime-size amount (or less for short hair). Plus, it won't leave a sticky burn spot on your flat iron, when you touch up your blowout. For women with coarse, curly hair, you'll finally have a blowout last a second day. Thank goodness this serum launched just in time for Summer's most humid days.

Blowout bars have taken the country by storm, and Drybar has recently launched its own line of products so you can get professional results at home. While all of Drybar's products are made to be lightweight and the perfect building blocks to a flawless blowout, the 100 Proof Treatment Oil ($35) is the star of the collection. This dry oil concoction is everything that you'd want from a hair serum. It enhances shine, controls frizz, tames flyaways, and seals damaged ends. But unlike most oil treatments, this one absorbs so fast that you don't even feel a film on your hands after you use it. And because it's full of nutrient-rich oils like sunflower seed, watermelon seed, and olive oils, you even get a splash of nourishment with every voluminous blowout. Shiny, happy hair, indeed.

Does it seem like hair serum is just one more useless product clogging up your bathroom counter? Not so! Serums can be a saving grace for dry, brittle hair. These products are concentrated formulas meant to seal in moisture and protect hair against the elements (like the scalding heat of your blow dryer).

While a leave-in conditioner adds moisture, adding a serum on top can help your hair retain the hydrating ingredients. This product will also help keep out unwanted moisture that can cause hair strands to swell (also known as frizz). In addition, serums' sealing properties work to disguise split ends, protect hair from heat damage, and aid in straightening coarse hair.

Even though serums usually come in the smallest packages, a little goes a long way. You only need two to three drops for your whole head (too much could create a greasy feeling and a stringy look). Warm the product in your hands first, so that it will spread evenly. Then, use serum on wet hair from midshaft to ends with a raking motion to cover every strand. Proceed to your blowout. Reapply serum after styling to add extra shine and tame flyways.

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If your hair flows below your shoulders, it's only a matter of time before split ends pop up. At a certain point, months (or years!) of heat styling tend to leave the ends looking rough and ragged. Enter Kerastase's Cristalliste Lumiere Liquide ($42), an incredibly light hair serum designed for long locks. The featherweight formula doesn't weigh strands down, and if you like floral scents, you'll appreciate the light perfume effect. Add a few drops to dry hair, and you'll be rewarded with sleek, shiny strands — and unruly ends are immediately tamed. Talk about a smooth move.

Going eco doesn’t have to mean sacrificing quality. Watch our video now to see what three eco-friendly products from Aerie Botanicals, Burt's Bees, and Josie Maran can do for you.