Hair serums vs hair oil? What should you use?

Hair serums are a kind of secret formula for manageable and shiny hair. They are hassle-free and extremely versatile - from taming frizz to boosting shine, they’re all the rage for mighty reasons!

On the other hand, hair oils need no introduction. For generations, an oil massage has been the staple haircare in Indian households. Mothers and grandmothers swear by the power of regular oiling and its miraculous effects on your hair. Hair oil massages are like food for the scalp and hair that nourishes the scalp and hydrates the hair.  

Before debating hair oil vs hair serum, let’s introduce a product that completes the trio for a thick, nourished, long crown! Enter: Hair growth serums!

Interestingly, a hair growth serum provides similar benefits and nourishment as hair oils but with fewer hassles and effective results. 

While a hair serum provides daily protection, a hair growth serum replenishes nutrients and tackles issues like dandruff, premature greying, and hair fall—especially if you often skip oiling due to a hectic schedule.  

Surely, oiling is a trusted veteran of hair care but for those too busy,  it is time to complete the holy trinity by including a hair growth serum in your everyday hair care. 

In this blog, let’s understand how the difference between hair oil and hair serum while understanding the use and benefits of hair growth serums.  

Hair oil vs. hair growth serum

Hair oil is derived from plant sources and helps nourish the scalp, promote healthy hair growth, and maintain overall hair health. 

Hair oils are full of antioxidants and natural oils that hydrate your hair follicles and scalp while strengthening the hair shafts by hydrating them and replenishing the depleted nutrients. 

They help boost the blood circulation in your scalp, keeping issues like dandruff and infections away.  

On the other hand, hair serums like hair growth serums are concentrated formulas with small molecular sizes and regulated doses of one or more active ingredients. They help promote healthy hair growth while managing all hair issues like hair fall, dandruff, brittleness, dryness, split ends, etc. The science behind them is precise and effective. 

Owing to their smaller molecular structure, they can penetrate deeper into your scalp without flattening your hair. Since they aren’t oily, your hair stays bouncy and shiny even after application, making them ideal for styling too. 

Here’s how hair growth serum can be extremely beneficial for your hair. 

1. It boosts hair growth by stimulating hair follicles and accelerating hair growth. 

2. It strengthens your hair by replenishing the depleting nutrients in the hair follicles and the shaft.  Hair growth serums are packed with vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, anti-inflammatories, and hair growth boosters, that can give an all-around nourishment to your hair, from the roots to the shafts. 

3. It maintains scalp health to foster an optimal environment for hair growth.

4. It hydrates your hair and scalp and prevents dry hair and dandruff. 

While hair oils and hair serums differ in that serums aren't typically applied to the scalp, hair growth serums are specifically formulated for scalp use, just like hair oils. Thus, concentrated with all the ingredients essential for luscious locks, hair growth serums are proven to give you nourished tresses and promote hair growth. 

So, which is better for hair oil or hair serum?

While, there is no correct answer for this as they both have distinct use cases, benefits, and properties. with the fast-paced nature of modern life, indulging in weekly oil massages can get challenging. 

They can be time-consuming, messy, and inconvenient if you are always on the go. 

Instead, hair serums give instant results. While regular styling hair serums help tame your frizz and add shine, serums like hair growth serums off convenient, targeted solutions for hair fall and hair growth. 

Let’s compare hair oil and serum down to their formulation and mechanism to understand which works best for you.

Difference between hair oil and hair growth serum

Simply put, hair oils are more like intensive hair treatments, done once or twice a week. Ideally, you leave the oil on your hair overnight to allow maximum absorption, leaving you with nourished, hydrated, and shiny hair the next morning, after shampoo and conditioner. 

Stepping out with oil in your hair is not recommended as the grease only attracts more dirt and impurities, causing hair fall and dandruff.  

On the other hand, hair serums (styling and hair growth serum) work as an everyday replenishment of nutrients that can fight hair fall and promote hair growth

Ingredients to look for in your hair growth serum

When discussing hair oil vs hair serum for tackling scalp issues, one of the major differences is their ingredients. While looking for the best hair serums for hair growth and anti-hairfall, you can read the labels to look for the following ingredients: 

Rosemary extract: 

It stimulates hair follicles by boosting blood flow, allowing nutrients and sufficient oxygen to reach the scalp more effectively. The ursolic acid in rosemary extract prevents hair follicles from transitioning into the shedding phase.

Redensyl TM:

It is a plant-based compound that targets stem cells, enabling the replacement of faulty follicle cells, and leading to hair regeneration and regrowth. Its associate molecule glycine is an amino acid, crucial for the production of keratin in our body- an essential hair protein. 

Anagain TM:

It is a rich source of amino acids that help repair and protect the hair from the root. It also stimulates the dermal papilla to reactivate hair growth. 

Vitamin E: 

A versatile vitamin, it is crucial for both your hair and skin. It protects and nourishes the scalp and hair while reducing oxidative stress in hair follicles, promoting healthy hair growth. 

Peptides: 

They increase the tensile strength of hair shafts by hardening their texture to reduce breakage. 

Iron:

An essential component of hemoglobin, iron promotes efficient oxygen and nutrient delivery to your hair follicles by improving the vitality of your blood altogether. 

Aloe vera extract: 

It soothes your scalp and reduces any chances of infection while preventing dry and flaky scalp that can cause dandruff. 

Biotin: 

Also known as vitamin B7, Biotin is known to facilitate the production of keratin, the structural protein of your hair. It also stimulates the hair follicles to promote hair growth

Typically, hair growth serums infuse multiple ingredients into a single formula to give you maximum benefits. 

How to use hair serums?

1. Pour a few drops of hair serum on your palm, depending on your hair length. 

2. Warm up the required amount in your palms. 

3. Apply it evenly to your damp hair.

4. You can also use it on dry hair before styling.

How to use hair growth serum?

Using a hair growth serum is hassle-free:

1. Ensure your scalp is clean because a dirty scalp interferes with the penetration of any hair care product. 

2. Dispense a few drops of hair growth serum and apply it to the affected areas and all over your scalp. 

3. Massage gently with your fingertips for a couple of minutes to support the absorption of the product while promoting blood circulation in your scalp. 

4. Use it twice a day or as regulated.

Best ways to maximize the benefits of hair growth serum:

1. Always apply directly to your scalp, on the affected areas to reap maximum benefits. 

2. Avoid overuse of hair serums as it can cause product build-up and make your hair greasy. Most hair growth serums are formulated for a regulated dose of about 0.5 to 1 ml per application. 

3. Use consistently and under regulation to achieve your hair goals. Hair growth is a cyclic process and patience is the key- to see visible results. 

4. Massage your serum into the scalp properly to optimize its efficacy. 

While nobody is denying the benefits of oil massages with hair oils like coconut oil, almond oil, jojoba oil, hibiscus oil, and the like, opting for hair growth serum is more like doing smart work than hard work. 

It’s a concentrated formula infused with scientifically formulated ingredients that prevent greasiness and perform better and faster. 

Try a hair growth serum today for a fuller and thicker crown.

FAQs

What’s the difference between hair serum and hair oil?

The main difference between hair oil and hair serum lies in their texture. Hair oils are heavy and thicker while hair serum is a light-weight formula- almost oil-free. Moreover, hair serum usually is a leave-in product, unlike hair oils. 

Which is better, hair serum or hair oil?

There can be no correct answer for this. While they have different textures, their purposes are different too. It is always better to use a hair growth serum to stop hair fall and boost new hair growth. On the other hand, hair oils help nourish your scalp, hydrate your hair strands, and strengthen your hair shafts. 

Do hair serums and oils offer the same level of hydration?

 Yes, both are capable of offering the same level of hydration because they share the properties of their component active ingredients but hair serum is lighter and a leave-in product unlike hair oils.

Can hair serum replace hair oil in a hair care routine?

No, it cannot. While hair growth serum and hair oil have similar benefits and properties, they are not substitutes for each other. It is good to keep a hair growth serum in your everyday hair care so that your hair can replenish its nutrients for the times you skip oiling.