Navigating the world of hair care products can be daunting with the multitude of options available. Two popular choices for enhancing hair health and style are hair serums and hair creams.
Both offer unique benefits and can be used for different hair concerns.
Whether you're looking to add shine, tame frizz, or provide nourishment to your locks, understanding the differences between these two products is key.
Do dive into our simple guide to discover whether hair serum or hair cream is the right choice for your hair care routine!
Hair Serum vs Hair Cream
| Details | Hair Serum | Hair cream |
| What they are | Liquid hair products formulated using silicone, amino acids, proteins and other ingredients. | Cream and thicker form of hair product formulated using oils and additional ingredients that aid hair growth. |
| What it is they do | Silicone the main component of hair serum creates a protective layer on your hair strands protecting your hair from environmental conditions that might affect your hair one way or another. | The oils infused in hair creams aids in hair growth while the thickness of the cream ensures that you can style your hair as you please. |
| Benefits | Controls hair frizzStraightens your hairDefines natural curlsAdds shine to your hairProtects your hair against heat damageAids in hair growth | Aids in hair growth Enhances hair stylingAdds shine to your hairProtects your hair against environmental conditionsNourishing your hair Treats your hair |
| Side effects | Hair damageHair lossIrritation | Hair damageAnd hair loaa |
| How to use | Apply in wet hair | Apply on dry or relaxed hair |
| When to use | When you want to protect your hair from water, when you want to repair damaged hair or when you want to look snatched. | When you want to make your hair look smooth, shiny, moisturized and when you want your hair to grow. |
What is hair serum?
A hair serum is a form of hair product that is in liquid form and is formulated using silicone, amino acids, proteins, and other ingredients that aids into making your hair look good and feel good.
Silicone the main component of hair serum is waterproof and heavy. When you apply a hair serum on your hair, a protective layer is created which protects your hair from any environmental conditions that might damage your hair.
Hydrolyzed protein also an ingredient in hair serum reduces the static charge that is responsible for frizz, flyaways, and split ends.
Other ingredients found in hair serum aids in hair growth and making your hair feel and look great.
Aside from the benefits and side effects associated with hair serums, there are a lot more to hair serums. If you want to learn more about hair serums, read my introduction to hair serum guide.
Pros of Hair Serum:
- Adds shine and gloss to hair, making it look healthier.
- Helps in detangling hair, reducing breakage during combing.
- Controls frizz and flyaways for a sleeker appearance.
- Can protect hair from environmental damages like humidity and pollution.
- Often contains nourishing ingredients that can help to strengthen hair.
- Can make styling hair easier and help hairstyles last longer.
Cons of Hair Serum:
- Overuse can lead to greasiness and weigh hair down.
- May not be suitable for all hair types, especially fine or oily hair.
- Some serums contain silicones, which can build up and require clarifying shampoos to remove.
- Can be expensive, especially for high-quality or salon-brand formulas.
- Some people may be sensitive or allergic to certain ingredients in hair serums.
What is hair cream?
Hair cream is a heavy form of cream hair product formulated using oils, and other ingredients that enables your hair to be nourished and also enables hair growth.
Aside from enabling hair growth , the oils in hair creams adds moisture to your hair making it feel good and look good too.
Although hair creams are beneficial to your hair, there are some disadvantages of using hair creams. This disadvantages will be discussed in the guide below.
Pros and Cons of Hair Cream
Since we know all about hair serums, there is no need to go into the other factors of hair serum. However, since this is the first time we are talking about hair creams, we will discuss some of the other benefits of hair cream.
- Nourishing your hair: Hair creams contains some oils that have some benefits to your hair and your scalp. Once you have applied the hair cream, you can be sure your hair is going to benefit from the cream.
- Aids in hair growth: When your hair is healthy, it allows the start of new hair growth cycle.
- Controls frizz: Hair creams are heavy on your hair, they make your hair stay as you style it and control humidity from damaging your air.
- Styling your hair: Hair creams are heavy than hair serum. You can be assured that when you style your hair, your hair will be tamed.
Although hair creams are very beneficial to your hair, they do not lack some side effects if you choose the wrong hair creams. You can follow this guide to choose the right hair cream for your hair.
Some of the negative side effects you will be avoiding is hair damage and hair loss.
Hair serum Vs hair cream - which is better for hair styling?
Both hair serum and hair cream have great benefits to your hair. For starters, they both aid in hair growth and aid in hair styling.
You can therefore not judge which product is better than the other. Hair creams will work better for people with thinner hair strands. The small weight from the hair cream will make your hair styling easy.
On the other hand, if you have thicker hair strands, you can use hair serum.
Since hair cream is formulated using oils, your hair might shrink and become muddy after some hours. To prevent this from happening you should go in with a hair serum.
Applying hair serum will add a protective layer to your hair strands protecting it from the harsh environmental conditions that might damage your hair.
Can I use a hair cream and hair serum together?
Hair cream aids in hair growth, nourishing your hair, adding shine to your hair same thing hair serum does. However, hair creams do not create a protective layer to your hair strands. You might be forced to use heat and relaxers to straighten your hair.
Fortunately, if you want to skip the hair damaging routines, you can apply a hair serum after hair using hair cream. The combination makes your hair moisturized, nourished, feel good, look good and also protected from environmental conditions that might damage your hair in one way or another.
You should however use tiniest amount of both products.
Should I Use Hair Serum Vs Hair Cream For Frizzy Hair?
For managing frizzy hair, hair serum is often the preferred choice. Its silicone-based formula coats the hair shaft, creating a protective layer that helps to lock in moisture, reduce static, and give hair a smoother appearance.
The serum's smoothing properties are particularly effective in humid conditions where frizz is more likely to occur. It also adds a layer of shine, making the hair look healthy and well-maintained.
However, it's important to use it sparingly to avoid a greasy look. Hair cream, on the other hand, can also combat frizz but is heavier in texture. It's better suited for providing intense moisture and defining the hair's natural texture rather than offering the sleekness that a serum can achieve.
Should I Use Hair Serum Vs Hair Cream For Curly Hair?
For curly hair, both hair serum and hair cream can be beneficial, but they serve different purposes. Hair serum can help in defining curls by adding shine and reducing frizz without weighing the hair down. It's excellent for a lightweight finish and can help curls look more polished.
Hair cream, in contrast, is more moisturizing and has a thicker consistency, which is great for defining and holding curls. It can provide the necessary hydration and control that curly hair often requires.
For best results, some individuals combine both products, using a cream to define and nourish their curls, followed by a serum to add shine and tame any remaining frizz.
Conclusion
With all the products available in the market, knowing which product actually works as it promises can be very hard. Since you cannot use all the products to determine or they work, you will need to get into some research work.
Sometimes the research work does not offer you all the details you need to settle on one product. Luckily, I have created a guide to help you compare how hair serum and hair cream work and their benefits.
If you have never used either of the products, you can read the guide above to give you a head start. You should also subscribe to this page for more beauty hacks.
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