SERUMS AND OILS

Greasy hair is not a good look but if you use them right, serums and oils can give your hair a much-needed dose of moisture and shine.

What do they do?

‘A hair serum helps to reduce frizz, making it smooth and silky after blow-drying or heat styling,’ says Carlton Hair stylist Kim Hickman.

Hair oil, meanwhile, hydrates and maintains moisture, leaving your hair feeling softer and shinier almost immediately after application. ‘It has more of a treatment effect and is an amazing detangler,’ says Kim. ‘Because it isn’t as heavy, most oils can be used before and after blow-drying or heat styling; some have heat protectors in them.’

Who are they suitable for?

‘Serums are slightly heavier in feel as they sit on the cuticle, so for fine hair, go for a lightweight product. For medium to coarse hair, a heavier serum is needed,’ Kim advises.

When it comes to picking a hair oil, look for one that doesn’t make your hair greasy. Stay away from mineral and paraffin oils if you have oily hair. ‘Look for natural oil ingredients with antioxidant and restructuring properties,’ suggests Kim.

Our picks

Trevor Oils for Sorbie dull coarse Precious hair, R225 gives you instantly soft and shiny hair. Hask Coconut Oil Treatment, R62,95 is great for a one-off boost of nourishment. Schwarzkopf BC Peptide Repair Rescue Nutri-Shield Serum, R490 is non-greasy, very light and smells great. Indola Innova repair split-ends serum,

R234 smooths flyaways and helps to seal and prevent split ends.

How should I use them? SERUM

For fine to medium hair, Kim suggests using a blob the size of a 20 cent coin. ‘Rub your hands together – always apply serums and oils over your hands like hand cream, this allows for even distribution – then apply serum to the ends first, using your fingertips.’ Work it through the rest of your hair. ‘Brush it through afterwards to distribute evenly,’ adds Kim. A 50 cent coin amount of serum can be applied in the same way for those with coarser hair. After working through the ends, rub your hands together and apply the residue product gently on the roots. ‘Try not to use your palms; it’s hard to control the distribution with a heavy hand.’ Fingertips, girls!

OIL

For fine/medium hair, apply one squeeze onto your hands and gently work it through your hair after shampooing and conditioning, ‘milking it on the ends’, says Kim. ‘Use a wide-tooth comb or Tangle Teezer and brush from the ends first then move up to the roots. This acts as a great detangler when hair is damp and fragile.’ Once you’ve finished blowdrying your hair, comb through another small amount as a heat protectant before flat-ironing. If you have coarse hair, use two to three squeezes of oil after towelling it dry. ‘After blow-drying, apply two more squeezes, then use a paddle brush to go over the hair with a hairdryer to seal it in,’ says Kim.