Best 11 Hair Serums For Breakage and Split Ends

Medically reviewedby Dr. Amy Revene M.B.B.S.
WrittenbyLuat Duong
Last updated

Whether it's the intense heat from styling tools, harsh weather conditions, or a lack of essential nutrients, our hair often suffers from split ends and breakage. 

This can leave our once-lustrous locks looking frayed and lifeless. But fret not, as there's an effective solution at hand! 

Hair and scalp serums are a game-changer, offering essential nourishment and protection to your damaged hair and scalp.

In this article, we've curated a list of the top 11 hair serums designed to combat breakage and split ends. 

Infused with powerful ingredients, these serums aim to nourish your hair, contributing to its healthy, shiny appearance.

So, let's dive in and find the perfect hair serum to make bad hair days a thing of the past.[[textbox]]

Summary

Choosing the best hair serums for addressing hair breakage and split ends requires careful consideration of various factors. 

Understanding your hair type is essential in selecting a serum that suits your needs. Silicone-based serums work well for dry, thick, and frizzy hair, while lightweight options are ideal for thin and curly hair. 

Those with dull and lifeless hair can benefit from serums infused with nourishing ingredients like argan oil and vitamin E. 

Additionally, it's essential to opt for serums with high-quality ingredients, such as natural oils and extracts, while avoiding harsh chemicals. 

Finally, determining the frequency of use is crucial, with lightweight serums suitable for daily styling and thicker options for weekly or bi-weekly treatments.

By considering these factors, you can choose the best hair serums to effectively combat hair breakage and split ends, ultimately promoting healthier and more vibrant hair.

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What causes hair breakage?

hair serum for breakage

Hair breakage is often caused by physical or chemical stressors on wet or dry hair, such as over-styling, heat exposure, or harsh hair treatments. Nutritional deficiencies and specific health conditions can also contribute to brittle, weak hair prone to breakage.

The roots of hair breakage can typically be traced back to two main categories: physical and chemical stressors. 

Physical stressors include aggressive brushing or combing, pulling or tugging at the hair, or using heated styling tools like straighteners and curling irons too frequently or at excessively high temperatures. 

Hairstyles that draw on the hair, like tight braids or ponytails, can also lead to breakage over time.

Chemical stressors, on the other hand, encompass any treatments that alter the structure of the hair, such as colouring, bleaching, perming, or relaxing. 

These processes can weaken the hair shaft and make it more susceptible to breakage. 

Additionally, harsh shampoos or styling products can strip the hair of its natural oils, leaving it dry and brittle.

Lastly, internal factors can play a significant role as well. Nutritional deficiencies, particularly in proteins, vitamins, and minerals, can compromise hair health and lead to breakage. 

Likewise, certain health conditions, such as thyroid disorders or hormonal imbalances, can affect the strength and resilience of your hair. 

Hence, maintaining a balanced diet and good overall health is crucial to preventing hair breakage.

Read this: 15 Best Hair Growth Serums for Superior Hair Growth (2023)

How does hair serum for breakage work?

Hair serums for breakage work by forming a protective layer over the hair strand, reducing friction, and providing nutrients to help strengthen and repair damaged hair and stimulate hair growth.

When we delve deeper into the workings of hair serums, we understand that they play a dual role in combating hair breakage. 

On the one hand, they act as a shield, forming a protective layer around each hair strand. 

This layer significantly reduces friction between hair strands during combing, styling, or even when hair rubs against various surfaces. Reduced friction translates into less hair breakage.

On the other hand, these serums are power-packed with nourishing ingredients that penetrate the hair shaft to fortify and rejuvenate it. 

These ingredients can vary but often include vitamins, oils, and proteins that strengthen the hair and repair damage. 

Regular use of these serums aims to nourish and fortify your hair, contributing to its overall condition.

11 best hair serums for breakage 

Here are the top 11 hair serums to reduce hair breakage and split ends in 2023:

1. Bumble and Bumble Hairdresser's Invisible Oil

hair serum for breakage

Bumble and Bumble's Invisible Oil is a bestseller in their illustrious hair care lineup, and for good reasons. This standout hair oil is a multifaceted marvel, offering numerous benefits in one bottle. 

It deeply nourishes and moisturizes, rendering hair softer and smoother while expertly taming frizz without burdening the roots. 

This scalp serum not only shields hair from the detrimental effects of UV rays and heat but also repairs damaged hair, contributing to its long-term health and improved texture. Plus, it imparts an enviable gleam to your tresses.

The secret to the impressive benefits of this hair oil lies in its potent blend of six diverse oils - coconut, argania spinosa kernel, macadamia integrifolia seed, grape seed, sweet almond, and safflower seed oils.

These oils swiftly infiltrate strands to hydrate from within. Though not ideal for individuals with ultra-fine hair due to its potential to weigh hair down, this serum is a revelation for those with medium to thick hair textures.

It breathes new life into parched, damaged, and colour-treated hair.

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2. Aveda Botanical Repair Strengthening Overnight Serum

hair breakage serum

Aveda's Botanical Repair is a plant-based solution that stands out amidst the influx of 'plex' bond-building products currently swarming the market.

The star player in this line is the overnight serum. It's engineered to permeate the hair's outer cuticle and journey to the inner cortex, strengthening the bonds to bolster protection against future breakage.

The concept behind this product is not that hair behaves differently at night but that when you sleep, the serum gets ample time to deeply penetrate dry ends and perform optimally. 

Just apply it evenly along your hair length and scalp at night; by morning, your hair, enriched with hyaluronic acid, will feel noticeably softer and healthier, eliminating the need for a wash.

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3. Kristin Ess Weightless Shine Working Serum

hair breakage serum

If you're yet to hop on the Kristin Ess bandwagon, we invite you to join. This celebrity-endorsed brand offers a range of efficient hair care products that don't break the bank. 

The Weightless Shine Working Serum is a crowd favourite — a high-performing serum that hydrates and nourishes hair, locking in moisture for an extended period. 

Moreover, it repairs, and smooths damaged follicles, enhancing shine and healthiness with each use. Plus, it offers an added layer of protection against environmental factors and prevents colour fading.

Alexia Donovan, director of client services at Barber Surgeons Guild, shares, "This feather-light serum is crafted for use on damp hair for a natural, air-dried look, but it also conquers frizz and boosts shine when applied on dry hair." 

For optimal results, warm up a pea-sized dollop of the serum in your palms, then massage it into towel-dried hair, concentrating on the ends. 

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4. JVN Complete Instant Recovery Serum

hair breakage serums

Before becoming the cherished grooming expert on Queer Eye, Jonathan Van Ness honed his skills as a highly regarded hairstylist. 

His unique hair care line draws on his rich experience and expert knowledge.

The highlight of his collection is this exceptional serum, tailored to shield your hair from heat-styling tools like straighteners without leaving behind the typical drying alcohol or sticky residue found in most heat-protective products.

With a distinctive formulation that uses a squalene derivative instead of conventional silicone, this serum strengthens your strands, helping to prevent hair breakage and split ends without forming a heavy coating on the hair surface. 

Given these superior attributes, it's no wonder this product holds the bestseller title at Space NK.

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5. Guerlain Abeille Royale Scalp & Hair Youth Oil in Serum

hair serum for breakage

Guerlain's hair serum is worth the splurge if you're considering indulging your hair care routine. Crafted with a fusion of four sustainably-sourced honey varieties, this premium product amplifies shine noticeably from the first application. 

It incorporates the brand's exclusive royal jelly, packed with nutrients, proteins, lipids, and vitamins, offering a nutritional feast for your hair. 

To cap it off, the inclusion of panthenol seals in moisture and repairs dry, damaged strands, helping to prevent hair breakage and split ends.

Beyond being a potent hair serum, this product doubles as a scalp treatment without weighing your hair down. Its lightweight formula is rapidly absorbed by the scalp and hair follicles, leaving no greasy residue. 

The oil also reduces dandruff and promotes healthy hair growth when applied to the scalp. 

While its elegant glass bottle enhances the luxurious feel, it demands careful handling, mainly when using the serum, due to its fragile nature.

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6. Shu Uemura Ashita Supreme Serum

hair breakage

The Ashita Supreme line from Shu Uemura has impacted our team's focus on enhancing moisture.

Its hero ingredient is an extract from the ashitaba plant, known for its cell-regenerating properties and traditionally consumed by samurais due to its numerous health benefits.

With its creamy and non-silicone-laden texture, this highly efficient serum penetrates directly into dry hair, moisturizing it thoroughly without sacrificing its natural bounce and movement. 

This helps maintain the hair's strength and flexibility, reducing the risk of breakage and split ends.

Paul Edmonds, brand ambassador, highlights its particularly effective use on hair with bleached and balayage ends. Such hair tends to be more porous and requires sustained moisture to prevent hair breakage and the formation of split ends.

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7. Moroccanoil Treatment Light

hair breakage

 Finding a hair serum that doesn't weigh down thin, fine hair can be challenging, often deterring individuals from experimenting with hair oils. 

However, this favourite from Moroccanoil can change that perception.

This oil is crafted explicitly for thin hair, ensuring it's neither too heavy nor too dense. Its lightweight, almost watery texture facilitates easy application and distribution, though care should be taken to avoid using too much.

It imparts an immediate shine, particularly on the ends, making it ideal for use before blow-drying or for a quick moisture boost after drying. 

Its frizz-taming ability is particularly notable, effectively controlling flyaways near the roots and broken ends around face-framing bangs without burdening the hair. 

Instead, it conditions the strands and enhances shine, helping to prevent further hair breakage and split ends.

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8. Pattern Jojoba Oil Blend Serum

Pattern Jojoba Oil Blend Serum

Pattern, the brainchild of Tracee Ellis Ross, is a celebrity beauty line that stands out for its inclusivity, catering to diverse curl types and textures

The brand's hair serum, formulated with a nourishing blend of jojoba and rosehip, is expertly designed to penetrate and moisturize brittle, low-porosity hair. 

It provides long-lasting hydration, thus restoring bounce to coiled hair and promoting a lustrous shine.

The serum is highly versatile and suitable for wet and dry hair application. It can be mixed with a more substantial styling cream for those needing extra nourishment. 

Additionally, it can be massaged directly onto the scalp, which can help reduce dryness and itchiness. 

This proactive approach not only addresses immediate concerns like dryness and brittleness but also contributes to preventing future hair breakage and split ends.

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9.  Kérastase Elixir Ultime Hydrating Hair Oil Serum

best hair serum for breakage

Maintaining thick hair's hydration and nourishment levels can be a formidable task, but this oil serum from Kérastase is up for the challenge. 

This serum infuses even the driest, coarsest hair with essential moisture, infused with a cocktail of five nutritious oils — marula, maize, camellia, argan, and pracaxi. 

The synergy of marula and maize oils enhances the shine and suppleness of the hair, while camellia and pracaxi oils soften the tresses, making them more manageable. 

Further fortified with argan oil, the serum strengthens the strands, reducing their susceptibility to breakage, and effectively tames frizz, even under humid conditions. 

The result is a head full of soft, shiny, and healthy hair. Accompanied by a luxurious fragrance comprising freesia and mandarin notes combined with musk extract and sandalwood, this serum brings added sensory pleasure. 

While it's ideal for thick hair, it can also benefit thin hair; applying the serum pre-shower and rinsing it before shampooing can provide nourishing benefits without weighing the hair down. 

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10. Redken Frizz Dismiss Instant Deflate Serum

best hair serum for breakage and split ends

This oil-serum hybrid is a game-changer in combating the dreaded effects of humidity and unexpected showers, often leading to unwanted volume and frizz.

Frizz happens when moisture enters the hair strands, causing them to revert to their natural texture. 

However, the clever formulation of this product, enriched with lightweight silicones, creates a protective shield around each strand, effectively blocking moisture penetration and preventing frizz from forming. 

Whether you have curls that need definition or blow-dried hair that needs to stay smooth, you can rely on this serum to maintain your desired style, keeping your locks sleek and frizz-free.

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11. Paul Mitchell Super Skinny Serum

best hair serum for breakage

According to hairstylist and Arey co-founder Jay Small, the Paul Mitchell Super Skinny Serum is the top choice for curly hair. 

Small highlights its ability to fill gaps in the hair strand, smoothen the cuticle, and protect curls from humidity, all while requiring only a tiny amount of product. The serum excels at taming frizz and aiding in defining curls.

One notable advantage is its ability to reduce drying time, resulting in less heat damage to the hair.

 Small recommends applying the serum to wet or towel-dried hair for air-styling natural curls, as it effectively smooths and enhances curly hair. 

Additionally, the serum imparts a delightful fragrance of apples, berries, and sweet florals, ensuring beautiful and pleasantly scented curls. 

While the results are impressive, some users have noted issues with the pump mechanism getting jammed over time, requiring the product to be poured into the hands instead.

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The all-in-one hair solution: Tackling breakage and boosting growth

best hair serum

The Bio-Pilixin® Serum by Scandinavian Biolabs is designed to nourish hair and promote a healthy scalp.

Uniquely designed with multiple plant growth factors cultivated through advanced stem cell technology, this serum nourishes hair follicles and promotes healthy hair growth at the root.

The effectiveness of this revolutionary serum has been clinically tested, with significant results evident in as little as 45 days.

The Bio-Pilixin® Serum doesn't just claim to reduce hair shedding and encourage hair growth; it delivers. In a clinical study, 93% of users reported satisfactory results. 

This plant-powered serum is safe for daily use and designed to give your hair the care and stimulation it needs to thrive.

Every ingredient in the serum is of the highest quality, carefully selected based on a thorough review of scientific literature. 

Capilia Longa is a nutrient-rich medium derived from Curcuma longa stem cells that has been clinically demonstrated to reduce hair loss by up to 89–90% and improve hair density by 52%.

Niacinamide provides the strength needed for sustained hair growth by improving blood flow and protecting hair follicles from premature death due to oxidative stress caused by pollution and UV rays.

This triad of powerhouse ingredients makes the Bio-Pilixin® Serum a game-changer in hair care.

Finally, we stand by the effectiveness of our Bio-Pilixin® Serum. If you are unsatisfied with the results, we offer a money-back guarantee after 150 days. 

With Bio-Pilixin®, we aim to provide nourishment and care for your hair.

Bio-Pilixin Activation Serum | For Women
Bio-Pilixin Activation Serum | For Women
Our star serum – nurtures hair follicles growth

How to choose the best serum for hair breakage?

For choosing a hair serum for hair breakage and split ends, consider your hair type, look for high-quality ingredients, and determine the intended frequency of use.

When choosing the best hair serums for addressing hair breakage and split ends, consider the following factors:

Hair type 

Tailor your choice to your hair type. For dry, thick, and frizzy hair, opt for silicone-based serums. Dull and lifeless hair can benefit from argan oil, almond oil, and vitamin E. 

Lightweight and quick-absorbing serums are ideal for thin and frizzy hair. In contrast, curly hair may require a viscous formula. 

Coloured hair benefits from chemical-free, moisturizing serums with rich cream-based formulas.

Ingredients 

Select high-quality serums with beneficial ingredients. Look for natural components like vitamin E, hydrolyzed silk, tea tree extract, green tea extract, glycerin, shea butter, jojoba oil, coconut oil, and argan oil. 

Avoid serums with harsh ingredients such as mineral oil, petroleum jelly, PVP copolymer, sodium Laureth sulfate, polyethene glycol, benzene, phthalates, parabens, sulfate, formaldehyde, dyes, sodium hydroxide, and drying alcohol.

Frequency of use 

Consider the intended frequency of use. Lightweight serums are suitable for daily styling as they provide frizz control and a smoothing effect. 

Thicker or oilier serums are typically used for weekly or bi-weekly hair treatments.

By considering your hair type, the ingredients in the serum, and the recommended frequency of use within your hair routine, you can select the best hair serums to target hair breakage and split ends effectively.

Conclusion

Choosing the best hair serums for addressing hair breakage and split ends requires careful consideration of various factors. 

Understanding your hair type is essential in selecting a serum that suits your needs. Silicone-based serums work well for dry, thick, and frizzy hair, while lightweight options are ideal for thin and curly hair. 

Those with dull and lifeless hair can benefit from serums infused with nourishing ingredients like argan oil and vitamin E. 

Additionally, it's essential to opt for serums with high-quality ingredients, such as natural oils and extracts, while avoiding harsh chemicals. 

Finally, determining the frequency of use is crucial, with lightweight serums suitable for daily styling and thicker options for weekly or bi-weekly treatments.

By considering these factors, you can choose the best hair serums to effectively combat hair breakage and split ends, ultimately promoting healthier and more vibrant hair.

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Luat Duong

Luat Duong is a Copenhagen-based writer and content strategist specializing in hair loss and health. His work has been featured in MyHealthGuide, The Right Hairstyles, and Woman's Era. He is a graduate of Vaasa University. You can connect with him on LinkedIn.