What is Hair Serum and Why Do You Need It?

In the short list of products men believe they need to look great, hair serum might just be last on that list. After all, most of us went through our teen years with only shampoo and – on special occasions – conditioner to get the style we wanted.

As we get older, though, our hair needs change and new products are necessary to stay looking great. This is why hair serum is becoming increasingly popular among the population. Whether your hair is thinning, damaged or just needs a little more control, this versatile product gets it all done.

What is Hair Serum?

The easiest way to describe a hair serum (and who isn’t looking for simplicity?) is to compare it to skincare serums. While we all use soap to scrub our faces clean, those with additional skincare needs use serums to go deeper. This is precisely what hair serum products do.

Hair serums are hyper-concentrated products that are used prior to your traditional styling products. As opposed to shampoos and conditioners, this formula is left in throughout the day. You also don’t need to use anywhere near as much serum as you would other haircare products.

Hair serums provide added strength and protection, and unlike oils, they don’t penetrate your hair cuticles. This is a huge advantage since oils can change the entire structure of your hair by doing this. Of course, saying the product adds strength and protection isn’t really saying much.

It’s far more informative to look at the actual benefits of hair serum. You might now be wondering what these supposedly awesome benefits are.

We thought you’d never ask.

Benefits of Using Hair Serum

We’ll start off by telling you the main benefit of using hair serum: it makes you look great. You can check out some of our other great tips for impressing while out on the town on the Barber Surgeons Guild Dispatch, but for now, just look at the other benefits of hair serum.

Helps Control Out-of-Control Hair

The right pomade can keep your style in check all day, but if you’re not going anywhere special or your “do” is especially out of control, hair serum can get the job done. Whether you’re using a blow dryer or the humidity outside is unbearably stifling, a serum can help control any frizz or flyaways. Even though you use a small amount of the product, it will coat each strand evenly and keep everything in check.

Adds Shine for a Healthier Look

Using the right amount of hair serum can also add shine to drab looks. On top of this, it won’t overdo it if you’re using a styling product that also adds shine. The fact is that shine conveys health, and if you can get it without greasing down your locks with a damaging hair gel, that’s exactly what you should go for.

Protects from Environmental Damage

While humidity can ruin a perfectly good hairstyle, other environmental factors can cause real damage. Heat, UV rays, dirt and pollutants can infiltrate your hair and result in breakage, splits and even thinning. By coating each strand, you add a protective barrier that can keep all these damaging stressors out of your hair and where they belong – in the environment.

Moisturizes Dry Hair

The unfortunate part of completely cleansing your hair in the shower is that certain products can leave it dry. This is especially the case if your scalp doesn’t produce a ton of sebum – the oil that keeps everything healthy. Instead of letting your mane dry out, hair serum will provide the moisture that prevents everything from looking dull and potentially brittle.

Hair Serums for Specific Needs

In addition to the numerous benefits provided by most hair serums, certain specialty products have added ingredients for men with specific needs. Those who have allergens to a common ingredient, for instance, could opt for organic products. There are even hair serums out there that claim to slow down hair graying.

For those who are trying to stop thinning hair, there are also options available. Two-thirds of men will have some form of hair loss by the age of 35, and your chances of seeing significant loss increase with age. BSG’s HCO1 Hair Serum is specifically formulated to hinder this process and make your hair look fuller and thicker.

It’s Not Just for the Morning

With many hair products, you’re expected to apply a certain amount in the morning and go about your day. This is especially the case with hair gels – which you should NEVER use in your hair – and other products that lock your style in place.

When it comes to hair serum, though, you can apply more as you go through your day. Is an especially dry day wreaking havoc on your style? Just rub a tiny bit of serum in your palm and go to town. Could you not avoid jumping in the pool when you got to your friend’s house? Rest assured a little added serum will help you finish out the day.

How Hair Serums Work

The best part about hair serums is their simplicity. While there’s a ton of science that goes into the products – stuff none of us want to be bored with – the truth is that the serums simply coat and protect your hair. The common ingredients contained in most products are meant to coat the entire hair cuticle and remain there until the next wash.

The barrier that’s created to the outside world is one of the reasons many people use hair serums as a preventative measure. In addition to the ingredients that protect your hair from environmental factors, the added lubrication is what makes your mane more manageable.

When it comes to specialty hair serums, though, you’ll have to look at each product individually to see how it works. Barber Surgeons Guild’s HCO1 Hair Serum, for instance, has BSG’s Trichoanagenic Factor. This blend includes biotin, caffeine, ketoconazole and other ingredients that promote hair growth.

By coating your hair with these additives throughout the day, you’re ensuring that your mane has the best chance of retaining a full and healthy look. What is this HCO1 Hair Serum we keep talking about? Click the link to find out. Yes – the one in the last sentence, genius.

How to Use Hair Serum

If you’re wondering how to use a hair serum, you’re not alone. Looking at the back labels of five different serums will create a good chance of finding five different sets of instructions. With that being said, make sure you read the instructions. Different formulas will have different “best practices” that ensure your hair looks great in the end.

With all that being said, there are a few entrenched truths that remain the same regardless of which hair serum you choose. The common ingredients along with the intended purpose of the products mean several rules should always be followed. Here are a few of them.

Don’t Use in Unwashed Hair

One of the main benefits of hair serum is keeping dirt and grime from damaging your hair. Unfortunately, it can’t do this job well if your hair already has dirt and grime in it. Use Barber Surgeons Guild’s HCO1 Shampoo and Conditioner to get your hair clean.

A Little Goes a Long Way

It cannot be reiterated enough that hair serum is a highly-concentrated substance. Imagine Everclear grain alcohol – you simply wouldn’t need as much to get the job done. Use the included dropper to dispense the appropriate amount in your palm. A half dime-sized amount works for shorter hair, and a dime-sized amount is better for longer hair.

Put in Damp Hair

Many products need to be applied to damp hair, and since hair serum is supposed to be put in before other products, it should be obvious that damp hair is ideal. Even if you love that blow dryer, keep it to the side until the serum is in.

After all, famed hairstylist Schorem always says “you need a blow dryer to do a good haircut, but a good haircut doesn’t need a blow dryer.”

Cover Your Entire Mane

Some products work best when applied to the scalp and roots. Others excel when they’ve dispersed midshaft to the tip (keep your snickers to yourself). Hair serum, on the other hand, needs to be applied to your entire mane. After all, the whole purpose is to protect all of your hair from the elements.

Start by allowing the serum to sit in your palm for about six seconds. This warms it up and ensures better distribution. Afterward, rub your palms together and rake your hands throughout your entire “do.” Massage your scalp in circular motions and do your best to get the product from the scalp to each strand’s end.

You can also use a brush to ensure you properly distributed the product throughout your hair. Once this is finished, you can wait a few minutes and then style your hair as normal. You’ll notice the difference in your locks immediately.

Choosing the Best Hair Serum

Once you decide to give hair serum a chance to improve your mane, it all comes down to product selection. Those who have needs outside of the purview of traditional hair serums will have to be more vigilant – something we’ll explain below – but choosing the right product typically entails consideration of the same factors. 

Look for the Right Ingredients

Many hair serums will give you the vibrant and healthy look you’re going for, but you need to make sure the right protective ingredients are involved. Apigenin, for instance, protects the hair from free radicals and is thus a great ingredient to have included. Always take the time to learn what’s going in your hair.

Avoid the Wrong Ingredients

Unfortunately, there are tons of common ingredients in hair serums that aren’t good for your mane. Just because they’re common doesn’t make them healthy. The following ingredients can cause everything from environmental damage to a decrease in your sperm count. Moral of the story: avoid these at all costs.

• Phthalates
• Mineral oils
• Parabens
• Sulfates
• SLS/SLES

You might want to go ahead and check your other hair care products for these ingredients while you’re at it. If you’re using the HCO1 line of hair products, though, rest assured that none of these additives are on your sink or in the shower.

Specialized Haircare Needs

As mentioned earlier, certain hair serums have additional ingredients to help with other issues your hair might be going through. This should be a deal breaker when you’re looking for a hair serum.

If you’re constantly looking for new ideas of styling thinning hair, for instance, it’s important to recognize that traditional serums aren’t going to help with this problem. As celebrity hairstylist Garren explains, it also doesn’t hurt to bring a photo of the style you want to your barber.

Take the time to find the product that caters to your specific needs. If you’re looking for something that will give you fuller hair and protect what you’ve got, BSG’s HCO1 Hair Serum is as far as you need to look.

The Product You Never Knew You Needed

Even if you’re new to the world of hair serum, you’ll quickly realize it’s the product you’ve always needed. In fact, if you’re starting to thin out up top, it could mean the difference between a gorgeous lady “swiping right” or you just staying home alone tonight. If you want to ensure your hair stays healthy and attached to your head, check out BSG’s HCO1 Hair Serum now.