5 Hairstylist-Approved Anti-Frizz Serums for All Hair Types

Dealing with frizzy hair? If there's one product that's going to fix those flyaways – and fast – it's an anti-frizz serum. These concentrated formulas make light work of unruly strands. But choosing the right product isn't always easy, which is where this guide comes in. Here are five anti-frizz serums chosen by salon pros for their powerful smoothing effects...

But, First – What Causes Frizzy Hair?

Frizz can happen for a wide range of reasons, and knowing the cause is key to achieving smoother hair. So, do any of these sound familiar? They could be the culprits behind those telltale flyaways.

• Heat and mechanical damage: Without the right protective care in place, heat styling and daily wear and tear can result in breakage, leaving your hair looking stressed and frizzy.
• Lack of moisture: Dry hair is prone to the rough texture and flyaway strands synonymous with frizz – especially when the air is damp and humid.
• Environmental changes: Extreme weather, air con and central heating can all impact the smoothness of your hair. Dry air, in particular, is behind that static, frizzy look.
• Natural hair type: Some of us are simply born with frizz, whether that's due to the way it grows from the follicle or the amount of natural oil our scalp produces.
• Aging: Hair can become thinner, finer and frizzier over time. Just as pigment levels go down (leading to greys), moisture levels can reduce, too.

What is the Best Anti-Frizz Serum?

1. The Luxurious Hair Serum with 96-Hour Frizz Control¹

Try: ULTIMATE SMOOTH Miracle Oil Serum

What it does: If you crave the pampering, comforting texture of an anti-frizz oil, you'll love the luxurious ULTIMATE SMOOTH Miracle Oil Serum. A hair serum and hair oil in one, it's enriched with a blend of Squalane and Omega-9, delivering inside-out nourishment for longer-lasting results. So, not only does it give your hair a beautiful, silky shine, but it also delivers smoothness that lasts up to 3 days¹. What's more, it has a built-in UV protection and it works as a heat protectant. No bouncy blow-dry should be without it.

How to use it: Smooth this high-shine lightweight oil through the mid-lengths and ends of clean, damp hair, or use it on dry hair in between washes to instantly tame frizz and flyaways.

Pro trick: This one-of-a-kind oil-serum can also supercharge your hair mask for major nourishment. Scoop ULTIMATE SMOOTH Intense Mask into the palm of your hand, add a couple of drops of the oil, then apply to clean, damp hair and let it absorb for five minutes.

2. The Frizz Control Cream for Dry, Stressed Hair

Try: INVIGO Nutri-Enrich Frizz Control Cream

What it does: Prefer the texture of a cream? Then deeply nourish dry hair with INVIGO Nutri-Enrich Frizz Control Cream. It helps to protect and perfect stressed strands for the silkiest blow-dries, leaving your hair soft, shiny and full of vitality. Tricky-to-tame hair will love this.

How to use it: Designed for use on damp hair, this creamy anti-frizz serum can be applied pre-blow dry or before air-drying. Comb it through the mid-lengths and ends of your hair, adding a little extra to especially frizzy areas.

Pro trick: Before applying, massage the serum into the palms of your hands to warm it up. Then gently glide your hands over the surface of your hair for even distribution.

3. The Protective Night Serum for Low-Maintenance Mornings

Try: ULTIMATE REPAIR Night Serum

What it does: Anti-frizz products aren't just for daytime. If you often wake up to an untameable mane, ULTIMATE REPAIR Night Serum will make your mornings far more manageable. The nourishing gel-cream helps to protect strands from friction while you're sleeping, with a blend of Omega-9, AHA and powerful defence polymers. So, when it comes to getting ready each day, you'll be working with 6x smoother hair² after just one night. The easier styling means you might even get to hit snooze on your alarm.

How to use it: Apply the protective hair serum to dry hair before bed, focusing on the mid-lengths and ends. Then, if you like to secure your hair in an overnight style, follow your usual ritual.

Pro trick: To further protect hair from breakage while you sleep, swap cotton for a silk or satin pillowcase. Wrapping your hair in a silk bonnet or scarf will also help to keep pillow friction at bay.

4. The Protective Hair Serum That Keeps Heat Damage at Bay

Try: ULTIMATE REPAIR 5-in-1 Protective Leave-In

What it does: Heat-styling protection goes four steps further with ULTIMATE REPAIR 5-in-1 Protective Leave-In, a delicate cream-serum that shields against hot tools, UV exposure, frizz, breakage and mechanical damage. It's powered by a breakthrough blend of AHA and Omega-9, which reinforces strands by repairing the cortex while targeting the outer layer. So, if you have damaged hair that struggles to withstand daily aggressors, a few drops will envelop fragile lengths in the protective care they need, while keeping frizz under wraps.

How to use it: Apply to damp hair before blow-drying or use on dry hair before styling with a flat iron or curling iron. Because the cream is so light, it absorbs fast.

Pro trick: For a perfecting and protecting power pair, layer ULTIMATE REPAIR Protective Leave-In over the top of ULTIMATE REPAIR Miracle Hair Rescue. The potent treatment repairs hair damage in 90 seconds³, leaving hair with 99% less breakage².

5. The Curl Defining Balm-Serum

Try: NutriCurls Curlixir Balm

What it does: The dream for curls and coils, NutriCurls Curlixir Balm is richer than your average serum, delivering definition, bounce and light hold with every (gentle) scrunch. It's formulated with Wella Professionals' exclusive Nourish-In Complex for weightless moisture that keeps curls and coils touchably soft. Plus, if you find that frizz tends to disrupt your curl pattern, a few drops of this will give ringlets and zags the texture-loving finish they deserve. Perfect for wash days – and touch-ups in between – it's your answer to the healthiest-looking curls yet.

How to use it: Gently scrunch NutriCurls Curlixir Balm into damp or dry hair to reactivate the shape of your curls or coils. You can also use it to finger-coil your lengths, creating an extra-defined, bouncy finish.

Pro trick: Divide curls before applying NutriCurls Curlixir Balm, and smooth through hair in an even layer to ensure every last strand gets texture-loving care.

Don't Make These Anti-Frizz Serum Mistakes

When applying your chosen hair serum, make sure you...

• avoid putting serum through the roots. Focus on the mid-lengths and ends only to prevent product buildup through the roots;
• don't skimp on the rest of your routine. For best frizz-defying results, use a shampoo and conditioner that promise a smooth finish, too, like ULTIMATE SMOOTH Shampoo and ULTIMATE SMOOTH Conditioner;
• aren't using too much. Start slow and gradually build up your serum. Remember: it's always easier to add more product than it is to take it away.

Your Anti-Frizz Serum Questions – Answered

Can You Use Anti-Frizz Serum on Dry Hair?

Yes, you can use most anti-frizz serums on dry hair, but it's important you check the usage instructions before doing so. Some anti-frizz treatments are specially designed to be used on damp hair, while others, like ULTIMATE SMOOTH Miracle Oil Serum, tame flyaways through damp and dry hair.

Can I Use Anti-Frizz Serum Every Day?

Yes, you can use an anti-frizz serum every day, but you'll want a formula that sinks in fast. For daytime, use ULTIMATE SMOOTH Miracle Oil Serum or, on curly hair, NutriCurls Curlixir Balm to quickly smooth down flyaways. Then, before bed, apply ULTIMATE REPAIR Night Serum. It's a protective gel-cream that lets you wake up to 6x smoother hair².

Is Anti-Frizz Hair Serum a Heat Protectant?

While not all anti-frizz serums offer heat protection, you can find formulas that are suitable for use while heat styling. For example, ULTIMATE SMOOTH Miracle Oil Serum shields strands against heat damage while delivering mirror-like shine, and ULTIMATE REPAIR 5-in-1 Protective Leave-In combines damage repair with a built-in heat and UV shield.

Looking for more hair care advice? Get a virtual consultation by taking our short hair quiz. In minutes, you'll have a ready-to-go regimen tailored to your needs.

¹ when using Miracle Oil Serum if unwashed for 3 days, vs. untreated.

² When using ULTIMATE REPAIR Miracle Hair Rescue. Instrumental test versus non-conditioning shampoo.

³ When using ULTIMATE REPAIR Miracle Hair Rescue.