Wet Vs. Dry: Expert Shares the Best Time to Apply Hair Serum

Hair serums have become an essential part of our hair care routine. Whether it is frizz, dryness, lack of shine, or damage from heat styling, a good serum can make all the difference in how your hair looks and feels instantly. Yet, one question has always left many thinking, whether to apply hair serum on wet hair or dry hair. 

According to Dr Rashmi Sriram, Dermatologist, Fortis Hospital, Rajaji Nagar, Bengaluru, it is entirely dependent on what you want the serum to do.Read ahead to know when each method works best and how to get maximum benefits.

Benefits of Applying Hair Serum 

Hair serums are silicone-based formulas that coat the hair shaft, thereby smoothening, protecting, and shining it. Unlike hair oils, which work their way up from your scalp and roots, serums are to be used from the lengths to the ends of your hair. They manage frizz and reduce tangling by acting as a shield against heat or excess humidity, thus enhancing shine. But using them at the wrong time may not only reduce their potency but weigh your strands down.

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What Happnes When You Apply Serum on Wet Hair

Dr Sriram added that the most common and effective method is application on wet or damp hair. For wet hair, distribution is much easier because the product can spread out over the strands evenly without clumping. Why it works is because:

• It locks in moisture: damp hair holds water, and serum seals that water inside, giving softer and smoother hair.
• Anti-frizz: Hair tends to frizz when it dries and releases moisture. Serum forms a protective layer around the hair, which keeps humidity out.
• Improves manageability: Wet hair application helps detangle hair easily, thereby reducing breakage during combing.
• Preps for styling: A serum applied on damp hair acts as a shield against heat damage if you use heat tools.

“This is the perfect method for curly, wavy, dry, or frizz-prone hair types. Just one to two pumps will suffice to coat mid-lengths and ends. Try not to hit the roots to avoid greasiness,” Dr Sriram recommended.

What Happnes When You Apply Serum on Dry Hair

If your hair looks dull, rough, or frizzy during the day, applying serum on dry hair will instantly refresh it. According to Dr Sriram, application on dry hair is ideal for quick fixes when you are in urgent need of smoothness or shine. Why it works:

• Instant Shine: Serum on the surface is absorbed by dry strands to give a polished finish in seconds.
• Controls flyaways: Dry hair is more prone to static and flyaways, so a little serum helps in taming them.
• Ideal for styled hair: If you have blow-dried or curled your hair, applying serum on dry hair helps define the style.

However, she advised against overusing it, saying that too much serum on dry hair can weigh it down or make it look oily. Use just half a pump, even less if your hair length is short.

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So, Which Is Better Wet or Dry Hair?

There is no single right answer, and each way has its benefits. Putting serum on wet hair keeps hair smooth, moisturised, and frizz-free for longer. Hence, this is the preferred way for most hair types. Applying it to dry hair is best kept for topping-up shine or taming last-minute frizz.

Dr Sriram suggested combining both methods for maximum results. Use serum on damp hair after washing, and then use a tiny amount on dry hair for finishing touches, especially on days with high humidity or after heat styling.

How to Apply Serum Correctly

Here is a dermat-approved way to apply hair serum correctly:

• If applying on wet strands, start with clean, freshly washed hair.
• Take one to two pumps, warm it between your palms, and run it through mid-lengths and ends.
• For dry hair, a small amount will suffice, just enough to smooth the surface.
• Never apply serum right onto the roots or scalp.
• Choose a serum depending on your hair concern: hydration, heat protection, shine, anti-frizz.

Bottomline

Serum works best on damp hair for long-lasting smoothness and protection; however, a small amount applied to dry hair instantly revives shine and can manage frizz. So, the choice is yours and depends on what you want from your hair.