Whether you're experiencing hair loss, shedding or thinning, don't be alarmed. From red light therapy to rosemary oil, there is a plethora of easy-to-use products available to help you achieve a thicker, fuller head of hair without leaving your home. Serums, or water-based liquids, are one of the many buzzy formulas recommended by hair care experts, but do they actually help with hair growth?
According to Natia Rufolo, a board-certified aesthetic injector, PDO thread specialist, and founder of INJX BY NAT Aesthetics, "Yes — when used consistently, a good hair growth serum can absolutely help improve scalp health, stimulate follicles and encourage stronger, fuller hair."
Rufolo advises that while results aren’t overnight, with time and the right ingredients, they can make a noticeable difference.
Along with Rufolo, we spoke with a board-certified dermatologist as well as a certified trichologist to find out more about how hair growth serums work, including the nitty gritty details.
Keep scrolling to find the best expert-recommended and editor-tested hair growth serums from top brands like Nutrafol, The Ordinary, Kérastase and more — starting under $25.
Most budget-friendly$undefined$24.00
Affordable award winner$undefined$26.00
The best hair growth serums, according to experts
Mandy (Mandy B. Beauty) Buechner, a certified trichologist at Thairapy Wellness Center, is a big fan of this Eucalyptus Mint Hair Serum that is enriched with jojoba oil, argan oil, peppermint and tea tree. This "natural blend of oils that hydrates, smooths and protects hair without heavy silicones," she explains.
Buechner adds that both argan and jojoba oil deeply moisturizes, and repairs split ends without suffocating the cuticle layer of the hair.
"I love the Nutrafol Hair Serum for its impressive blend of active ingredients, especially its use of exosomes," notes Rufolo. "Exosomes deliver powerful growth factors directly to the hair follicles, aiding in regeneration, reducing inflammation, and helping you achieve an overall healthier scalp. It’s an excellent choice for anyone looking to support both scalp health and stronger, fuller hair growth."
"Kérastase Initialiste Serum is another favorite of mine because it focuses on both scalp health and hair strength, making it a true game-changer for fragile or thinning hair," says Rufolo. "With powerful ingredients like plant-based stem cells, ceramides and gluco-peptides. It’s the perfect choice for anyone looking to nourish their scalp while also enhancing the quality of their hair."
"I recommend this hair serum by Vegamour because it is formulated with ingredients like caffeine and biotin," explains Spearman. "This product is also ideal for people experiencing a lot of hair shedding as it helps prevent thinning hair, supports fuller hair overtime, and promotes overall scalp health."
"This serum is very soothing and hydrating, which makes it very suitable for those with a drier scalp," Spearman suggests. "Ingredients like sunflower sprout and tara extract also help protect against other factors like heat, UV damage, and other environmental pollutants."
The best hair growth serums, tested by editors
Associate editor Shannon Garlin tested The Ordinary's Multi-Peptide Serum and noted impressive results. "I still feel like the consistent use of this serum has started to repair my many years of hair abuse," she mentioned. "My hairline looks fuller and there’s new growth starting to appear. I even have family and friends commenting on how long my locks have gotten."
"The serum is also a winner of Shop TODAY’s Beauty Awards — it earned a spot as the best hair serum for thinning hair, targeting hair loss," she adds.
Dealing with hair loss? This treatment from Shop TODAY-loved K-beauty brand Dr. Groot may be just what your routine is missing. It has a roll-on applicator, which is ideal for targeting areas along the scalp like the hairline and part.
“While the serum is intended for use after washing your hair, I use it as a heat protectant, before I straighten it. It protects my strands and doesn’t leave a greasy texture," explains commerce writer Jannely Espinal. "Plus, it’s formulated with natural oil ingredients like argan, rosemary, jojoba, clary sage and moringa. I just use a few drops around my hairline and crown where I started seeing hair thinning.”
Anyone experiencing hair loss — for any reason, from hormone changes to stress and tight styling — or hoping to prevent it is a candidate for this winner. These restoring hair and edge drops are by Cécred, a hair brand from Beyoncé, and they took home the award for best growth product for hairlines.
Our testers found that it didn’t feel overly oily or greasy and was perfect for making hair feel fuller and even helping with itch between washes on braided styles. The formula is packed with dermatologist-approved ingredients like biotin, peptides and keratin.
How do serums help with hair growth?
“Hair growth serums support healthier, fuller hair by delivering a concentrated blend of vitamins, peptides, botanical extracts and other active ingredients directly to the scalp,” explains Rufolo. “By nourishing the hair follicles and stimulating blood flow, serums help create an optimal environment for new hair to grow stronger and more resilient.”
Rufolo mentions that regular use can also help extend the hair’s natural growth cycle, which helps minimize shedding and improves the overall quality of both new (and existing) strands.
“A hair serum, unlike a hair oil, works to cover the surface of the hair in order to help with shine, smoothness, hydration and shield against environmental factors,” suggests Dr. Dara Spearman, a board-certified dermatologist and founder of Radiant Dermatology Associates.
“While using a serum may not directly correlate to hair growth, serums can help with stimulating the hair follicles and improve scalp health which in turn can lead to hair growth,” Spearman points out. “Additionally, a good hair serum all comes down to its ingredients.”
In addition to peptides, Spearman also recommends caffeine to help stimulate circulation which, he says, can lead to hair growth.
However, here’s one thing you should keep in mind about bald spots: “Hair growth serums are best at strengthening existing hair and stimulating thinning areas,” suggests Rufolo. “They can support regrowth if the follicle is still alive, but they usually can’t revive completely dormant or scarred follicles.”
Frequently asked questions
Spearman recommends using a hair serum once or twice a week. However, if your hair tends to be oiler, she suggests applying once a week or every other week.
The short answer is no. "If your scalp is not clean and clogged with debris and oils, the serum won’t absorb," explains Spearman. "It should be done on clean hair and only applied to the scalp, not the hair," she adds.
Don't be too concerned if you're not seeing instant results after starting a serum. "Hair growth is a slow process, so patience is key," explains Rufolo. "Most people start to see early improvements like reduced shedding or stronger strands within 8 to 12 weeks of regular use."
"Not if you use the right amount and apply mainly to the mid-lengths and ends, avoiding the roots," Buechner explains. "Scalp serums are best used at night to allow the serum enough time to penetrate deep into the epidermis."
"A scalp serum targets the skin on the scalp — focusing on issues like hair growth, dryness, irritation or oil balance. A scalp serum is also used to help promote healthy hair growth," explains Buechner. "A hair serum coats the hair strands to smooth frizz, add shine, protect from damage or repair split ends. Each one treats a different part of the hair system!"
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How we chose
Allie Wise is an associate editor for Shop TODAY who has been reviewing and testing products since 2022. She specializes in mature skin care and has covered a variety of topics from the best lotions for mature skin to anti-aging face oils.
Wise rounded up the best hair growth serums by enlisting the recommendations of a certified trichologist, board-certified dermatologist and a board-certified aesthetic injector. She also asked our editors to share a few of their tried-and-true favorite picks as well.
Meet the experts
At Shop TODAY, our reporters interview a range of qualified sources and experts to capture a wide scope of perspectives on hair growth serums. We also make sure that all expert guidance and recommendations are made independently and with no undisclosed financial conflicts of interest.
- Natia Rufolo, FNP, NP-C is a board-certified aesthetic injector, PDO thread specialist, and founder of INJX BY NAT Aesthetics.
- Dr. Dara Spearman is a board-certified dermatologist and founder of Radiant Dermatology Associates.
- Mandy (Mandy B. Beauty) Buechner is a certified trichologist at Thairapy Wellness Center in Crescent City, California.
