9 Best Hair Straightening Serum In 2023 | Products For Smooth, Silky Hair

Here I have reviewed some of the top hair straightening serum and creams. These are products to keep hair straight after straightening it and are suitable for frizzy and curly hair.

If you want that ultra-sleek, smooth look without damaging your hair, it’s best to use the best hair straightening serum along with your styling tools.

Changing your hair texture from wavy or curly to straight requires some heat products to be used. Maybe a hair dryer or even a flat iron in the case of the curly-haired folks. 

But using these for longer times can ultimately hurt your hair, and the smoothness might not last for longer too.

Related: Best Hair Straightening Creams

Related: Best Oil For Straightening Hair

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A hair straightening serum or cream is the perfect solution to these problems. 

And if you’re wondering which is the best hair straightening serum to buy, don’t worry. Just check out the list of products and pick one that’s best suited to your tresses.

Here are some of my favorite products to keep hair straight after straightening it. 

Which serum is best for straightening hair?

After testing the products and testing them on parameters like ingredients, frizz control, shine, etc. we’ve found the Tigi Bed Head Straighten Out to the best hair straightening serum.

The Tigi Bed Head Straighten Out Serum is the best serum for straightening hair. Its emollient and keratin-rich formula helps keep frizz at bay and leaves hair’s texture soft and smooth. It’s also great for all hair types including curly and African American hair.

Hair Serum	Best For	Chief Ingredients
SheaMoisture Daily Hydration Finishing Oil Serum	African American Hair	Coconut Oil, Shea Butter, Sweet Almond Oil, Argan Oil
OGX Smoothing + Liquid Pearl Luminescent Serum	Frizzy Hair	Castor Oil, Kelp Extracts, Pearl Extracts
John Frieda Frizz Ease 3-Day Straight Flat Iron Spray	Oily Hair	Water, Hydrolyzed Keratin, Malic Acid
Tigi Bed Head Straighten Out Straightening Cream	Dry Hair	Water, PVM/MA Copolymer, Guar, Glycerin
Matrix Biolage Smoothing Hair Serum	Damaged Hair	Camellia Kissi Seed Oil, Dimethicone
Kerastase Discipline Smoothing Taming Milk	Thick Hair	Water, Arginine, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein
The Body Shop Grapeseed Glossing Serum	Flyaway Control	Grape Seed Oil, Sesame Seed Oil

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How I tested the top hair straightening serums?

I have curly 3a hair that I often straightening using flat irons or more permanent methods. So I use hair straightening serums very often. I used these products on my own hair and then gave them a rating from 1-5 based on certain factors that I’ve listed out below.

• Straightening Ability – I first checked how well the serum helped in creating/maintaining the straight texture on hair. I obviously ranked chemical straightening creams more while serums that protected hair after flat ironing ranked lower.
• Gentleness of Ingredients – I then noted if the serum was good for hair or if it contained ingredients like alcohol, added perfumes, parabens, etc. that could be harmful to hair and health.
• Price & Product Benefits – I lastly checked if the serum was affordable and if the priced matched the number of benefits the product offered.

Top Hair Straightening Serum 2023

SheaMoisture 100% Virgin Coconut Oil Daily Hydration Finishing Oil Serum

Best Hair Straightening Serum For Curly Hair

The first name on my list of the best hair straightening serum is the Shea Moisture Coconut Oil Serum.

I think it’s one of the best straightening products for black hair. I have 3a curls that require a lot of nourishment and this product works like a charm.

As curly African American hair is finer, coarser, and more prone to heat-related damage, this finishing oil serum is just the thing to keep it protected.

As the name suggests, the top ingredient in this leave-in serum is coconut oil, which has long been considered the Black girl’s best friend due to its nourishing properties.

The formula instantly makes my newly-straightened hair and I’ve also noticed the lack of frizz and flyaways after using this serum.

Then there’s also Acacia Senegal and coconut milk that detangle your curls, reduce frizz, and leave it straight and smooth for long.

But I think that the best part about this serum is that it’s free of any harmful chemicals like petrolatum, drying alcohol, parabens, or phthalates.

It doesn’t even contain silicone that is known to weigh down your tresses. 

Yet, I’d suggest you skip it and go for something lighter like the OGX smoothening serum if you have fine hair as coconut oil is very rich. And if used daily it can weigh finer hair down.

Also, the light, tropical scent is amazing. But it’ simply too concentrated. So I think you should opt for something more natural like the BodyShop Grapeseed serum if you have sensitive scalps or problems with perfume allergies.

Pros:

• Coconut oil helps prevents frizz as it’s super nourishing
• The Acacia Senegal helps retain moisture and repairs damaged strands

Cons:

• The coconut oil formula isn’t suitable for use as a heat protectant
• It might weigh down finer hair textures as it’s quite rich
• Fragrance is too concentrated making it unsuitable for sensitive scalp

My Ratings:

• Straightening Ability – 4/5
• Gentleness of Ingredients – 5/5
• Price & Product Benefits – 4.5/5

OGX Smoothing + Liquid Pearl Luminescent Serum

Best Smoothing Serum For Frizzy Hair

I have often found it irritating that even after careful flat ironing or blow-drying, my hair is left frizzy and unmanageable by the end of the day.

So I decided to check out this OGX smoothing serum as it promised to keep my hair silky.

Well, did it work? Yes, absolutely. I think you should try out the OGX Smoothing + Liquid Pearl Luminescent Serum, it did give my tresses a beautiful, smooth finish.

I was also pleasantly surprised that the formulation contains sea kelp extracts that protect your tresses and pearl extracts that give a glass-like shine.

Remember the sheen your favorite highlighter leaves on your skin? This OGX hair serum does something similar for your hair. 

But the main reason why I love this product is the price tag. It’s super affordable! So you can get silky, smooth hair at drugstore prices. 

Now let us come to this product’s downsides (yup, it definitely has them!). This serum contains added perfumes. So again, peeps with sensitive or inflamed scalps should give it a miss.

Also, you need to know exactly how to apply it and how much to take.

The serum itself has a jelly-like consistently and if you don’t spread it through your hair properly or take too much, it will definitely make your tresses gummy and sticky.

Pros:

• Contains tiny silica particles that help add shine to hair instantly
• The sea kelp helps nourish dry, dull-looking hair
• Contains glycerin and vegetable protein that helps moisturize and smoothen strands

Cons:

• Can make hair gummy if used improperly
• The added perfumes makes it unsuitable for sensitive/inflamed scalps

My Ratings:

• Straightening Ability – 4.5/5
• Gentleness of Ingredients – 3.5/5
• Price & Product Benefits – 5/5

John Frieda Frizz Ease 3-Day Straight Flat Iron Spray

Best Hair Straightening Serum Spray

Okay, okay, I confess. This is technically not a hair serum but a spray. But the John Frieda Frizz Ease was too good not to include in my best hair straightening serum list.

It’s, in my opinion, among the must-have products to keep hair straight after straightening it.

It promises to keep your tresses straight for at least 3 days after your blow-drying or flat ironing treatment. And it definitely kept this promise on my hair.

That is if you don’t shampoo your hair first. I also liked the keratin-based formula that adds strength and shines back to heat-damaged strands. 

There is also research proving that the keratin in these hair products penetrated through the cortex of your hair repairing the mechanical functional of damaged hair strands.

The beauty of the John Frieda hair serum spray is that despite its long-lasting formula, it doesn’t weigh down your tresses. So if you’ve got really fine hair, you should go for this product. 

Pros:

• Liquid spray formula makes it ideal for finer hair textures
• Blend of polymers helps hair keep “straight” for at least than 3 days
• Contains keratin protein that helps repair damaged hair

Cons:

• You will need to use a flat iron or hair straightening tool first, it won’t straighten hair by itself

My Ratings:

• Straightening Ability – 4/5
• Gentleness of Ingredients – 4/5
• Price & Product Benefits – 4/5

Tigi Bed Head Straighten Out Straightening Cream

Best Hair Straightening Cream

Sometimes hair needs a little bit of extra TLC, especially if they’re dry, to begin with. So if your tresses feel straw-like after straightening, try using a hair straightening cream instead of a serum.

And the Tigi Bed Head Straighten Out is perfect for the job!

The formula is packed with emollients like glycerin that nourish each strand, leaving hair soft and silky.

This cream contains thermosetting polymers that get activated after you apply heat in the form of a flat iron or blow dryer.

So all you need to do is apply this cream to damp hair and straighten your tresses. It leaves your hair looking straight, smooth, and more manageable. 

Oh, and don’t forget, this is a heat-activated cream. It was formulated to be used with a heat-styling.

The only downside I found about this hair straightening cream is that if you let your tresses air dry after using this cream, it might harden in your hair. 

Pros:

• The hair cream is very effective on frizzy hair
• It helps coat hair protecting it from heat damage while straightening
• The glycerin-based formula helps nourish hair by adding moisture to your hair strands

Cons:

• It leaves a sticky, crunchy texture on hair
• The hair straightening cream doesn’t work very well on Type 4 hair

My Ratings:

• Straightening Ability – 4/5
• Gentleness of Ingredients – 3.5/5
• Price & Product Benefits – 4.5/5

Related: Try these best styling gel for black womens hair to keep curly, Afro hair looking good!

Matrix Biolage Smoothing Hair Serum

Best Hair Serum For Damaged Hair

I have noticed that constant hair styling and straightening used to leave it damaged. So I started looking for a best hair straightening serum that didn’t just keep my tresses smooth for longer, but also protected them from damage.

And this is exactly what the Matrix Biolage Smoothing serum does!

I love that it contains a rich blend of botanicals, including Camellia Kissi seed oil that protect your hair from heat-related damage.

I also adored the the fragrance that the serum leaves behind in the hair. However, this might be mean that certain sensitive scalp types might not react well to it as it can trigger itching.

The formulation is lightweight, so it doesn’t weigh the hair down.

But a little product goes a long way in this case. So be careful not to use too much serum as it can leave your tresses looking greasy and oily. 

Pros:

• The formula is vegan and doesn’t contain harmful ingredients like parabens
• The liquid formula makes it easier to apply on your hair and also lasts longer
• It contains Camellia Kissi seed oil that helps nourish strands without making it look greasy

Cons:

• The strong added perfume might leave scalp itchy if you have sensitive skin

My Ratings:

• Straightening Ability – 4.5/5
• Gentleness of Ingredients – 4/5
• Price & Product Benefits – 4.5/5

Kerastase Discipline Keratine Thermique Smoothing Taming Milk 

Best Hair Straightening Serum For Thick Hair

I used to hate straightening hair using flat irons or blow dryers because of the time it takes.

And my case was worse as I have got really thick hair. But I was really glad to have found the Kerastase Smoothing Taming Milk as it makes everything better.

I liked that the formulation contains a mix of ceramides and keratin. It coats every strand before you get to straightening and makes the process much easier. And also keratin helps replenish lost protein in damaged hair due to heat.

And the best part is that it works amazingly well at combating frizz and dryness too as it’s really moisturizing.

In a way, this product gives you the best of both worlds. It’s very nourishing but it’s not oily or rich, it helps protect hair against heat, and it also makes hair straight. So it ticks all of my boxes!

So what’s the catch here? Well, wonderful products like these do not come cheap. It’s a bit on the expensive side.

But if you’re someone like me who often straightens hair or suffers from a lot of damage and frizz, it’s worth it!

Pros:

• The ceramides in the formula helps nourish hair and keep it frizz free
• The hair milk spreads easily through hair and doesn’t require a lot of product to be used
• The keratin-based formula helps repair damage

Cons:

• The product might be too expensive

My Ratings:

• Straightening Ability – 4.5/5
• Gentleness of Ingredients – 4/5
• Price & Product Benefits – 3.5/5

Streax Pro Hair Straightening Cream

Best Temporary Hair Straightening Cream

When I say “best hair straightening serum” or even “hair-smoothing cream” you usually think of products that increase the longevity of already straightened hair.

Or something that protects your tresses in the straightening process. But what if there was a cream that left your tresses silky straight without any heat styling tools involved?

The Streax Pro Hair Straightening Cream does just that. Apply it to your hair to temporarily feel your tresses become smooth and straight.

It’s one of the top men’s hair straightening products too. So anyone can use it! 

I would advise you not to use it often because it can dry out your hair. And steer clear of your scalp while applying this product as it is a chemical-based straightener. 

The Body Shop Grapeseed Glossing Serum

Best Silicone-based Hair Serum

The Body Shop Grapeseed Glossing Serum is the perfect choice if you’re looking for something to add shine and gloss to your tresses.

It contains grape seed oil and sesame seed oil that adds nourishment to the strands and prevents frizz.

This hair serum is one of the best products to keep hair straight in humidity. It contains silicones that add that extra layer of glass-like sheen to your tresses.

Now most products avoid silicones as it builds up on your hair. But this Body Shop serum washes off easily, and if you can always use a clarifying shampoo once a week to get rid of any product build-up.

Wella Wellastrate Intense Straightening Cream

Most straightening serums preserve the texture of already straightened hair. They increase the longevity of your straight textured-tresses and prevent frizz.

But this product by Wella actually transforms curly hair into a straight, sleek mane.

It’s dermatologically-tested and contains a cationic base that helps adds moisture to your tresses and make them silky smooth.

How To Choose The Best Hair Straightening Serum For Your Hair

When it comes to hair straightening, there are a lot of different serum options on the market. Which one is right for you? Here are some tips to help you choose the best hair straightening serum:

There are a number of factors to consider when choosing a hair straightening serum. These include the ingredients, how it will work on your hair type, and the price. Here are some tips to help you choose the best serum for yourself:

• Choose an ingredient list that is tailored specifically to your hair type. For example, if you have dry or damaged hair, look for a serum with hydrating ingredients like hydration agents or humectants.

• Next, find a serum that fits your particular hair type. Different serums work better on different types of hair, so be sure to read the ingredients carefully.
• Third, consider your skin type. Some serums can cause irritation or even allergic reactions in people with sensitive skin. Be sure to test out the product before using it on an entire batch of hair.
• Then, take into account how often you plan on using the serum. Serum effectiveness declines over time, so make sure you buy enough to last several months or years (depending upon how often you use it).
• Lastly, base your decision on price and quality alone! There is no need to spend an arm and a leg just because a salon recommended this brand or product line–you can find high-quality products at affordable prices online.”

How do I keep my hair straight overnight?

Sometimes you just get tired of straightening your tresses every day. Won’t it be amazing if the current smoothness of your hair lasts for days?

Don’t worry this is possible! Try these tips to keep your hair straight overnight. 

• Use a hair serum or spray: The easiest way to make straight hair last for longer is to spritz on a hair spray or serum. Some of these products like the John Frieda Hair Spray or Tigi Bed Head Straighten Out Serum protects your hair from humidity and prevent it from getting frizzy or curly again. 

• Change the bedsheets: Try replacing your cotton bed sheets with silken ones. Cotton fabrics are naturally absorbent and can take away all the natural moisture from your tresses. This increases the chances of hair becoming frizzy. The fibers on cotton pillowcases can also snag and tear your strands. So switch from cotton to silk or satin beddings.

• Pin or tie your hair before bed: Tying your hair back or pinning them up keeps them from bouncing up and down and getting tangled. It reduces friction between the strands, which in turn reduces frizz. Just remember to keep not tie your hair too tightly as it can cause a kink in the middle.

Everyone loves straightening experimenting with their hair. But if you want your styles to last longer and hair to be protected, it’s essential to use the best hair straightening serum.

We’ve compiled this list based on several factors, including ingredients, price, and your hair’s needs.

Choose one to keep your newly-straightened tresses soft and smooth all day long. 

Also Read:

Amazing Hair Serum Benefits

Best Hair Dryers For Straightening Hair

Can Hair Serum Be Used As Heat Protectant