Key Points

When your hair is damp, the cuticle opens up to make the hair more porous.
It’s best to apply hair serum when your hair is damp, as it absorbs more easily and locks the cuticle more effectively.
Applying hair serum to damp hair provides optimal results for frizz control, heat protection, and shininess.
If you need an extra boost of shine, moisture, or heat protection, apply an extra touch of hair serum to dry hair, too.

Your hair serum bottle says to apply to damp hair, but does it really make a difference? Understand which serum to use and why it works best on damp hair.

Caring for damp hair is important in maintaining your hair’s health and appearance. Wet hair is more susceptible to damage and breakage. By treating your wet hair with care and the right products, you minimize frizz, enhance shine, and promote overall hair health. Understand the best practices and top hair serums for damp hair to achieve gorgeous, manageable locks.

Damp Hair

Your hair has three layers: the cuticle, cortex, and medulla. The cuticle is the protective outer layer of your hair that plays a large role in the overall appearance of your hair. The cortex is the middle layer made of keratin that gives hair its strength and elasticity. The medulla is the innermost layer made of air.

When your hair is dry, the cuticles are flat and tightly aligned. This makes the hair shaft smooth and shiny. When your hair is damp, the cuticles swell and open up, making the hair shaft more porous and less shiny. This is why hair often looks frizzy when it’s wet.

The porosity of the hair determines the absorbency of water and other substances in the hair shaft. Hair with low porosity has tightly aligned cuticles, making it difficult for water molecules to penetrate. Hair with high porosity has cuticles that are more open, making it easier for water molecules to penetrate.

According to dermatologist Dr. Yoram Harth, “It is significantly more sensitive to breakage and damage when hair is wet… [H]air is mainly made up of proteins called keratins, and typically, these proteins are safely enclosed within the protective outer coating of the cuticle. However, when your strands are wet, the proteins form weaker bonds. Damp hair also stretches easily, deforming the cuticle by causing edges to lift and crack. When the protective coating gets damaged, it results in unruly hair filled with frizz-prone split ends and breakage.”

Be extra careful with your hair when it’s damp or dry. It’s the best time to absorb nutrients but also a time to be gentle and mindful of how you treat your hair. Here are some steps to manage and care for your hair while it’s damp:

Avoid brushing your hair when wet, as it causes tangles and breakage. Instead, use a wide-tooth comb or wet detangling brush to gently detangle your hair when damp.
Use a leave-in conditioner to add moisture and protect your hair from heat styling.
Apply a heat-protectant serum or spray before using heat-styling tools. A heat protectant spray prevents heat damage to your hair.
Let your hair air dry whenever possible. Air drying your hair prevents heat damage and keeps your hair healthy.
Use a silk or satin pillowcase to reduce frizz and protect your hair from damage.
Get regular trims to remove split ends and keep your hair healthy.

Applying Hair Serum to Damp Hair

It’s better to apply hair serums to damp hair because the hair cuticles are more open and receptive to the serum’s ingredients. When the hair is dry, the cuticles stay closed, which makes it difficult for the serum to penetrate the hair shaft.

Applying your hair serum to damp hair allows the product to coat the hair shaft more easily, protecting the hair from heat styling and environmental damage. When the cuticles are smoother, the hair is shinier and has less frizz. This also brings more moisture into the hair, making it softer and more manageable.

Your hair is easier to detangle and style after applying serum while it’s damp. Your hair has a better opportunity to soak the serum into the layers of your hair when the cuticle is open. Plus, the cuticles are less frizzy and more sleek if you seal your cuticles with a serum rather than waiting for them to dry and seal on their own. Nourish your hair deeply, properly protect your hair, and coat your cuticles by applying your hair serum to damp hair rather than dry hair.

Dry, damaged hair benefits from additional applications of hair serum. Apply some more serum to your hair once it’s dry for an added boost of moisture and protection. Applying a touch of extra serum to dry hair also provides a silky and shiny finish to your look.

If you’re heat-styling your hair, always apply some hair serum a couple of minutes before. This coats your hair to provide ample protection from the intense heat of your curling iron, straightener, or blow dryer.

Step-by-Step

Everyone should find their own hair routine with products and techniques that work best for them. Each hair serum also comes with its own instructions, especially those for hair growth and scalp health. For most other hair serums, follow this universal guide and make small tweaks to better suit your personal needs and goals:

Wash your hair with a gentle shampoo and conditioner. This removes any dirt, oil, or product buildup that prevents the serum from penetrating the hair shaft.
Apply a leave-in conditioner to your hair. This detangles your hair and makes it easier to apply the serum.
Towel-dry your hair with a microfiber towel until it’s damp. Don’t overdry your hair, as this makes it more difficult for the serum to penetrate the hair shaft.
Apply a pea-sized amount of hair serum to your hands, using more or less serum depending on the length and thickness of your hair. Rub it between your hands to warm it up and make it easier to distribute.
Starting at the ends of your hair, work the serum up to the roots. Use your fingers to massage the serum into your hair to distribute the serum evenly and allow it to penetrate the hair shaft. Use a wide-tooth comb to distribute it more thoroughly.
Let your hair air dry or blow-dry it on a low heat setting, then style it as usual. If you’re blow-drying your hair, allow your hair a few minutes to seal the heat-protectant serum in.

The Top Five Hair Serums

Most hair serums work best when applied to damp hair, especially if you’re using them for nourishing properties. Start applying one of these top hair serums to your damp hair to experience the benefits of nourishment, easier management, protection, and lasting shine:

Bumble and Bumble Hairdresser’s Invisible Oil

This blend of six different oils and two plant extracts quickly absorbs into your hair deeply for amazing nourishment. Bumble and Bumble Hairdresser’s Invisible Oil is clear, lightweight, and suitable for all hair types. When applied to damp hair, this oil tames flyaways, reduces frizz, and detangles hair. Apply it to your damp hair before heat styling for protection or just for a smooth, shiny finish.

Olaplex No. 9 Bond Protector Nourishing Hair Serum

Frequently proclaimed the top overall hair serum for all hair types, Olaplex No. 9 Bond Protector Nourishing Hair Serum is a lightweight, leave-in serum for damp hair. This product is full of antioxidants to protect your hair from heat damage and environmental pollution while also repairing some damage that’s already done. It also provides static control, tames flyaways, and holds bouncy styles or curls.

Moroccanoil Treatment

Condition, detangle, and boost your shine with Moroccanoil Treatment. This serum is suitable for most hair types, but there’s also a light version for fine textures and blonde colors. When you apply this luxurious oil to damp hair, it controls frizz and tames flyaways. Damp hair and open cuticles allow this rich serum to properly nourish your locks and leave you with magnificent hair!

Briogeo Farewell Frizz Blow Dry Cream

Lock out humidity to prevent frizz before it happens by applying Briogeo Farewell Frizz Blow Dry Cream to damp hair. This silicone-free product reduces frizz for up to two days and protects your hair against heat-styling up to 450 degrees. This serum also tames flyaways and adds shininess to any type of hair that uses it! If you’re concerned with frizz or want to protect your hair from blow-drying heat, this hair serum is perfect when applied to damp locks.

Garnier Fructis Sleek & Shine Anti-Frizz Serum

Tame your frizz with the power of Moroccan Argan oil in Garnier Fructis Sleek & Shine Anti-Frizz Serum. This budget-friendly serum penetrates into damp hair for serious frizz control, even for dry and unmanageable hair. Don’t underestimate the power of this drug-store hair serum; it’s sure to give you a sleek shine regardless of your type of hair.

Lather It on Your Damp Hair

Start coating your hair with a nourishing hair serum every time it’s damp! This is the optimal time and routine to moisturize and protect your hair while giving it the best frizz control and shiny finish. Try one of these top hair serums and try them on your hair to see which provides your favorite results.

Published on Age Defying September 6, 2023