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10 Best Hair Growth Serums To Revive Damaged Strands
Here's how to achieve thicker, longer hair.
The humble beauty saviours known as serums have improved many of our skincare complaints over the years, so it makes sense to treat our hair and scalps to the same luxury.
The best hair growth serums promise to make thinning strands look and feel thicker and denser, all while helping to create a better environment for healthy hair to grow. If you’re rightly sceptical of anything that promises good hair in a bottle, rest assured that every product in our top 10 hair growth serums has been tested by a panel of 285 people, plus our in-house lab experts, to ensure that it actually delivers results.
Keep scrolling for the hair growth products that made our trusted edit. But first, here’s a quick guide to everything you need to know about hair thinning and hair growth.
How do I regrow my thinning hair?
Unfortunately, encouraging hair growth is no mean feat, but there are some ‘dos and do nots’ to consider. Dr Sharon Wong, Consultant Dermatologist and Hair Specialist, explains: 'Healthy hair growth requires good nutritional support from the inside. Our follicles are highly metabolic mini organs that use up a lot of energy.
‘Maintaining a well-balanced diet, including the full spectrum of macro and micronutrients, is the best and most sustainable way of supporting healthy hair growth (and a healthy body in general). It's also worth noting that taking supplements in the absence of a deficiency does not promote hair growth.’
In terms of no-nos, Dr Wong advises quitting smoking and trying to find ways to relax and cope with stress. ‘Smoking has been shown in some studies to be associated with premature balding and greying of hair. In many people, stress is the trigger for hair loss, be that shedding or the onset of alopecia areata (an autoimmune hair loss condition).’
Even the best hair growth serums aren’t miracle cures, but they will contribute towards a habitat where hair will (hopefully) thrive.
What ingredients are best for hair growth?
If your struggles with hair loss are affecting your self-esteem, you won’t be surprised by what we’re about to say: it’s time to book a GP appointment. Only medical professionals will be able to treat the problem adequately, so don’t delay.
‘The most effective way of regrowing thinning hair due to genetic hair loss or common balding is with medications that have been licensed for this purpose, like Minoxidil and Finasteride,’ says Dr Wong. Tips like eating healthily, minimising the use of heat and dyes and using hair masks and heat protectants are all well and good, but they won't make you regrow thinning hair overnight. They will, however, support the health of your hair fibres and help to optimise the environment for healthy hair growth.’
In terms of what to look for in a hair growth serum, Dr Wong recommends products containing peptides/amino acids and conditioning agents like hyaluronic acid.
‘These have an aesthetic effect on the hair that’s already on your head,’ she says. 'They plump up the fibres and add volume to make fragile strands look and feel thicker.’ Some serums contain plant extracts such as caffeine, which a few studies have suggested might be helpful for hair growth. Dr Wong warns, though, that their potency is likely to be ‘significantly less’ than medications specifically licensed for hair growth.
How we test
Our panel of 285 beauty testers tried 19 hair growth serums for eight weeks to find which products, if any, left them with longer, thicker hair. They reported any signs of hair thickening, strengthening or regrowth, as well as any differences to their scalps.
In the lab, our experts used a Hair Metrix machine to analyse hair follicles and assess how much progress each serum made when it came to hair growth.
Behold our 10 best hair growth serums...
Monpure Follicle Boost Hair Density Serum
In first place is this offering from vegan brand, Monpure. For starters, it sped up growth and reduced breakages for nearly everyone. If that wasn't enough, our testers enjoyed healthier heads of hair after the trial, with everyone noticing fewer flakes.
It soothed any scalp irritation and many testers reported newfound smoothness and hydration. Our entire panel spotted fewer pesky split-ends and many saw added volume and mirror-like shine.
Key specifications
Size: 50ml
Paraben free: Yes
Silicone free: Yes
Vegan: Yes
The key to growing longer locks lies in keeping your existing hairs happy. Dr Barbara Sturm has a legendary skincare line and celeb clients including Kate Moss, Cher and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, so you're in good hands with her haircare.
This vitamin B5 and camellia extract blend strengthened our panel’s strands, resulting in fewer breakages and less shedding. It impressed in our lab test for adding thickness and density and our testers rated it for its lightweight texture and gentle formula.
Key specifications
Size: 50ml
Paraben free: Yes
Silicone free: Yes
Vegan: Yes
Guerlain Abeille Royale Scalp & Hair Youth Oil-in-Serum
Royal jelly on our hair? Don’t mind if we do. The repairing honeys not only sound fancy, but they also help to repair damaged, brittle ends.
Sure enough, they gave our panel’s parched strands a good drink, leaving most testers with thicker, smoother and altogether healthier hair. Their scalps felt hydrated and soothed, too. ‘My hair is growing so fast,’ raved one delighted tester.
Key specifications
Size: 50ml
Paraben free: Yes
Silicone free: Yes
Vegan: No
Kerastase Genesis Serum Anti-Chute Fortifiant
It goes without saying that dandruff is not the one. Before focusing on growing out your length, put your hair health first and fix the issues at hand with a little help from this serum.
Featuring the popular Aminexil (L'Oreal's signature hair loss-preventing ingredient) and invigorating ginger, it relieved our panel’s scalps of any dryness to leave them flake-free. As a result, hair looked shinier, healthier and smoother for many, with fewer breakages occurring.
Key specifications
Size: 90ml
Paraben free: Yes
Silicone free: Yes
Vegan: No
Fable & Mane HoliRoots Hair Oil
Bridgerton might have given you your first insight into the ancient Indian hair-oiling technique, but now it's on your radar, it's time to give it a go. This pre-wash treatment makes that easy, with the goal of healthier, stronger hair.
It did the trick in our lab test for improving thickness and our testers adored its relaxing scent. Following a massage, their hair appeared less brittle, with dry scalps quenched and dandruff banished.
Key specifications
Size: 55ml
Paraben free: Yes
Silicone free: Yes
Vegan: Yes
Percy & Reed Give Me Strength Strengthening Scalp Concentrate
Brimming with essential oils and vitamins B3 and E, this hard-working serum aims to be the equivalent of your protein powder for struggling strands.
It sped up hair growth for our panel, as well as eliminating dryness and scalp irritation and preventing split ends. Our lab test found it effective at thickening and improving hair density, too. One tester was a particular fan, describing the product as ‘amazing’ on account of her ‘much healthier’ hair.
Key specifications
Size: 50ml
Paraben free: Yes
Silicone free: Yes
Vegan: Yes
Aveda Invati Advanced Scalp Revitalizer
Patience is a virtue, but it can be a struggle when it comes to hair growth. If you're desperate for longer hair, asap, then this is your guy. Not only did it ace our lab test for thickening strands, but it also showed noticeable results after as little as two weeks for one tester.
Hair was left stronger and healthier, with less shedding occurring and most testers noting a drastic improvement in regrowth. The unique spray bottle made it easy to cover roots and the blend of essential oils produced a heavenly scent.
Key specifications
Size: 150ml
Paraben free: Yes
Silicone free: No
Vegan: Yes
If you've got fine hair, piling on products might not sound like the best idea, but we promise you won't even notice this one.
Its light consistency didn't weigh down thinner hair and many testers praised the soothing effect it had on their scalps. It helped to combat fallout for most of our panel, as well as hydrating parched strands and strengthening frazzled ends.
Everyone was left flake-free, with the majority agreeing that it helped to rectify their hair loss issues.
Key specifications
Size: 100ml
Paraben free: Yes
Silicone free: Yes
Vegan: No
KLORANE Strengthening Serum with Quinine and Organic Edelweiss for Thinning Hair
It’s a given that for hair to grow, it needs to be healthy. Booking in a regular trim is a must but your haircare products also have an impact. Made with 98% natural-origin ingredients, this formula packed a powerful punch when it came to restoring hair.
It left nearly all our testers with healthier-looking tresses, with many sporting added shine, hydration and volume. Most noticed thicker, stronger strands post-trial, leading most of the panel to make it a permanent addition to their beauty bag.
Key specifications
Size: 100ml
Paraben free: Yes
Silicone free: Yes
Vegan: Yes
The Inkey List Caffeine Stimulating Scalp Treatment
Ever since The Inkey List launched its affordable yet high-performance products, team ELLE has been a fan. The haircare range is yet to disappoint us, preventing fallout while leaving locks looking healthier.
This caffeine-rich treatment was no exception, scoring well in our lab test for boosting thickness and density and banishing dandruff from our panel's scalps. Those testers with colour-treated hair also loved how much it boosted vibrancy, making it a right overachiever.
Key specifications
Size: 150ml
Paraben free: Yes
Silicone free: Yes
Vegan: Yes
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