I’ve been using hyaluronic acid serum on my face for years. Hyaluronic acid is hugely popular for promoting plump, hydrated skin—and I’ve always found that it lives up to the hype.
So, when I saw someone on TikTok applying hyaluronic acid serum to their hair and claiming amazing results, I was intrigued.
As someone with locks that tend to be dry and frizzy, I’m always on the hunt for effective ways to moisturize and smooth my hair. Could this be the hack my hair-care routine was missing? I decided to find out and put the viral TikTok trend to the test for myself. For a few weeks, I would use The Vitamin Shoppe brand’s Hyaluronic Acid Booster Serum as part of my regular hair-care regimen to see if it could deliver a shinier, softer, more manageable mane.
Is hyaluronic acid actually good for hair?
Before getting started, I wanted to know if this trend was worth my time—so I asked a couple of beauty experts what they thought about applying hyaluronic acid to my hair. Turns out, there are legit benefits!
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“Hyaluronic acid is definitely hydrating—and your scalp and hair can benefit from the added moisture,” says Debra Jaliman, M.D., board-certified dermatologist and author of Skin Rules. As such, it can also help with frizz, she says.
Those with dry, parched, or staticky strands (a common problem in winter) could especially benefit from using hyaluronic acid as a primer on their hair, notes Elle Westby, co-founder of Brooklyn salon Gem House. (She says it would be particularly handy paired with a moisturizing mask.)
That said, those with vibrant color-treated hair may want to avoid this trend “as it could shift the color a touch and cause it to fade quicker,” says Westby.
The only other potential drawback: “You might have to wash your hair more often, as [the serum] might build up on your scalp and hair,” Jaliman says.
Time to give hyaluronic acid serum a shot
For best results, Westby suggested I start by using a gentle detoxing shampoo in the shower and then applying the hyaluronic acid serum to my damp hair from scalp to ends. From there, she recommended slathering a conditioning mask on over the serum, leaving it on for 15 to 20 minutes, and then rinsing everything out.
After my next shower, I pumped out a quarter-size dollop of serum and ran it through my wet hair with my hands. The serum had a watery consistency and was very easy to work through my hair; in fact, my hair soaked it up instantly. Then, I slathered on my favorite conditioning mask, set a timer for 15 minutes, and soaked in the tub until I was ready to rinse it all out.
After rinsing, I squeezed the excess water out of my hair and ran a wide-tooth comb through it. I was pleasantly surprised that there were no knots or tangles—something I usually deal with when I wash my hair!
An easier time styling my hair
From there, I proceeded with my regular styling routine, which consists of blow-drying my hair with a paddle brush. Usually, my hair frizzes up within minutes after I finish blow-drying it, at which point I go over it with a flat iron to smooth things out.
My hair looked so sleek and shiny (minimal frizz!) this time around, so I cut that final step out completely. It also felt super-soft. All I did was apply a teeny bit of finishing cream to my ends and I was good to go. A major win!
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Because my hair is naturally curly and on the drier side, I only wash and style it twice a week to avoid over-stripping it. I used the hyaluronic acid serum the next three times I washed my hair over the course of a couple weeks, experimenting by pairing it with a few different shampoos and conditioners in my rotation. I experienced similar results each time: silky-smooth hair!
Will I continue using hyaluronic acid on my hair?
I’ve been impressed with how soft and silky my hair has felt—and how easy it’s been to style—ever since adding hyaluronic acid to my hair-care routine. And by pairing this deeply nourishing ingredient with a detoxifying shampoo, I’ve been able to avoid any greasiness.
I really like the results I’ve seen, so I’ll definitely use hyaluronic acid serum on my hair again—most likely as an occasional treat whenever I need an extra moisturizing boost. I’m especially excited to use it during the upcoming winter months to stave off the dry, staticky hair I usually deal with this time of year!
From now on, I’ll just have to budget for two bottles of hyaluronic acid serum—one for my face and one for my hair.