We put our hair through a lot of stress with heat styling and exposure to the elements which can cause some serious damage. This means hair serums and masks have rightfully become an essential part of our hair care routines, but what’s the difference and do you need to use both? Let’s break down what hair serums and hair masks are so you can incorporate them in your weekly beauty and self care rituals.

How does hair serum work?

It’s common for dry, damaged hair to have flyaways and split ends which makes a hair serum your go-to frizzy hair treatment. It works by neutralising the negative static charge that causes frizz and prevents strands from splitting by hydrating hair follicles. Hair serum will also protect your hair from:

• Chemical processing thanks to colouring, perming or straightening.
• Heat damage from blow drying and heated styling tools.
• Environmental stress like sun exposure, pollutants, dust and photodamage.

A good hair serum that’s packed with active ingredients will revive dull hair by infusing moisture into each hair strand and restoring hydration for ultimate strength and shine from the outside. As the serum makes your hair smoother and silkier, it also has a detangling effect that helps you manage unruly strands for a polished finish.

How to apply hair serum?

Hair serum is typically a leave-in product so it’s best applied to clean hair that’s still damp from shampoo and conditioner. Warm the serum between your hands for a few seconds to help it evenly spread through your hair then gently massage it into your strands by starting at the ends and slowly working your way up to the middle. A little goes a long way so this will make sure you don’t overload on the product and you’re only applying it to the part of your hair that needs it most. When you’ve finished, use a wide tooth comb to gently distribute the serum evenly from the middle of your strands down to the ends.

A hair serum is the perfect pre-styling treatment to protect your hair from high temperatures so blow dry your damp hair as usual and add it to your morning ritual 3-5 per week.

Which hair serum is best?

The best hair serum is the one that nourishes your hair’s unique needs so you’re left looking sleek and shiny all day long. When it’s time for a reset on your hair care, go deeper with esmi’s Hyaluronic Hydrating Hair Serum. Reach for this weightless leave-in gel that’s just like one hairdressers use to protect your strands from damaging UV rays and styling tools. Bursting with active and botanical ingredients, it’ll increase hydration so you’re left with nourished hair that’s soft, smooth and manageable. Formulated with hyaluronic acid as well as tamarind, shikakai and coconut oil, it’s suitable for all hair types but works best on hair that’s dehydrated, damaged and dull. 

Hair serum vs. hair oil

So, what’s the difference between a hair serum and hair oil? Even though they have the same texture, they’re actually quite different! If we put our science coats on for one second, hair oil passes the cuticle and reaches the cortex of your hair strands to nourish and restore hair damage. Hair serum on the other hand, or bathroom shelf, adds gloss and reduces frizz to the outer layer of the hair so it doesn’t cause any changes to your hair structure.

Hair serum vs. hair mask

Well now we’ve got that cleared up, what’s the difference between a hair serum and a hair mask? A hair serum is gel or liquid in texture and contains active oils to create a protective layer between your hair and environmental stressors. The idea of a mask is to heal your hair so it’s thick and creamy to revive damaged hair while hydrating and nourishing for body and bounce. 

What does a hair mask do?

Just as a face mask works to nourish and hydrate your skin, a replenishing hair mask works in a similar way to boost the condition and health of your hair. They’re popular for controlling frizz, repairing damaged hair, increasing shine and manageability and restoring a healthier scalp balance.

If your hair feels dull and lifeless then hair masks are a quick and easy way to instantly boost moisture for shine and softness. Your hair cuticles are open when you apply a hair mask so your hair will absorb most of the moisture, this means you’ll want a good mask that contains natural oils to nourish your hair and scalp. Even if your hair isn’t coloured or heat styled, it can still lose moisture from daily wear and styling so masks can dramatically improve bounce and condition while protecting from future damage. 

Isa hair mask & conditioner the same?

Unlike your daily shampoo and conditioner, hair masks have rich ingredients that are heavier in concentration and can reach further into the hair strand to heal damaged hair. We like to think of a hair mask as a deep conditioning treatment thanks to those concentrated ingredients that are meant to be left on your strands for longer to seal in moisture. Your regular conditioner is designed to be used after shampooing so it essentially adds a little moisture, detangles your hair and then is rinsed out. You’ll want to use a conditioner every time you wash your hair but using a hair mask just a couple of times a week is plenty, follow this ritual with a layer of Hyaluronic Hydrating Hair Serum to seal your cuticles and you’ll have luscious locks in no time. 

Hair mask before or after shampoo?

After shampooing, apply a generous amount of our creamy Hyaluronic Hydrating Hair Mask to damp, towel-dried hair. Our hair hack is that if you apply the mask to clean wet hair, you’ll notice a much bigger difference as wet hair absorbs ingredients better than dry hair. Depending on your hair type, you'll use about one tablespoon for shorter styles and almost two tablespoons for longer locks. 

Gently massage it into your hair from the roots to the ends and leave it on for a minimum of 10 minutes. You’ll want to take a moment for your mask to sink in and absorb all the nutrients and antioxidants so don’t rush your treatment like you do your average shampoo or conditioner. Lovingly rinse your hair with warm water and make this treatment part of your self-care ritual by using 1-2 times per week.

Can a hair mask be applied on your scalp?

Your scalp is a continuation of the skin that’s on your face and body so if it’s stressed out you’ll likely notice dryness, irritation, flakes and itchiness. Scalp care means healthy hair which is why all esmi hair care products are formulated with our trademarked Hydrate Biome Blend, designed to support your delicate scalp microbiome and increase hair health without leaving you feeling heavy or weighed down. This means you can nourish your scalp, replenish lost hydration and balance oil production with a moisturising hair mask!

If you’ve got a greasy scalp, you might want to think twice about a hydrating mask unless it’s been specifically formulated to absorb excess oil otherwise you may end up blocking your pores which only increases oil production. 

Which hair mask should I use?

Skip the fuss and mess of a DIY mask by treating yourself with esmi’s Hyaluronic Hydrating Hair Mask, your new bathroom bestie. Designed for you to take a moment for yourself and feed your hair with a lightweight mask for effortless body, bounce and shine. It’s packed with essential actives and lush botanical ingredients, so this colour-safe mask will protect your hair from UV and heat damage while hydrating dull and brittle locks. 

Like our hair serum, it’s formulated with esmi’s trademarked Hydrate Biome Blend and is suitable for all hair types but you’ll see the biggest difference if your hair is dehydrated, damaged or dull. 

Beauty is good for the soul so make sure you select a range of products that include the same active ingredients for everything to work together. If your hair is feeling dry then look no further than our Hydrating Shampoo and Hydrating Conditioner which are both formulated with hyaluronic acid. 

Are hair products vegan?

All esmi hair care products are vegan and cruelty-free which means our hair care products don’t contain any animal ingredients or animal byproducts, haven’t been tested on animals and don’t contain ingredients like:

• Beeswax
• Honey
• Collagen
• Lanolin
• Gelatin
• Keratin

You’ll want to be good to your hair because you wear it everyday so shop esmi’s collection of hair care, treatments and bundles for hair that does the talking.