Hair Oil & Serum

Oils and serums are the finishing touch that takes a style from good to polished. They smooth the cuticle, add instant shine, and lock in moisture. A few drops can tame frizz or bring dull hair back to life. This collection brings together professional oils and serums from trusted brands, from light shine serums to rich nourishing oils.

Oil or Serum?

The difference comes down to texture and purpose.

• Oils are usually made from plant extracts. They sink into the hair and give deep nourishment, so they suit dry or thick hair. The 12 Reasons Argan Oil Serum is a rich, frizz-smoothing option.

• Serums are often silicone-based. They coat the surface for a smooth, glossy finish, lighter than an oil, so they suit fine hair or adding shine without weight. The KN10 Silk Serum is a lightweight finishing pick.

Some products blur the line, combining both to nourish and add a sleek finish.

Ingredients and What They Do

Different oils and serums carry different active ingredients. Knowing what each does helps you choose.

• Argan oil is rich in fatty acids and vitamin E, so it moisturises, smooths and adds shine, good for dry or damaged hair.

• Marula oil is lightweight and hydrates without weighing hair down, which suits most hair types, especially fine hair.

• Keratin is a protein that smooths the cuticle and helps reduce breakage, found in serums like the 12 Reasons Keratin Serum.

• Silicones create a barrier that adds shine and reduces frizz, working well for sleek styles, though they can build up over time.

• Bond-building ingredients work on internal damage, found in serums for damaged or chemically treated hair, like the Olaplex No.7 Bonding Oil.

Light, Medium or Rich

The biggest question shoppers have is whether an oil will leave hair greasy. Weight is the answer, so choose by how much your hair can carry.

• Light oils and serums are thin and absorb fast, so they suit fine or oily hair and add shine without weight. The NK Goldilocks Argan Oil Essence is non-greasy and quick to absorb, and a light serum also smooths the surface of colour-treated hair, like the Redken Acidic Color Gloss Naked Gloss Oil, which helps hold tone. Pair it with the wider hair products for coloured hair.

• Medium oils and serums suit most hair types, giving good moisture and shine without going heavy. The BKT Silk Touch Hair Oil sits here, and a medium repair serum with keratin or bond-building ingredients smooths and strengthens damaged hair, like the Olaplex No.9 Bond Protector, which belongs beside the wider set of products for damaged hair.

• Rich oils and serums are thick and nourishing, ideal for dry, thick, curly or damaged hair, taming frizz and locking moisture in. The Matrix A Curl Can Dream Oil sinks into curls and coils to define and hydrate them, and it reads well next to the wider curly hair products.

How to Apply

Apply to damp or dry hair, depending on the product and the finish you want.

1. Start small. One or two drops for fine or short hair, a little more for thick or long hair.

2. Rub it between your palms to warm it, then spread it evenly.

3. Work it from the mid-lengths to the ends, keeping it off the roots so hair does not go greasy.

4. For extra shine, smooth a tiny amount over the finished style. For a light heat step, apply before blow-drying.

Where Oil and Serum Fit in Your Hair Routine

Oils and serums are finishing products. They belong at the end of your styling routine, not the beginning.

Start with a hair detangler on damp hair to smooth the cuticle and ease out knots. Once your hair is dry and styled with a hair wax or hair styling cream for texture and hold, reach for your oil or serum.

Oil and serum go before a hair finishing spray, not after. Applying oil over hairspray can make the hair look greasy and weigh it down. For touch-ups through the day, a drop of oil on dry hair smooths flyaways and adds polish. Keep it light and focus on the ends.

Salon Brands in One Place

AMR stocks salon-quality oils and serums for salon and home use, at trade and retail prices, from Olaplex, Redken, Matrix, Schwarzkopf, 12 Reasons and Natural Look. They sit within the wider hair styling products range, delivered Australia-wide.