We all want to wake up with Instagram-worthy hair. The problem is, if you’re dealing with some serious hair woes, your daytime hair serums and leave-in treatments just might not cut it—not to mention the fact that adding a product or two to your daytime routine can add time to your already jam-packed schedule. The good news? Overnight hair serums are on the rise, and they’re specifically formulated to beautify your strands while you sleep.
Looking to learn more about overnight serums? We tapped Erika Dawn Shear, Shu Uemura Art of Hair artist and brand ambassador, to find out what exactly overnight serums are. Plus, we break down our top picks for you to try the next time you catch some Z’s. Whether you have dark brown hair or ash blonde strands, keep scrolling for everything you need to know.
What is overnight serum?
Let’s face it: We can use all the help we can get during the only uninterrupted hours of our days. That’s where overnight serums come in. While standard hair serums are meant to protect hair from exposure to the sun and environmental factors during the day, overnight serum is a cream or oil applied to the hair before bed that works to repair your strands while you sleep.
“During the day, our hair is exposed to different free radicals that can cause damage. Daytime serums are great to minimize any damage caused by these aggressors. At night, our bodies naturally switch to repair at a cellular level,” Shear explains. “This eight hours of sleep gives our hair a break from heat, styling, and day-to-day health risks—the optimum time to use a reparative night serum!”
Who is overnight serum best for?
Whether you have fine hair that lacks volume or soft waves in need of definition, every hair type has its own needs. Luckily, an overnight serum can be a total game-changer for repairing your hair regardless of type or texture. If your strands need an extra dose of nourishment, an overnight serum may be the Holy Grail product you’ve been looking for.
Want to wake up with better hair? Keep scrolling for the five overnight serums you need to add to your pre-bedtime ritual.
The Best Overnight Serums To Try
Shu Uemura Art of Hair Essence Absolue Overnight Hair Serum
Dealing with dry strands? Before catching your daily eight hours of shuteye, apply the Shu Uemura Art of Hair Essence Absolue Overnight Hair Serum throughout damp or dry hair. Formulated with red camelia oil, this nourishing and taming overnight serum works to bring much-needed moisture back to your mane.
Shu Uemura Art of Hair Essence Absolue Overnight Serum, $69.00 MSRP
Kérastase Nutritive 8H Magic Night Hair Serum
You deserve all the beauty sleep you can get—and so does your hair! That’s why we recommend the Kérastase Nutritive 8H Magic Night Hair Serum if you’re looking to nourish and detangle dry hair—no morning rinse required!
Kérastase Nutritive 8H Magic Night Hair Serum, $55.00 MSRP
L'Oréal Professionnel Serie Expert Inforcer Anti-Breakage Night Serum
If hair breakage is taking over your daily routine, you need an overnight serum to care for your broken strands while you sleep. The L'Oréal Professionnel Serie Expert Inforcer Anti-Breakage Night Serum, infused with vitamin B6 and biotin, helps strengthen hair overnight reduce breakage.
L'Oréal Professionnel Serie Expert Inforcer Anti-Breakage Night Serum, available in salon
Alterna Haircare CAVIAR Anti-Aging Restructuring Bond Repair Leave-In Overnight Serum
We have a little secret to share: Just as your skin shows signs of aging, your hair can too—and we’re not just talking grays. The Alterna Haircare CAVIAR Anti-Aging Restructuring Bond Repair Leave-In Overnight Serum is packed with vitamins and minerals to restore hydration, vibrancy, and elasticity to bring back healthier, younger-looking hair.
Alterna Haircare CAVIAR Anti-Aging Restructuring Bond Repair Leave-In Overnight Serum, $45.00 MSRP
Keranique Intensive Overnight Hair Repair Serum
If you’re looking to tackle thinning hair at the root, opt for the Keranique Intensive Overnight Hair Repair Serum. This overnight treatment is formulated to nourish the scalp and hair follicles while promoting thicker, fuller, and healthier hair.
Keranique Intensive Overnight Hair Repair Serum, $48.00 MSRP
Interested in more personalized product recommendations? Use our salon locator to book an appointment at a salon near you.
