Just as longevity becomes the skin-care buzzword du jour, consumers are seeking out hair-care products—including the best scalp serums—that promise not just a good hair day, but healthier hair overall. “Most of us spend the majority of our time on a routine that just conditions the hair shaft and styles the hair, but little time caring for the scalp, where hair is actually produced,” says Mangala Rao-D’sa, an Ayurvedic practitioner and the founder of scalp- and skin-care brand Chasma. “A scalp serum is valuable to everyone, because it can help support the scalp barrier by improving scalp hydration, reducing dryness and irritation, creating a healthier environment for hair growth, and improving the appearance of hair fullness and density over time.”
Vogue’s Favorite Scalp Serums
Still, as someone not gifted with natural volume and lift, I’ve always been hesitant to use any product that could weigh my hair down. For fine-haired women like me, “A modern water-based scalp serum is the best entry point because it is easily absorbed,” Rao-D’sa assured me. “The trick is to make sure it doesn’t sit on the hair, so working into the scalp with a scalp massager or vigorously with your fingertips is key.”
Thus emboldened, I’ve started testing lightweight formulas, tapping dermatologists and Vogue editors for their picks, and generally becoming more open to adding a serum to my hair-care routine. After all, my scalp and I are both 45 years old—and we’re not getting any younger.
“Over time, a targeted serum becomes less of a nice-to-have and more of a necessary tool for maintaining full and healthy hair,” says hairstylist Mandys Peña. “The hormonal shifts, especially around perimenopause and menopause, can accelerate shedding and change the scalp in ways that shampoo and conditioner alone simply can’t address, so a good scalp serum helps fill in that gap.”
Those under 40 can benefit from a good scalp serum, too. “We’re seeing more younger people experiencing thinning, fallout, and scalp sensitivity,” Rao-D’sa notes. Scalp serums are more relevant for everyone today, regardless of age.” And, regardless of hair or scalp type.
Whether you have thin or textured hair, a dry scalp, or an oily one, take a look at the professionally-vetted edit below. The mix includes a scalp serum that will boost your daily routine—and the volume of your coif.
