Find the Best Hair Growth Serum for You in 2025

Dealing with hair thinning, weak roots, or slow growth can be frustrating. Many people turn to hair oils, but sometimes these can make scalp issues worse, especially for those with oily skin, acne-prone faces, or oily scalps that lead to dandruff. If this sounds like you, hair serums might be a much better choice.

I completely stopped using hair oils about a year and a half ago. My dermatologist told me to avoid them because they made my oily scalp and sensitive, acne-prone skin even worse. So, I started exploring hair serums. This journey taught me a lot, including that some serums work wonderfully while others cause negative reactions. It also showed me that real results take time. No serum will give you full hair growth in just seven days. Expect at least 45 days, and often longer, to see real changes. Your scalp type, its condition, and how well it absorbs ingredients all play a big role.

The Science Behind Hair Growth: Key Ingredients to Look For

When you pick a hair growth serum, you often see a few key ingredients. These powerful components help boost your hair's health and growth cycle.

Redensyl

This ingredient works by giving a push to the stem cells in your scalp. Stem cells are crucial for hair growth. Redensyl helps them work better and grow new hair.

Anagain

Again, it focuses on balancing your hair's life cycle. It helps control hair loss and reduces the amount of hair you shed. This ingredient helps keep your hair in its growing phase longer.

Procapil

Procapil boosts the metabolism of your hair follicles. Just like your body, your hair follicles have a metabolism that needs to be active for healthy growth. Procapil helps them work harder, leading to stronger, healthier hair.

These three ingredients are common in many effective hair growth serums. The quantity or concentration of each ingredient in a serum may make a tremendous difference in its effectiveness. It is important to remember that consistency is key, even with the best serum. You should also pay attention to your overall diet, including the amount of protein and vitamins you consume. The serums are effective in the initial and second stages of hair loss. And good news, men and women can use all these serums!

Top Hair Growth Serums: My Honest Review

Here are some of the most popular hair growth serums available in 2025. I tested them to give you a clear picture of what to expect.

Bare Anatomy Hair Growth Serum

You might have seen me talk about this serum before. It costs about ₹748, which is a bit pricey, but it's worth the money. Bare Anatomy claims it can grow 214 strands of hair in 10 days. I did not see this kind of fast growth. However, I noticed a big reduction in hair loss within 45 to 60 days of consistent daily use. After 60 days, I started to see some new hair growth.

One unique thing about this serum is that it helped control my dandruff, even though the brand does not claim this benefit. Dandruff can worsen hair loss, so keeping it in check definitely helped.

This serum contains strong ingredients like:

• 3% Redensyl
• 4% Anagain
• 3% Bicapil
• 1% Capilia Longa

These are all known to boost hair growth. The formula is good and absorbs easily. It works as a leave-in treatment, so you don't need to wash your hair the next day. Please do not mix it with hair oils.

Soulflower Hair Serum

This serum is very affordable, costing around ₹270 to ₹300. While it may work for some, it did not suit my scalp type at all.

Soulflower contains Rosemary and Redensyl, which are good for hair growth. However, it does not contain Anagain or Procapil. It also has an anti-greying booster, which is a great feature if you deal with premature grey hair.

The main issue I had was the hair fall it caused at the beginning. The brand mentions that you might experience hair fall in the first 10 days to a month. But for me, the first day alone caused a lot of hair fall, and I was not willing to risk it. If you have a lot of patience and can handle initial hair loss for potential long-term benefits, this might be an option. Otherwise, I would avoid it.

ThriveCo Scalp Vitalizing Serum 2.0

The ThriveCo serum used to cost around ₹599 but is now more affordable at about ₹679. It contains the same strong hair growth ingredients:

• Redensyl
• Anagain
• Procapil
• Capilia Longa

This serum is lightweight, easy to use daily, and does not require you to wash your hair the next day. However, it needs a lot of patience. For me, it took about six to seven months to see significant hair growth. I did notice a reduction in hair loss after 1 to 2 months, but true growth took much longer. If you want fast results, this might not be the best choice.

Be Bodywise Rosemary Hair Growth Serum (Roll-On)

This roll-on serum is one of my favorites due to its ease of use and price point of ₹599. It's more affordable than many other serums that cost around ₹700 or more. This is my second bottle, and I've seen good results with consistent use. I use a hair serum every single day, especially after washing my hair, when it absorbs best.

The unique roll-on applicator features a measuring scale to help you use the right amount (1 ml). It can be stiff at first, but it gets smoother with use.

Key ingredients include:

• 3% Rosemary
• 3% Redensyl
• Anagain
• 2% Amioxil

I saw a reduction in hair loss within one month. For hair growth, I noticed results after three to four months of consistent daily use. You should use it at least three days a week. This serum can be a bit stickier than others, so you might need to wash your hair every 2 days.

Wishcare Hair Growth Serum

This serum is very popular, and for good reason. It's effective and convenient. It contains a powerhouse of ingredients designed for hair growth:

• Rice Water
• Green Tea Extract
• Zinc (helps with dandruff reduction)
• Caffeine
• Biotin
• Bycapil
• Anagain
• Redensyl

The spray bottle is easy to use, giving you a good amount of product with each spray. Its consistency is very watery, so it absorbs quickly. I found that hair loss had reduced within about one month. Hair growth, however, still requires patience, though it might show results faster than some other serums.

The main drawback is its quantity for the price. At ₹679, a bottle might only last you about 20 days if you use the recommended three to four sprays daily.

Beware of fakes! The Wishcare serum has many fake versions on the market. To spot a fake:

• Check spellings: Fakes spell some ingredients incorrectly (e.g., Amagain instead of Anagain).
• Packaging: The original Wishcare serum comes in a white bottle. Authentic counterfeits have clear packaging.
• Smell: The original smells like light, fermented rice water. The fakes are typically very strong and synthetic, with a synthetic smell.

For serious hair growth, some highly recommended options are Minimalist's Hair Growth Actives serum or The Ordinary's Multi-Peptide Serum. However, Minimalist's hair growth serum can make your hair very sticky and flat, requiring daily washing, which might not be practical for everyone with an oily scalp like mine.

Mamaearth Rosemary Hair Scalp Serum

I personally did not like Mamaearth's Rosemary serum. It costs around ₹600. The main issue is that it lacks key hair growth ingredients like Procapil and Anagen, which are found in many other effective serums. It also doesn't contain the wide range of ingredients like Rice Water or Caffeine that Wishcare offers.

Its consistency is quite thick, making my hair very oily and requiring daily washing. I tried it for about a month, but saw no difference in hair growth or hair fall. Brand recommends using Mamaearth Rosemary Hair Scalp Serum twice a day, which makes it even more expensive given its thickness and the need for frequent washing. I rate this one 5 out of 10.

Pilgrim Hair Serum (Secret of Jeju Island)

If you have multiple hair concerns, such as hair fall, slow growth, and dull hair, the Pilgrim Secret of Jeju Island serum is a great option. Its formulation is inspired by Korean beauty practices, which often use ingredients like rice water for hair growth.

This serum contains:

• Redensyl
• Anagain
• Green Tea Extract
• Zinc (helps prevent bacterial growth and scalp buildup)

The green tea extract and zinc set it apart from other serums, helping to keep your scalp clean & free from buildup, which can hinder hair growth.

I found that it controlled my hair fall by 60-70% within one month. After three to four months, I started seeing new baby hairs. Pilgrim is known for effective hair growth results. It's an affordable option that tackles many concerns. While it doesn't contain Rosemary, it still delivers excellent benefits. The texture is just right, not too thick or sticky, and it leaves hair manageable and less frizzy.

Deconstruct AHA BHA Exfoliating Scalp Hair Serum

Deconstruct's new exfoliating scalp serum contains 1% Salicylic Acid. It aims to control scalp buildup. I did not find it very effective. I think The Ordinary's Glycolic Acid or a good anti-dandruff shampoo would work better for scalp health.

This serum costs around ₹300-₹400, which is reasonable for an exfoliating serum. However, I still experienced some itching, and the results were only average. Products like Bare Anatomy's salicylic acid shampoo deliver better results in controlling buildup without the need for a separate exfoliating serum. You typically apply this serum on wash days.

PLIX Rosemary Hair Growth Serum

The PLIX Rosemary Hair Growth Serum contains 3% Redensyl, Anagain, and Bycapil. While I'm not usually a big fan of PLIX products, this serum is effective. It significantly reduced my hair fall within one month, thanks to its high-quality ingredients and Rosemary.

However, the concentration of Rosemary and other key ingredients is low, which might reduce its overall effectiveness compared to serums with higher concentrations. Although effective, the hair growth might not be as boosted as with other serums. You should wait six to seven months to see significant hair growth. The price has increased due to demand, but it remains a good option for reducing hair fall.

Minimalist Maleic Bond Repair Complex 05% Hair Serum

I wasn't able to review Minimalist's Hair Growth Serum, but I did try their Maleic Bond Repair Complex 05% Hair Serum. This serum is not for the scalp; you apply it only to the length of your hair.

While it has a slightly chemical feel, its results are amazing for frizzy and chemically treated hair. After using it for four weeks, my hair became much more manageable and less rough. It won't make your hair perfectly silky, but it will significantly smooth the ends and reduce tangles. It helps repair broken bonds in your hair, especially after treatments like smoothing.

This serum is great value for money. A bottle can last you a full year. After two months of use, I've barely used any. It's an excellent choice if you want to restore your hair's original health and manageability.

Conclusion: Finding Your Best Hair Serum

When choosing a hair growth serum, consider your scalp type and the specific issues you want to address, and choose an option that includes ingredients that address them. There is a serum available to all, whether low-cost or more luxurious. Keep in mind that it is not only about the products you are using to grow hair. Diet, vitamin intake, and the general scalp (without accumulation and dandruff). It also plays a huge part. Alternatively, never miss a dose of serums in a period of 45 to 60 days to achieve actual results. When you have an oily scalp and acne caused by hair oils, you can significantly improve your condition by using a serum. I have completed the transition and have not regretted it!