Style Sealers
Finish your routine with optional serums, creams or oils to enhance softness, smoothness and shine after your leave-in products.
This is a completely optional finishing step in the Abbey Yung Method. Use it only if your hair would benefit from a little extra softness, smoothness or shine. Step 11 covers optional between-wash care.
Step 10 is completely optional. If your hair already feels hydrated after Step 8, you may not need an additional style sealer.
Serums, creams and oils are finishing products that can be used when your hair would benefit from extra softness, smoothness or shine.
What Step 10 Is For
Style sealers sit right at the very end of the routine, applied after styling to put a final polish on hair that has already been washed, conditioned, protected and styled. They are cosmetic finishing products, not repair treatments — think of them as the last small adjustment rather than a foundational step.
A style sealer can help with:
- Reducing the appearance of frizz
- Improving softness to the touch
- Adding shine and reflectivity
- Smoothing the outer hair surface
- Lightly sealing the finished style
- Improving overall cosmetic appearance
It’s worth being clear about what these products do not do: serums, creams and oils do not permanently repair damaged hair. Any smoothing or strengthening feel they provide is a cosmetic, temporary effect that lasts until your next wash, not a structural change to the hair itself.
A style sealer is the final polish on a routine that’s already done the real work — it finishes the look, it doesn’t repair the strand.
Serums
Lightweight leave-in serums designed to smooth the cuticle and add shine without leaving hair feeling coated or heavy.
Garnier Fructis Hair Filler + Vitamin Cg Strength Repair Serum
A lightweight leave-in serum that pairs vitamin C with bond-supporting hair filler technology, smoothing the surface and adding shine as a finishing step after styling.
- Very affordable
- Lightweight, non-greasy finish
- Adds subtle shine without weighing hair down
- Effects are cosmetic, not reparative
- Best for daily maintenance, not deep damage
- May need reapplication for finer hair
Who Should Buy It: Anyone wanting an affordable, everyday finishing serum for smoother, shinier hair.
Redken Acidic Bonding Concentrate 24/7 Night & Day Serum
A lightweight, low-pH finishing serum from Redken’s Acidic Bonding Concentrate line, designed to smooth the cuticle and add shine both morning and night without disrupting a finished style.
- Professional salon-quality formula
- Can be used day or night
- Pairs with the full Acidic Bonding Concentrate system
- Premium salon-brand price point
- Best paired with the matching shampoo and conditioner
- May be more than needed for low-damage hair
Who Should Buy It: Chemically treated or colour-treated hair users seeking a salon-quality finishing serum.
Pureology Strength Cure Dream Healer Serum
A lightweight multi-tasking serum formulated with ceramides to help smooth, protect and add shine to color-treated hair, designed to sit invisibly on a finished style.
- Sulfate-free and colour-safe
- Strengthening ceramide complex
- Adds noticeable shine without heaviness
- Higher price point than drugstore options
- Bottle size may not last as long as budget brands
- Best paired with the matching shampoo and conditioner
Who Should Buy It: Colour-treated hair users willing to invest in a premium, salon-quality serum.
Lotions & Creams
Leave-in creams and lotions that add softness, smoothness and frizz control with a slightly richer feel than a serum.
Pantene Miracle Rescue 3-in-1 Multi-Tasking Conditioner
A multi-tasking leave-in cream that can be used to detangle, smooth and add softness to finished hair, offering a lightweight, everyday alternative to using several separate products.
- Very affordable
- Multi-tasking formula saves steps
- Noticeably softer, more manageable hair
- Milder than a dedicated styling cream
- Best for everyday maintenance rather than heavy frizz
- Fragrance is fairly strong
Who Should Buy It: Anyone wanting a simple, affordable, multi-tasking cream for everyday softness and frizz control.
L’Oréal Elvive Total Repair 5 Protein Recharge
A leave-in cream designed to recharge weakened-looking hair with a lightweight protein complex, helping smooth the surface and reduce the appearance of split ends between washes.
- Affordable drugstore price
- Lightweight, non-greasy texture
- Helps smooth the appearance of damaged ends
- Effects are cosmetic rather than structural repair
- Best used consistently for cumulative benefit
- Use sparingly on fine hair
Who Should Buy It: Anyone with damaged-looking ends wanting an affordable, everyday leave-in cream.
L’Oréal EverPure Weightless Blow Dry Primer
A lightweight, color-safe priming cream applied before blow-drying to help smooth the hair surface and reduce frizz as hair dries, without leaving a heavy or weighed-down feel.
- Color-safe, sulfate-free formula
- Helps reduce frizz during blow-drying
- Lightweight enough for fine hair
- Best applied before drying, not as a finishing product
- Benefits are most noticeable with heat styling
- Not a substitute for a dedicated heat protectant
Who Should Buy It: Anyone who regularly blow-dries their hair and wants a smoother, less frizzy result.
Redken Acidic Bonding Concentrate Leave-In Treatment
A lightweight leave-in cream from Redken’s Acidic Bonding Concentrate line, designed to smooth, soften and add shine to chemically treated hair as part of a daily routine.
- Professional salon-quality formula
- Lightweight, easy to layer with other products
- Pairs with the full Acidic Bonding Concentrate system
- Premium, salon-brand price point
- Best paired with the matching shampoo and conditioner
- May be more than needed for low-damage hair
Who Should Buy It: Chemically treated hair users seeking a salon-quality everyday leave-in cream.
Bumble and bumble Hairdresser’s Invisible Oil Long Last Styling Cream
A lightweight styling cream from the Hairdresser’s Invisible Oil line, designed to smooth the hair surface and help a finished style last longer without feeling heavy or greasy.
- Long-lasting smoothness
- Lightweight, non-greasy finish
- Versatile for multiple hair types
- Premium, salon-brand price point
- Best used sparingly on fine hair
- Not intended as a deep treatment
Who Should Buy It: Anyone wanting a longer-lasting, lightweight styling cream for smoother, more polished hair.
Oils
From lightweight mists to richer penetrating oils, this final category adds shine, smoothness and frizz control as the very last step of the routine.
OGX Bond Protein Repair 3-in-1 Oil Mist
A lightweight, spray-on oil mist that combines a protein-based bonding complex with a blend of oils to add shine and smoothness to finished hair without weighing it down.
- Affordable, easy-to-find formula
- Lightweight mist format
- Adds noticeable shine
- Effects are cosmetic, not reparative
- Mist format offers less control than drop oils
- May need several sprays for longer hair
Who Should Buy It: Anyone wanting an affordable, easy-to-apply oil mist for everyday shine.
OGX Argan Oil of Morocco Weightless Healing Dry Oil
A weightless dry oil formulated with argan oil, designed to smooth frizz and add shine to finished hair while absorbing quickly rather than sitting on the surface.
- Weightless, fast-absorbing formula
- Affordable drugstore price
- Suitable for most hair types
- Lighter finish than richer oils
- May need reapplication for very dry ends
- Not intended as a deep treatment
Who Should Buy It: Anyone wanting an affordable, lightweight everyday shine oil.
Dove Damage Therapy Intensive Repair 10-in-1 Serum
A multi-benefit oil serum designed to address several cosmetic concerns at once, including frizz, dullness and split-end appearance, as a lightweight finishing step.
- Multi-benefit formula in one product
- Affordable for a 10-in-1 treatment
- Leaves hair noticeably smoother
- Jack-of-all-trades formula may be less targeted
- Best used sparingly on fine hair
- Fragrance may be strong for some
Who Should Buy It: Anyone wanting a simple, all-in-one finishing oil for general dryness and frizz.
Dove Damage Therapy Bond Shield 10-in-1 Super Serum
Part of Dove’s bond-focused range, this oil serum combines multiple cosmetic benefits with bond-strengthening technology, intended as a finishing step alongside Dove’s Bond Shield shampoo and conditioner.
- Affordable bond-focused formula
- Multi-benefit oil serum
- Pairs with the full Dove Bond Shield system
- Best results with the full three-step system
- Milder than salon bonding oils
- Not a substitute for in-shower treatments
Who Should Buy It: Anyone using the Dove Bond Shield line who wants a matching finishing oil.
OGX Renewing Argan Oil of Morocco Penetrating Oil
A richer penetrating oil formulated with argan oil, designed for use on dry ends or particularly coarse, thirsty hair that needs more than a lightweight mist or dry oil.
- Richer, more concentrated formula
- Affordable drugstore price
- Good for very dry or coarse ends
- Can feel heavy on fine hair if overused
- Best applied to ends only, not roots
- Not a substitute for a moisture mask
Who Should Buy It: Coarse or very dry hair wanting a richer finishing oil for the ends.
Living Proof No Frizz Vanishing Oil
A lightweight finishing oil designed to smooth frizz and add shine while feeling like it “vanishes” into the hair rather than sitting on the surface.
- Weightless, non-greasy finish
- Effective frizz control
- Suitable for fine to medium hair
- Premium price point
- Smaller bottle size than some competitors
- Best for lighter frizz needs rather than very coarse hair
Who Should Buy It: Fine to medium hair wanting effective frizz control without heaviness.
Amika Superfruit Star Lightweight Hair Styling Oil
A lightweight styling oil formulated with a blend of superfruit oils, designed to add shine and smoothness to finished hair without weighing it down.
- Lightweight, fast-absorbing formula
- Pleasant, long-lasting fragrance
- Adds noticeable shine
- Premium price point
- Best for shine rather than deep dryness
- Small bottle size
Who Should Buy It: Anyone wanting a lightweight, pleasant-smelling oil for shine and softness.
Bumble and bumble Hairdresser’s Invisible Oil Styling Oil
A signature blend of six oils designed as a versatile finishing oil, smoothing frizz, adding shine and softening hair without a greasy after-feel.
- Versatile for most hair types
- Long-lasting smoothness and shine
- Iconic, well-regarded formula
- Premium, salon-brand price point
- Best used sparingly on fine hair
- Not intended as a deep treatment
Who Should Buy It: Anyone wanting a versatile, well-regarded finishing oil for everyday shine and softness.
Serums vs. Creams vs. Oils
All three categories can add shine and softness, but they differ in texture, finish and how they feel on the hair. You don’t need all three — most people find one or two that work best for their hair.
Serums tend to be the lightest of the three, absorbing quickly and adding shine with very little weight, which makes them an easy everyday option for most hair types.
Creams generally sit between serums and oils in richness, often doubling as a detangler or blow-dry aid in addition to their finishing benefits, which makes them a good multi-purpose choice.
Oils are usually the most concentrated of the three, offering the strongest shine and smoothing effect, but can feel heavier if too much is used, particularly on fine hair.
You don’t need a serum, a cream and an oil — most people find their hair only needs one or two of these finishing products.
How to Choose a Style Sealer
Rather than rigid rules, use your hair goals as a starting point — then adjust based on how your hair responds.
Lightweight Finish
Look toward a serum or an oil mist, both of which absorb quickly and add shine without noticeable weight.
Extra Softness
A leave-in cream is usually the best starting point, since these formulas are typically designed with detangling and softness in mind.
Shine
Oils tend to offer the most noticeable shine of the three categories, particularly on darker or color-treated hair.
Frizz Control
A dry oil or lightweight styling oil applied to the mid-lengths and ends can help smooth flyaways and reduce the look of frizz.
Dry Ends
A richer, more concentrated penetrating oil applied only to the ends tends to work best for particularly dry or thirsty hair.
Coarse Hair
Coarse hair can often tolerate richer creams or oils applied more generously than finer hair types.
Fine Hair
A lightweight serum or a small amount of dry oil is usually easier for fine hair to carry without looking weighed down.
Which Style Sealer Is Right for You?
A quick-reference overview of texture, weight, shine, smoothing and frizz control across serums, creams and oils.
| Category | Serums | Creams | Oils |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texture | Light, fluid | Rich, creamy | Silky, liquid |
| Weight | Light | Medium | Medium–Heavy |
| Best For | Everyday shine & smoothing | Softness & detangling | Shine & frizz control |
| Ideal Hair Type | Fine to medium | Most hair types | Medium to coarse, dry ends |
| Shine Level | Medium | Medium | High |
| Smoothing Level | Medium | High | High |
| Frizz Control | Medium | Medium | High |
| When To Apply | On damp or finished hair | On damp hair, before styling | On finished, dry hair |
Reading This Comparison
Serums are the lightest, easiest everyday option for shine and smoothing without added weight.
Creams lean toward softness and detangling, often applied earlier in the styling process.
Oils tend to deliver the strongest shine and frizz control, best reserved for finished hair or particularly dry ends.
Layering Guide
Style sealers are the final, optional layer — applied only after the rest of your routine is complete.
Leave-In Conditioner
Start with Step 8’s leave-in conditioner, applied to damp hair for softness and manageability.
Heat Protectant
Apply a heat protectant before using any hot tools, also part of Step 8.
Styling Products
Use any Step 9 styling products — texture spray, mousse or shaping balm — to achieve your preferred look.
Style Sealer (Serum, Cream or Oil)
Finish with a small amount of serum, cream or oil on dry, finished hair for extra softness, smoothness or shine.
Step 10 is an optional finishing layer. Apply it after styling, then continue to Step 11 for optional between-wash care.
Watch Abbey Explain Style Sealers
Abbey introduces Step 10 of her method and separately shares application tips for using serums, creams and oils without weighing hair down.
Common Mistakes
Style sealers work best in small amounts, applied thoughtfully as a finishing touch rather than a heavy layer.
Using Too Much Oil
A little goes a long way — start with a small amount and add more only if your hair needs it.
Applying Oils To Soaking-Wet Hair When Not Directed
Unless a product specifically says otherwise, oils are generally most effective on damp or dry, finished hair rather than dripping-wet hair.
Expecting Oils To Repair Damage
Style sealers improve appearance and feel, but they don’t structurally repair damaged hair — that’s the job of earlier steps in the method.
Layering Too Many Heavy Finishers
Combining several rich creams and oils at once can leave hair looking greasy rather than polished.
Applying Rich Creams To Very Fine Hair
Fine hair usually does better with a lighter serum or a small amount of dry oil rather than a rich, heavy cream.
Skipping Step 8 And Relying On Oils Instead
Style sealers are not a substitute for leave-in conditioner and heat protection — those earlier steps still matter.
Using Multiple Finishers Unnecessarily
Most hair only needs one style sealer, not a serum, a cream and an oil all applied together.
Where Style Sealers Fit In The Abbey Yung Method
Step 10 is an optional finishing layer applied after styling. It is followed by Step 11: Between-Wash Care.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a serum, cream and oil?▾
Can I skip Step 10?▾
Should I apply oil before heat styling?▾
Can I use serum and oil together?▾
How much oil should I use?▾
Which is better for fine hair?▾
Which is better for dry ends?▾
Can I use Step 10 every wash day?▾
Independent educational resource. Hair Growth Hub is an independent publisher and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Abbey Yung or any product brand mentioned on this page. Content is provided for general educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always patch-test new products and consult a dermatologist or trichologist for persistent scalp or hair concerns. Questions about this page? Contact us at hello@hairgrowthhub.fi.
Continue to Step 11
Style sealers are optional. Use a serum, cream or oil only when your finished hair needs extra softness, smoothness or shine, then continue to Step 11 for optional between-wash care.