Beauty Paul Mitchell Oil Duel: MarulaOil vs Super Skinny Serum Pick
MarulaOil Rare Oil Treatment and Super Skinny Serum are the two icons of Paul Mitchell oil care. One is a true nourishing oil for dry hair, the other a frizz-fighting serum for fast styling. They solve different problems at similar prices. Here is how they compare so you pick the right one for your hair.
| Factor | Paul Mitchell MarulaOil Rare Oil Treatme | Paul Mitchell Super Skinny Serum Blowout |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Check price | Check price |
| Formula type | True cold-pressed marula oil | Silicone-based smoothing serum |
| Main benefit | Deep nourishment and shine | Frizz control and faster drying |
| Feel | Rich, luxurious oil | Lightweight, silky serum |
| Best hair type | Thick, dry, thirsty hair | Frizzy hair in humidity |
| Daily use | Better a few times weekly | Light enough for daily use |
Our Verdict
Pick MarulaOil for dry, thirsty hair needing real nourishment and shine. Pick Super Skinny Serum for daily frizz control and faster blowouts. Many users keep both on the shelf: oil for treatment days, serum for styling days. Your main hair complaint should decide. Use primer only before heat styling. Fine hair needs half the normal amount.
More Top Picks in This Category
Not sold on either of these two? Here are more bestselling options worth considering.
Best for: Humid-climate frizz control.
Paul Mitchell Super Skinny Serum 8.5 oz
- Classic smoothing serum, large size
- Humidity-resistant sleek finish
- Lightweight silicone blend
- 8.5 oz lasts for months
Pros
- Iconic frizz fighter
- Large size is economical
- Works in high humidity
Cons
- Silicone-heavy formula
- Can build up over time
- Not for oil-free routines
Best for: Trying the classic serum affordably.
Paul Mitchell Super Skinny Serum 5.1 oz
- Mid-size classic smoothing serum
- Same humidity-fighting formula
- Smooths and speeds blowouts
- 5.1 oz travel-friendly size
Pros
- Lower price than large size
- Good for travel bags
- Proven frizz control
Cons
- Smaller size, less value
- Older packaging varies
- Silicones need clarifying
Best for: Everyday frizz touch-ups on a budget.
Paul Mitchell Super Skinny Daily Treatment 5.1 oz
- Daily smoothing treatment serum
- Lightweight daily-use formula
- Controls frizz between washes
- Suitable for most hair types
Pros
- Good daily frizz maintenance
- Affordable entry price
- Light enough for daily use
Cons
- Milder than the classic serum
- Needs reapplication
- Results are subtle
Want the Full Picture?
Penetrating Versus Sealing: The Framework
No competitor lays out the penetrating versus sealing framework clearly. Penetrating oils, coconut and olive, have small molecules that enter the hair shaft and reduce protein loss from within. Sealing oils, argan and most silicones, sit on the surface, smoothing the cuticle and locking in existing moisture. The Paul Mitchell Super Skinny Serum is firmly in the sealing camp: its silicones and lightweight oils smooth the surface and speed drying by repelling water, which is why it works as a blow-dry aid rather than a deep treatment.
Porosity decides which you need. Low-porosity hair, cuticle lying flat, resists absorption and does best with lightweight sealers applied sparingly; heavy penetrating oils just sit on it. High-porosity hair, bleached or damaged, drinks penetrating oils but still needs a sealer on top to keep moisture from escaping as fast as it enters. The Super Skinny Daily Treatment layers well over a penetrating oil for high-porosity hair: oil inside, serum outside. Our best hair oils hub maps the major oils to hair types.
How Much Serum: Real Numbers
Over-application is the top serum mistake and nobody gives numbers. For the Super Skinny Serum 8.5 oz: short fine hair, one pump on the ends; medium hair, one to two pumps mid-length to ends; long thick hair, two to three pumps. The 5.1 oz size is the same formula, just less of it; the pump dispenses the same amount. As a blow-dry aid, apply to damp hair before drying; as a finisher, a half pump on dry ends tames flyaways without re-wetting the style.
The weighed-down next-day problem has a specific fix for fine hair: apply serum only from the ears down, never near the roots, and use the Daily Treatment rather than the Serum for the lightest option. If you overdo it, dry shampoo at the roots absorbs the excess without a rewash. Silicone serums spread far; start with half what you think you need. For comparing serum textures across brands, our hair serum for damaged hair guide tests five repair picks.
Layering With Styling Products and Heat Protectant
Order decides whether layering works or pills. Thinnest to thickest: leave-in or heat protectant first, then the Super Skinny Serum, then styling cream or mousse, then finishing products. The critical rule: heat protectant must reach the hair surface, so serum applied before protectant blocks it. Use the serum as your heat protectant only if the product claims heat protection; otherwise, protectant first, serum second.
With the Daily Treatment as a blow-dry aid, the sequence is protectant, then treatment on damp hair, then dry. The serum's water-repelling silicones are why it speeds drying; they push water off the hair surface so the dryer has less to evaporate. Do not layer silicone serum under a water-based gel without letting the serum absorb first; the combination pills into white flakes. Wait two minutes between layers when combining silicones with water-based stylers.