Beauty Redken Hair Serum Compared: Which Formula Wins For You Now
The Frizz Dismiss Oil-In-Serum and the Extreme Length Leave-In solve different hair problems. We compared their jobs, textures and best uses.
| Factor | Redken Frizz Dismiss Instant Deflate Oil | Redken Extreme Length Leave-In Treatment |
|---|---|---|
| Main job | Frizz Dismiss Instant Deflate smooths frizz and adds humidity-resistant shine. | Extreme Length Leave-In seals split ends and strengthens growing hair. |
| Key benefit | Frizz Dismiss gives instant smoothness and manageability for all hair types. | Extreme Length reduces breakage to help you retain length. |
| Best for | Frizz Dismiss suits anyone fighting frizz, flyaways and dullness. | Extreme Length suits buyers growing out hair who battle split ends. |
| Texture | Frizz Dismiss is an oil-in-serum hybrid with balanced weight. | Extreme Length is a lightweight leave-in cream that absorbs fast. |
| Heat protection | Frizz Dismiss focuses on smoothing rather than heat defense. | Rebel Tame offers the strongest heat protection up to 450 degrees. |
Our Verdict
The Frizz Dismiss Instant Deflate wins for most buyers. Frizz is the most universal hair complaint, and its oil-serum hybrid delivers instant visible smoothing. Choose the Extreme Length Leave-In if your goal is growing longer hair. Its split-end sealing and strengthening directly target the breakage that stops growth. The Frizz Dismiss Instant Deflate wins as the best all-rounder for smoothing and shine. Rebel Tame suits heat stylers, while Extreme Length serves growth goals. Pick your main concern first. Great hair starts here.
More Top Picks in This Category
Not sold on either of these two? Here are more bestselling options worth considering.
Best for: Heat stylers with unruly frizz.
Redken Frizz Dismiss Rebel Tame Heat Protective Leave-In Cream, 8 Oz
- Multi-benefit leave-in cream
- Heat protection up to 450 degrees
- Babassu oil smoothing complex
- Hydrates and detangles
Pros
- Heat protection plus smoothing
- Detangles easily
Cons
- Cream texture feels heavier
- Pricey
How Much Serum Your Hair Actually Needs
Over-application is the number one reason hair serums disappoint, and nobody gives real dosing by hair type. The starting doses: fine or short hair needs one to two drops, medium hair needs three to four drops, and long, thick, or coarse hair needs four to six drops. That is for a pure oil-serum; the Redken oil-in-serum hybrids compared above spread further than pure oils, so start at the low end. The application zone matters as much as the amount: warm the serum between your palms, then apply from the mid-lengths down to the ends only, never on the scalp or roots, because root application is what creates the greasy, flat look by midday. For the Extreme Length Leave-In, which targets breakage on growing hair, concentrate on the oldest hair, the last three inches, where splits actually form. If you over-apply, do not rewash the whole head: dust a little dry shampoo or a pinch of cornstarch on the greasy sections, wait five minutes, and brush through, which absorbs the excess without a full reset. Fine hair should treat every serum as an ends-only product; coarse hair can work it slightly higher. The Redken hair serum guide covers benefits, use, and tips for getting the most out of each formula.
Layering Order: Serum, Leave-In, and Heat Protectant
Hair products layer by weight, lightest first, and getting the order wrong is why combinations pill, separate, or leave hair both greasy and frizzy. The correct sequence on damp hair is leave-in conditioner first, then serum, then heat protectant last before styling. The leave-in goes first because it is water-based and needs direct contact with the hair to hydrate. The serum goes second because its oils seal in the leave-in's moisture; reversing these two traps the water-based product outside the oil barrier where it cannot absorb. Heat protectant goes last because it needs to coat everything as the outermost shield against the iron or dryer. The combinations that cause trouble: silicone-heavy serum under a water-based leave-in, which beads and pills, and oil-based serum over an already-oily heat protectant, which double-doses the roots into grease. The Rebel Tame cream in this comparison is the exception to handle carefully: as a leave-in cream with heat protection built in, it can replace both the leave-in and protectant steps for simple routines, with the Frizz Dismiss serum layered over it only on the ends. When trying new combinations, our best Redken hair serum roundup reviews more salon picks with notes on which formulas layer cleanly.
Pre-Wash Oiling vs Post-Wash Sealing: Two Different Jobs
Oiling before washing and sealing after washing are constantly confused, but they solve opposite problems and use different oils. Pre-wash oiling, the traditional heavy oiling, protects the hair during shampooing: apply a generous amount of oil to dry hair thirty minutes before washing, and the oil fills the porous spots so the shampoo's surfactants cannot strip as aggressively. This suits dry, porous, or coarse hair that comes out of every wash feeling stripped. Post-wash sealing is the light finishing step: a few drops of serum on damp or dry ends after styling to lock in moisture and add shine, which is the job the Redken serums compared above are built for. The right oil differs by job: heavier penetrating oils like coconut work for pre-wash, while lightweight sealing serums with silicones work for post-wash. Fine hair usually does better skipping heavy pre-wash oiling, which weighs it down, and sealing just the ends after washing instead. Never do both heavily in the same routine, which is how hair ends up both coated and dull. For more on choosing the right oil for your hair type, the best hair oils buyer guide compares options across budgets and textures.