Lamelin Volume Curling Hair Serum

It enhances and defines existing wave and curl patterns rather than creating curls on straight hair. The formula works by smoothing the cuticle with its silicone base — which reduces frizz and allows the hair's natural texture to express itself more cleanly — while the Camellia Japonica oil blend conditions and adds weight selectively. On wavy and curly hair, this combination tames flyaways, defines individual curl clumps, and adds shine without the crunchiness of gel-based curl products. On straight hair it won't create curl, but it will add body and a smooth, polished finish. If your hair has any natural wave, this serum helps it show up better.

Camellia Japonica is the same Jeju camellia used in Lamelin's skincare line — here applied to hair. It's rich in oleic acid (approximately 80%), which closely mirrors the fatty acid profile of the hair's own natural sebum. This structural similarity means it absorbs into the hair shaft without sitting heavily on top, providing conditioning without the weight that can flatten waves or pull curls down. It's been used in traditional Japanese hair care for centuries — tsubaki oil — precisely because it adds shine and manageability to thick or textured hair without greasiness. It's particularly effective on the dry, porous hair that wavy and curly textures tend to have.

All three share the same silicone base but differ in their oil profiles and intended use. The Argan Original (Argan Kernel Oil at 10,000ppm) is a general daily serum for nourishing and conditioning normal-to-dry straight or slightly wavy hair, with a rose-spice fragrance. The Damage Care Sapphire (Babassu-led) is for chemically treated, heat-damaged, or brittle hair where deeper oil penetration is needed. The Volume Curling Ruby (Camellia Japonica-led) is specifically for wavy and curly hair types where curl definition, frizz control, and shine are the priority. If you colour your hair and it's curly: Damage Care and Volume Curling used on alternating wash days is a strong combination.

Apply to towel-dried hair while it's still damp — dampness is important for curl definition, as wet hair is more receptive to products that influence its drying shape. Take one pump for medium-length hair, two for long or thick hair, warm it between your palms, then scrunch upward into the hair rather than smoothing downward. Scrunching distributes the product into the curl pattern rather than pulling curls apart. Avoid the roots entirely. For wavy hair: scrunch lightly and let air-dry or diffuse. For tighter curls: layer over a water-based curl cream first, then apply this serum as a finishing seal over the top for shine and frizz control.

The risk exists if over-applied. Camellia oil is one of the lighter botanical oils and absorbs well, but the silicone base does add surface weight — on very fine hair, even one full pump may be too much. For fine wavy hair, start with half a pump and build if needed. The volatile silicones (Cyclopentasiloxane, Cyclohexasiloxane) partially evaporate after application, which helps with the final feel — but Dimethicone does deposit and accumulates over time without a clarifying shampoo wash every one to two weeks. On medium to thick wavy or curly hair, the formula performs well without greasiness at the recommended one to two pumps.

The Ruby fragrance is the most complex of the three Lamelin hair serums. Its seven disclosed components — Benzyl Benzoate, Hexyl Cinnamal, Linalool, Benzyl Salicylate, Geraniol, Citronellol, Limonene — create a warm, floral-fruity profile. Hexyl Cinnamal contributes a soft jasmine character; Geraniol and Citronellol add rose warmth; Limonene gives a fresh, citrus top note; Linalool adds a clean floral background. The overall effect reads as romantic and floral — consistent with the Ruby naming and the rose-themed packaging. It's more noticeable than the Sapphire (Damage Care) but not heavy. People with fragrance sensitivity should patch-test, as more allergens are disclosed here than in the other two serums.

The volatile silicones partly evaporate after application, which helps the final feel, but dimethicone does deposit and can build up over time. Using a clarifying shampoo every one to two weeks keeps hair from feeling coated. Otherwise the serum layers comfortably into a normal wash routine without any special steps.