Tames frizz, boosts shine, and cuts blow-dry time—use a small amount to avoid weighing down fine hair.
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Frizz can turn a fresh blowout puffy in minutes. Paul Mitchell Super Skinny Serum promises smoother, shinier hair and faster drying, but only if the formula matches your hair type and you use the right amount.
Overview
Paul Mitchell Super Skinny Serum is a smoothing styling serum from the salon brand Paul Mitchell. The core promise is straightforward: help hair dry faster, tame frizz, and leave the finish sleeker and shinier. It is one of those long-running salon staples that keeps showing up because it targets a very specific problem, especially for hair that gets fluffy, rough, or puffy as soon as humidity enters the picture.
This is not a treatment serum for hair growth or scalp health. It is a styling product, and its job is surface-level smoothing, shine, and polish. If that is exactly what you want, it is a much stronger fit than multipurpose products that try to do a little of everything.
Key Specs
| Brand | Paul Mitchell |
|---|---|
| Product | Super Skinny Serum |
| Type | Smoothing styling serum |
| Size reviewed | 5.1 fl oz |
| Typical price | Usually around $20 to $30, depending on retailer and size |
| Texture | Silky, concentrated serum |
| Best use | On damp hair before blow-drying |
| Finish | Smoother, shinier, less frizzy |
| Scent | Clean salon-style fragrance |
The most important detail here is how concentrated it is. This is not something you use generously like a leave-in cream. Most people need far less than they expect, which helps the bottle last quite a while and makes the price feel more reasonable over time.
Who It’s For
This serum makes the most sense for medium, thick, coarse, dry, or frizz-prone hair that needs a smoother finish. It is especially useful if you blow-dry regularly and want less brush time and more shine. If your hair is very fine, very limp, or gets oily quickly, it can still work, but you will need a very light hand and you may prefer a lighter formula overall.
Performance & Feel
The feel is classic salon serum: slippery, concentrated, and easy to overdo if you are heavy-handed. On damp hair, the sweet spot for me is applying a small amount from mid-lengths to ends first, then using whatever is left on my hands to smooth the outer layer. That order matters. If I start too close to the roots, the finish loses movement and looks flatter than I want.
Where this product really performs is frizz control. It smooths the hair surface well enough that blow-drying feels easier and the finished style looks more polished. On hair that tends to puff up during drying, it helps strands behave better under a round brush and keeps the result from turning fuzzy the minute you step outside.
The shine is noticeable without looking wet or greasy, as long as the amount is right. On thicker hair, it gives that soft, swishy salon finish that makes ends look healthier and less rough. On finer hair, though, the margin for error is smaller. One extra half pump can shift the result from sleek to slightly stringy, so I would start tiny and only add more after your hair is dry if you still need extra smoothing.
It also helps with dry-looking ends. If your haircut is still fine but the ends look a little tired, this kind of serum can make hair appear fresher and better sealed. I would not call it weightless, though. It feels light once distributed properly, but it is still richer than a mist or a thin shine spray.
The scent is a clean, traditional salon fragrance. I find it pleasant, but it does linger a bit, so it is worth noting if you are sensitive to fragrance. One other practical note: I do not treat this as my only hot-tool product. It is excellent for smoothing and shine, but I still prefer pairing it with a dedicated heat protectant when I am blow-drying often or using a flat iron.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Excellent frizz control without a sticky or crunchy finish.
- Helps blowouts look smoother and can make drying feel quicker.
- Very concentrated, so a bottle lasts a long time.
- Adds noticeable shine and softness, especially to dry or coarse ends.
Cons
- Easy to overapply, especially on fine or thin hair.
- The fragrance will not suit everyone.
- It is best for smoothing, not for volume, curl definition, or scalp concerns.
💡 Editor’s Final Thoughts
Yes, I think Paul Mitchell Super Skinny Serum is worth it if your main goal is smoother, less frizzy hair and you style with a blow dryer at least somewhat regularly. It performs best on medium to thick hair and on dry, porous ends that need polish. If your hair is very fine, use the smallest amount possible and expect a narrower window between glossy and too much.
See also
If you are comparing shine serums, start with our Kristin Ess weightless shine serum review for the closest product-category match.
- Vegamour GRO hair serum review for shoppers deciding between scalp care and styling serum
- Check out our Dyson Airwrap review if you want a tool that styles while helping smooth frizz
- ghd Platinum+ styler review for sleeker flat-iron results
- Paul Mitchell 3-in-1 curling wand review for soft waves after smoothing prep
Frequently Asked Questions ▾
Does Paul Mitchell Super Skinny Serum really make hair dry faster?
It can help, yes. By smoothing the outside of the hair, it lets your brush and blow dryer move through more easily. It is not a dramatic time cut for everyone, but on frizzy, coarse, or puff-prone hair the difference is usually noticeable.
How much should you use?
Start smaller than you think. Fine hair may only need a quarter pump to half pump, medium hair often needs one pump, and thick or very long hair may need two. It is much easier to add a touch more than to fix hair that feels overcoated.
Can you use Paul Mitchell Super Skinny Serum on dry hair?
Yes, but only in a tiny amount. Warm a drop between your palms and smooth it over flyaways or dry ends. If you use too much on dry hair, strands can separate and look oily faster than you expect.
Is it good for fine hair?
It can work on fine hair, but it is not the most forgiving option in this category. Keep it away from the roots and use the bare minimum. If your top priority is volume, a lighter serum or shine spray will probably be easier to manage.
Does it replace heat protectant?
I would not rely on it as a full replacement. Its strength is smoothing, shine, and frizz control. If you regularly use a blow dryer, curling iron, or flat iron, pairing it with a dedicated heat protectant is the safer and more complete routine.
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