Once upon a time, my work days were fully consumed with hair content. My first consistent writing gigs (back when I was freelancing on the side while working full-time in advertising) were for All Things Hair, a hair website chock-full of cut, color, and style inspiration guides, on top of endless expert tips.

I eventually went on to become a junior beauty editor for L’Oréal, where I wrote and edited hair-care reviews and how-tos for L’Oréal Professionnel. My years of hair expertise led me to discover the magic of Kérastase, the French luxury haircare line you’ve likely seen on this website before (and that’s because it’s a W+G editor-favorite).

There are so many beloved Kérastase products to count, but for this article’s sake we’re just going to talk about my latest, new-to-me discovery. Allow me to introduce you to the Kérastase Nutritive 8h Magic Night Hair Serum ($59), which is as magical as it sounds.

Kérastase, Nutritive 8H Magic Night Hair Serum — $59.00

Key ingredients: niacinamide, plant-proteins

Pros: 

• Nourishing and restorative
• Hydrating
• Thick, non-greasy texture
• Safe for all hair types and color-treated hair

Cons: 

• Expensive

How it works

While the legacy product has technically been around for a while—and has earned high praise from over 70,000 Sephora shoppers—the formula recently got an update this past June. In addition to new packaging, it’s now infused with plant-based proteins and niacinamide—two cornerstone ingredients in the brand’s new Nutritive line.

The Kérastase Nutritive 8h Magic Night Hair Serum is designed to detangle, hydrate, and nourish hair while you sleep, all without leaving a greasy residue on your pillowcase in the process. To reap the benefits of Kérastase Nutritive Magic 8H Night Serum, simply apply a few drops to your dry or damp hair before bedtime. Per the site, gently massage it in, paying extra attention to the ends where damage is most noticeable. It’s recommended to gather hair in a loose ponytail or bun as you sleep, to keep hair out of your face and tame frizz.  After eight hours (if you’re so lucky!) wake up to hair that’s visibly transformed, with enhanced shine and silkiness the moment you brush it out.

My review

From a texture perspective, the Kérastase Nutritive 8h Magic Night Hair Serum has a pudding-like consistency that looks thick, but I find that it rubs effortlessly into strands without making them look oily or weighed down. (Though keep in mind, you’re only supposed to use a few pumps—any more and you could very well experience different results.)

What I like the most about this serum is the frizz-fighting benefit it provides. I have long, layered, color-treated hair that’s prone to oily roots and dry ends, not to mention plenty of flyaways. If I don’t blow-dry my hair (which I only do once or twice a week, if at all), all of these things feel more noticeable. That’s the beauty of the Kérastase 8h Magic Night Hair Serum, though: It’s designed to fight frizz by up to 84 percent, all while enhancing softness and shine.

When I use it, I generally apply three pumps into my mids and ends and twist my damp hair into a bun, per the product’s instructions. When I wake up and let my hair down, my hair is still slightly damp but is so beautifully frizz-free that you would have thought I had blown it out.

All this to say, if your goal is to wake up with soft, easy-to-style hair without having to put much effort in at all, I recommend giving this overnight hair treatment a whirl.