ingredients are fine to me -- it's more about the "hold" factor

If you like hair serums the main thing you want to look for is the amount of hold it gives. That's much more important than the individual ingredients because the serums are mostly the same providing slip and smoothing. Some serums can make certain hair types greasy with just 2-3 drops while others will add body. Smoothing and straightening balms contain styling ingredients in addition to helping with slip and detangling and are another variation of a silicone hair serum. So it all depends what you want the product to do.

My favorite serums are CitreShine and Smmoth n Shine (both by ARL) because they provide light hold, which really means a touch of extra body. Aveda's Purefume Brilliant makes my hair greasy instantly so that one is out for me.

Since you're shopping for this now, why not have a look at the LHL Soft Touch serum which is a light to no hold product.