As a curly girl, there are a lot of times when my hair is frustrating to me. Humidity will turn me into a frizz monster, planning a wash day requires the same focused attention that NASA has when planning a mission, and even if I do everything perfectly right, there’s still a 50/50 chance that my hair will just decide not to cooperate. But even on the lousiest day, having curly hair has also given me a gift: the supreme satisfaction of squishing in a handful of hair mousse.
Hair mousse isn’t just for curly hair, either. “Mousse is the golden child of stylers because it delivers a variety of results that one may normally seek from multiple products,” says Ebony Bomani, Pattern Beauty’s Brand Educator. It reduces frizz, adds definition, and enhances your natural texture. If you have very fine hair that falls flat when you try to add volume, incorporating a mousse might do the trick. Here, find the 12 best hair mousses you’ll love incorporating into your routine.
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1
Best Overall
R+Co
Rodeo Star Thickening Style Foam
Size
5 fl. oz.
Key ingredient
Apricot kernel oil
2
Best For Hydrated Curls
PATTERN
Curl Mousse
Size
8 fl. oz.
Key ingredient
Castor oil
3
Best for Bouncy Hair
Moroccanoil
Volumizing Mousse
Size
8.5 fl. oz.
Key ingredient
Argan oil
4
Best For A Budget
John Frieda
Frizz Ease Curl Reviver Mousse
Size
7.2 fl. oz.
Key ingredient
Abssynian oil
5
Best For Curly Hair
SheaMoisture
Curl Mousse
Size
7.5 fl. oz.
Key ingredient
Neem oil
6
Best For Air Drying
OUAI
Air Dry Foam
Size
4 fl. oz.
Key ingredient
Argan oil
7
Best For Wavy Hair
XMONDO
Wavetech Wave Foam
Size
6.7 fl. oz.
Key ingredient
Pro-Vitamin B5
8
Best For Adding Volume
IGK
Big Time Volume and Thickening Mousse
Size
6.2 oz
Key ingredient
Nordic cotton
9
Best For Beginners
Not Your Mother’s
Not Your Mother’s Curl Talk Curl Activation Mousse
Size
7.0 oz
Key ingredient
Caprylyl glycol
10
Best For Flat Hair
COLOR WOW
Xtra Large Bombshell Volumizer
Size
6.7 fl. oz.
Key ingredient
Polymers
11
Best For Straight Hair
Oribe
Grandiose Hair Plumping Mousse
Size
5.7 fl. oz.
Key ingredient
Polymers
12
Best For Thin Hair
Vegamour
GRO Hair Foam for Thinning Hair
Size
1.1 fl. oz.
Key ingredient
Turmeric
What does hair mousse do?
“Mousse is the golden child of stylers because it delivers a variety of results that one may normally seek from multiple products,” says Bomani. “It provides hold, style memory, volume, and body. Additionally, mousse helps define curls, reduce frizz and protect against humidity.”
“Mousse is usually in a thick foam form,” adds Izquierdo. “It is typically applied from roots to ends, combed through hair, and blow-dried in. Mousse offers hold, style memory, lift and bounce.”
Does mousse leave your hair feeling sticky or crunchy?
“Traditional aerosol mousses, especially those designed to add volume, are often alcohol and polymer-based. This allows the formula to provide lift and hold for a voluminous look,” says Izquierdo. “However, these ingredients, if not offset with hydrating ingredients, could lead to a dry or stiff feel. It is important to look for mousses with hair hydrators to help counteract these other materials.”
What hair types benefit the most from mousse?
“Whether using it for blow outs, finger waves, curl defining, twists, braids, coils or roller sets, mousse is lightweight and provides a flexible hold. Therefore, it is beneficial for all hair types,” says Bomani. “However, I especially love mousse for finer hair types due to the volume that it lends.”
Tatjana Freund is ELLE’s Beauty E-Commerce Writer. She has interviewed countless haircare professionals, and is always testing out new and trending hair treatments.
Tatjana Freund Beauty Commerce Writer Tatjana Freund is a Beauty Commerce Writer, covering makeup, skincare, and haircare products and trends.
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