Mousse, an unexpected favorite that gives curly hair more volume and dimension, is a terrific product, despite its antiquated sound. But first, it’s critical to understand what mousse is and why your curls require it. “Mousse is a styling product that adds volume, texture, and hold,” says Amanda DiChiara, a hair loss specialist located in New Jersey. “A particular mousse is required for curly hair in order to help define and tame the curl.” “Try to determine what kind of curl you have, whether it’s loose, tight, or slightly straight, and the texture your curl presents: soft, rough, frizzy, or dry,” adds Chris Lospalutto, a hairstylist at SDSH Salon. This will assist you in streamlining the process and determining which mousse is best for your particular hair type.
We looked at the greatest options available and gathered professional advice from leading hair care experts to find out which mousses will help turn your curls from fine to magnificent. Continue reading to discover the top mousses for curly hair that provide soft, bouncy, and voluminous coils while withstanding heat and humidity.
Virtue Curl-Defining Whip
The Virtue Curl-Defining Whip works wonders for curly hair, but there are many reasons to appreciate this celebrity-endorsed shampoo and conditioner line (Jennifer Garner, Kim Kardashian, and Nicole Kidman have all tried it). Thanks to Alpha Keratin 60ku, a patented ingredient: Our hair naturally contains a specific protein that helps to mend broken strands. In the meantime, the opulent whipped formula helps to maintain the long-term health of hair from the root while hydrating, smoothing, and de-frizzing hair on the surface—even in hot and muggy conditions. It produces bouncy, glossy curls and is lightweight and nonsticky, so it won’t give hair that dreaded crunchy texture. We also believe the scent—a blend of driftwood and spicy grapefruit—is wonderful.
Who It’s For: This cutting-edge brand is ideal for people who enjoy multitasking because it employs revolutionary technology to restore dry, damaged hair while styling. Almost every wash day, we use this, and we’re always amazed at how well-defined our ringlets appear. We also adore the bottle’s longevity. After months of use, we haven’t seen any problems, despite some internet reviews mentioning that the nozzle jams after a few weeks (something to keep in mind).
OGX Locking + Coconut Curls Decadent Creamy Mousse
Why We Love It: This novel mix, which the firm markets as “part cream, part foam,” captivated us right away. The mousse has a thin, liquid-like consistency when you initially dispense it into your palms. Nevertheless, it starts to emulsify and expand into a creamy texture as you work it into your strands, giving them lovely volume. Here, a little goes a long way!
Who It’s For: For less than $15, you get a lot of value for your money with this product, which gives wavy and curly manes long-lasting moisture, frizz control, and curl definition. But be aware that silicones are included among the ingredients, which can lead to product buildup. To truly cleanse your scalp, use a clarifying shampoo once a week.
Kérastase Densifique Leave-In Thickening Mousse
Why We Love It: This Kérastase product is much more than just a standard mousse, despite its high price. This leave-in formula essentially serves as both a styling product and a reparative mask. Ceramides and hyaluronic acid are among the ingredients that actually thicken and strengthen hair follicles, halting more damage and encouraging new growth.
Who It’s For: This product increases volume and density to hair that has been thinning due to aging, stress, or childbirth, regardless of whether you have fine curls or not. However, this one is on the stronger side, so if you’re sensitive to scent, don’t be alarmed.
Oribe Curl Shaping Mousse
Why We Love It: This Oribe Shaping Mousse is the perfect solution for adding massive volume and long-lasting grip to your wavy hair. This product works best on fine hair, which is frequently the hardest type to retain a curl. It gives your hair body and structure while feeling light and non-crunchy, allowing you to create the loose waves of your dreams.
Who It’s For: This product is ideal for people who frequently heat style since it nourishes hair while forming a protective barrier against heat. It contains amino acids, reinforcing proteins, and sweet almond oil, along with a faint aroma of sandalwood and jasmine. This product produces bouncy, shiny curls for people who have always desired them, even though we don’t think it’s a true “curly” hair product (we don’t recommend it for anyone with three or four level curls).
SheaMoisture Coconut & Hibiscus Curl Mousse
Why We Love It: As any curly girl will attest, SheaMoisture is one of our top picks, and we adore that you can acquire their products in your neighborhood drugstore or Target. They employ premium ingredients with enchanting fragrances and potent effects that preserve natural curls and prolong the life of your wash.This mousse works amazingly well for curls in the C category and gives a frizz-free grip with an incredibly light feel—something that is very difficult to find.
Who It’s For: Your hair will be incredibly soft and voluminous after using this product, which is ideal for air drying and leaves no unpleasant residue or flakiness behind. You only need to wash, apply, scrunch, and be ready to go! Note that this mousse isn’t strong enough for 4A–4C hair, even though the brand specializes in curls and tight textures.
Ouidad VitalCurl + Weightless Curl Defining Mousse
The Ouidad Weightless Curl: The Reason We Adore It As the name suggests, Defining Mousse guards against frizz and shapes curls while feeling incredibly light and smooth. Whether you love your diffuser or live in a humid region, its frizz control can tolerate the heat.
Who It’s For: Because its ingredients (such as sunflower oils and Japanese camellia) specifically target dryness and stretched-out curls that require regeneration to return to a bouncy, hydrated state, we suggest this product for thick hair. Even while the recipe does a fantastic job of getting through thick hair, people with finer hair will find it to be excessively greasy and oily.
R+Co Styling Mousse
Why We Love It: This product offers deep nourishment, styling prowess, and protection from heat and color damage because to premium naturally derived components like Abyssinian oil and Black Polynesian volcanic sand. Improve your waves without the crunch and stiffness that come with curl-specific treatments, and savor the delicious aroma that includes rhubarb, blood orange, and juniper berry overtones. Note that it will likely not be strong enough to tame and define type 3 or 4 curls because to its extremely light grip.
Who It’s For: This light mousse is perfect for wavy hair since it adds volume and long-lasting definition without making your strands feel heavy. Apply the mousse, scrunch your hair from the roots to the bottom, and then let it air dry to achieve the ideal, desired beach waves.
Not Your Mother’s Curl Talk Activating Mousse
The Reasons We Adore It: Searching for a mousse that can effectively control frizz? It’s this pick. Not the Curl Activation of Your Mother Mousse offers long-lasting, heat-tested anti-frizz properties while defining and enhancing curls. Applying the product to wet hair—the wetter, the better—and letting it air dry or using a hair drier with a diffuser will yield the best results. Overall volume will be increased, but you’ll also notice distinct, well-defined curls.
Who It’s For: This mousse will actually prevent frizz if you’re going somewhere humid. Compared to other formulas on this list, it won’t feel as soft, but that’s the cost of having strong frizz control. As long as you don’t use excessive amounts of product, your hair will still have bounce and shine even in tropical regions. Sticky strands can result from more than a tiny droplet.
PATTERN Beauty Curl Mousse
Why We Love It: We adore Pattern Beauty’s products, especially their hair brushes and scalp treatments (what can we say? The brand’s Curl Mousse surpassed our expectations, and Tracee Ellis Ross is an expert in her field. Its fluffy, foamy consistency, which is created by combining caster oil with marshmallow root, gives hair gloss, frizz-free volume, and defined curls.
We appreciate that the weightless mousse was created to give people with loose curls and protective styles like locs and braids a firm hold. The way our curls felt hydrated and silky astounded us. However, we believe that the product works best when combined with the brand’s styling cream or leave-in conditioner.
Living Proof Full Thickening Mousse
Why We Love It: This Thickening Mousse will become your new best friend if you’re looking for massive volume. To give the appearance of long-lasting fullness, the novel technique applies tiny thickening dots between strands using a unique process. The consistency is surprisingly light considering its thickening effects, and it provides a flexible grip for curls that look natural to the touch.
Who It’s For: This mousse is ideal for people who have a strong bond with their styling products since it provides complete heat protection. But be advised that it may generate accumulation on the scalp and feel a little sticky after use. Just like with other volumizing treatments, make sure to wash your hair and scalp frequently to give them room to breathe.
Moroccanoil Mousse
Moroccanoil Curl Control Mousse gives us incredibly defined curls without the crunch, which is why we adore it. Touchable softness and intense shine are provided by the moisture-rich recipe, which includes components like argan oil and fortifying vegetable proteins. We realize this is difficult to believe.
Who It’s For: Your curls will stay looking great for days thanks to the long-lasting frizz-control advantages that withstand sleep and humidity. For optimal hydration and the best air-dry procedure, we particularly enjoy using this in conjunction with a curl cream. Just be aware that you might need to use an additional dollop, depending on how thick your hair is.
Bumble and bumble Curl Mousse
The Reasons We Adore It: The Bumble & Bumble Curl Mousse is a favorite of Nyree Syphrett, a master hairstylist at Warren Tricomi NYC, due to its exceptional hold and definition and its lightweight nature. She claims that the best part is that it doesn’t give your hair a “crunchy feel.” “The curls last for days, and your hair feels softer and easier to manage.”
Who It’s For: We adore how defined our curls look after application, and this mousse is excellent for letting your hair air dry. Note that this formula may be better suited for people with medium-to-coarse, wavy, or curly hair because it may somewhat dry out fine, curly hair.
Joico Power Whip Whipped Foam for Volume & Shine
Why We Love It: Curly hair is frequently quite porous, which means that while it may absorb moisture fast, it can also lose it quickly. For a number of reasons, Syphrett prefers this choice for those with dry hair. She claims that this lotion gives users thick, plump, voluminous curls that are resistant to frizzing out due to dampness. For those who require moisture and have dry curls, it’s fantastic. Additionally, it offers a flexible hold and a polished appearance.
Who It’s For: Dry hair benefits greatly from this moisturizing product. Note: If you are sensitive to strong scents in hair products, avoid this choice as it has a strong men’s cologne scent.
Leonor Greyl Au Lotus Volumizing Mousse
The Reasons We Adore It: Because it is alcohol-free and excellent for giving your curls volume and creating a beach wave or curl that is fit for a vacation, Lospalutto suggests the Leonor Greyl Mousse Au Lotus Volumatrice to his clients. He comments, “I like that it adds hold and shine without the crunchiness.”
Who It’s For: Because it won’t further dry out your hair and doesn’t feel heavy, it’s perfect for people with fine, dry hair. Some people have commented that the smell is excessively intense and not very pleasant. Conversely, there are others who adore the subtle lime aroma of this mousse.
What to Keep in Mind
Curl Type: According to Denver-based curl expert Natalie Kaleel, mousse is typically lighter in weight than gels and curl creams, which makes it a great option for people with wavy hair or curly hair that is on the fine end. That being stated, the holds and definition of various mousses will vary. If your hair is wavy or has looser curls, use a very mild mousse. It will give you beachy waves that will make you envious, not super-defined ringlets. However, you’ll need to find a mousse that’s made for a better hold if your hair is thick or if your curls are tighter.
Overall Hair Objectives: More than just your hair type will determine which product is best for you; you should also think about how you want to style your hair and how you want it to feel and appear. Is frizz control or volume your primary objective? Do you prefer using a diffuser or are you an air-dry person? “I usually choose lightweight products when air-drying curls. Gravity must drag your curls down for a longer period of time the longer your hair takes to dry, says Kaleel. In order to maintain curls hydrated and healthy, Kaleel continues, “I use slightly heavier products when diffusing, and I make sure that one of those products has a good built-in heat-protectant.”
Your Questions, Answered
What is the effect of mousse on curly hair?
As a curly hair style tool, mousse is special because, while it may not be as effective at taming hair as a gel, it does offer more volume and buildability. It is multipurpose and complements gels and curl creams to produce striking effects and long-lasting effects. Kaleel adds, “Mousse will give a strong hold to help maintain a tighter curl pattern and maximum volume.” She adds, “Your curls will stay healthy because it encases the hair and retains moisturizing ingredients in it for longer periods of time.” The finest product for defining curls with a long-lasting hold is mousse, says celebrity hairstylist Dimitris Giannetos of Los Angeles.
Does mousse give your hair a crunchy or sticky finish?
It can—if you apply too much or choose the incorrect product for your hair type. Look for an ultra-lightweight composition that won’t make your hair feel heavy if you have fine hair or looser waves. The aim of mousse is to produce a curl that is full and bouncy. The aforementioned products shouldn’t leave you feeling sticky or crunchy if used properly.
Which is better for curly hair, mousse or gel?
Although they provide distinct effects, they can also be combined. Generally speaking, mousse gives shape and body, while gel offers a greater hold. Giannetos says, “Mousse is soft on the hair, while gel can make your hair look stiff and crunchy.”
For optimal frizz control, I personally like to use mousse as a styling basis and finish it off with a little gel (always mixed with water). An additional tip? According to Kaleel, “the curl cast produced by mousse will often turn soft if diffused until fully dry, leaving you with light and airy curls.”
How is hair mousse used?
Kaleel asserts that wet hair is the ideal condition for mousse application. She suggests using a Denman or comparable brush to style your hair after applying a leave-in conditioner, then scrunching in your mousse to completely cover your hair from roots to ends. She uses a microfiber towel and the plopping technique to finish. Additionally, Giannetos advises using a little extra mousse halfway through drying for a better hold if you decide to utilize the diffuser.
Why Shop With Us
Linne Halpern writes for a living about fashion, lifestyle, and beauty. She thoroughly investigates and evaluates innumerable products. As a lifelong experimenter with different curly hairstyles and the proud possessor of natural 3B curls, she contributed her personal knowledge of the subject to this article, which was supported with insights from unmatched experts. Allison Lax writes for InStyle about commerce updates. Linne and Allison asked celebrity hairstylist Dimitris Giannetos of Los Angeles, curl specialist Natalie Kaleel of Denver, hairstylist Chris Lospalutto, master hairstylist Nyree Syphrett, and stylist and hair loss expert Amanda Dichaira of New Jersey for their opinions on the best mousses for curly hair.
