About two years ago, I started losing mountains (heaps!) of my hair, and every night I cried into my silk pillowcase, wishing I had the luscious hair it once had. I knew hair mousse was helpful, but I grew up thinking that using hair mousse gave me an undesirable “wet” look, aka a hair helmet. But times have changed, and so have hair mousses. While creams and gels can help hold your style, celebrity hairstylist Skye Kim says, “Mousse has a fluffier texture, so unlike gel, you can focus more on building up and targeting your roots.” “I’ll do it,” he explains. Even if you apply mousse from the roots to the tips of your hair, you can add volume to your hair without weighing it down like other styling products.
Since I started experimenting with hair mousse to create a heatless style, my hair has increased in thickness and volume. I spent four weeks testing the hottest, most popular, and even polarizing hair mousses. I looked for standout features, like whether the mousse would add volume, reduce frizz, or transform my limp waves into gorgeous Carrie Bradshaw curls. Here’s what surprised me the most:
Photo: Sephora
Why we like it: Moose naysayers, prepare to be humiliated in The Clown Affair. Clean Hair Care Brand’s Texturizing Mousse was my first attempt at a hair mousse since middle school (seriously). I expected it to be the same sticky formula as the one I chose for my preteen, but the weightless mousse felt more like water than heavy whipped cream. It magically melted through my hair, conditioning it, and I received compliments from complete strangers. The mousse disappeared so quickly that I couldn’t believe how well this formula maintained my waves throughout the day, especially during the struggle between me and removing the air conditioning unit. I saw a nice S-shaped structure that was mobile. AKA, there were no stiff strands like the wax museum models.
Who it’s for: My favorite thing about this mousse is how versatile it can be used by people with all hair types. It doesn’t clog fine hair with heavy ingredients, but provides enough grip to maintain tight coils and defined waves all day long. Also, air drying is just as effective as drying with a diffuser.
Key Ingredients: Pink Bolivian Salt, Plant Protein Blend | Benefits: Moisturizing, Style Holding | Size: 5.1 oz
Photo: Sephora
Why I liked it: This foam gave my hair that instant curl that I always look for when I air dry it. So instead of tightly curled hair, it’s defined by huge waves. My hair felt flexible and mobile, but the curls never loosened, even after climbing the stairs of my fifth-floor walk-up multiple times. But the most original quality of this formula is its consistency. It’s similar to a high-end beauty serum.
Who it’s for: Volume seekers, this is for you. My roots looked more lifted and my hair was fuller, but it didn’t have that fluffy feeling that it does when it’s too humid. If you’re prone to static halos like me, you may need to apply hair oil to minimize frizz.
Key Ingredients: Silk Protein, Vegan Keratin |Benefits: Curl Strengthening, Volume Addition |Size: 6.7oz
Photo: InStyle / Eileen Richardson Photo: InStyle / Eileen Richardson Photo: Ulta
Why we love it: Even hairstylists who carry all the luxury brands recommend this drugstore-priced mousse, and now you can see why. It added volume to my flat hair and suddenly I saw curls I didn’t know I had. I like beachy textures, so I brushed through tight coils to create curly waves without frizzy tendrils. Strict Warning: The canister will quickly release large quantities of snowman-sized moose. Only about a quarter of the amount in the canister was needed to coat fine hair.
Who it’s for: If your hair is a hybrid of waves and curls, this Kenra Mousse will transform those waves into full, bouncy curls. I noticed some bouncy coils, especially around the middle and back parts of my hair. When I combed my wet hair, the curls I created held their curly shape. Pro tip: My hair takes longer than usual to dry with this mousse, so pull out the diffuser if you want to be out the door quickly.
Key Ingredients: Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein |Benefits: Curl Strengthening, Volume Addition |Size: 8oz
Photo: InStyle / Eileen Richardson Photo: InStyle / Eileen Richardson Photo: Amazon
Why I love it: I run my fingers through my hair so often that I have to carry a mini vacuum to suck up loose hair. That being said, the Amika Body Mousse refused to let my fingers ruin the beautiful curls the fluffy textured mousse gave my hair. On the wettest, most humid day, I walked around the city. And when I got home, my hair was freshly styled. Plus, it had the same effect as a leave-in conditioner, giving my hair extra protection and shine.
Who it’s for: If you’re tired of products that are too light to hold your style or too heavy and burdensome, you need this. Although it’s a very thick foam, I was pleasantly surprised at how it kept my curls buoyant and felt weightless in my hair.
Key Ingredients: Sea Buckthorn Berry |Benefits: Strengthens Curls |Size: 8.5oz
Photo: InStyle / Eileen Richardson Photo: InStyle / Eileen Richardson Photo: Amazon
Why I love it: My hair looks great when I first comb it up, but it tends to lose its curl after one lap around the block. Oribe’s bouffant hair mousse gave me waves that moved with my movements, rather than staying stiff. At times, the waves seemed to loosen up a bit by the end of the day, but they always fell into a beautiful, relaxed pattern that was frizz-free.
Who it’s best for: When your natural curls aren’t working, use Oribe Mousse to restore evenly shaped waves. This thick mousse has a texture similar to shaving cream, so you’ll want to use less. However, this formula absorbed into my hair quickly and the more I applied it, the softer my hair became instead of greasy.
Key Ingredients: Sunflower Seed Oil, Glycerin, Vitamin E | Best Use: Moisturizing, Style Holding | Size: 5.7 oz
Photo: Ulta
Why I love it: My hair comes from a mermaid brand, so mermaids have to watch their backs. SheaMoisture mousse was a hair care staple in my middle school years, but this lightweight formula is 10 times better than past products (no offense intended). With a styling cream that has a more liquid-like texture than a traditional fluffy mousse, you’ll get incredibly soft, even waves. Plus, I think it enhanced the natural color of my hair. Using it made my blonde highlights stick out more strongly.
Who it’s best for: Shea butter and coconut oil can leave a film on your hair, so I was impressed with how this non-greasy formula nourished my desert-dry hair. It doesn’t have much hold, and those with 3C or 4C curls may need a thicker mousse to set the coils.
Key Ingredients: Shea Butter, Coconut Oil |Benefits: Moisturizing |Size: 7.5 oz
Photo: InStyle / Eileen Richardson Photo: InStyle / Eileen Richardson Photo: Sephora
Why I love it: My hair is thinner than straw and dry as hay, leaving me with a scarecrow-like mane most days. Cienne Naturals Curl Strengthening Mousse saves me from a life of crow-inducing hair by softening and adding fullness to brittle hair. Beyond this, my hair becomes light and fluffy and feels like I’m wearing a little cloud hat on my head.
Audience: Well, we’re all interested in aesthetics. This beautiful blue bottle looks so beautiful just sitting quietly on your shelf. More importantly, it provides the hydration of a powerful leave-in hair mask for fine hair while maintaining a lifted look at the roots.
Key Ingredients: Aloe Vera Juice, Baobab Protein |Best Use: Smooth Frizz |Size: 8 oz
Photo: InStyle / Eileen Richardson Photo: InStyle / Eileen Richardson Photo: Sephora
Why we love it: If there’s one thing my mom and I agree on, it’s that Virtue knows how to work with curls. Unlike her Shirley Temple ringlets, I have loose Madeline Cline waves. Still, we agree that this brand’s mousse helps keep each hair in its natural pattern and increases hair volume. I also love the clean scent, which makes the whole prep process more enjoyable.
Who it’s for: Think of Virtual Volume Mousse as an eclectic assist for your bike. It’s that little extra boost to get you over the finish line, and in this case, it means enhancing your natural waves to make them look more even and voluminous.
Key Ingredients: Baobab Seed Oil, Panthenol | Key Benefits: Style Retention, Volume | Size: 5.5 oz
Photo: InStyle / Eileen Richardson Photo: InStyle / Eileen Richardson
Our testing process
I spent a month testing 12 different hair mousses, ranging from thick whipped cream-like textures to serum-based formulas, to minimize frizz, preserve waves, and add volume to your hair. I found something. While determining the overall results, we also paid close attention to whether the mousse came out easily from the canister, whether it left a film of mousse on the hair or hands, and whether it noticeably moisturized dry hair. . However, I didn’t just sit around at home waiting for the results. I busied myself with work, errands, and training to truly test each claim. By the end of the month, I found these 8 hair mousses to be the best.
Things to keep in mind
Ingredients: Ideally, a hair mousse contains lightweight polymers for added hold and natural oils to moisturize dry hair, says celebrity hairstylist Rogelio Cavalcante. Alcohol-free formulation: All of our experts agreed that the less alcohol a brand uses in its mousse formulation, the better. “Be careful not to include too much alcohol in your mousse to avoid drying out your hair,” Kim explains. Hair Type: Even very fine and fine hair like mine can benefit from a mousse that has a lightweight formula and applies evenly. “If you have thin hair, start with a small amount and use a comb to distribute it just at the roots or evenly throughout,” says Kim. Also, if you have thick hair types, it may be a little more difficult to apply. Also consider mousses packed with moisturizing ingredients like glycerin, coconut oil, and shea butter.
answer your questions
Which is better for your hair, gel or mousse?
Compared to gels and styling creams, mousse does not feel heavy or stiff, and provides hold and volume. Mousse is also a very versatile product and you can get more styles by using mousse over gel or cream. “For example, you can use mousse to create a sleek bun or ponytail,” says Cavalcante. “Voluminous blowouts are on trend, and mousse is the perfect styling agent to achieve a soft, bouncy look,” he adds.
How do you apply hair mousse?
Kim recommends applying this product to your hands or other surfaces rather than applying it directly to your hair. “Use a wide comb to apply at the roots, or spread it over your hands first and comb through your hair evenly,” she explains.
“If you want your hair to have natural waves, apply it liberally to wet hair and let it air dry, or use a diffuser,” says celebrity hairstylist and educator Ruslan Nureyev.
Can I apply mousse to dry hair?
“The non-negotiable when using a mousse is to apply it evenly to wet hair,” says Nureyev. If applied to dry hair, the texture may become uneven.
Why shop with us?
Eileen Richardson is a writer on the InStyle Beauty Evergreen team. She thinks her hair always looks like Taylor Swift circa 2006 (maybe just on a perfect day), but she actually lets her hair air dry to create gorgeous, natural curls. In order to take shape, a large amount of product is required. Of the hundreds of leave-in products she’s tried, hair mousse may be the one that truly makes this delusional fantasy a reality.
Sky Kim is a New York City-based celebrity hairstylist who has worked with clients such as Brooke Shields, Liza Koshy, and Jenna Dewan. If you’re in the area, you can find her at Jenna Perry Hair Studio. Rogério Cavalcante is a celebrity hairstylist and owner of The Second Floor Salon in New York City. Ruslan Nureyev is a professional hairstylist and educator. He has worked on editorial campaigns for Harper’s Bazaar and styled clients at international festivals and runway shows.
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