I’ve never really been one to reach for hair mousse when styling my strands, but I’ve recently come to the conclusion that I may have dismissed this master styler a bit too soon. It’s such a versatile product that works well on every hair type and celebrity hairstylist, Anthony Holguin, agrees. Maybe I haven’t been reaching for this miracle product simply because I didn’t really know how to use it to achieve great hair—just being honest.
Holguin let me in on a few secrets, though. He has a few ways he likes to use mousse for a truly insane look. “I like to use mousse two different ways,” he says. “One being when it’s wet and you’re going to get a solid blow out. I like to add mouse to the roots and ends to build memory and hold so that you can get a voluminous blow out and have it last a while. Second, I like to add mouse when hair is dry on a second day to refresh a blow out or if your hair has gone flat. This helps to give back volume to the root and make it look like you just got a fresh blow out! It also help absorb oils in the hair.”
Even if you have curly hair, mousse is still a great product to use to define your curls and helps add a little volume and fullness to them. If Holguin has any tips for mousse novices, it’s to be super generous with it. “I also love adding mousse to a wide tooth comb and combing it through the hair. This helps get it evenly through your strands so you don’t miss any spots,” he adds. For a few of Holguin’s all-time favorite hair mousses and our own picks for each hair type, keep scrolling below.
Holguin loves this volumizing mousse from R+Co’s Bleu line for its smooth, elegant texture and ability to provide long-lasting moisture. It’s a rich foam infused with biotin to protect hair from breakage making it a great option for finer hair types. He also touts this as his all-time favorite option.
Another favorite of Holguin’s is Unite’s Elevate Hair Mousse. It’s a weightless, yet creamy foam that gives the hair a little lift and frizz-fighting moisture with ingredients like argan oil.
Holguin also loves reaching for Oribe’s Grandiose Hair Plumping formula because it adds extra volume and body, and even helps hair appear thicker. And we can’t forget that it’s also loaded with Oribe’s signature complex which shields hair from environmental aggressors, oxidative stress, and the depletion of natural keratin in the hair.
Amika’s volume- and body-boosting mousse has earned a spot in Holguin’s rotation for its unmatched ability to provide flexible hold and anti-humidity benefits. As a bonus, it also acts as a heat protectant and prevents moisture loss.
For those with curls looking to add shape, try Pantene’s lightweight mousse. It boosts your natural curl pattern and features other ingredients to help hair resist humidity and control flyaways.
Personally, I love It’s a 10’s Miracle Leave-In Conditioner ($27), it’s such a great addition to my hair care routine and this styling mousse is no different. It delivers serious hold and even strengthens the hair with hydrolyzed silk.
For wavy to curly hair types, R+Co’s Aircraft Pomade Mousse is great to keep handy. The vegetable protein in this formula adds strength to the hair, papaya extract helps create volume, and a heat protection polymer minimizes heat damage.
if you have color-treated hair, Pureology offers a conditioning mousse that boosts volume and shields hair from heat damage all while providing extra color pigment protection.
Another great option for tighter curl types is SheaMoisture’s curl mousse with coconut oil and neem oil since both provide deeper hydration. The formula also contains shea butter to add extra shape and bounce to your curls.
This volume-building mousse works wonders for fine, straight hair types. It’s formulated with Air Silk Technology which plumps and enhances strand fullness. It’s also safe to use for color-treated hair.
Shu Uemura’s defining mousse works well for wavy and curly hair. It provides humidity resistance, curl definition, heat protection, flexible hold.
Formulated with rich coconut and avocado oil, this is one of the best hair mousses for curls because it provides superior hold without making it crunchy or heavy.
Maui Moisture products really deliver for the price. I’ve tried quite a few products from the brand and none of them have disappointed me. The brand’s Curl Foam Mousse keeps strands ultra-soft, defined, and frizz-free.
