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Hair mousse might sound a little intimidating. It gets a bad rep for being crunchy and sticky, even though professional hairstylists have been using it for decades. After testing my fair share of hair mousses, I want you to forget what you think you know about mousse because it’s truly one of the best ways to elevate your hair routine. The formulas on the market today are nothing like the ones you used in middle school.
The best hair mousses of 2024 give hold and definition to your style, add volume and texture while taming frizz, and even condition the hair in some cases, thanks to nourishing ingredients like vitamin C and sunflower-seed oil.
So, you’re looking for the best hair mousse?
➼ Our top picks
➼ More tried-and-true options
➼ FAQs
➼ Our experts
Our Top Picks
Overall Best Hair Mousse
Oribe Grandiose Hair Plumping Mousse
One of the most luxurious and effective options on the market, the Oribe Grandiose Hair Plumping Mousse is a lightweight and airy formula that visibly plumps hair at the roots for maximum volume. It’s not the best for boosting natural curls or holding them in place, but I use it before drying my hair and love how much fullness it adds to my blowout. One reviewer called it “the Aston Martin of hair mousse,” and I couldn’t agree more. It’s worth the splurge in my opinion.
The One for Air-Dry Days
Moroccanoil Volumizing Mousse
On days when I’m too lazy to blow-dry, I apply this mousse from Moroccanoil on damp hair. I follow it up with a curl cream and the result is bouncy, frizz-free, flexible, and effortlessly cool beach waves (even though my hair is naturally pretty straight). And like most products from Moroccanoil, this mousse also smells amazing.
The Mousse That Also Acts As a Heat Protectant
Amika Plus Size Perfect Body Hair Mousse
Aside from having the cutest packing, this mousse provides long-lasting volume, body, and bounce. It also doubles up as a heat protectant, so I can use one less product before styling my hair. A star ingredients is sea buckthorn, which contains antioxidants, fatty-acid omega-7, and vitamins C and A to hydrate the hair without weighing it down.
Best Multitasking Mousse
R+Co Chiffon Styling Mousse
For a strong hold but lightweight texture, try the R+Co Chiffon Styling Mousse. The multitasking formula can be used before a blowout or on damp hair to enhance your natural air-dried look. It delivers easy-to-shape body, volume, and shine while also protecting against heat damage. “It’s the perfect balance between softness and structure and is buildable, too,” Adam Federico, R+Co vice-president of technical education, says. “It’s a go-to for me, whether I’m styling straight and smooth or I’m after texture or waves.”
More Tried-and-True Options
Best Mousse for Beachy Waves
Crown Affair The Texturizing Air Dry Hair Mousse
This styling foam works well on all hair types; it adds texture to straight hair, enhances wavy hair, and defines curly hair. The crunch-free formula is infused with salt to give you the ultimate post-beach-day hair — even when you’re not on vacation.
The Drugstore Favorite
Not Your Mother’s Curl Talk Activating Mousse
If you’re looking for an airy foam formula that has the curl power of an old-school hair gel, you’ll love this under-$10 mousse from Not Your Mother’s. Apply it to damp hair for defined, frizz-free, and long-lasting curls or beach waves, depending on your hair type. And not only is it affordable and available at the drugstore, it also has a nice citrus scent. The only down side? It sometimes makes my hair feel a bit crunchy.
Best Mousse for Curls and Coils
PATTERN by Tracee Ellis Ross Curl Mousse for Curls & Coils
Ideal for both wash-and-gos and protective styles, this mousse for curls and coils delivers touchable volume and helps lock your look in place. It contains hydrating ingredients such as marshmallow root and castor oil to soften and smooth, plus it dries quickly so it’s great for busy mornings. “A lot of products tend to weigh my hair down but this does not and I love it,” one reviewer wrote.
Best Mousse for Fine Hair
Bumble and Bumble Thickening Full Form Soft Hair Mousse
Specifically designed for fine to medium-thick hair, this foam adds volume and body while also softening and moisturizing your locks. If you use it on damp hair before blow-drying, your style will last all day long (and even through the night) without feeling crunchy or sticky. It also makes the hair look fuller and thicker without feeling heavy.
The Cult Classic
Paul Mitchell Flexible Style Sculpting Foam
Ideal for all hair types, this top-rated, coconut-scented mousse has been a hair-care staple for decades. It helps define and hold curls while also conditioning the hair and boosting shine. The versatile formula can enhance straight hairstyles as well, especially if you struggle with frizz and flyaways. “I’ve tried MANY products to give my hair some definition. This mousse wins, hands down,” one reviewer wrote, adding that “even in heat and humidity, it stays in my hair all day. I’ve been using it since the ’80s!”
FAQs
Our experts
