12 Best Hair Mousses for Volume and Curl Definition

“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.”

“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.”

“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.