Top 7 Best Mousse for Curly Hair – Review And Buying Guide

Mousse for curly hair? Didn’t we bury this vintage product a long time ago together with the death of the 1980’s perms? While it is true that we have parted ways with mousses decades ago, it’s now making a comeback. However, it’s no longer the mousses of yesteryears that leaves curls crunchy and stiff mess. Today’s mousse is formulated with advanced polymers that deliver a smoother and brushable barely-there finish for a more natural feel on your locks.

Much like a pre-baked meringue, mousse has a frothy foam consistency that although dense, will tone wild waves and scaffold it. It can even create instant volume and shine or sculpt ambitious styles if you’d like. All of these you can gain alongside the provision of hold so you can wear your gorgeous curls for longer.  But isn’t these what hairsprays and waxes are for, you may ask? Well, to answer your question, mousse is one few hair products that style wavy hair but without ruining its curly pattern nor will it leave it looking flat, setting mousse apart from its styling counterparts.

With its range of versatility and easiness of use, it’s no surprise that different brands come up with their own formulation of mousses.  Some even have the added benefits of thermal protection against heat-styling tools and UV protection against damaging sun rays. Today we are going to review 7 of the most top-rated styling foams. Behold, this is the list of the best mousse for curly hair to take your waves — be it natural or artificial —  up a notch.

Best Mousse for Curly Hair

1.  John Frieda Frizz Ease Curl Reviver Mousse

Best frizz-taming mousse

Frizz is the number one enemy of curly and wavy hair. If defrizzing is your main agenda, this John Frieda mousse, as its name would suggest, focuses on taming those pesky little strands that seem to have a mind of its own. The key lies in panthenol as one of the key ingredients. This vitamin b5 derivative is known for its great moisture-retention properties which is what keeps unwanted frizz and statics under wraps.

More to the formula is a blend of copolymers that works to amp up your curls and give it hold without the crunch factor. This is something that you can expect from an alcohol-free and lightweight formula. Thermal protectant and UV filters are also added to the formula to protect your hair against all kinds of heat — be it hot tools or the damaging sun rays. The infusion of castor oil will leave your locks looking supple and shiny. With all of this range of features, it surprisingly priced affordably. We say it’s a steal!.

2. OGX Locking + Coconut Curls Decadent Creamy Mousse

Best conditioning mousse

If your curls are begging for some TLC,  treat them with this partly styling foam and partly conditioning cream from OGX. The creamy blend of coconut oil and shea butter is sure to meet your hair’s hydrating needs while still having the consistency of a mousse to enhance your curls and fend off frizz. While the definition level runs on the stronger side, the foam won’t leave a flaky build up on your hair nor will it cause your hair feeling stiff.

Apart from the creamy decadent consistency, most positive reviews are on the great-smelling scent that according to some is a remnant of summer beachy scent. Just be careful not to apply a lot as a small amount can coat lots of hair sections. As with all hair care products manufactured by OGX, the formula is safe to use on color-treated hair.

3. Garnier Fructis Style Curl Construct Creation Mousse

Best budget-friendly

Achieving a shiny bouncing salon-level curls does not have to mean breaking your bank. This mousse from leading beauty product Garnier will prove you just that. Harboring the nourishing and holding power of shea butter, this mousse will boost your curls while controlling frizz in an ultra-long lasting hold and shine. With its relatively cheap cost and sufficient net weight, this will be the best under-the-five-dollar bucks you’ll ever spend.

While the extra strong-hold may ring a red flag for those who have fine and thin hair, the formula won’t weigh on your hair or leave stickiness. It is a  spreadable foam that caters to different styling precisions while allowing the possibility of restyling even at the end of the day.  It is made without sulfates, silicone parabens and other controversial ingredients like the parabens, making this mousse gentle and ideal for everyday use.

4. Moroccanoil Curl Control Mousse

Best in taming wild curls

If controlling those unruly curls is your main concern, Morrocanoil Curl Control Mousse is up to the task. Argan oil is the star in this product, defining curls and sealing in moisture to make it look more manageable and shiny, all whilst nourishing hair with its rich antioxidant and fatty acid properties. More to the formula is an anti-static agent that works to smoothen any fuzzy strands coupled up with a hydrolyzed plant-based protein to fix over porous hair and split ends.

The mousse has a lightweight foam which makes it easy to work on your hair. It provides a medium hold that locks in styles without weighing your hair down. Another of its notable aspect is its unique signature scent. It has the earthy scent of a spicy amber combined with a well-rounded base note of sweet florals that will surely impart an invigorating sensorial experience, exactly what Moroccanoil product lines are known for.

5. SoCozy Sensitive Styling Foam – Natural Hold

Best all-natural formula

It’s easy for some hair care manufacturers to label their products as “natural” but their chemical-laden formula says otherwise. SoCozy is one of the few brands that are transparent about their formulations. As evident in their dermatologically tested lightweight mousse, the styling foam is free of parabens, sulfates, phthalates, artificial colorants and other allergens such as gluten, wheat, and nuts were in the formula.

An alternative to the conventional chemical ingredients is a  proprietary blend of botanicals such as rosemary extracts and soy protein teamed up with keratin to condition hair, repair damaged locks and make it resilient with every use. You’ll only not get stunning curls but also healthy-looking locks as a result. Despite being advertised as a gentle formula for kids with sensitive scalps, the mousse also gained significant adult followings which comes as no surprise considering the withstanding level of hold it offers — strong enough to hold styles and protect your hair against challenging weather conditions. On top of that, your hair will be smelling vanilla orange with a hint of honey!

6. DevaCurl Frizz-Free Volumizing Texture Foam

Best in lifting hair

For those who want to define curls without losing in touch with volume, this texturizing foam from DevaCurl is a must-keep. It amps up your roots to give the illusion of a fuller-looking hair while still providing a natural feel thanks to its lightweight airy formula. It’s great as a root-lifter but you can also use it all over to plump your curls.  This mousse also comes in handy if you want a mousse that offers a long-lasting formula to lock in your styles and resist frizz.

What makes this volumizing foam even more special is the infusion of lemongrass, fatty acids derived from sunflower and other plant extracts that feeds hair with nourishment and shine in addition to giving the formula an invigorating fresh citrus scent. And we just can’t let you go without mentioning that DevaCurl is a  brand devoted to providing a solution to everyday challenges of curly hair with a provision of products that are made with a perfect balance between natural ingredients and high-performing co-polymers. As such, you can be certain that you are giving your hair away from a superior treatment that is free of nasty chemicals, only the good stuff.

7. Tresemme TRES Two Extra Hold Hair Mousse

The best protection against humidity and breeze

The slightest flurry of breeze and humidity can transform even the most well-kept curls into messy knots. Tresseme boasts of this mousse’s maximum professional-level of hold, optimal to get your curls through clammy weather. It offers a 24 hours resistance against frizz and flyaways yet the flexible hold still allows your curls to bounce with the breeze.

Got a fine hair that won’t hold a body or style?  You are in for a treat. Despite being advertised for extra firm control, the mousse is light enough for the application but strong enough for whatever gravity-defying style you are into. Even later in the day, your style will still be intact. So go ahead, be fearless with ambitious hairstyles, your curls are not going anywhere.

Choosing The Best Mousse for Curly Hair

Almost all brands of hair care products carry a line of mousses and some exclusively designed for curly hair as evident on packaging labels that tag the word “curly” or “wavy” to allure, of course, springy-haired folks. But if you are a discerning buyer, you will want to know what to look for in a mousse rather than solely relying on marketing labels. It is especially important to know how to choose a mousse for your hair type as not all mousse are created equal. Surely you will want to covet the mousse that hit all the major needs of your curly hair type and what you are after the product.

Volumizing mousse: Great for Fine Curly Hair

Mousses that are advertised as “volumizing” or “thickening” expertize in mega lifting your roots which are a trade-off for people wanting the appearance of a fuller and thicker hair. Most volume-enhancing mousse comes in a lightweight and non-sticky formula that won’t weigh your hair down nor will make it feel like straw afterward, another major plus for fine hair that can only take much texture.

Holding mousse: Great for Holding Styles and Taming Unruly Curls

Apart from being a great styling foam for enhancing curls and waves, the mousse will lock in your styles for you. The same polymer technology that is used in gels and hairsprays are also present in holding mousse to keep your hair in place but still keeping it brushable, ideal for thick and coarse hair that is prone to undesirable frizz and statics. A good holding mousse will also get you through humidity and breeze. They come in different concentrations that offer a medium to strong-hold.

Shine mousse: Great for Dry and Curly Hair

Are your curls dull and dry? Most mousses leave hair with a sheen and bring out more defined curls. If your goal is to give your lackluster locks its needed moisturization, look for a mousse that has essential oils and plant-based butter that replenish lost oils apart from leaving hair glossy.

Natural mousse: Great for Damaged Curly hair

If you want to give your hair a break from the often chemically-laden styling products, a natural mousse is a great product to stand-by. Natural mousse, as its name would suggest, is often free from common hair aggressors such as sulfate and alcohol favoring hair that is recently permed, colored or chemically processed in any way. It focuses on the provision of botanical conditioning ingredients that bath hair with nutrients to restore vitality and style it in the least damaging way possible.

How to use the best mousse for curly hair

Getting those sleek gorgeous curls is not just about the best mousse but also has something to do with the right technique as well as the right amount of product you use. Ready to give the mouse a whirl? To get the most out of your styling product, follow the below guide on how to style curly hair with a mousse.

Step 1: Wet your hair

While mousses work on both damp and dry hair, wetting your hair is a good start since the hair is moistened which will lead to a shinier result and also allows the mousse to be more spreadable. We are not talking about sopping wet strands, however, but rather an evenly wet hair. So when you just wash your hair make sure you towel or air dry it until hair is damp without the dripping wetness.

Step 2: Dollop some mousse into your palm

There is such thing as too much so start with about an egg-sized blob of the mousse if you are unsure of the coverage. You can always reapply later.

Step 3: Work on your style

Give the mouse a slight rub, spreading it gently on your both hands. Then run the foam on each section of hair concentrating on the roots. For more redefined curls, work with smaller sections. Depending on what your after the mousse, the length of your hair and the style you are after, you can try the following techniques.

• If you are looking forward to volumizing your hair, comb through your tresses vertically (about 90 degrees) using your hand or a comb. You can also do this technique to distribute the mousse evenly.
• In a rush? Tilt your head so you can easily access your hair. Begin on the roots of your hair working your way onto the top. You can also spritz the foam directly to your tresses as long as you don’t overdo the process.
• If you are working on short or fine hair, brush your hands up beginning on the top front to the back of your hair.
• If you applying other hair products, use mousse sparingly.

Step 4: Make sure the mousse is spread evenly

You can use your fingers or a wide-tooth comb to brush your hair so you can ensure the product is evenly distributed. Add additional mousse if needed.

Step 5: Blow-dry your hair

The heat coming from the blow-dryer will seal in the style for you. Use a diffuser to maintain the shape of your curls. You can use also use this blow-drying technique as you style your hair. If an extra lift is what you are after, attach a nozzle and gently pull your hair upwards with a brush. Or depending on the look you are going for,  you can tug your hair toward, back or away.

Our Top Pick

All the featured products are all special in their own way and choosing really depends on what you are after the mousse. If you want to get the best mousse for all trades, however, we highly recommend John Frieda Frizz Ease Curl Reviver Mousse. Designed especially for curly hair, this mousse has everything you need and more to refine and plump your curls, lock in styles, and keeps frizz at a minimum level even with undesirable weather,  with the added benefits of thermal and UV protectant. All of these benefits you can harbor at a price that won’t dent your beauty budget.