Will mousse alone hold your curls all day? Can you use it for a wash-and-go? Will it leave your curls crunchy? These are questions we get asked all the time, so let's figure out if mousse might be what's missing from your curl care routine and which one might be a good match for your hair type.
Mousse seems to be making a major comeback in the curly hair community. It's lightweight, it works beautifully for simple, single-product styling, and when you choose the right formula, it can give you the definition and hold you're looking for without any of the heaviness or crunchiness.
What Exactly Is Mousse?
Mousse is a whipped, airy styling product that's designed to be light and breathable. It is often pressurized and comes out of the bottle in a shaving cream-like consistency. Unlike gels or creams, mousse won't weigh down your curls. It's light and fluffy and water-based.
The magic of mousse is in its texture. Because it's so light, it can work for pretty much every curl texture. Unlike heavier styling products, mousse lets your natural curl pattern shine through while still giving you definition and hold.
Mousse Is Perfect for Wash-and-Go Styling
If you're looking to simplify your curl routine, mousse might be your answer.
Mousse distributes evenly throughout your curls, especially on soaking wet hair, and as your hair air dries, it sets your curls without requiring any heat styling or extra manipulation. You apply it and let your curls do their thing. If a cast forms it's usually minor and easy to scrunch out.
Many people find that mousse gives them great results without the need for heat. Diffusing your curls can help with volume if you're using gel or curl cream, but with mousse, that light, voluminous result is kind of built in to the product.
How to Pick the Right Mousse for Your Curl Type
Not all mousses will suit all curls, so finding the right one means understanding what your curls actually need.
Mousse for High Porosity Curls
If your curls feel like they soak up water or product quickly, you likely have high porosity hair. Look for mousses that include hydrating ingredients like glycerin, honey, or natural oils. These formulas will help lock moisture into your curls and reduce frizz. The Rizos Curls Curl Defining Mousse would be a good fit for your hair if it's high porosity.
Mousse for Low Porosity Curls
Low porosity hair can sometimes feel like products sit on top rather than sinking in. If this sounds like you, choose lightweight mousses that won't build up. Look for formulas that are water-based (water is the first ingredient), without heavy oils that might weigh your curls down. In fact, for low porosity hair, you may want to look for a foamy mousse (sometimes called foam, sometimes still called mousse). A good example of a product suitable for low porosity curls is the Only Curls Volumizing Curl Mousse.
Mousse for Fine or Thin Curly Hair
If you have finer curls, you need a mousse that won't weigh down your curls. Search for light-hold formulas that give volume and shape without creating that stiff, crunchy feeling. These products should feel airy when you apply them, and even more airy when they dry. A good mousse for fine, thin, or low density curls is the LUS Brands | Love Ur Curls Volumizing Foam. (For more information on foam vs. mousse check out our blog: What are the Differences Between a Foam and a Mousse?)
Mousse for Thick or Dense Curly Hair
Thicker curls often need more structure and hold. A medium to strong hold mousse will give you the definition you need and help combat shrinkage while keeping your curls looking bouncy and voluminous. Mousse Gel from AG offers a firm hold and can be used on its own to keep your routine extra simple!
The Ingredients That Actually Matter
When you're shopping, take a moment to look at the ingredient list. Here's what to look for in the first five ingredients in particular:
- Humectants like glycerin or honey draw moisture into your curls
- Natural oils such as argan or coconut oil help create movement and flexibility without heaviness
- Water is almost always the first ingredient in mousse (or foam) - if it isn't, it won't be as light on your curls
If a mousse includes moisturizing ingredients and protein, like the Flora & Curl Style Me Sweet Hibiscus Curl Volumizing Foam, it can often be a good choice for all curl types and textures. Protein strengthens your curls and helps with retention, while moisture keeps them supple and soft. What's not to love about that combination?
How to Use Mousse for Best Results
The technique matters just as much as the product when you're trying to get the best out of your curls. Here's what we recommend:
- Start with soaking wet hair right after you wash and condition. Mousse distributes most evenly when your hair is wet, and it'll set as your curls dry naturally. The only caveat to this is if you are using mousse as your second styling product specifically for volume. If that's the case, apply it when hair is at least 50% dry, and use your curl cream or other styler underneath when your hair is very wet.
- Use the right amount. Start with a golf ball-sized portion. This works for most shoulder-length hair, though you may need more or less depending on your hair's density or if it's longer or shorter.
- Apply with the praying hands method. Smooth the mousse through your hair from roots to ends with your hair strands "trapped" between your hands in a praying formation. Then gently scrunch upward towards your scalp to encourage your curl pattern.
- Let it dry completely. This is where mousse can improve your styling routine: you don't need heat tools to get a nice result when you use it. As your hair dries, the mousse sets your curls.
- Fluff when completely dry. Once your curls are set, shake out your roots and fluff up your curls for more movement and lift.
Troubleshooting When Using Mousse
If you're not getting light, well defined results with mousse, it may be that you're using too much (or too little, but in our experience, it's usually too much!). Try the method above and adjust how much water you're using to apply your mousse.
Mousse is a featherweight product, so you don't need to be heavy-handed with your application. Your hair should always remain touchable and moveable throughout the styling and drying process when using a mousse that's suitable for your hair - and when using the right amount of mousse.
Finding Your Mousse Match
The best mousse for your curly hair is the one that matches what your specific curls need. There are so many kinds - defining, volumizing, setting, to name a few.
If you're struggling to determine which mousse is going to be a good fit for your curls, get in touch or visit us in store and we can help!
