What is Hair Mousse and How to Use it for Voluminous Hair

Sorry to humblebrag, but my hair has never been healthier_dare I say, it’s too healthy. I decided to forgo highlights and color treatments for a little bit (you’re so welcome, bank account), and the lack of bleach (plus a cute French bob haircut) has done wonders for keeping my hair healthy and moisturized. It might be too much, because my hair is smoother and greasier. I’m talking can’t-even-go-12-hours-without-greasy-hair vibes. Healthy hair means I’ve been able to incorporate products into my routine with a styling purpose instead of focusing solely on my damage repair, so I looked to volumizing products, and one has stuck out so much that I can’t imagine ever not using it again: mousse.

If you grew up with a woman figure in your life who grew up in the ’80s, you’ll likely have strong feelings about mousse. The mousse of yesteryear was sticky, gloopy, and crunchy—like the worst hairspray on the market but somehow even worse. It made fine and curly hair look heavier, even though its sole purpose was to keep hair lifted.

Rashuna Durham

HAIRSTYLIST

Rashuna is a Amika Pro Lead hairstylist located in New York.

Mousse got a facelift in 2022. Now, the product that was once a mainstay of my nightmares is solving my biggest hair woes. Hair mousse is a light foam that gives hair volume, bounce and shape. It’s especially useful for curly hair. There are many variations available to suit all hair types. According to Amika Pro Lead Stylist, Rashuna Durham, “mousse is best for giving hold and definition to strands as well as protecting and taming your hair.” She also noted it can help keep frizz in check and make your curls bouncier.

Mousse can give your hair volume and body if it is lacking in body and volume. It also generally has quite a bit of hold, so if you blow dry your hair or add a style, you’ll get some natural longevity without having to incorporate a sticky hairspray (another product that desperately needs a 2022 facelift). Moisturizers can add body to curly, curly and coily hair. It’s a great addition to your wash ‘n go routine if you want a little extra volume and hold in your curls.

Recently, I tested Amika’s Plus Size Volume & Body Mousse and was expecting less-than-stellar results. My experiences with mousse were not positive. However, science led me to try this mousse market for a few washes and it transformed my hair. This one product gave my hair so much volume. I used my leave-in conditioner to soften my hair and get rid of tangles. But mousse is what gave me my volume.

My hair is very brittle and holds no shape without a little bleach. If I style my hair at 8 a.m., it will be flat by noon. Mousse has been a game changer for adding lots of grip to my hair before I even style it so my hair lasts more than a few hours—a massive feat. Yesterday, I styled my hair with the curls shown above. Today, I was amazed at how great my hair looks today. After sleeping on my curls for the entire night, all I had to do was brush them through.

Amika

Plus Size Volume & Body Mousse

Best for long-lasting volume

This mousse is suitable for all hair types. It provides a long-lasting, flexible hold that you can style however you like.

How to Use Mousse

To make mousse, add a small amount to your palm. We used to wrap our hands in mousse back in the days. Use enough to get in and cover your hair roots to ends, but don’t go overboard or you will experience that heavy feeling we’re trying to get away from. Durham suggested that I use a golf-ball-sized amount. This was perfect for me. Next, rake the mousse through, starting at the roots. I focus mousse on my roots because that’s where I want the most lift, using a scrunching motion to get a little more body. Then, whatever is left on my hands I’ll scrunch through the mid-lengths and ends of my hair. If your hair is thick or you have a lot of it (can’t relate, jealous), Durham recommended applying it in sections at a time to control how much product you’re applying.

You don’t have to use heat to activate most mousse, but I notice much more volume on the days I blow dry. I use a round brush and a concentrator nozzle to add shape and volume to my bangs, but for the rest of my hair, I just take the blow dryer through it as normal—no real rhyme or reason here (sorry, I’m lazy).

Check out our other favourite mousses if your hair is different than mine.