We want curls without the crunch, styling without stickiness, and long-lasting volume. While this used to be a struggle with even the best hair mousses back in the day, they’ve come a long way since their supposed glory days (hello ‘80s perms and shaggy ‘dos).
Many hair mousses now boast lightweight formulas that enhance styling and curls, without leaving any unwanted crunch or frizz.
But it can still be hard to find one with a texture you like that delivers the va-va-voom. That’s why the GHI decided to put the market leaders to the test, with the help of our at-home panel. You’ll find their winning picks at a glance below but scroll on for the full reviews.
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Best lightweight hair mousse
Larry King My Nanna's Mousse
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Best for adding shine
Schwarzkopf Styling Keratin Hair Mousse
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Best for a natural hold
WELLA Deluxe Definition & Protection Mousse
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What does hair mousse do?
The right hair mousse can be a very versatile styling product. They go one step further than hairspray, which will just hold your style in place. A hair mousse can also add extra volume to hair after styling with hot brushes or curlers, as well as adding sleekness to ponytails, and even helping to refine natural curls.
And not only can they add height, but health too, as many contain heat and UV protecting properties.
What’s the best mousse to hold a curl?
Those blessed with natural curls will probably know the benefits of adding mousse to wet hair to help define each individual curl. But they will also know that they can sometimes add a layer of unwanted crunchiness, which can increase the chance of breakage – not what you want.
But many haircare brands have refined their formulas to avoid this, and our testers were quick to point out any that did (or didn't) overcome this issue.
Does curling mousse work on straight hair?
The main purpose of a mousse is to add volume and hold, so yes, it will work on straight hair. It won’t magically add ringlets to straight lengths, but it can be applied to damp hair before heat styling to avoid your look falling flat.
How we test hair mousse
We put 10 market-leading hair mousses and curl mousses to the test over a two-week period with the help of over 160 panel members. We asked them to give feedback on ease of use, design and performance, telling us how well it held their hair, helped define their curls (where relevant), added volume and protected against any unwanted frizz.
Score: 86/100
Our winner is a lightweight, airy foam that adds height and health to your hair. One tester said it gave their strands “an awesome boost of flexible volume and hold.” In fact, the whole panel scored it full marks for its volumising properties. It’s also infused with antioxidants to protect against environmental aggressors such as pollution, as well as nourishing vitamins C and A, which work to build hair-strengthening collagen and fight against dullness.
It worked miracles on one tester’s “long and usually flat hair”, adding shape without weighing it down. It also has a delicious vanilla and citrus scent guaranteed to turn heads as you walk by.
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Best lightweight hair mousse
Larry King My Nanna's Mousse
Score: 84/100
Hair mogul Larry King has created volume in a can with this mousse, and as the name suggests, it’s an ode to the glamorous hairstyles of the past. The lightweight formula is meant to be applied before a blow dry, to give you fuller, more voluminous hair without leaving behind any sticky residue.
“Long-lasting, flexible fixation,” was how one tester described it, which is exactly what you want from a mousse – hold with no, well, crustiness. It also means hair is still manageable the next day, so you won’t have to schedule a wash the night after use.
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Score: 82/100
Whether you want to add bounce to your blow dry or refine your natural curls, this mousse from Arkive delivers a welcome boost. It’s another lightweight foam that didn’t weigh our testers’ hair down or leave any unwanted texture. “This is the first mousse I’ve ever used that isn’t sticky,” confirmed one happy panellist. Now we’re listening.
It scored extra marks for its quality packaging, which makes it easy to dispense the gorgeous grapefruit-scented product.
Score: 81/100
Enriched with coconut and cactus water, this mousse from TRESemmé uses natural ingredients to keep your curls feeling and looking healthy – the divine scent is just an added bonus. To boost volume and sleekness, simply apply it to damp hair and crunch up those curls for styled definition.
Though it's formulated with gentler ingredients, this mousse “holds style for hours,” according to one tester, and for others, it lasted multiple days.
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Score: 80/100
Define curls, add sleekness and protect from heat with this triple threat from John Frieda. It helps to hold your desired look, without leaving behind any residue.
One tester told us it gave them “a fresh out the salon look and made styling effortless” – a professional finish with no appointment necessary sounds ideal to us. However, one tester with very long, thick hair said it didn’t last as well as they’d hoped, so it may be a better option for short to medium length hair.
Score: 80/100
From its hairspray to its mousse, Got2B takes long-lasting style seriously. This mousse is designed especially for curly hair, from 2A to 4C. You can leave it in to dry naturally or diffuse your hair upside down to put even more bounce in. The added heat protection means you'll minimise any damage, too.
Testers praised how manageable it made styling, particularly for those with thicker hair. Some did find that they needed to reapply it to keep curls in top condition, but thanks to the controlled pump, you won’t waste a drop of product.
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Score: 80/100
Bouncy hair on a budget? Look no further than this Mega Hold Mousse from VO5, which softens curls and adds volume at a fraction of the price.
It impressed testers with its ability to hold their styles. “It even worked when outside, which is when my hair would normally lose its waves and turn frizzy,” said one impressed panel member. It’s also enriched with a protective UV filter, which will help shield those lengths from environmental damage.
Much like the bright packaging, your hair should stand out with this one.
Score: 80/100
Keratin is a protein used to add strength, smoothness and shine to hair, so it’s no wonder that Schwarzkopf decided to put it in a can. And shine it did, with glowing reviews from our testers, who praised its ability to leave hair looking radiant and feeling soft.
Some found that their ends became a little crunchy if they applied a large amount, so it’s best to use in small amounts until you reach the right level of hold.
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Score: 78/100
With a level three out of five hold, this mousse will give your ‘do gentle volume and structure, without being too firm. It doesn't leave behind any residue either and instead defines curls in a “soft, natural way,” according to one of our testers. And while it’s gentle on the hair and scalp, it’s enriched with heat and UV protection to fight against damage.
You may want to opt for a level four option for a bolder evening look, but for a little day-to-day lift, this is a reliable pick.
Madeleine Evans
Lifestyle Writer
Madeleine is our Lifestyle Writer, specialising in expert-tested reviews and round-ups on the latest beauty Beauty and products. From skincare to protein powders, Maddie is committed to providing honest and helpful reviews to help guide readers to the best product for them. Maddie has a BA in English Literature and Language, which stemmed from her lifelong interest in reading and writing. She started her post graduate life at Hearst UK within a marketing capacity, which quickly turned into a desire to fulfil a writing career.
When she is not writing about the latest expert reviewed products, you can find her rifling through vintage shops or car boots, reading a print magazine, or capturing portraits on her film camera.
Tested byDenny Daily
Beauty and Grooming Tester
Denny is our Beauty and Grooming Tester and has an in-depth knowledge and background in beauty and PR. She has spoken on panels with Cosmetics Executive Women (CEW) and has worked with many beauty brands as a commercial model. Since joining in October 2022, she has worked on numerous testing categories including over 18 different brands for vitamin C serums, scalp scrubs, shampoos for dry hair and many more. She has over 20k followers on TikTok where she shares beauty and fashion tips otherwise better known as Denny Daily.
