12 Best Mousses for Curly Hair 2023 Top Foam for Curls

Table Of Content

• John Frieda Frizz Ease Curl Reviver Mousse
• Best Curl Mousse for Flyaways + Frizz
• John Frieda Volume Lift Air-Whipped Foam
• Know your curl type
• SheaMoisture Curl Mousse for Frizz Control
• The Best Mousses & Foams for Every Type of Curly Hair
• Dove Style + Care Curls Defining Mousse
• Motions Style and Create Versatile Foam

Personally, I like to use mousse as a styling base and finish it off with a touch of gel (always mixed with water) to ensure maximum frizz-control. “If diffused until fully dry, a lot of times, the curl cast created by mousse will turn soft, leaving you with light and airy curls,” says Kaleel. The frizz-control benefits are long-lasting — surviving humidity and sleep — to keep your curls looking fresh for days. We especially love using this alongside the Moroccanoil Intense Curl Cream for maximum hydration and the ultimate air-dry routine. Just note that depending on the thickness of your hair, you may need to use an extra dollop — and the bottle might not last as long as you'd hope. With all that in mind, Taylor and David break down their favorite hair mousse and foam for every type of curly hair and desired style.

John Frieda Frizz Ease Curl Reviver Mousse

You can also use a wide-tooth comb, or a Denman brush if you have naturally curly hair, to make sure that curls are detangled and smooth. Then take your hair dryer with a diffuser attachment, flip your head over, and dry. Those with fine hair will know that creating volume is a difficult balance—if you add too much product, you’ll simply end up with hair that is limp, greasy, and completely weighed down. The secret is a patented thickening molecule that builds on existing hair, giving the illusion of serious volume.

Best Curl Mousse for Flyaways + Frizz

After finally deciding to ditch my flat iron, my natural hair really started to shine through, and I knew it was time to embrace it. If you also have curls, though, you know that styling can sometimes be a bit of a challenge. Curls tend to be dry, so it's trial and error when looking for the right products. Ideal for styling fine hair, this affordable buy works wonders when it comes to creating volume and fullness (thank you polymer technology). The formula also contains caffeine (to help invigorate the scalp) and panthenol (aka vitamin B5) to hydrate and revive dry hair.

John Frieda Volume Lift Air-Whipped Foam

For best results, use this in addition to a little bit of your favorite gel. People with a looser curl pattern also like that this mousse encourages curl formation. Fans of this much-loved product appreciate that it does not dry crunchy, and they like its mixed-berry scent. The paraben- and silicone-free mousse boosts curl patterns, even in humid and damp climates. Daley Quinn is a freelance writer, specializing in beauty and health, who has contributed to numerous publications, such as Elle, Real Simple, Allure, The Cut, WWD, and more. You can find more of her work on her website or check out her blog, The Daley Dose.

Just like the OGX mousse mentioned above, this Carol’s Daughter product also combines multiple products into one. Hair mousse is also extremely versatile and can style a range of textures. “Mousse is the golden child of stylers because it delivers a variety of results that one may normally seek from multiple products,” says Ebony Bomani, Pattern Beauty's Brand Educator. Whether you’re looking to achieve a voluminous blowout or a humidity-defying wash-and-go, hair mousse will be your new best friend. Also to note, hair mousse products are formulated in such a way that makes them airy and lightweight, so you won’t have to worry about weighing down your strands. This unique mousse for curly hair from Mixed Chicks was formulated to be used on dry hair to revive second (or third or fourth) day curls.

SheaMoisture Curl Mousse for Frizz Control

This universally appealing mousse is suitable for all hair types, making it an excellent choice if you're a hair mousse newbie. It's formulated with hydrating ingredients that we'd put on our face, like hyaluronic acid,ceramides, as well as peptides to help reduce hair breakage. It gives the hair a thicker, more full appearance without creating a sticky or crunchy result. It's worth noting that it's pretty heavily fragranced, so if this isn't your thing, you may want to skip it. Mousse is unique as a curly hair styling product — it might not provide the same taming prowess as a gel, but it does offer greater volume and buildability. It’s quite versatile and works well alongside gels and curl creams to create bold impact and long-lasting results.

The Best Mousses & Foams for Every Type of Curly Hair

She consulted with multiple experts— like Nyree Syphrett, a master hairstylist at Warren Tricomi NYC and Chris Lospalutto, a hairstylist at SDSH Salon— for their best mousses for curly hair recommendations. It works just as well as a wash day styling staple or as a reviving pick-me-up to keep those in between days feeling fresh. Plus, with nourishing ingredients like aloe and glycerin, you’re sneaking in long-lasting hydration benefits too. Just be warned, though the aloe scent is fresh, it is very strong and can linger. Coming in at under $15, this product gives you a lot of bang for your buck — providing long-lasting moisture, frizz-control, and curl definition to wavy and curly manes. Though, keep in mind that silicones are included on this ingredient list, which can contribute to product build-up — so be sure you’re using a clarifying shampoo once a week to really deep clean your scalp.

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While the product works great on day one, if you continue to layer it on, it can lead to build-up and a bit of a film on the hair. This nourishing mousse is packed with moisture-rich rose water, plus botanicals including lavender, ginger, acai, and marula to care for curls while creating soft, subtle volume. If you're looking for a mousse that won't create stiffness or totally lock curls into place but rather keep them lightly defined, this is the one for you. Multi-purpose products add such value to your beauty routine, and this hair mousse that doubles as a hair growth treatment is a fantastic example.

Motions Style and Create Versatile Foam

This mousse from Nourish & Shine has glycerin to keep strands moisturized. It also contains sunflower oil and honey extract to keep curls intact and frizz at bay. It’s super lightweight and made without known drying and stripping ingredients like alcohol and butane. Taylor says that the Curlsmith Bouncy Strength Volume Foam is a great mousse for the curliest among us because it defines and enhances without weighing hair down.

Fine, limp hair will get a massive boost with this thickening mousse. Not only does it add tons of volume, but it also conditions the hair with hydrating ingredients. The Good Housekeeping Institute Beauty Lab tests hair mousses both on consumer testers and in the Lab using technical protocols.

This mousse has a whipped-cream texture that allows it to define the hell out of your curls without leaving them looking gelled. The formula is also alcohol-free, meaning it won’t dry out your hair, no matter how often you use it (which, during the humid seasons, is probably every single day). Rake one to two golf-ball-size puffs of mousse through your damp hair, then finger-curl sections for extra definition. To that end, there are a variety of mousses, including defining, volumizing, and thickening formulas, that keep your curls looking frizz-free and shiny. This vegan-friendly mousse from Not Your Mother’s does it all, from providing long-lasting humidity control to keeping hair smooth and flyaway-free to adding definition to your natural curl pattern. Pulitano loves this mousse for clients with fine, brittle, or dry hair, thanks to the inclusion of papaya, protein, and neem oil.

It also contains fortifying ingredients filled with proteins and amino acids, like hemp seed, rice protein, and a blend of superfoods to protect strands against split ends and hot tools. Because curly hair is prone to dryness and frizz, she suggests using only a modest amount for best results. Now that I've gone fully natural, I find myself reaching for styling foams, curl creams, hair oils, and whatever else will keep my hair looking its healthiest. At this point, let's just say I've tested quite a few—and they weren't always the right ones for me and my particular curl type (3c). Instead of playing a guessing game, I decided to tap two celebrity stylists for advice.

On the other hand, if your hair is thick or if your curl type is tighter, you’ll need to look for a mousse that’s designed for a stronger hold. For our thick-haired friends, we love Ouidad VitalCurl + Weightless Curl Defining Mousse, and for 4C curls, we recommend Carol’s Daughter Wash Day Delight Gel to Foam Styler Aloe. We’re big fans of most products in the Pattern Beauty lineup (what can we say, Tracee Ellis Ross knows what she's doing), and the brand’s Curl Mousse exceeded our expectations. Formulated with a mix of marshmallow root and caster oil, it has a fluffy, foamy consistency that yields curl definition, frizz-free volume, and shine. Whether you have loose waves or tight coils, these mousses will deliver you bouncy, shiny, and frizz-free curls. Whether it’s genetic or the result of damage, some people don’t naturally have thick, voluminous hair.

Apparently, this product was reformulated, and some of the original fans aren’t too happy with the updated smell of this pick. If hair products with strong scents bother you, you might not like this option. This is Addam Artist's choice for the best lightweight curl mousse due to its medium hold and moisturizing abilities. Not only will it keep flyaways in check, but it's also a vegan formula.

This lightweight foam gives tons of body and volume, which is great for those looking to enhance their waves. With plant-based UV protection and cell-rejuvenating, antioxidant ingredients, your hair will stay vibrant and healthy, while looking its best. This silicone-free, multi-action mousse moisturizes, strengthens and volumizes in one step. Antioxidants rejuvenate fine hair, and bamboo extract adds shine and strength to delicate, fine strands.

Keep scrolling for the best mousses for curly hair along with their tips on how to use it. At an affordable price point, reviewers are obsessed with this hydrating mousse that's part cream, part foam for hydrated spirals that are totally crunch-free. Over 4,400 reviewers love the shea butter and coconut oil formula, saying "this is holding my curls softly but with control," and "the mousse is very creamy and the residue on my hands was not sticky." This Editor’s Choice winner has a unique formula with a soft-pliable hold. It dries quickly and reduces frizz while providing a gorgeous, natural sheen. She is a member of InStyle’s evergreen commerce team where she extensively researches and reviews countless products.