How to Use Hair Mousse Like a Pro (2024)

Mousse is a standout hair care product because it combines a number of styling benefits into a single, foamy formula. Some say they use it for lift and volume. While others swear by it for providing longer hold and style protection. "Out of all of the products out there, mousse is the easiest product to use and the most versatile. Needless to say, mousse is one of my favorite products," Tresemméstylist Tyler Laswell says.

Keep reading to learn how and why you should be using mousse in your hair.

What Is Hair Mousse?

According to Grenia, "Mousse is usually in a thick foam form. It is typically applied from roots to ends, combed through hair, and blow-dried in." There are great mousses available at every price point and for every hair texture. A single pump can ensure any style you ultimately go with will last longer and generally look better (thanks to your hair's extra bounce, texture, and hold).

The Benefits of Using Hair Mousse

According to Tommy Buckett, Garnierconsulting celebrity hairstylist, mousse can treat and protect your hair. "Gone are the days of mousse being stiff and drying," he says. "The new wave of mousse products can fight humidity, give hair shine and definition, and even provide heat defense." He reaches for Garnier Fructis Pure Clean Styling Mousse (since it "gives an all-day natural look without the crunch and sticky residue." He also likes R+Co's Aircraft Pomade Mousse, which he uses for "adding [piecey] texture to hair," andColor Wow Correct and Perfect Mousse for diminishing brassy shades from colored hair.

The styles mousse can help create are as diverse as its hair benefits."I use mousse on about 90 percent of the hairstyles I create," Laswell says. "I will layer it with salt sprays to create that perfectly undone beach wave. I use it with rollers to create super-glam voluminous styles, and I will rough-dry it into the hair before I braid it so that there is some texture and the hair isn't too slippery."

See? Mousse might replace your hairspray, volumizing spray, and texturizer spray; it's that versatile. As for Laswell's all-time favorite formulas? He's never without one or two Tresemmé picks, including the 24-Hour Body With Volume Control Complex Amplifying Mousse. "It always gives me the perfect amount of volume, hold, and control in my styles without being stiff or leaving buildup."

How to Use Hair Mousse

• "Try using [a mousse] on damp hair before you blow-dry, spraying at the root for extra lift," says Grenia. "It's super easy to use, so you can control the amount of power from the product."
• Dispense a golf ball-sized amount of product into your hand.
• Apply in sections, starting at the nape of the neck and working down.
• Add more product to your hands and apply to the crown of the head in light strokes. Massage the scalp to work into the roots.
• Brush out with a paddle brush.
• "Once dry, use a flatiron to create waves," Grenia says. "Then, spray a light layer over the style and shake it out."

Hair Mousse vs. Curl Cream

While mousse is responsible for adding hold, and texture, curl creams are all about moisture. If you have dry and curly hair, you may want to reach for a curl cream, like Ouidad Advanced Climate Control Featherlight Styling Cream. It uses meadowfoam seed, olive oil, soybean oil, and humectants to hydrate and fight frizz.

Does Hair Mousse Work For All Hair Types?

Mousse is "a very versatile product that can be used for all hair types, and it's pretty foolproof," says Buckett. This is because applying a tad too much mousse won't result in crunchy or limp hair (like so many other products). "Mousse's soft, airy texture allows for liberal application but won't leave you with too flat hair you can get from over-applying a serum or cream," Buckett continues.

Whether your hair is curly, straight, or somewhere in between, you can benefit from mousse. Even those with fine hair shouldn't shy away from the foam—in fact, quite the opposite; it can add loads of volume to less naturally voluminous strands. The main thing you want to understand is whether your hair needs more moisture from its styling products, which can vary depending on the style or the day. Overall, dry hair types might not reach for mousse as often.

Potential Side Effects of Hair Mousse

Mousse formulas have come a long way since the gilded age of rigid, higher-than-high coifs, and with that evolution has come greater awareness around toxic ingredients for both the body and the environment. That said, some products still contain alcohol and other sensitizing ingredients that may irritate the scalp. Sensitivity and dryness often result from compounded use and product buildup from being left in the hair too long (aka missing hair wash days). To prevent this, stop using formulas that cause a reaction, and wash the hair and detox the scalp regularly. If severe allergic reactions or irritations occur, see your dermatologist.

The Final Takeaway

Mousse is an incredibly versatile hair product that you shouldn't be afraid to use, especially if you're trying to create texture, definition, and a long-lasting style. Most hair types can benefit from mousse since many of today's formulas contain nourishing ingredients for all hair types.