8 Best Mousses for Curly Hair, Tested & Approved by Glamour Editors

Our tester says: “After testing a bunch of affordable drugstore curl products around junior high, I found that John Frieda’s mousse was the absolute best at giving my curls definition and shine, without leaving them crunchy or with that forever-wet look,” says Folino. “My hair usually air-dries into a mix of frizzy, undefined curls on top and ringlets closer to my neck. This product helps to define those ringlets from top to bottom, while eliminating frizz and adding shine. It’s hella affordable—hence why it became my go-to during my high school and college years, and its availability in a travel size made upkeep even while traveling abroad a breeze.”

6. Best for Volumizing: Curlsmith Bouncy Strength Volume Hair Foam

• What we love: Volumizing; lightweight formula; no cast; sweet scent
• Worth noting: Won’t give as much definition as a cream or gel

This ultralight foam delivers soft, full-bodied definition without stiffness. A blend of hydrolyzed rice protein and strengthening superfoods—like kale, guava, and pumpkin seed extract—helps support shape and boost bounce. Our tester with fine, wavy-curly hair said it melted into her strands without buildup and left them feeling light, fluffy, and touchable—just the effect she was after on low-maintenance wash days. While it doesn’t offer the strong hold of a cream or gel, it layers easily when extra control is needed.

Our tester says: “I’m always looking to simplify my hair care,” says Glamour reviewer Alexandra Provo, who has fine, wavy-curly hair that ranges from waves to ringlets. “I followed my usual low-maintenance routine, flipping my head upside down in the shower and applying six to eight pumps of the foam on my soaking-wet hair, raking the product through before scrunching. I was pleasantly surprised by the mousse’s fruity but not overpowering scent. Texturewise, this product is very lightweight—it almost immediately disappeared into my hair. After diffusing, my hair had no cast at all and was quite soft. The resulting curls were voluminous and on the fluffier side (not as defined as they might be with a curl cream or a gel). I’d happily use the Curlsmith volumizing mousse again, most likely layered with another product for more hold.”

7. Best for Definition: Davines This Is a Curl Moisturizing Mousse

• What we love: Lightweight and buildable; adds shine and bounce; can be used on its own
• Worth noting: Bottle cap pops off easily

This is a light, airy, “delightfully fragrant mousse that melts into your curls without any sticky residue,” as our tester put it. Its glycerin and panthenol (a provitamin B₅) soften and smooth curls, from fine to coily, with no crunchy cast left behind—just glossy spirals and waves. It’s a classic, lightweight mousse with enough hold that you may not need any other styling products to finish.

Our tester says: “My curls, for better or worse, demand structure. Left alone, they become a halo of frizz. Anything too heavy or sticky leaves me with dragged-down-by-10-days-of-grease curls,” says Glamour reviewer Desiree Gutierrez, who usually requires a minimum of three products in her styling routine. “Davines, though, hits a sweet spot. After generously misting my air-dried curls, I raked a palm-size heap of the mousse into each quadrant of my hair. My strands soaked it up immediately, springing into formation. Once dry, my curls had bounce, shine, and structure, with no need for a follow-up gel for hold. I was left with soft, sculpted curls—with the faintest, ignorable cast—that lasted all day despite how many times I touched them. The mousse delivered hydration, bounce, and definition—replacing the usual product cocktail that clutters my vanity.”

8. Best for Type 4 Curls: IGK Class of ’93 Curl Perfecting Whipped Cream

• What we love: Moisturizing; softening
• Worth noting: May feel too heavy on fine hair; best layered under other products

For tightly coiled, type 4 hair seeking weightless hydration, this whipped mousse delivers softness and moisture without heaviness. Infused with nourishing ingredients, it layers well under gels for added hold but may not provide lasting shape on its own. Our tester loved the airy texture and hydration but noted that humidity challenged the hold, making it best suited as a moisture-rich base for more durable styling products.

Our tester says: “I loved the texture of this foam—super hydrating and lightweight,” says Glamour contributor Bianca Lambert. “It layered well with my leave-in. It didn’t give me a lasting hold alone, so I had to reset my hair the next day. Once I walked outside into the Atlanta humidity, my hair shrank and frizzed. For type 4 hair, though, I think this mousse is great underneath a gel for hold.”

Your questions about mousses for curly hair, answered

How we tested mousses

We enlisted 14 testers with a range of curly-hair types to try 15 mousses from expert-recommended, best-selling brands. Each mousse was used at least twice as part of the tester’s regular routine. Their feedback was based on on the following criteria:

• Ease of use: How easily the mousse applied to damp hair and worked with the tester’s usual styling routine
• Texture and scent: The feel of the mousse—whether it was airy, creamy, or whipped—and how strong or pleasant the fragrance was
• Weight: Whether the product left curls feeling soft and buoyant or heavy and greasy
• Performance: How well the mousse defined curls, boosted volume, reduced frizz, and held shape throughout the day (and after wash day)
• Value: Whether the results justified the price based on size, effectiveness, and how much product was needed per use

With this input in mind, we identified the best mousses for different curl types, routines, and styling goals.

How to choose mousse for your hair

“Take into consideration your curl type, the amount of hold you want, and your specific needs, whether that’s moisture, volume, or control,” says Marwa Bashir, a professional hairstylist and an R+Co Collective Member. Naomi Dove, the North America artistic director of texture at hair care brand Aveda, advises thinking about your climate (do you live somewhere with high humidity, where a frizz-fighting product is especially important?) and how often you wash your hair. “Remember: A mousse is lightweight but does not provide hold like a gel or moisture like a cream,” says Dove. “Foams always dry the fastest, so take this into consideration when it comes to your drying time. It is the most versatile of the styling textures I mentioned, but they layer and play well when used together.”

What are the key ingredients in mousses for curly hair?

Curly, coily hair is typically drier than other types because it’s tougher for natural oils to travel down the shape of a spiral. You’ll want to avoid anything that further strips your hair of its much-needed moisture, such as alcohols (including isopropyl), mineral oil, sulfates, silicone, and wax. Instead, look for moisturizing ingredients—e.g., shea butter, coconut oil, jojoba oil, and avocado oil—that soften and smooth curls without making them crunchy.

Do mousses make your hair feel crunchy?

They shouldn’t! The crunchiness associated with some heavier mousses is actually just a temporary shell that forms on your damp hair (called a cast). Once it’s dry, you can easily soften that cast by lightly scrunching and working a few drops of hair oil for curly hair through it. There are other airy mousses that define without any stiffness at all. Dove recommends always prepping hair with a leave-in conditioner before applying a styling mousse—that helps lessen any cast.

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