What Does Mousse Do?

As someone with wavy hair who grew up in the early 2000s, I’ve had my fair share of experience trying to tackle the perfect hair mousse technique. But since it’s been a decade or so since my last attempt to learn how to plop hair, it seems appropriate to revisit hair mousse and learn more about the best ways to use it!

Hair mousse is a styling foam, usually dispensed from an aerosol container, that can help secure, shape, and protect your hair. In the general hierarchy of hair styling products, it offers a little more of a less-stiff hold compared to gels, but more structure than a leave-in styling cream. Although products vary from manufacturer to manufacturer, here are some of the most common ingredients you might see in hair mousse:

• Dimethicone: dimethicone is a silicone commonly used in the hair industry to coat and seal the cuticles, forming a sleek and shiny protective barrier against frizziness or damage.
• Limonene: taken from the rinds of citrus fruit, limonene is commonly used in personal care products because of its fresh, citrusy scent.
• Lecithin: an emulsifying surfactant, lecithin seals in moisture, adds shine, and can also help form a protective layer on the hair.
• Panthenol: also known as a provitamin of B5, panthenol is highly hydrating and soothing.
• Lanolin: also not used in any Davines products, lanolin is a highly waxy substance derived from sheep’s wool.
• Behentrimonium Chloride: behentrimonium chloride is a plant-based cleaning and conditioning agent.
  
  

Hair mousse is usually applied to wet or damp strands — as your hair dries, the coating agents in hair mousse form a protective film, locking in softness and shine and adding a bit of stiffness to your hair. Now that we have a basic idea of what hair mousse does to your strands, here are some of the most common benefits of using hair mousse:

• Provides a protective layer for your hair: Hair mousse coats the hair shaft to lock in moisture and shine, while keeping humidity out. But this kind of protection also has another benefit: some kinds of hair mousse can even provide heat protection for your locks when you blow dry or style, minimizing the potential for damage.
• To style, texturize, and provide hold: One of the most common reasons people use hair mousse is to add texture and definition. You can also customize your look by combining hair mousse with other products: layering it with a sea salt spray can add extra definition to your beach waves, and using it before setting your hair with rollers can ensure extra oomph.
• To provide volume and bounce: If you’re struggling with fine or thin hair, or just want to add body to your hair, mousse is a smart way to increase volume and bounce.
• To make hair softer and shinier: Don’t be traumatized by the crunchy, stiff mousses of our youth — many hair mousses these days contain ingredients that will actually help to soften your hair and boost shine.
• To keep curls and frizz under control: Struggling with how to make curls stay? We know that hair mousse is a great way to lock out humidity and tame frizz, and this is especially necessary if you have curls or hair that’s already on the frizzier side. By forming a protective layer on your strands, a curling mousse will provide a barrier against humidity, and it’s slight “stiffening” effect will help you ensure that your curls and waves are defined and held together. Be sure to check out our suggested frizzy hair products if your hair is still unmanageable after using mousse.
  
  

Although hair mousse is suitable for almost all hair types and textures, you need to decide if it's the best choice for you and your personal styling goals. Hair mousse can be an amazing choice for anyone with curly or textured hair, to keep your curls and waves shiny and defined, as well as adding a nice boost of volume and body for those with fine hair. Those with straight hair might want to use some mousse to add movement and texture to their strands, or as a kind of protective layer. But if you’re looking for a strong hold and more secure style, you might be better off using a strong hairspray or styling wax that can give you extra stiffness and control. Davines Regional Master Trainer Colette Nakrayko recommends two mousses in particular: "This is a Volume Boosting Mousse is the perfect styling aid for creating a soft, pliable volume that does not leave residue. It doubles as a detangler, as well as adds body and shine for all hair types — including fine hair. You can achieve body without weighing the hair down and give your hair a long lasting style! This is a Curl Boosting Mousse will create an extremely soft bounce and texture to your curls. It will help you maintain body on second day hair, without residue or flaking."

Hairstyles and styling preferences vary, but here’s a simple routine to guide you through using hair mousse to its full potential:

Start by washing and conditioning your hair. Since one of the main benefits of hair mousse is adding body and volume to your hair, choose hair care products that will help make this even more effective! Wash your hair with a volumizing shampoo and a lightweight conditioner to start off with a clean slate.

Towel-dry your hair (we recommend using a microfiber cloth to cut down on roughness and breakage), keeping in mind that you should have damp hair or wet hair for mousse products to work their best.

To start, section your hair using clips. Starting at the first section, apply the recommended amount of hair mousse through your lengths and ends, and continue until the hair is covered.

To ensure even application of the hair mousse (especially if you have really thick or curly hair), you might want to use a wide-tooth comb to help distribute it all.

If you’re going for a more beachy, natural look (or have curly hair), you can let your hair air-dry. If not, spray your hair with a heat protectant then use a round brush to dry and smooth your hair, working in similar sections as before. Finish with your preferred style, and you’re good to go!

No matter what type of hair you have, there’s a chance you can fit a hair mousse into your daily routine. A volume-boosting mousse can work wonders for someone with fine or thin hair, and a curl-moisturizing mousse is great for keeping your curls and waves properly hydrated and defined. But the best part about using one of our hair mousses is that you also have the opportunity to layer them with other styling products in our More Inside family — we’ve already discussed the beachy benefits of using it with sea salt spray, but let us know in the comments below if you have another favorite styling combination!

A root covering powder is the perfect temporary fix to cover wider parts or multiple bald spots. These are spray-on powders that you match to the color of your hair. They cover any bald patches on your scalp and give the illusion of thickness at your roots.

by Lauren Hannel, staff contributor

Photos by @goldandglowco