![Best Volumizing Mousses](https://www.byrdie.com/thmb/o8QC2aJnbR-Va_l6RiD4QdyG6o4=/1500x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/BYRDIE-14-best-volumizing-mousses-4586980-primary-bacdba8608cb432a9a22ab10989923db.jpg)
Byrdie / Chloe Jeong
Volumizing hair mousse really doesn’t get enough credit. Sure, the formulas of the ‘80s were crunchy and stiff, but nowadays, it’s possible to get a mousse that adds unmatched body, shine, and hold.
Byrdie Researched & Approved
With a blend of nourishing oil and strand-coating polymers, Joico Firm Hold Design Foam is our best overall pick. For a budget-friendly option that's ideal for fine hair, consider John Frieda Volume Lift Air Whipped Foam.
“Mousse is actually one of my favorite ways to create volume and hold within a hairstyle,” says John Pulitano of Headcase Hair in Sydney, Australia. “Given it’s a quality formula and the product is distributed evenly, I think it’s one of the most effective and versatile styling products out there.”
We rounded up several suggestions from stylists and tried a handful of these products ourselves, our testers rating each product’s texture and feel, ingredient list, and overall performance, to give you the gravity-defying volume you’ve been dreaming of.
Ahead, find the best volumizing mousses for every hair type.
Best Overall
Joico Firm Hold Design Foam
![Joico Firm Hold Design Foam](https://www.byrdie.com/thmb/ocbFdTV0Qeb2N3HbLVpFZHEJ3uQ=/fit-in/1500x2119/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/51eY-wau1iL._SL1500_-058f5535f09844e588eeed189e3afe98.jpg)
Holds up in humidity
Suits most hair types
Boosts shine
Not overly thickening
Who else recommends it? StyleCraze also picked the Joico Firm Hold Design Foam.
What do buyers say? 83% of 2,300+ Amazon reviewers rated this product 4 stars or above.
This universally-appealing mousse delivers body, hold, and shine—all while caring for dry, dehydrated hair. The alcohol-free formula is boosted with kukui nut oil to nourish and smooth, while polymers coat each strand to build volume. Reviewers also seem to love the fact it’s never sticky or stiff.
Price at time of publish: $23
Key Ingredients: VP/VA copolymer, kukui nut oil | Hair Type: Fine, thin | Size: 10.2 fluid ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No
Best Budget
John Frieda Volume Lift Air Whipped Foam
![John Frieda Volume Lift Air Whipped Foam](https://www.byrdie.com/thmb/opLE5A5n56QqKVNM3obr0He8vzU=/fit-in/1500x1500/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/JohnFriedaLuxuriousVolumePerfectlyFullMousse-62f5d0d8151b43f19738b996ec8417f0.jpg)
Courtesy of Amazon
Great price
Lightweight feel
May not be ideal for thicker hair
Ideal for fine hair, this wallet-friendly buy creates volume and fullness via polymer technology. There’s also caffeine to help invigorate the scalp, while panthenol (vitamin B5) hydrates and soothes.
Price at time of publish: $10
Key Ingredients: Vp/methacrylamide/vinyl imidazole copolymer, panthenol | Hair Type: Balanced to fine | Dosage: Palm-full | Size: 7.5 fluid ounces | Cruelty-Free: No | Byrdie Clean: No
Best Drugstore
Dove Style + Care Curls Defining Mousse
![Dove Style + Care Curls Defining Mousse](https://www.byrdie.com/thmb/4Elm3G33zKxXbGC-iAYVXKrMkEU=/fit-in/1500x640/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/1c2dc928-6f32-4cba-ae2b-4edd359d29b9.a9f34a4e5b26f7afc03b94eb88437684-015d98c0d5834c809f80e9bebab39f41.jpeg)
Courtesy of Walmart
Great price
Lightweight feel
Contains hydrofluorocarbons
If you want to add lift and definition to your curls without breaking the bank, this Dove mousse is pretty hard to beat. It contains dimethicone to smooth and shape, while the lightweight texture doesn’t feel tacky, heavy, or stiff. While it does outline that it’s for curls, we also think this formula would be great for heavy, thick, or coarse hair types.
Price at time of publish: $7
Key Ingredients: Dimethicone, DMDM hydantoin | Hair Type: Curly, thick | Size: 7 fluid ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No
Best for Curls
SheaMoisture Coconut & Hibiscus Frizz-Free Curl Mousse
![SheaMoisture Coconut & Hibiscus Frizz-Free Curl Mousse](https://www.byrdie.com/thmb/rr1TA4AXXTowbMu-6_sHzEuzrtw=/fit-in/1500x800/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/2274636-10aab152b0e44df48fcce7a2688dbb1c.jpg)
Courtesy of Ulta
Lightweight feel
Soft finish
Natural scent
Contains alcohol
This clean formula, infused with silk protein and keratin, delivers curl-enhancing volume, with botanical extracts designed to activate your curl's natural curl memory and wave pattern. We love the high-shine, soft finish that leaves curls bouncy, without any sticky residue or crunching.
Price at time of publish: $11
Key Ingredients: Deionized water, silk protein, keratin | Hair Type: Curly, wavy, coils, thick | Size: 7.5 fluid ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: Yes
Best for Curls, Runner-Up
TGIN Rose Water Curl Defining Mousse
![TGIN Rose Water Curl Defining Mousse](https://www.byrdie.com/thmb/-u9eJqo3y-dVfw0Q5o61cIJIyj8=/fit-in/1500x1000/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/2564521-3aa9116fdd0b439f856b0586f0b72f16.jpg)
Courtesy of Ulta
Alcohol-free
Natural floral scent
Could be more volumizing
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. There’s also polymer technology to shape and define curls and waves.
Price at time of publish: $12
Key Ingredients: Rose water, acai extract, ginger root, lavender, maltodextrin/VA-copolymer | Hair Type: Balanced to curly or coiled | Size: 8 fluid ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No
Best for Fine Hair
Living Proof Full Thickening Mousse
![Living Proof Full Thickening Mousse](https://www.byrdie.com/thmb/Zq2FgNgx1NMAzf9v9TFRmuuZdxE=/fit-in/1500x1500/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/LivingProofFullThickeningMousse-5888cc7fb4924e55be3fa95f2e7f7edd.jpg)
Courtesy of Amazon
Lightweight feel
Has heat protection
Thickens
Not overly volumizing
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 and greasy. Thankfully, this mousse from Living Proof gets it right. The secret is a patented thickening molecule that builds on existing hair, giving the illusion of serious volume. It’s also quite light, so there’s no tack or stiffness.
Price at time of publish: $30
Key Ingredients: Vp/methacrylamide/vinyl imidazole copolymer, panthenol, acacia senegal gum | Hair Type: Fine, thin, or balanced | Dosage: Egg-sized amount | Size: 2 fluid ounces, 5 fluid ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No
Best for Thick Hair
TIGI Catwalk Strong Hold Mousse
![TIGI Catwalk Strong Hold Mousse](https://www.byrdie.com/thmb/K5_wm02hIBp59BYx6CYd6ldwFjI=/fit-in/1500x1500/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/TIGICatwalkStrongHoldMousse-e216afc74b4a4c29a177428faba8d895.jpg)
Courtesy of Amazon
Strong hold
Smooths hair
Great scent
Not a good choice for softer styles
With a strong hold and thicker consistency, this mousse from TIGI is great for thick, coarse hair. It contains dimethicone to coat the hair, providing smoothness, definition, and hold—making it a useful pick for those with a natural curl, too. Because it’s heavier texture-wise, it provides long-lasting hold, too.
Key Ingredients: PVP, PEG/PPG-18/18 dimethicone | Hair Type: Curly, thick, and coarse | Size: 6.7 fluid ounces | Cruelty-Free: No | Byrdie Clean: No
Best for Wavy Hair
Amika Plus Size Perfect Body Mousse
![Amika Plus Size Volume & Body Mousse](https://www.byrdie.com/thmb/xNoOLgIFmBVQUtNA6-FuCzEgThk=/fit-in/1500x1480/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/ScreenShot2020-07-20at9.58.05AM-d717664af2124d6e9c2387a6e0031176.png)
Courtesy of Sephora
Holds up in humidity
Boosts shine
Strong scent
This airy, whipped option is amazing when it comes to creating soft, beachy waves. It's got a flexible hold, shaping polymers, and sea buckthorn for nourishment, leaving your hair soft, tousled, and defined. Pair it with a sea salt spray for a more undone finish.
Price at time of publish: $28
Key Ingredients: AMP-acrylates/allyl methacrylate copolymer, PEG-40 hydrogenated castor oil, sea buckthorn extract | Hair Type: All | Dosage: Golf-ball-sized amount | Size: 8.5 fluid ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No
Best for Dry Hair
R+Co Aircraft Pomade Mousse
![R+Co Aircraft Pomade Mousse](https://www.byrdie.com/thmb/cxm2aAlo7pwo8aYwgcd1_1suc88=/fit-in/1500x1000/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/RCoAircraftPomadeMousse-7ccb058a653f46d79d90f4d4e90c0113.jpg)
Courtesy of Amazon
Great scent
Hydrating and strengthening formula
Pricey
Pulitano loves this mousse for clients with fine, brittle, or dry hair, thanks to the inclusion of papaya, protein, and neem oil. “Mousse can be drying due to the alcohol content, but Aircraft is surprisingly soft and nourishing. I love smoothing it through the hair before a bouncy blow dry for long-lasting results.” The addition of corn starch prevents grease around the roots, too.
Price at time of publish: $36
Key Ingredients: Corn starch, synthetic beeswax, papaya fruit extract, neem oil | Hair Type: Balanced, dry, and colored | Size: 5.6 fluid ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No
Best Splurge
Leonor Greyl Au Lotus Volumizing Mousse
![Leonor Greyl Au Lotus Volumizing Mousse](https://www.byrdie.com/thmb/kSSswp8NbBd3SbUSEhQOekr3hLg=/fit-in/1500x1500/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/LeonorGreylAuLotusVolumizingMousse-0f072c4c68a640ed95833a93b693057a.jpg)
Courtesy of Amazon
Alcohol-free
Adds volume and softness
Boosts shine
Pricey
Formulated without alcohol, this lush French buy is all of our luxury beauty dreams realized. It’s airy and light, so it works on thin, frizzy, or mature hair (there’s no stiffness whatsoever). The addition of castor seed and jojoba oils recondition the hair, too. While it’s got a hefty price tag, we promise you it’s a great formula.
Price at time of publish: $48
Key Ingredients: Polyquaternium 4/Hydroxypropyl Starch Copolymer, PEG-40 hydrogenated castor oil, buxus chinensis seed oil | Hair Type: Thin, mature, dry or colored | Size: 5.1 fluid ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No
Best for Colored Hair
Oribe Grandiose Hair Plumping Mousse
![Oribe Grandiose Hair Plumping Mousse](https://www.byrdie.com/thmb/0FsX1h7KMPoUbXr4m1zsz_ectsY=/fit-in/1500x2392/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/583cd79c-5b52-44f6-b379-d3b8330f30bb-0134b3a1d71149e8945f25fa8f87c283.jpg)
Courtesy of Nordstrom
Great scent
Works well for all hair types
Has heat protection
Pricey
“This mousse is hard to beat,” says Pulitano. “It coats each hair fiber, leaving it shiny, full, and manageable—not to mention beautifully bouncy.”
This soft, velvety, and color-safe formula is amazing for building structure within the hair, ensuring excellent hold and a long-lasting finish. Also, it’s got that signature expensive Oribe scent (need we say more).
Price at time of publish: $39
Key Ingredients: VP/VA Copolymer, panthenol, amber resin extract | Hair Type: All | Size: 5.7 fluid ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No
Best for Normal Hair
Original & Mineral Rootalicious Root Lift Mousse
![Original & Mineral Rootalicious Root Lift Mousse](https://www.byrdie.com/thmb/q9i-NEnNsPB4hPgUJsWdLo7A31M=/fit-in/1500x1000/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/Untitled-1-1e387dfd200b49988fbe0610b1fe28d4.jpg)
Courtesy of Amazon
Vitamin-rich formula
Alcohol-free
Long-lasting
Could be more volumizing
Enriched with native Australian quandong and lilly pilly extracts, this mousse is volumizing but supremely nourishing, as well. It works to create a barrier around the roots, lifting the hair up and out. “This is one of my favorite mousses for all hair types, but especially fine and flat,” adds Pulitano. “It coats the hair, lifting from the roots and creating movement that’s natural but long-lasting.”
Price at time of publish: $50
Key Ingredients: PVP/VA copolymer, quaternium-23, quandong, lilly pilly | Hair Type: All | Size: 10.14 fluid ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: Yes
Best for Frizz
Redken Full Frame 07 All-Over Volumizing Mousse
![Redken Full Frame 07 All-Over Volumizing Mousse](https://www.byrdie.com/thmb/so1BWhTM8GJMTAvSCsKXrWy8-gU=/fit-in/1500x1000/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/2272825-e11156ceeb224e2fa509327da2e728b1.jpg)
Courtesy of Ulta
Smooths frizz
Non-drying formula
Great hold
May weigh down thin or fine hair
Sick of rain and humidity ruining your blow-dries? Redken’s Full Frame 07 All-Over Mousse is the answer. It contains polymer technology plus castor oil to smooth flyaways, while an anti-frizz shield prevents water from swelling up the hair cuticle. It also manages to add amazing volume without feeling tacky or heavy—in fact, it brushes out easily (no need to shampoo).
Price at time of publish: $24
Key Ingredients: Allyl methacrylate copolymer, lauryl methacrylate copolymer, castor oil | Hair Type: Thick, frizzy hair | Size: 8.5 fluid ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No
Best for Shine
Virtue Volumizing Mousse
![Virtue Volumizing Mousse](https://www.byrdie.com/thmb/O7KkNt6YDkRP_zjLvFYZYl-eDyY=/fit-in/1500x1500/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/12526873-1604866384136692-efcd0dd9b518474c990924cedfc7bb97.jpg)
Courtesy of Dermstore
Strengthening formula
Boosts shine
Adds volume
Pricey
Virtue always exceeds our expectations, and this volumizing mousse is no different. It’s packed with keratin, proteins, panthenol, and polymers and will help nourish, strengthen, and build body, all while imparting a healthy-looking shine. The keratin component is actually designed to replenish keratin bonds within the hair, repairing damage and preventing breakage.
Price at time of publish: $38
Key Ingredients: VP/VA copolymer, acrylates copolymer, keratin, hydrolyzed soy protein, wheat amino acids, panthenol | Hair Type: All | Size: 5.1 fluid ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No
Best for Definition
The Doux Mousse Def Texture Foam
![The Doux Mousse](https://www.byrdie.com/thmb/dCAnigXjTv9tyAVintdz3Y4sAks=/fit-in/1500x1000/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/51WYXCB3UCL._SL1000_-de922444296b41a88c5d97bab4b1565f.jpg)
Amazon
Excellent hold and lift
Defines curls
Lightweight foam
Adds shine
Some reviewers note it can dry out your ends
You've definitely seen this product in your feed. This lightweight foam mousse contains natural moisturizers and silk proteins to tamp frizz, lock in moisture and strengthen hair, leaving hair soft and shiny. Reviewers note the formula sculpts and creates definition nicely, without leaving any flakes behind. Reviewers also note that the product can be drying, especially on the ends, so you might need to condition a bit deeper.
Price at time of publish: $15
Key Ingredients: Panthenol, silk amino acids, | Hair Type: All | Size: 7 fluid ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No
Best for Bounce
Mielle Organics Pomegranate and Honey Curl Defining Mousse
![Mielle Organics Pomegranate and Honey Curl Defining Mousse](https://www.byrdie.com/thmb/0o5mAz9V7CNLXYzrmxdA_QqG6Go=/fit-in/1500x1000/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/Mielle_Front_1_Reflection_3078_1200x-8060c225a52d4a7e8e37a3b7a07a97a8.jpg)
Target
Reduces frizz
Adds shine
Some reviewers note a sticky feel
This lightweight lifting mousse adds spring to curls. Reviewers note how well it works to make coils pop and that it has amazing holding power. A botanical blend of fruit extracts helps provide humectant hydration while keeping frizz at bay, although some reviewers note it gave the mousse a sticky feeling.
Price at time of publish: $11
Key Ingredients: PVP, silk amino acids, panthenol | Hair Type: All | Size: 7.5 fluid ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: Yes
Final Verdict
With a blend of nourishing oil and strand-coating polymers, Joico Firm Hold Design Foam is our best overall pick. For a budget-friendly option that's ideal for fine hair, consider John Frieda Volume Lift Air Whipped Foam.
Meet the Expert
- John Pulitano is a professional hairstylist and the co-owner and creative director of Headcase Hair, a salon in Sydney, Australia.
- Shelly Aguirre is a hairstylist at Maxine Salon in Chicago. She specializes in cutting, blowouts, extensions, and keratin treatments.
What to Look For
Bodifying Ingredients
When it comes to hair that lacks body, look for products that contain ingredients to thicken and plump up the hair shaft. “Polymers, collagen, hyaluronic acid, and even bamboo will lift and fatten fine hair,” says Pulitano. Additionally, look for silk amino acids and panthenol help to strengthen hair, add body, and protect from some of the drying effects of some mousse formulas.
Texture
The texture of your volumizing mousse is also important, explains Pulitano: “I favor products with an airy, silky texture as they’re easier to work with and don’t leave a tacky residue.”
Pulitano adds that while it does differ between brands and formulations, a thicker mousse often dictates a stronger hold, whereas a thinner formula will likely provide a light hold.
Why Trust Byrdie
For the purpose of this roundup, we’ve tested and tried some of the leading volumizing mousse formulas on the market. We also spoke with trusted hairstylists for expert tips and recommendations. Finally, Byrdie contributor Emily Algar (the writer) is the owner of very fine, soft hair, so she knows a quality volume-boosting product when she sees it.