It's Official: These Are the 15 Best Mousses to Define All Types of Curly Hair

Pros: Offers incredibly hold and protects against frizz

Cons: Contains alcohol, which can be drying

Size: 5.7 ounces

Key ingredients: Hydrolyzed amaranth protein, sweet almond oil, Oribe signature complex

Both Korab and Kelly consider this Oribe number one of their favorites. "This mousse is great for fine, loose curls. It will enhance your curls without creating any stiffness. It also enhances shine and hydration to your hair," Korab notes. I can definitely attest to that claim; my own strands appeared glossy and full, nary a flyaway in sight. "This is [also] a little more hydrating than most mousses," adds Kelly.

I will say that a little bit goes a long way. The first time I used it, I applied way too much product, and my curls did feel stiff. Trust me—just a small pump is all you need for incredible hold.

Customer review: "Great mousse. Leaves curls soft, defined, and with reduced frizz. Only downside is it doesn't have the Oribe scent I love. I will repurchase this. Wish they had a curl-shaping spray."

Pros: Never makes hair feel crunchy, no matter how much you use; great for those looking for soft, touchable hold

Cons: Not as much hold as other options

Size: 5.1 ounces

Key ingredients: Plant protein blend, pink Bolivian salt, tsubaki-seed oil, meadowfoam-seed oil, aloe vera juice

If you have 2c waves like me, you will adore this mousse. Unlike other mousses—which typically have a dense, silky texture—this Crown Affair formula has a much foamier consistency with larger air bubbles. It doesn't offer quite as much hold as other options, but it delivers tousled, touchable texture like no other product I've tried. It's essentially "effortless hair" in a bottle. The application is also foolproof. No matter how much product I pump into my hands, my strands never feel crunchy.

Customer review: "I love the touchable hold this gives my wavy/curly hair! I have a LOT of hair but the texture is very fine and it can be difficult to find products that give my curls definition without weighing them down. This product provides definition, supports volume, and makes my hair nice and bouncy. Definitely recommend giving this a try!"

Pros: Provides heat protection up to 450°F, great for bouncy '90s blowouts, little goes a long way

Cons: Strong fragrance

Size: 5.3 ounces

Key ingredients: Glycerin, hyaluronic acid, mushroom extract

If there's one person who knows their way around a '90s blowout, it's celebrity hairstylist Chris McMillan. (He's responsible for creating Jennifer Aniston's "the Rachel" for the Friends pilot—NBD!) His mousse has a super-fluffy, foamy, and creamy consistency that results in perfectly defined spirals sans crunch whether you air-dry or break out the hot tools. I've done both, but I think the formula really shines with a blow-dry. As you can see from the before-and-after photos above, my hair is smooth and airy with that coveted '90s flip, and the mousse was my sole styling product.

The only thing I'll call out is the fragrance, which is quite strong. I happen to enjoy the bergamot, rose, and vetiver aroma, but for those with more sensitive noses, just know that it will have staying power on your strands.

Customer review: "Only mousse I've used that actually gives my hair more volume without making it scrunchy."

Pros: Provides heat protection up to 450°F, dermatologist tested, very airy and light, subtle fragrance

Cons: Not the best for those who need more hold

Size: 7 ounces

Key ingredients: Vitamin B5, aloe vera

If you're looking for a mousse that truly feels as light as air, look no further than Odele's fluffy foam. With larger air bubbles, it's perfect for defining looser curl types without making strands feel too stiff. Plus, the formula is dermatologist tested, which is a win for those who commonly experience breakouts on the hairline. Add 24-hour frizz control, a subtle fragrance, and a $12 price point, and you've got yourself a winner in every sense of the word.

Customer review: "I have 2C hair and this foam gives me really nice definition without making my hair crunchy or heavy. I scrunch it into damp hair and either air dry or diffuse. It helps with frizz (especially at my crown) and keeps my waves soft and bouncy. It's more of a flexible hold, so if I want stronger definition for multiple days I'll add a little gel—but for everyday wear, it's perfect."

Pros: Brushes out like a dream, great for blowouts and air-drying, sophisticated fragrance

Cons: Leaves hair very soft and touchable

Size: 5 ounces

Key ingredients: Baobab, vitamin E, pea peptides, Nordic cotton, Scandinavian cloudberry

Hairstylist Sarah Hindsgaul, who was the lead hair designer for Stranger Things, would often find her celebrity clients' scalps irritated and full of buildup on set, so she sought out her own solution: high-performing stylers that don't sacrifice hair health. Her soft-hold mousse is probably my favorite of the lineup, which is surprising coming from someone who previously shied away from mousse altogether. I swear this formula not only brushes out seamlessly but also makes my strands feel softer than ever before—quite a feat for a product category notoriously known for its crunch.

Customer review: N/A

Pros: Great for tighter curl patterns

Cons: Might weigh down looser curl patterns

Size: 7.5 ounces

Key ingredients: Silk protein, shea butter, coconut oil, neem-seed oil, hibiscus extract

Friends with coils, you will fall in love with SheaMoisture's juicy foam. With a healthy blend of butters and oils, it deeply hydrates strands while enhancing the spirals' natural bounce. "It also adds shine, a boost of volume, and extra hydration with coconut and hibiscus," notes Hudson. Just make sure you have a good clarifying shampoo to sub in regularly, as coconut oil can potentially dry out curls over time.

Customer review: "Been using this mousse for about five years. Live in Florida, so heat and humidity really make my hair frizzy. Can't say enough good things. The smell is wonderful, and the ingredients are the best. Works when my hair is short or long and doesn't affect the color. The price is reasonable considering the high quality. My hair is never crunchy and shiny all day long. Can't live without."

Pros: Has high-tech anti-frizz ingredients, nonsticky and lightweight

Cons: Fragrance is very strong

Size: 5.1 ounces

Key ingredients: Argan oil, hydrolyzed vegetable protein, polyquaternium-11 (an anti-static agent), cocamidopropyl hydroxysultaine (another anti-static agent derived from coconut)

"This is great for [those with] tighter curls that love definition," says Korab. "I [also] love this mousse for frizz control." See, it contains two anti-static ingredients—polyquaternium-11 and cocamidopropyl hydroxysultaine—that keep pesky flyaways at bay and extend the life of your style. As Korab mentioned, it's fabulous for defining tighter curls, especially if those ringlets happen to be fine. The lightweight texture ensures strands won't get weighed down or feel too stiff.

Customer review: "Yes! Just tried this mousse recently and this worked lovely with my hair type (3c). Will add this to my faves for future. Leaves my hair feeling moisturized with bouncy, soft curls. Love this."

Pros: Safe for color-treated hair, protects hair from heat damage

Cons: Contains alcohol

Size: 11.4 ounces

Key ingredients: Xylose (a heat-protecting agent), hydrolyzed vegetable protein, tuberose, almond milk, cedarwood, patented antifade complex

If you're after glossy, juicy curls, look no further than Pureology's airy formula. Formulated with color-treated hair in mind, it puts shine on the forefront with a patented antifade complex and xylose, an ingredient that protects hair from heat damage. It also has a super-lightweight formula, adds Korab, which will "give some volume and vibrancy to your hair."

Customer review: "Love this mousse. Usually don't love mousse because it leaves my hair feeling sticky, but this one, you barely know it's there, and it smells nice!"

Pros: Alcohol-free, brightens color

Cons: Better for blondes since it has a purple hue

Size: 6.8 ounces

Key ingredients: Rosinate, violet tint, panthenol

"Mousse usually has a lot of alcohol in it, so it tends to be drying and make the hair look nonshiny," says Kelly. This mousse, however, comes completely alcohol-free, so you can pile it on without fear of the dreaded crunch. Not to mention, it has a violet tint to neutralize brassy tones in blonde hair, so you could use it in place of purple shampoo. We love a streamlined routine!

Customer review: "I quit using mousse long ago [because] it seemed to flatten my hair and darken my highlights. This one densifies roots and lengths, no greasiness, no dulling my blonde. I've tried every volumizing medium I can get my hands on, and I'm continuously disappointed. Finally—I'm dazzled! Customer. For. Life."

Pros: Protects against frizz and humidity, has a nice and subtle scent

Cons: I wish it included more ingredients for strength, shine, and hydration

Size: 7 ounces

Key ingredients: Caprylyl glycol, citrus-jasmine scent

"I love a good drugstore option, and this mousse from Not Your Mother's gets the job done," shares Hudson. "It provides long-lasting humidity control, adds major definition, and is even safe to use on color-treated hair." I can totally attest—this no-fuss, lightweight mousse ticks every box. It's also protein-free, which is important to note if you consistently use protein-infused products in your routine. You don't want to run into protein overload!

Customer review: "Talk about a product that keeps your curls poppin' all day. This right here is my holy grail hair product. It really helps activate your natural curl pattern and controls that frizz (along with just a little bit of the sculpting gel). After applying this product on my wash day, I barely have to refresh the following day and so on. Never stop selling this!"

Pros: Provides weightless volume, doesn't feel sticky on finer strands

Cons: Has a strong citrus scent

Size: 3.4 ounces

Key ingredients: Panthenol, "‘memory hold" resins

"Kevin.Murphy's Body.Builder is great for someone with curly hair that is fine and [is] looking for a little lift at the root," says Kelly. If your curls routinely fall flat, you'll want to give this weightless formula a try. It also contains resins with "memory hold" technology so your curls can hold their va-va-voom volume for longer.

Customer review: "I originally purchased this from my hair salon and loved it. I then purchased two other mousse products in an attempt to find a less expensive option. In the end this mousse lasts longer and gives the best results. It smells great too."

Pros: Layers well with other creams and gels, provides touchable hold

Cons: A lighter-hold option

Size: 8 ounces

Key ingredients: Hemp seed and rice protein complex, prickly pear, kale, guava, shiitake, mushroom, black currant, pumpkin-seed extracts

Here's another light-hold option for those who cannot deal with any sort of crunch. (I certainly feel you.) Similar to the Crown Affair number above, the consistency is soft and foam-like with a weightless finish, so it helps strands look effortlessly tousled. It also comes with an impressive bouquet of superfoods to quite literally feed the hair important nutrients. Read: It strengthens your mane over time.

Customer review: "I have 3B curls and wanted more volume for curls. Basically I wanted big hair because I tend to have shrinkage. Wow! Let me tell you not only did I get volume aka big hair but my curls were so soft! I got the results I wanted and I will definitely buy this product again."

Pros: Great for tighter curls prone to dryness, never gets crunchy

Cons: Hold could be stronger

Size: 5.7 ounces

Key ingredients: Chia-seed oil, Japanese camellia oil, sunflower-seed oil

"Ouidad's VitalCurl is enriched with oils rich in omega fatty acids, such as sunflower, Japanese camellia, and chia-seed oils, making it great for those with drier curls," notes Hudson. "It helps them retain moisture, bounce, and elasticity." Despite all those nourishing oils, it never makes hair feel greasy or weighed down.

Customer review: "Was super bummed when DevaCurl discontinued their Arc Angel Gel, so I was on the lookout for something new. Read reviews on VitalCurl, so I thought I'd give it a try. REALLY wish I tried it sooner. LOVE this product!"

Pros: Dries quickly without make hair feel crunchy

Cons: Contains silicones

Size: 10 ounces

Key ingredients: Sweet almond oil, avocado oil, panthenol

Hudson also loves this quick-drying formula, which she notes eliminates frizz and makes hair look immensely shinier. "It strengthens your strands to help prevent breakage and provides intense hydration for all-day wear," she adds. It's one of the biggest of the bunch at 10 ounces, which is a major perk, and it impressively lasts up to a week without a refresh, according to reviewers.

Customer review: "3B/3C hair—I struggle with my hair being frizzy and moisturized. I have tried so many mousses from cheap to expensive brands. This one is it! The smell is amazing! It holds my hair all day with no frizz and does not dry it out. Also… no flaking!"

Pros: Has a fresh, delicious scent you can smell all day; very lightweight texture that doesn't weigh down curls

Cons: Those with drier hair might want something denser and more hydrating

Size: 8 ounces

Key ingredients: Airy volume complex, Super Fruits scent

We mustn't ignore the benefits of a delicious scent. This frizz-fighting DevaCurl foam not only provides humidity resistance for up to 48 hours and gives curls a natural, flexible shape but also boasts a mouthwatering Super Fruits fragrance. The blend includes notes of peach nectar, lychee, and pink currant for a tart opening, followed by pink peony, hibiscus blossom, and lily of the valley for a touch of floral. It dries down to a warm base of coconut sugar and creamy wood. "Your hair smells so good!" is the best compliment, IMO, and this mousse is all you need to earn those accolades.

Customer review: "I used to use this brand before they changed the formula. Would recommend this product now after the changes. Smells great and my curls get their volume back as opposed to other brands."