Have been looking for some volumizing curl defining and mousse products lately. I typically use a light gel but it doesn’t really do much for volume. Lately its also been difficult to get curl definition.
There are also cremes available which provide varying levels of curl definition and volumizing. Lately I’ve been leaning towards trying out mousse-type products. There are quite a number that I’ve been checking out.
Typically I would use products like this after cleansing/conditioning and applying something like John Master’s Hair Milk. These would be the final products I use while my hair is still damp after cleansing/conditioning and potentially also be used for touchup.
Another important aspect is moisture retention. Some products may have great hold but without moisture retention this can just lead to frizz.
This list is by no means comprehensive and I will try to update it when I explore more products.
DevaCurl Frizz-Free Volumizing Foam
“An alcohol-free, lightweight foam that delivers weightless volume from the roots to the ends. The result is soft, touchable curls with fullness, definition and shine.”
“Use on wet hair. Dispense foam into hands, scrunch upward towards the scalp, hold and release. Focus on the root for added lift.”
DevaCurl of course is sort of the original master of the curl line. They have just come out with a new reformulation of One Condition which I am definitely interested in. Frizz-Free Volumizing Foam is what I’ve currently been using in conjunction with their Spray Gel as my two main styling products. However lately I’ve wanted to explore some other products to see if I could get better volume and curl definition. Now a lot of other companies are dedicating entire lines to curly hair.
John Master’s Organics Volumizing Foam
“This lightweight, certified-organic foam provides instant lift and lasting hold as it tames frizz and fly-aways. The aerosol-free formula spreads easily through the hair, creating weightless volume while strengthening and adding shine. Safe for color-treated hair.”
Does not appear to be formulated specifically for curly hair but is notable for being natural.
WEN SIXTHIRTEEN Nourishing Mousse
“The WEN SIXTHIRTEEN® Nourishing Mousse adds volume, body and shine to all hair types. With botanical extracts to nourish the scalp, and our amino acid complex for strength, it gives hold without the stickiness of other styling products. When air drying, it provides hold, shine and helps prevent frizz. While blow-drying, it helps to create volume, body and hold. Because it’s from WEN®, it nourishes your hair every time you use it. Our Nourishing Mousse is plant based and paraben free with no VOC’s or alcohol.”
“For curly hair when air drying, separate wet hair into sections and squeeze several pumps into each section. Style as desired.”
Bumble and bumble Full Form Mousse
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What: A cushiony creme mousse inflates hair as you add heat to lift, sculpt and hold full-bodied silhouettes
WHO: All hair types and textures, especially fine. Appropriate for use on color treated hair.
WHEN: On damp hair, before heat-styling.
HOW: Shake well, then dispense into palm and spread through fingers. Work through hair, roots to ends, then blow-dry. For the illusion of more hair, layer and build.
”
Tried this in a store today. Unlike some other B&B products I’ve tried in the past, this mousse fortunately does *not* have a strong nor irritating and unpleasant fragrance. Am planning to test this product more and will report back here.
Living proof Full Thickening Mousse
“or volume that lasts 5X longer. An ultra, lightweight mousse that provides flexible volume to help fine, flat hair to look, feel and behave like naturally full, thick hair. Powered by our patented Volumizing Molecule (PBAE) that:
deposits a flexible, micropattern of thickening dots on each strand
provides volume that lasts all day without collapsing or becoming stiff
light hold
For fine hair. Sulfate-free, silicone free, oil-free. Safe for color and chemically treated hair.”
Matrix Curl Please Contouring Lotion
“Curl Please Contouring Lotion boosts body, bounce and shine as it nourishes with light moisture for definition.
Touchable, lustrous curls that are in control.”
“To use: Rub between palms. Gently distribute product through towel-dried hair. Style as usual. Reapply for fresh definition.”
Matrix Total Results High Amplify Foam Volumizer
“High Amplify Foam Volumizer provides full-bodied lift and support to give touchable thickness and all over volume*
Lightweight whip adds conditioning shine and lasting body.”
“To use: Apply a golf-ball size amount to towel-dried hair, working evenly from roots to ends. Style as usual.”
(2016.08.04): I got this today and tried it as a touchup after I had used Bed Head’s Foxy Curls Mousse and had taken a bath and my hair needed a little bit of extra oomph from the heat and sweat wearing down the volume. Unfortunately it seemed to ruin the curl at the most sensitive top part of my head. The top of my head, due to gravity, is the most difficult part of my head to activate and maintain curls in and so yes it can be easily wiped out with products. To be fair, I didn’t use High Amplify as it is recommended but, having been impatient after having bought it today, I wanted to test a little bit to see if it would work for touchup. I sprayed some foam into my hands which were damp and then tried to spread it onto the roots and then scrunch my hair. However the scrunching had no effect. I ended up using more Foxy Curls Mousse and clipping my hair up to get back curl and lift on the top. I will definitely be trying High Amplify again so please check back and don’t take what I’ve written here as final.
Bed Head Foxy Curls Mousse
“Bring out your inner “foxy” with this curl boosting mega-mousse. Curls have more fun!”
” Support factor: 4-5
Maintains shape and style
Smoothes cuticle
Conditions and softens”
“Shake well and spray into palm. Work mousse through hair and diffuse. To soften this product and add more shine, cocktail with Glaze Haze.”
Sampled this today. Its really intense. Not sure yet how much it does for curl definition but its great for volume and hold. May be excellent when combined with another curl-defining product.
UPDATE (2016.08.04): I got this today and tried it for the first time and my initial impression is that its really good. It has a really nice strawberry scent that I like. It has a really cool type of hold that even though it says “extreme” to me seems kind of gentle. Its not extreme like you would think of hairspray being extreme. But it is great a giving volume without leaving the hair crunchy or weird.
Bed Head also make Hi-Def Curl Spray and On the Rebound Curl Recall Cream.
AG Haircare Recoil Curl Activator
“Nothing defines, maintains and moisturizes curls like AG Recoil. Rich in our exclusive Curl Creating Complex (C3), Recoil separates and holds without stiffness or stickiness, even in high humidity.”
“Scrunch a small amount evenly through clean, damp hair. Air dry or use a diffuser to blow dry.”
I got this today! It seems to have excellent curl-defining and hold properties. Will report more on this as I use it.
UPDATE (2016.07.04) used this yesterday as my primary styling product after cleansing and its working really well. Excellent at defining curls but does not leave hair crunchy like gels. Also does not weigh hair down and has good hold and does help provide some volume although I feel I still need a volumizing product like a mousse on my thin hair.
UPDATE (2016.08.04) I’ve used Recoil quite a few times now and still like it. I also tried using it with AG’s Thickening Lotion however the result was not great. Thickening Lotion is a great product however it also really caused my hair to be limp which unfortunately is the opposite of what I want to achieve with Recoil. I think Thickening Lotion would be an excellent product for someone without fragile curls as I have which can be so easily ruined by products. I find that Recoil on its own as the only product after rinsing my hair (not even necessarily shampooing nor conditioning) works great.
You could take Recoil on a light trip somewhere as your only haircare product and use it after rinsing your hair and then just air-dry with clips. It works well with air-drying. After drying a second or even third touchup may be necessary to fully activate curls but once they are activated it tends to hold excellently.
Another note is that their products seem to contain a lot of natural ingredients.
AG makes an entire line of curl products:
Sexy Hair Curl Power Spray Foam Curl Enhancer
“An aerated foam curl enhancer for volume and bounce . It leaves curls naturally soft and bouncy, with a long-lasting, light-medium hold. Can be used daily and is even great to refresh second day curls. Delivers humidity protection and curl support while providing shine.”
“Shake well. Spray into and over damp hair. Scrunch with hands and use a diffuser or let air dry to enhance curls.”
This is next on my list! I’m surprised I haven’t tried it yet!
And here’s Sexy Hair’s curl line:
Paul Mitchell Ultimate Wave Beachy Texture Cream-Gel
“Forms, separates and adds loads of texture to create sexy, tousled beach waves.”
“Apply to damp hair in loose, separate sections. Air dry or diffuse. Scrunch lightly when dry.”
I wasn’t entirely sure which one of the styling products in their curl line to try but I got this today. The main reason it appealed to me is that the part of my hair – the front and sides – which I’m most concerned about getting volume and definition is more wavy than curly. (The back of my hair already has defined curls and good volume.) Will update here after trying it out.
UPDATE (2016.07.04): I used a bit of this as a touch-up after having used AG’s Recoil Curl Activator as the primary styling product after cleansing. This product has excellent curl-defining/shaping qualities and good hold. Again, I feel I still need a volumizing product in addition to this.
UPDATE (2016.08.04): So I did finally use this product by itself as my main product after rinsing my hair and I like it. It has very good properties for inducing curls and holding them. It holds up well. It seems to keep frizz under control well. Am using this and AG’s Recoil as my main two curl activators now which I’m alternating between.
Paul Mitchell Twirl Around Crunch-free Curl Definer
“Dual formula defines, separates, and tames unruly curls and waves without frizz or crunchiness. Crunch-free fixative leaves curls soft and touchable. Helps curls retain their shape and bounce all day long.”
“Emulsify in hands and work through hair to form sculpted ringlets. Scrunch in to exaggerate curls and waves. Air dry or diffuse.”
Wondering if I should get this.
Here’s Paul Mitchell’s curl line:
Redken Curvaceous Wind Up Curly & Wavy Hair Reactivating Spray
“Anti frizz leave in spray for curly & wavy hair, featuring Curl Memory Complex.
An anti frizz leave in spray for curly & wavy hair that refreshes dry and/or damp curls and tames frizz throughout the day. This leave-in spray is formulated to recharge the elasticity of curls.
Boosts shape and shine of curls
Reapply throughout the day to recharge curl definition or tame frizz
Provides control without the crunch
”
”
Apply after using Curvaceous Cream Shampoo and Conditioner.
Spray evenly through damp or dry hair to reactivate curls.
Leave in. Style as usual.
Can be reapplied throughout the day as needed.
”
I got a travel-size of this today! Here’s more info about Redken’s Curvaceous line:
Kenra Professional Curl Glaze Mousse
“For shine, control, and definition.
Hold Index: 13
Glazes each individual curl for shine, control, & definition
Non-drying, non-flaking
Provides touchably soft curls
Humidity & frizz control ”
“Shake well. Dispense desired amount, and emulsify with hands. Distribute evenly through hair, and scrunch to enhance curls and waves. Allow to air dry or diffuse.”
Big Sexy Hair Powder Play Volumizing & Texturizing Powder Powder Play has an intense, almost too-intense effect. There may be times when you want that kind of effect. Once it is in it feels like it really works and keeps the volume. But it can also seem to make the hair almost too thick and kind of matted. Because I try to be delicate with my hair, this can be an issue as when my hair gets really matted like that its a lot easier for hairs to break or get damaged. With spray products you may not get that same intensity as with Powder Play, but the upside is that it will be more gentle on the hair which is where I generally – although not always – tend to want to go. Still, Powder Play is a cool product to have in one’s hair volumizing arsenal.
I’m so grateful that there are so many great companies making great products for curly hair! We live in such a wonderful time!
Special thanks to Peninsula Beauty, Sephora, and Ulta Beauty!
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