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The 9 Best Volumizing Mousses for Hair That Needs a Lift

 

The best for body, definition, and shine.

In our humble opinion, volumizing hair mousses don’t get the appreciation they deserve. Sure, the formulas of the ‘80s were crunchy and stiff, but modern equivalents add unmatched body, shine, and hold without the downfalls of products past. “Mousse is actually one of my favorite ways to create volume and hold within a hairstyle,” says pro hairstylist and salon owner John Pulitano. “It’s one of the most effective and versatile hair products out there.” 

We asked 15 testers to try several options over two weeks to determine which volumizing hair mousses deserve a spot in your bathroom drawer. We tested formulas in our New York lab and at home, where testers used products twice a week, applying them to wet strands and styling for maximum volume. After sifting through all the feedback and consulting pro hairstylists, we narrowed the options to these top performers for reliably fuller, bouncier hair.

Best Overall

Bumble and bumble. Thickening Full Form Soft Hair Mousse

What We Like

• Keeps hairstyle intact all day
• Weightless formula creates texture and body
• Defines curls

What to Consider

• Label can be difficult to read

Key Ingredients: Hydrolyzed soy protein, wheat amino acids, panthenol | Hair Type: All | Size: 5 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

The frustration of painstakingly volumizing your hair only to have the fullness drop within a few hours is real. With this mousse from Bumble and bumble., none of your styling efforts will be in vain. The mousse comes out of the dispenser slowly and feels light and fluffy on your fingers. Once dry, there’s no crunch or residue—the weightless foam formula gives hair instant texture and body, adding bounce and lift to each strand. Credit where it’s due: This mousse has noteworthy staying power. Besides a little static halfway through the day, hairstyles remained intact until bedtime. We could even put our hair up in a clip or bun for a while, and when we shook it loose, the curls were still perfectly coiled.

Rachel, tester with 2A hair: “My hair felt bouncy and thick all day. I could either air-dry or blow-dry and get good results with both.”

Best for Fine Hair

Kérastase Densifique Leave-In Thickening Mousse

What We Like

• Gives fine hair a denser, fuller appearance
• Helps strengthen hair over time
• Light and nonsticky consistency

What to Consider

• Can leave hair feeling a little dry

Key Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, ceramides, peptides | Hair Type: Thinning, fine | Size: 5 oz | Cruelty-Free: No

When you’re looking for ultimate volume, you need a feather-light mousse. “Pillowy” is the word we’d use to describe this formula, which not only creates the illusion of more volume but actually helps thicken hair over time with top-tier beauty ingredients like strengthening gluco peptide and elasticity-enhancing ceramides. 

After using this mousse, our tester Ciara's fine hair appeared denser, and her curls were defined and bouncy. Although the formula contains hyaluronic acid, it wasn’t noticeably hydrating. If anything, her hair felt a little drier and more static-prone than usual. But all things considered, the volume—especially on curly days—was impressive.

Ciara, tester with 1B hair: “This product does exactly what it states by providing density and hold. It worked very nicely with my hair type and helped give it a little oomph.”

Best for Straight Hair

Aveda Styling Foam

 

What We Like

• Provides great hold and volume—even on fine, straight hair
• Leaves hair feeling healthy and soft
• Creates a smooth, shiny finish

What to Consider

• Smells like essential oils, which might be off-putting for some 

Key Ingredients: Glycerin, soybean oil | Hair Type: Fine | Size: 6.7 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

There’s no better feeling than leaving the salon with a professional blowout, tresses bouncing in the breeze. No matter how many times we try, we can never quite recreate that level of smooth volume at home—until now. We were totally won over by Aveda’s Phomollient Styling Foam, which gave smooth, shiny, light volume akin to a salon blowout (no small feat given that our tester Erin's hair is straight and fine in texture but dense in strands, a combo that’s notoriously bad at maintaining volume). The foam formula wasn’t sticky or heavy; once it dried, it left her hair feeling healthy and soft. On the second day, she noticed it helped hold her flat iron waves until evening—another rarity she appreciated.

Erin, tester with 1A hair: “This product worked great with my texture, enhancing it by making it shinier, but still helping it hold styled looks like flat iron waves.”

Best for Curly Hair

PATTERN Beauty Curl Mousse

 

What We Like

• Defines without leaving hair crunchy or heavy
• Has two lovely scent options
• Tames static

What to Consider

• Can feel sticky if too much is used

Key Ingredients: Marshmallow root, castor oil, glycerin | Hair Type: Curly | Size: 8 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Another great pick for curly and coily hair types is this mousse from Pattern. If you wear your hair natural, you'll love that this one adds volume and keeps static at bay while hydrating the hair, so that your mane is soft and touchable all day long. It also works to set your hairstyle so that your curls stay defined even longer without falling or losing their shape. We love that it comes in two scents (one with notes of neroli, rose, and patchouli and one with notes of mint and citrus) to keep your curls smelling great.

Nikki, a tester with 4A/B hair: "My curls are defined and frizz-free, and my hair looks healthier and shinier than it did before I used this product. Compared to other mousses I have tried in the past, this product is much more soft and smooth and less drying."

Best Thickening

IGK Big Time Volumizing Mousse

 

What We Like

• Lifts roots and thickens ends
• Protects hair from heat and UV damage
• Defines waves and curls

What to Consider

• A large quantity of product is needed for best results

Key Ingredients: Glycerin, sunflower seed extract | Hair Type: Curly | Size: 6.2 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

This is the formula you’ve been waiting for—one that maximizes your natural volume while also defining and holding your hair's shape. The heat-activated formula also doubles as a heat protectant. That’s a huge plus for curly hair, which is more prone to dryness and damage than straight hair. 

The ultralight foam didn’t weigh down strands at all. In fact, it left them feeling lighter than usual and lifted from root to tip. We were concerned it might make hair greasy, but that wasn't the case. Instead, it curbed static, defined curls, and encouraged lots of bounce. We suspect this mousse will really come into its own during the summer months when humidity plays total havoc with curls.

Alexa, tester with 2B hair: “It’s really hard for me to get volume by my scalp, but this mousse managed it. It also added a lot of body and fullness to the lower part of my hair.“

Best Hold

Kérastase Hair Mousse

What We Like

• Creates appearance of fullness, volume, and hold
• Lightweight, nonsticky consistency
• Lovely scent

What to Consider

• Can leave hair feeling a little dry

Key Ingredients: Argan, marula, and camellia oils | Hair Type: All | Size: 4.6 oz | Cruelty-Free: No

Not aligning with a hair product's scent can be distracting at best and a complete deal breaker at worst. We recommend the Kérastase Bouffante Hair Mousse for the more discerning noses out there. It’s formulated with a blend of antioxidant-rich, moisturizing oils, including argan, marula, and camellia, creating a light, pleasant fragrance we genuinely enjoy smelling every day.  We were equally satisfied with its styling capabilities. The mousse felt lightweight on our tester's strands and created noticeable fullness without causing any dryness or greasiness. Crucially, it also kept hair in place throughout the day.

Paden, tester with 1A hair: “I like the smell and how light it felt in my hair. It worked best when I only wet my hair and didn't shampoo it. That made my strands seem more full.”

Best for Shine

Joico Power Whip Whipped Foam for Volume & Shine

 

What We Like

• Imparts shine and glossiness
• Maintains hair volume for two days
• Creates really impressive volume

What to Consider

• The dispenser could be more durable

Key Ingredients: Hydrolyzed keratin, beeswax | Hair Type: All | Size: 10.2 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

With a name like Power Whip, we were expecting big things from this mousse, and we were not disappointed. The lightweight foam, enriched with keratin to add strength and beeswax for volume and hold, delivered shinier, fuller-looking hair from the get-go and eliminated the need for additional styling products (a time and money saver). The formula (which felt almost like a gel) wasn’t sticky or heavy. Plus, it lasted a really long time. After tester Susan had blown out her hair, it stayed bouncy and lifted for the next 48 hours, with only minor touch-ups necessary. This mousse created volume and shine so significant that friends commented on it, and she was very happy to share the secret. 

Susan, tester with 1A hair: “I LOVE this product and will continue to use and buy it in the future. I do not have to use any other product to maintain the volume all day, so it is saving money.”

Best for Fullness

R+Co BLEU Highest Volumizing Mousse

 

What We Like

• Boosted fullness on heat-styled and air-dried hair
• Light, residue-free formula
• Creates volume and hold

What to Consider

• Made hair feel drier and look less shiny
• Dispenser wasn’t easy to use

Key Ingredients: BLEU molecule complex, biotin | Hair Type: Fine, curly | Size: 6.3 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

If the illusion of fuller, thicker hair is your goal, give this volumizing mousse from R+Co a try. A dollop of this light and airy “whip” gave our tester's hair a real boost, whether they air-dried or heat-styled. They also appreciated that the formula is made with biotin to help strengthen strands in the long term. 

The finish was voluminous and residue-free, although they did notice their hair felt a bit drier than usual and lacked shine. It was nothing a little hair oil couldn’t fix, though. 

Michelle, tester with 1C hair: “The product gave my hair more volume and body. My hair appeared fuller compared to normal, whether I air-dry or use heat protection and blow-dry.”

Best for Heat Styling

Nexxus Mousse+ Volumizing Foam

 

What We Like

• Performs well when paired with heat styling
• Lightweight formula doesn’t weigh down hair
• Creates volume and hold

What to Consider

• Light hold not ideal for fine hair

Key Ingredients: Hydrolyzed elastin, keratin amino acids, glycerin | Hair Type: Fine | Size: 10.6 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

For head-turning volume, heat styling is key. Nexxus’s Volumizing Foam Hair Mousse works like a dream with a hair dryer, effortlessly creating the appearance of fuller, thicker hair. The light, fluffy foam didn’t weigh down extremely straight strands or disappoint in terms of hold. Hairstyles stayed put until the end of the day, admittedly with a helping hand from hairspray. The mousse is designed to boost fine hair while still allowing plenty of natural movement, which we appreciate, but the hold was a little too light for fine hair. 

Terri, tester with 1a hair: “I would recommend this product to ladies who style their hair with a hair dryer. It works really well with heat.”

What to Look for When Buying a Volumizing Mousse

• Hair Type: Be sure to consider your hair type when shopping for a mousse, as those designed for thin, fine hair will differ from those intended for thick, curly hair. Mousses that add volume and lift while being lightweight are best for fine hair types, while denser mousses intended for thick hair will weigh it down.
• Volume-Boosting Ingredients: “Polymers, collagen, hyaluronic acid, and even bamboo will lift and volumize fine hair,” says Pulitano. Additionally, look for silk amino acids and panthenol to strengthen hair, add body, and protect from some of the drying effects of some mousse formulas1.
• 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.

How We Tested Volumizing Mousses

We believe in using the products we recommend, so we prioritize testing them in real-life settings and in our NY-based Lab. 

Volumizing Mousses Tested: 15
Testing Period: Two weeks 
Methodology: Our testing panel, which consisted of 15 testers with different hair types, used a total of 15 volumizing mousses. Each tester applied their assigned mousses to their hair and used it one to two times per week. After combing through the insights, we narrowed our list down to the nine mousses that performed the best.
Factors Considered: Performance, volume, consistency, and overall feel

FAQ

Does volumizing mousse work on thin hair?

According to hairstylist Shelly Aguirre, volumizing mousses effectively add volume to fine, limp hair textures. However, overapplying the product could lead to weighed-down hair.

How do you apply mousse for volume?

When applying a volumizing mousse, Aguirre recommends beginning with a golf ball-sized dollop of product and emulsifying it in your hands before applying it to damp (so not too wet) hair. “Use your fingers to spread the product all over the hair strands,” she says. “You can always add more, but too much is not good, so always err on the side of caution.” From there, you can let your hair air-dry or brush the hair upwards while blow-drying to add extra lift to the roots.

Meet Our Experts

To learn more about what makes a great volumizing mousse, the Byrdie team reached out to the following experts:

• 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.

Why Trust Byrdie

Byrdie contributor Emily Algar has very fine, soft hair, so she knows a quality volume-boosting product when she sees it. She has over five years of experience covering the beauty industry and writing product reviews. For this article, Emily analyzed testing insights after our panel tried out 15 mousses for two weeks.

Esme Benjamin is a freelance beauty and wellness writer based in New York. She’s been contributing to Byrdie since 2023 and knows a thing or two about skincare and haircare ingredients to prioritize.