What’s the best hair mousse for men? I often get asked about the difference between hair products. The wealth of hairstyling options today range from hair styling powders to creams and hair growth gels to wax sticks for hair and pomades for thick hair. It’s no wonder people get confused when trying to find a product that best suits their needs!
So, What is a Hair Mousse?
Hair mousse is another prominent hair styling product available today. The French term “mousse” means foam, and that’s almost exactly what you get with hair mousse. Hair mousse has a light, airy, and almost fluffy consistency and is used not only to style hair and give it added volume but also to condition and nourish your hair follicles and scalp.
Why Should I Use Hair Mousse?
Hair mousse is an incredibly versatile product that provides not only styling power without being too heavy but also protects and nourishes your hair. Hair mousse’s gentle formulation, when compared to other hair styling products, makes it excellent for people with sensitive scalps.
On the other hand, hair mousse for men fills its niche in the hair styling world. Knowing how hair mousse compares to other hair styling products is important. This way, you’ll know if you should go for hair mousse or another product.
Hair Mousse vs Styling Foam
Hair mousse and styling foam are virtually the same product. They’re both lightweight foams that give volume and bounce, especially to curls. The difference lies in their consistency. While hair mousse is already very light, styling foam tends to be even lighter than hair mousse.
Hair Mousse vs Hair Cream or Lotion
While both hair mousse and hair cream offer nourishment, hair mousse is a better choice for those looking for a stronger grip. Hair mousse is also lighter than hair cream, which tends to feel like slick lotion.
Hair Mousse vs Hair Wax
As its name suggests, hair wax has a thick consistency. Hair wax is used for styling and holding hair while giving it a shiny texture. On the other hand, hair wax can feel bulky on your scalp. While it’s stronger than hair mousse for men, some people can find hair wax to be too heavy.
Hair Mousse vs Hair Gel
Both hair mousse and hair gel are standout hair styling products, but each of them brings different things to the table.
Hair gel has a stronger hold, which gives it the ability to maintain more difficult hairstyles, such as mohawks. Hair gel is also better suited for people with shorter hair. On the other hand, hair mousse or hair supplement like phytorelaxer tablets, might be a better choice for people with curly or longer hair. However, hair mousse’s gentler composition also means it doesn’t provide as strong a hold as hair gel.
Best Hair Mousse for Men Ingredients
Most hair mousse for men shares the same core ingredients: dimethicone, limonene, methylparaben, lecithin, panthenol, lanolin, and behentrimonium chloride. All these ingredients are essential in giving hair mousse its holding and styling properties.
With that in mind, the best hair mousse ingredients are often the additives that differ from brand to brand. Look out for hair mousses with powerful conditioners or strong natural oils, such as jojoba, avocado, lavender, or argan.
Pros and Cons of Using Hair Mousse
Hair mousse offers quite a bit of styling power for such a light product. Here are some of the best things that hair mousse has to offer:
- Provides a reasonable hold without being as stiff as hair gel
- Avoids hair gel’s crunchy texture and stiff feeling
- A better option for people with long or curly hair
- Easy to do quick touch-ups
- It can be used on either dry or damp hair
- It can be left on your head for quite a while
However, hair mousse also has some downsides:
- Less powerful hold than hair gel
- Virtually useless for very short hair
- It can be harmful to your hair and scalp if not rinsed out
10 Best Hair Mousse for Men
Now you know everything you need to know about the best hair mousse for men. Here is the 10 Best Men’s Hair Mousse for Curly, Frizzy hair, African Men with black hair, flat, limp hair, fine hair, and more!
Best Lightweight Hair Mousse
Avenue Man Sculpting Foam Hair Mousse
Avenue Man Sculpting Foam Hair Mousse refreshes and nourishes your hair while letting you style your hair. Its firm amplifies this hair mousse’s powerful volumizing properties yet flexible hold, which lifts hair from the roots. Avenue Man Sculpting Foam Hair Mousse is also notable for being resistant to sweat and humidity, letting this hair mousse maintain your hairstyle throughout the day. This styling foam is perfect for thick hair and helps maintain a natural look.
Customers have cited its light weight and good hold as one of the main reasons to get Avenue Man Sculpting Foam Hair Mousse. However, it doesn’t work as well on short or thin hair.
Best Hair Mousse for Volume
TIGI Press Up
TIGI Press Up is built with men in mind. A rich yet light foam adds volume to even the driest, thinnest, or finest hair. By adding texture and volume, TIGI Press Up creates a rich, voluminous look on any scalp.
TIGI Press Up comes with a priming agent that forms a thin layer around the hair, providing texture and hold. It also comes with caffeine, a potent stimulant that not only wakes you up but also energizes your scalp. Caffeine also works as a natural DHT blocker, protecting against hair loss and helping you increase your natural hair volume.
While TIGI Press Up gives great volume, men with thin or brittle hair will see even better results. Customers report that TIGI Press Up binds hair effectively without the heavy or stiff feeling that results from hair gel.
Best Hair Mousse for Curly Hair
Design Essentials Curl Enhancing Mousse
Design Essentials Curl Enhancing Mousse is one of the best hair mousses for creating and maintaining well-defined curls. This hair mousse has a medium hold that lets you style hair without making it too stiff. The same hold also lets this hair mousse tame frizzy hair. Its quick drying time lets you get the hairstyle you want in minutes.
Design Essentials Curl Enhancing Mousse is infused with healthy ingredients that strengthen your hair. Avocado oil fortifies your hair follicles and protects against hair breakage. Almond oil is rich in biotin, or vitamin B-7. This allows almond oil to keep your hair healthy and strong.
Customers have noted that Design Essential Curl Enhancing Mousse not only works wonders for defining curly hair but also doesn’t dry out.
Best Hair Mousse for Frizzy Hair
Maui Moisture Flexible Hold + Coconut Milk
Maui Moisture Flexible Hold + Coconut Milk is a super airy hair mousse that moisturizes and adds volume to your natural curls. This hair mousse was designed from the ground up to be as light as possible and delivers on that promise. Maui Moisture Flexible Hold + Coconut Milk just barely affects your hair texture, giving you medium hold without a crunchy feeling.
Coconut milk is a very fatty natural substance. When applied to your hair, it easily penetrates your hair follicles and delivers a healthy dose of proteins and vitamins essential to hair growth. Coconut milk also strengthens existing hair, making it tougher and more resistant to breakage.
Adding coconut milk makes this hair mousse one of the best picks for people with frizzy hair. This is a great styling product for men with coarse hair and opting for longer styles. Not only will Maui Moisture Flexible Hold + Coconut Milk tame even the wildest and most stubborn of hairs, but it’s also infused with aloe vera for a soothing, refreshing feeling.
Best for African American
Keranique Thickening & Texturizing Mousse
Keranique Thickening & Texturizing Mousse is made for healing your hair and helping you style it however you want. It provides both body and bounce to any kind of hair and gives hair a smooth, lush texture. This styling mousse also detangles and tames frizzy hair by restoring moisture balance in your hair follicles and scalp.
Keranique Thickening & Texturizing Mousse not only provides styling power but also offers a heat protectant on the go. Peppermint oil gives this hair extra nourishing and protective properties, especially on the scalp.
Among all the hair mousse available for the offer, Keranique Thickening & Texturizing Mousse works best for African-American consumers. Thick, strong hair needs an equally powerful product for its maintenance, and this hair mousse delivers.
Best Mousse for Short Hair Men
ORIBE Grandiose Hair Plumping Mousse
As its name might suggest, ORIBE Grandiose Hair Plumping Mousse helps give hair a thick, voluminous, and lush appearance. By plumping the hair shafts, ORIBE Grandiose Hair Plumping Mousse adds volume and thickness where it counts. Due to how it works, this is one of the best hair mousses for men with short hair.
A combination of watermelon, lychee, and edelweiss flower extract gives your hair a strong dose of antioxidants to keep it healthy and happy. Panthenol swells and volumizes hair, while sunflower seed oil, glycerin, and vitamin E moisturize and nourish your hair and scalp. This mousse is a great option!
Most notably, this hair mousse doesn’t make your hair crunchy. A shining 80% 5-star review rate shows that customers can’t get enough of the super light yet effective hold that ORIBE Grandiose Hair Plumping Mousse provides.
Best for Hold
GIOVANNI Mousse Air Turbo-Charged
GIOVANNI Mousse Air Turbo-Charged provides a light yet firm hold for your hair. This hair mousse’s powerful yet malleable and flexible grip give you the freedom to define your style any way you want. GIOVANNI Mousse Air Turbo-Charged has also been tested to work perfectly on colored or treated hair.
Infused with vitamin E, aloe vera, and lavender oil, GIOVANNI Mousse Air Turbo-Charged also protects and moisturizes your hair. These ingredients work together to soothe your scalp and tame frizzy hair. This hair mousse is a great product because it is also free from parabens and is vegan-friendly.
Few hair mousses can compare to the amount of freedom that GIOVANNI Mousse Air Turbo-Charged offers. If you’re looking for a lighter alternative to your hair gel that can still match its hold strength, give this hair mousse a go.
Best Unscented Hair Mousse for Men
No Nothing Very Sensitive Strong Mousse
For those with a sensitive sense of smell, No Nothing Very Sensitive Strong Mousse provides an ideal solution. This light, unscented hair mousse gives volume, elasticity, and shine without any unnecessary additives that can cause allergies or unwanted reactions.
Despite its careful formulation, No Nothing Very Sensitive Strong Mousse is just as thick on the hands and airy on the scalp as other mousses. A lack of parabens, fragrances, gluten, or soy ensures anyone can use this hair mousse. Customers have hailed it No Nothing Very Sensitive Strong Mousse as one of the best mousses on the market due to its simplicity and versatility.
Paul Mitchell Extra-Body Sculpting Foam
Paul Mitchell Extra-Body Sculpting Foam is full-bodied and very creamy. While thick on the hands, application on the scalp reveals it to be very light yet very strong. Paul Mitchell Extra-Body Sculpting Foam delivers a thick, bouncy blowout to even the thinnest of hairs while amplifying its shine. At the same time, this hair mousse contains natural ingredients that lock in moisture to keep your hair happy and healthy.
Paul Mitchell Extra-Body Sculpting Foam is free from parabens and glutens and is also vegan-friendly. This hair mousse is highlighted by its complex and refreshing citrus scent.
OSiS+ GRIP Extreme Hold Mousse
The OSiS+ GRIP Extreme Hold Mousse is a must-try for those who can’t get their hair to hold and would rather not use hair gel. Made with thin, flat hairs in mind, this hair mousse gives an explosive, voluminous look. An anti-static formula helps maintain any hairstyle, and added heat protectant lets you use a blow dryer to quickly lock your hair in place.
Customers like the OSiS+ GRIP Extreme Hold Mousse for its strong yet non-sticky hold. It also doesn’t make hair stiff nor crunchy, which is another point in its favor.
How to Use Hair Mousse for Men
For best results, use hair mousse on freshly shampooed and towel-dried hair.
- Take a small amount of mousse and rub it lightly on your hands.
- Apply mousse directly to hair either through fingers or a comb. Start from the roots and work your way up to the ends.
- Style your hair.
Best Hair Mousse for Men: Verdict
The first time I used hair gel was a nasty, unforgettable experience. I remember being unable to eliminate the weird crunchy feeling in my hair. However, hair mousse for men provided me with a chance to style my hair. Hair mousse is a must-try product for people with curly hair or people who can’t stand the consistency of hair gel.
Among these hair mousses, I recommend looking into TIGI Press Up not only for its general use but also for its added DHT blocking properties, as well as GIOVANNI Mousse Air Turbo-Charged for those looking for a hair mousse for men with a strong hold similar to hair gel. No Nothing Very Sensitive Strong Mousse is also a must-try for those with allergies.
FAQs about the Best Hair Mousse for Men
Can I use hair mousse for men on dry or wet hair?
Hair mousse for men can be used on either wet or dry hair.
Can I use hair mousse for men with hair gel or other hair styling products?
Yes, you can use hair mousse for men in tandem with other styling products, like a hair moisturizer for men. However, don’t forget to rinse your hair!
Can I use hair mousse for men on my beard?
Unless you want to ruin your beard, don’t. This also goes for all other hair styling products.
