Hair mousse has had a bit of a bad rep over the years. The key styling product behind the giant bouffants of the 80s was mousse. So whenever you think of it now you probably picture immoveable, helmet-like hairdos with crispy curls and sticky strands. Naturally, it fell out of fashion as shoppers favoured spray, serum and cream styling products instead. But formulas have improved hugely in recent years, and nowadays the best hair mousses are well worth another go—and I’m an unexpected fan.
My hair is fine, poker straight and long overdue a trim, and it does very little except lie flat against my head, however much I try to manipulate it otherwise. Most styling products I’ve tried do nothing except weight down my limp hair further and make it look greasier quicker. That is, except Living Proof Full Texturizing Foam.
One of three stylers from Living Proof’s Full range that launched at the end of last year, this new generation pump-action mousse contains amaranth peptides to plump the individual strands and resins to add light hold. It’s a ‘dry foam’ consistency (so no wet-look results), and there’s time-release technology in the formulas, meaning that your new-found volume won’t fall flat by lunchtime. It also contains heat protection, is silicone-free and can be used on damp or dry hair.
Why I love it is that it adds an airiness to the hair around my face and gives it oomph without feeling stiff—I can tell I’ve got product in my hair but no one else would, and I can still run my fingers through it. Plus the results last all day long.
The way I use it is to scrunch 2-3 pumps into my roots and the top half of my hair where I want more volume, before blow drying with my head upside down and the front section pulled forward with a brush. For more texture and grip, I'll finish with a blast of Living Proof Full Dry Volume & Texture Spray.
On my stubborn hair the effect is subtle but, to me, noticeable—my roots look and feel lighter and thicker, and the lengths don’t hang so heavily.
It’s the next day, however, that I really like the results. Usually on day two my hair is a fetching combination of greasy and fluffy, but sleeping in a silk scrunchie followed by a quick brush of the ends has it looking thick, full and beachy—a style that I think would be amplified even more on those with mid-length or layered hair (note to self: book that haircut ASAP…).
Shop the rest of the Living Proof Full hair styling range
After fuller, denser-looking hair, all over? This is the product for you. Apply to mid-lengths and ends for 30% thicker-looking hair according to Living Proof, plus extra conditioning benefits for improved manageability.
As its name suggests, this is designed to give lift to the roots and lightweight hold. It’s perfect for short-to-mid-length styles that don’t have heavy lengths weighing down the hair on the crown.
Two more hair mousses to try
Zara has just launched haircare for the first time, and this lightweight mousse gets the thumbs up from Marie Claire's Executive Beauty Editor Shannon Lawlor. Read her full review of the Zara hair range here.
From the haircare range from celebrity hairdresser and Marie Claire Hair Awards 2024 judge Adam Reed, this gives hold and shine—and like all Arkive products, smells amazing too.
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