Hair styling mousse: what is it and how to use it?

Styling mousse is an effective and easy-to-use hairstyle and, along with other fixing compounds, is often used in hairdressing. With it, you can give your hair a wide variety of shapes and do everyday and festive styling.

Hair styling mousse is a versatile formula designed to give hair the desired volume and create a wet effect. The tool is able to give the strands a special splendor and well-groomed look, in addition, the curls formed using mousse keep their shape in all weather conditions. The form of release of the mousse is an aerosol can, equipped with a vacuum atomizer, saturating the emerging foam with fine air bubbles. Cylinders are very easy to use and allow a fairly economical use of the product.

The main functions of the mousse are to give the curls the desired volume and fix the styling. However, the fixing role of the agent is rather secondary, since at the end of the formation of the hairstyle, the curls are additionally sprayed with varnish. Another important task of the product is to protect the strands from overheating, which occurs during the use of a hair dryer.

Moreover, many modern remedies help to enhance hair growth, remove excessive fluffiness and make curls pliable and obedient.

The effectiveness of using fixing agents depends entirely on their chemical composition. So, hair styling mousses consist of biopolymers, which give the curls a natural look and make them voluminous. Another important component of the mousse is protective additives that prevent the negative effects of external factors on the hair structure. The additives are presented in the form of glycerin, which moisturizes the structure of the rods, and panthenol, which protects the curls from the drying effects of electrical appliances used for hot styling.

As an excipient in the composition of the mousses, a conditioner is included, which makes combing easier and significantly reduces hair breakage. High-quality mousses from well-known manufacturers do not contain alcohol additives that prevent the strands from breathing and make the curls brittle and lifeless. In addition, some products include light fragrances and fragrances, which give the compositions a subtle pleasant aroma, as well as ceramides and vitamins of groups A, E and B, which make curls shiny and obedient.

Hair styling mousses are quite popular products, however, before you start choosing them, you should familiarize yourself with their advantages and disadvantages. Below is a number of indisputable advantages of mousses, which distinguish them favorably from other fixing agents.

1. Mousses are versatile and can be used on any hair type.
2. Thanks to the special formula, the product does not stick the strands together and allows them to look quite natural. However, improper use of the mousse can cause the opposite effect, which requires you to carefully read the instructions before applying the drug.
3. Many formulations additionally nourish the curls along the entire length and protect them from the effects of aggressive environmental factors.
4. Due to the presence of special fragrances in the composition, there is no unpleasant odor characteristic of most fixing agents.
5. The long-lasting volume and styling effect means you don't have to worry about your hair all day long.

However, despite the large number of obvious advantages, mousses still have disadvantages. These include low efficiency in relation to too thick and coarse hair, as well as the presence of alcohol in the most budget drugs. In addition, many women face a variety of problems when using mousses. First, there are some difficulties in determining the optimal amount of funds required for a single use.

Secondly, with the wrong choice of composition, the strands quickly become oily. This happens in cases where the hair type does not match the purchased product. Very often, when applying a mousse of strong hold on hair that is too thin, it becomes too "heavy" and gets an oily sheen.

Another problem is hair loss of its lively shine, which makes it look dull and lifeless. One of the reasons for this result is too frequent use of mousse or the application of a fairly large amount of the substance at one time. So, for short curls, a foam ball the size of a walnut will be enough, for medium ones - the size of a small tangerine, and for long ones - about an apple. In some cases, sticking of the strands is also noted, but this unpleasant moment is associated with the application of the substance to too wet hair, which did not have time to dry out enough.

And another significant disadvantage of using mousse is the itching of the skin.This is also due to improper use of the product and most often happens when the substance is rubbed into the scalp. This is absolutely not necessary to do, otherwise you can quickly get contact dermatitis. The drug should be applied directly to the hair, without affecting the scalp.

Modern industry produces a large number of different mousses, which are classified according to several criteria.

• The determining criterion for the difference is the effect produced. On this basis, in turn, there are three categories of funds. The first includes mousses designed to create volume. They are capable of creating the illusion of thicker hair. The second group is represented by means that effectively nourish and strengthen hair, as well as protect it from the negative effects of ultraviolet radiation and high temperatures. The third category includes formulations that can perform elastic styling without causing the effect of weighing the hair.

• The next feature of the classification is the strength of fixation of the compositions. Here, funds are allocated for weak (elastic), medium, strong and super-strong fixation. The first two types of mousses are used for daytime styling, while the last two are used to create complex evening or festive hairstyles.

• The third sign of difference is the type of hair for which this or that mousse is intended. There are formulations specializing in straight and curly curls, as well as products for long and short hair. However, classification by length is a very tricky marketing ploy, and there is no point in buying a drug based on length. It will be enough to choose the means of the desired fixation and apply the foam in the amount required for a particular hair length. But mousse for curly hair is really quite effective thing. Thanks to the composition of conditioning components and panthenol, the product makes curls shiny and manageable, while eliminating their excessive fluffiness.

• And the fourth sign by which mousses are classified is the presence of additional functions... According to this criterion, conditioner mousses can be distinguished, giving the hair shine and expressiveness and making it easier to comb. Thanks to the conditioners, the curls are easy to fit and do not tangle when styling with a hairdryer. Wax mousses, which contain natural resins, are also very popular. Thanks to their enveloping effect, the curls do not lose moisture and are not afraid of the thermal effects of the laying power tool.

Before you start buying hair styling mousse, it is advisable to familiarize yourself with the recommendations of specialists.

• Before purchasing, you must carefully study the chemical composition and make sure that there is no alcohol in it. An excellent choice would be a preparation containing vitamins, an ultraviolet filter and keratin.
• If the mousse is purchased for thin or damaged curls, then it is better to opt for a means of weak or medium fixation. For thick and thick, on the contrary, get professional mousses of strong and super strong fixation.
• When buying a product, you should pay attention to how it smells. If the foam has a specific pungent smell of chemistry, you should refuse to buy it. The best option would be a composition that is odorless or moderately flavored.
• For unruly hair, choose mousses marked "extra strong hold". The same composition should be used before going outside in windy weather.
• For owners of brittle and dry hair, in principle, it is not recommended to use mousses. However, if such a need still arises, it is better to use only conditioner mousse.

Styling hair with mousse is a fairly simple procedure and is not difficult even for beginners. In order to properly apply the product to the hair and get the expected effect, it is recommended to use the advice of professionals, which will help you style your hair correctly and create a beautiful hairstyle.

• Before styling, you should wash your hair well, then rinse it thoroughly. There should be no traces of shampoo, mask or conditioner on the curls, otherwise, when mixed with mousse, the hair will look dirty and take on an untidy look. In addition, the effect of the mousse will be short-lived: after a few hours, the hairstyle will lose its shape and volume.
• The amount of the product, as well as the technology of its application, depend on what task is in front of him. So, if a general hair straightening is planned, then the composition is applied along the entire length, to add volume - only to the root zone, and for winding curls - exclusively to the ends.
• Laying should be done immediately after application, otherwise the composition will quickly set and fix the strands in any shape.
• After using the mousse, it must be thoroughly washed off the hair. To do this, apply any shampoo to the curls and leave for 2-3 minutes. This time is quite enough for the composition to dissolve. Then the hair is rinsed well and dried naturally.

After familiarizing yourself with the basic rules for using the drug, you can start creating a hairstyle. To do this, you must follow a certain sequence of actions and not violate the technology for applying the product. So, the algorithm of actions includes several stages.

• Washed and dried curls are carefully combed with a comb with rare teeth.
• Shake the balloon with mousse, and then squeeze the required amount of funds into the palm of your hand.
• The head is tilted back slightly and the foam is applied to the base of the hair.
• Using a comb, the product is evenly distributed over the entire length and immediately begins to create a styling. You can work with cold and hot methods. In the first case, the curls are twisted on curlers, and in the second, they resort to using electric tongs or a hair dryer.
• To add volume to short hair, a small amount of lather is distributed on both palms and applied to the hair from roots to ends. Then the curls are slightly dried with a hairdryer, lifting them from the roots and giving them the desired volume. This method is well suited for both women's and men's styling, which can be done not only with a comb, but also with your hands.
• The wet effect looks good on curly hair and can also be done with mousse. To do this, the composition is applied and distributed along the entire length, after which the curls are slightly crumpled. With straight hair, the procedure is somewhat more complicated and is performed using a hairdryer with a diffuser. At the same time, the head is slightly tilted forward and the diffuser is installed under the fallen strands. In this case, the curls should lie freely on the nozzle and take the form of waves.
• The application of mousse can be performed not only on wet strands. There are situations when it is better to do this on dry curls. Such express styling does not require the use of a hair dryer and consists in applying mousse while lifting the strands near the roots. The procedure is performed by hand, which creates the effect of slight negligence. Then the curls are slightly shaken and fixed with varnish.

Hair fixing mousse is often compared to gel and foam.

1. Unlike gel, which is used mainly on short hair, the use of mousse is acceptable for any hair length. Means and consistency differ: if the mousse is foam, then the gel is a liquid viscous substance. As a result, the form of release also differs: for mousse, these are aerosol cans, and for gel - plastic bottles.
2. Comparing mousse and foam, then the second agent increases the volume better, which is due to the denser structure. In addition, the mousse has a slight drying effect, while the foam has no effect on the moisture of the hair. Mousse is more suitable for short to medium hair, while the foam easily fixes long and thick strands. Mousse is often unflavored and is an excellent option for allergy sufferers. In the foam, however, there are always perfume fragrances.

How to use hair mousse is shown in the video below.