Mousse to Die For

Okay I admit it.  I love my mousse. Don't know what I'd do without it in fact as it does amazing things for my hair that no other styling product can.  Having learned a long time ago that smoke and mirrors (read styling products) can help give your hair what nature forgot to. 

Yet whenever contemplating styling products you want to seriously consider the finished effect you are shooting for.  That way you'll pick the right product to do the job.  With mousse that should be sticky-less hold and volume out the ying yang.  If the product of choice adds to the shine quotient and gives you added manageability, so much the better. 

Unlike the nasty stuff that was used in the 80's,  today's mousses (is "mousses" right?) tend to add volume and shape effortlessly while leaving your tresses touchably soft and natural looking.  

Mousse Defined: Mousse is usually a light weight foamy product.  Stylists use it to add volume to your locks.  It can help with curls too.  Given it is so light weight it shouldn't weigh your hair down as other products, think gels, might.

Still it's important not to overdo it.  Much like the iconic Brylcreem ad of my father's generation, a little dab (of mousse) will do you - most of the time.  

Plus the fact remains that with such products you want to apply them correctly.  In the case of foamy mousse that usually means as close to your scalp as you can and not much lower down the strand.  That's where it will be most effective when it comes to adding oomph to the volume seen in public. 

That overview aside, there are a bunch of finer points that can separate winners from losers in the mousse product section of the hair care aisle.  Some things to consider might include….

• Does it work in easily into your hair? 

• How do things look after a few hours?  Or a few more?  Are things holding up or is your crowning glory left limp and greasy looking?

• Do you get the desired effect without stickiness or heaviness?  You want a mousse that works it's magic sans greasiness, stickiness or any unwanted chemical coating left behind. 

• How the product smells is important.  No one wants to walk around with skunk head that rivals a bug repellent. 

• Got dry hair?  You might want to run your peepers down the label looking for where alcohol is in the list of ingredients.  Knowing as we do it's far from anything resembling a moisturizing agent.  And as such won't do one's parched locks any favors.

Still, catwalk hair that's to die for.  Not born with it?  No prob!  Products like mousse are designed to help you fake it until you make it.  Some offer the allure of big time volume yet also throw in protection from self-inflicted hot styling tool damage. (By the way, if you want to get some more great hair care tips like these, www.TerrificTresses.com is a resource you might want to check out too.  I know I've found it to be helpful.) 

But while you’re here, this two minute video gives you ways to use mousse to style your hair. 

Curly Stying With Mousse

From watching this you should have noticed these highlights.  

The idea is to run the mousse through your damp hair. Actually it’s best to get it mostly dry before applying a volumizing product like this.  

Application of hair mousse can be done either by putting it on both hands and then using your fingers to rake the product through your hair. Or by putting it directly on your hair brush and running that through your mane.  

Then tousle your locks to insure you get mousse on all your strands.  

Finally if you want a curly effect, just wrap strands of hair around your index finger and give it a blast with your hair dryer. Do this all around your head and you’ll end up with cute, beachy waves. Which will last all day if you then lock in the look with some holding hairspray.  

And if you want to know more about using mousse to give your hair some extra oomph, this helpful article from NaturallyCurly.com sheds more light on when you would want to use gel and when you would want to reach for the mousse. (I'm just full of helpfulness today, aren't I?)

Obviously no one can predict how your hair will react here.  But hair mousse is worth a try if volume eludes you.  As in measured doses the transformation can be breathtaking. The idea is to add body to fine hair and some lift to limp locks.  Usually without having to slather on five-gallon buckets of the stuff.

So regardless of whether you have an ongoing love affair with a hair care product like I do with mousse, rest assured that the best tressed, like Catherine Zeta Jones and J-Lo rely on beauty secrets like these to produce hair that is red carpet ready at the drop of a hat.