Know your curl type

If you're not sure where to start, here are a few tips from hairstylist Addam Artist to help you find the best mousse for your hair type:

• For naturally wavy or looser curls (2a-3a), a mousse with a stronger hold should be used to coax your curls tighter and create a firmer pattern. This will support and enhance your natural pattern.
• For medium curls (3b-3c), a more lightweight, medium-hold mousse is great for defining and separating your curls. This will reduce frizz sans the "crunch," while allowing your natural curl pattern to move freely.
• For tighter curls (4a-4c), a lightweight, medium-hold mousse with extra conditioners (or applied over a leave-in conditioner) is best followed by a serum once dry. Often, these types of curls are in need of hydration. Replenish the moisture first and then layer the mousse over. Serum added at the end increases shine and breaks up the “set” for a nice-looking curl.
  

Understand your hair porosity

Hair porosity is the term used to describe how well your hair absorbs or repels moisture. So, first things first: Take the hair porosity quiz because it's the key to finding the right mousse. Done? Cool. Now listen up: "Low porosity hair needs moisture, and if it is prepped properly with moisturizing conditioning masks prior to applying a styler like mousse, the hair will be very receptive," says texture specialist Alicia Bailey. "The hair will appear moisturized and defined with long-lasting curls as a result."

However, if you have high porosity hair, Addam Artist warns that mousse may not be the best option if the formula is alcohol-based or has no moisturizing properties: "Overly porous or damaged hair can become stiff or brittle with a mousse; this applies to any curl pattern, from 2A to 4C, and can be naturally occurring or caused by chemical treatments." Instead, he suggests a curl cream or a leave-in conditioner with an anti-frizz hair serum.

Determine the thickness

Hairstylist Adam Federico has told Cosmo that mousse is great for thin hair: just apply from the roots to the mid-shaft of your hair. Meanwhile, hairstylist Cynthia Alvarez told Cosmo that lightweight products like mousse are really great for curls that need definition, particularly fine-to-medium texture. Fear not, though, because thick hair can still benefit from mousses with a more heavyweight formula. Hairstylist Anthony Dickey explains that newer water-based formulas "mean you can be more generous without the risk of a hard stick feel...and cocktail with curl creams for faster drying and better definition."

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